Bennett College for Women News April 26, 2012 Bennett College Announces Its Honorary Doctorate Recipients Mrs. Alexis M. Herman, Representative Alma Adams and Mrs. Yvonne Jeffries Johnson '64 were recently announced as Bennett College's distinguished honorary degree recipients. College president, Dr. Julianne Malveaux will present these honorary doctorates during the Saturday, May 5, 2012 Commencement Convocation program, held at 10:30am on the Quadrangle of the campus. This event is free and open to the public. When Alexis M. Herman was named Labor Secretary by President Bill Clinton in his second administration, she became the first African American to lead the United States Department of Labor. She brought with her a long history of public service, having served as Clinton's director of the Office of Public Liaison during his first administration. Holding various public service positions after graduating from Xavier University, it was her work with the Minority Women Employment Program (MWEP) that caught the attention of President Jimmy Carter. He soon appointed the young 29-year-old as the director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau, making her the youngest person to ever hold the position. From there, she quickly moved up among the White House staff. Today, Herman serves as the chair executive office of New Ventures, LLC. She has continued to lend her expertise and talent to a vast array of corporate enterprises and nonprofit organizations. Since 1994, Representative Alma Adams has served in the North Carolina General Assembly, first appointed by Governor James B. Hunt. She was re-elected to her ninth term in November 2010 and recently filed for re-election in January 2012 to run for a tenth term in the NC House. Her political experience spans from 1987 when she was elected to represent Greensboro's District 2 and later served one term on the City's School Board. An educator and artist, Representative Adams is the current chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, helping raise funds for the State's 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Past Chairperson of the Department of Visual Arts and Humane Studies and former Director of the Humanities Division, she is the longest tenured professor at Bennett College, having entered as an art professor in 1972. The educator plans to retire from the College in May 2012. A supporter of all HBCUs, Representative Adams is a dedicated supporter of her alma mater, NC A&T State University. After serving for 13 years on city council, Ms. Yvonne Jeffries Johnson '64 reserved her space in history when she was elected as Greensboro's first African American mayor in 2007. Losing reelection in 2009, the dedicated professional focused her efforts towards One Step Further, Inc. where she serves as the director for this United Way agency that supports restitution opportunities for adults and juveniles. In 2012, she returned to politics when elected to serve on the Greensboro City Council. She currently is the mayor protem. Before beginning her political campaign, the Bennett Belle decided to step down as the College's chair of the Board of Trustees, having served 10 diligent years. Besides holding a BA from Bennett College, Johnson also earned an MS from North Carolina A&T State University. Alexis M. Herman will serve as the Commencement Convocation speaker, helping to recognize the achievements of the Class of 2012. The Baccalaureate Ceremony will convene on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 7:30pm with Rev. Al Sharpton as the special guest. The public is invited. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.