91�ȱ���

 91�ȱ��� Stories      February 12, 2019

For several years, Western Carolina University had an unofficial group of African-American alumni who stayed connected through a website and planned a biennial reunion and various events during Homecoming. But after a series of diversity-related events and concerns that took place on campus in recent years, Pam Degraffenreid ’80, director of the 91�ȱ��� Bookstore, felt it was time to form an official African-American alumni organization.

With the help of a few 91�ȱ��� co-workers, along with a host of African-American alumni, Degraffenreid put the wheels in motion, leading to the formation of the 91�ȱ��� African-American Alumni Society. Last July, the 91�ȱ��� Alumni Association Board of Directors approved the establishment of the 91�ȱ���AAAS, and the election of officers took place in August. They are Michael Naylor ’82 MBA ’88, president; Lori “Kee Kee” Lattiner-Williams ’85, vice president; Eric Barnes ’84, secretary; and Rona Lockhart ’79, parliamentarian. Degraffenreid serves as campus representative, working with the 91�ȱ��� Office of Alumni Engagement. The association hosted its first activities as part of Homecoming 2018.

The group’s mission is to facilitate networking opportunities between African-American alumni and African-American students, faculty and staff by hosting academic, professional and social programming and encouraging support of 91�ȱ���’s advancement and development initiatives. It also will serve as a resource for an exchange of career and related information.   

For more information on the 91�ȱ���AAAS, contact Naylor at naylormsk@aol.com or the 91�ȱ��� Office of Alumni Engagement at 828-227-7335.