Shaw University President Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy will be honored for her leadership in higher education as the first recipient of the 2016 Spirit of Excellence in Higher Education award. The award is presented by the Durham based Movement of Youth organization. Dr. Dubroy will receive the award at the organization’s 10th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the William and Ida Friday Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
“I am truly honored to receive such an illustrious award and to be recognized for my passion for students and ensuring their success,” said Dubroy. “Thank you to Movement of Youth for this award and for the work you do in making college a reality for our young men and women,” Dubroy said.
Movement of Youth president and CEO Atryus Goode announced Dubroy as the award recipient on behalf of the organization’s board of directors.
“This is the first year that Movement of Youth has awarded such an honor,” Goode said. “Thank you [Dr. Dubroy] for all you do to support the growth and development of historically black colleges and universities.”
Dr. Dubroy is the 17th president of Shaw University and the youngest female to lead the institution. Within the first 100 days of her presidency, she streamlined operations to make Shaw more efficient and economical; reallocated tuition reductions to merit-based programs; established Shaw as one of the first HBCUs to become a smoke-free campus and increased outreach to downtown Raleigh businesses and neighborhood stakeholders.
Under Dr. Dubroy’s leadership, the university has exceeded record fundraising benchmarks. In addition, she has elevated Shaw’s profile in the Raleigh-Durham area by establishing partnerships with major businesses and corporations, resulting in increased financial support and internships for students, and job opportunities for graduates. The university was also the first HBCU in the nation to receive a grant from IBM for strategic planning.
Dubroy’s approach to leadership, “E.P.I.C.”, focuses on Entrepreneurship, Presence, Innovation, and Customer care. These four areas represent opportunities for the university community to pursue excellence in order to successfully position the institution for long term growth and success.
Movement of Youth (MOY) trains college students to prepare youth for success through mentoring and targeted enrichment activities. The organization’s Spirit of Excellence Awards program will serve as a fundraiser to support its “20 by 2020” expansion plan. MOY plans to expand to at least 8 new college sites per year—in North Carolina and beyond—with the goal of being in 20 states by the year 2020. This expansion will impact approximately 4,000 middle and high school students and 1,000 college students across the country.
The awards ceremony will begin with a reception at 5:00 p.m. followed by a dinner program at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Steve Perry, best-selling author, education contributor for CNN and MSNBC, and Essence Magazine columnist, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker.
