Central State University: A Legacy of Achievement Through Notable Alumni

Central State University (CSU), a historically black land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio, has a rich history dating back to 1887. Originally established as the Combined Normal and Industrial Department at Wilberforce University, CSU gained independence and university status over the years. Today, it stands as a testament to academic excellence and the transformative power of education, a legacy embodied by its notable alumni. Central State University is proud to present our newest additions to the Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame.

The Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame

The Central State University National Alumni Association (NAA) Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame recognizes graduates who have made significant contributions in their respective fields and to society. Inductees span various professions and decades, showcasing the diverse talents and enduring impact of a Central State education.

Celebrating the 2025 Inductees

On March 4, Central State University marked its 138th Charter Day Convocation by celebrating 10 distinguished alums, known as Centralians, inducted into the National Alumni Association Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame. Held at the Paul Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center Auditorium, the event drew a large audience of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters, all celebrating over a century of academic excellence.

The 2025 Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame inductees represent a diverse range of accomplishments and backgrounds. This year’s inductees, spanning five decades and various fields, included:

Leontyne Price (’48): A legendary opera singer and one of the most celebrated sopranos of the 20th century.
Dr. Jesse Willard Gardner (’63): A renowned educator and community leader.
Helen Bourn (’65): An advocate for social change.
Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti (’85): Scholar, researcher, and the 10th President of Central State University.
Jeffrey Elmore (’86): A respected business and finance leader.
Dr. Fred A. Aikens (’88): An academic mentor and Dean of the CSU College of Business.
Tyrone E. Nadir (’92): An education innovator.
Angela L. Williams (’92): An entrepreneurial trailblazer.
Dr. Alvin Level (’94): CSU’s Director of Bands.
Latoya Turner (’09): Founder of Brown Hands Literacy.

Leontyne Price: A Pioneering Voice

Leontyne Price, a pioneering African American soprano, made history in 1961 as the first Black woman to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. While Price was unable to attend, Associate Professor Victoria Ellington spoke on her behalf, emphasizing Price’s legacy and how she created opportunities for aspiring artists. “Ms. Price’s journey from the halls of Central State to the world stage is a testament to her extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion,” Ellington said. “Her groundbreaking contributions to opera and her profound impact on the African American community have paved the way for countless aspiring artists, including myself, to dream beyond boundaries and embrace their true potential."

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Helen Bourn: An Advocate for Equality

A dedicated dietitian and civil rights advocate, Helen Bourn’s journey began in segregated Mississippi. Paige Turner, a junior and Bourn’s sorority sister, delivered her remarks, recalling the obstacles Bourn overcame. When she arrived at Central State University in 1961, she had never had a new schoolbook or classroom furniture or taken a regular biology or chemistry class. “In my schools in Mississippi, Black students received hand-me-down and outdated books from white schools. Indeed, the only Black person I saw in a Mississippi schoolbook was a Black man picking cotton in the eighth-grade civics book,” Bourn wrote. “That environment could have been damaging, but my parents instilled in me a love for Black excellence. My education at CSU convinced me that I was worthy and had a place in this world. “What I do know is that a fire still burns in me today in the eternal quest for freedom, justice, and equality,” Bourn wrote. “When I reflect on my education at CSU, I am in awe of how many of my professors convinced me that I was worthy, that I had a place in this world, and that I would become an outstanding contributor to society.”

Dr. Jesse Willard Gardner: A Lifelong Educator

Dr. Gardner, who described Central State as his lifeline, is a lifelong educator with nearly 50 years of experience teaching in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Throughout his career, he dedicated himself to guiding young people toward success by instilling core values such as self-motivation, perseverance, and achievement. “My greatest joy was serving as Class of 1963 president for 62 years,” he said.

Jeffrey Elmore: Shaping Future Leaders

Jeffrey Elmore, whose entire family are HBCU graduates, credited Central State for shaping his path. His parents met at CSU, as did he and his wife, Caye Elmore, now the Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance. “If it weren’t for Central State, I wouldn’t be standing here,” he shared, adding that his grandfather ensured all 10 of his children graduated from college, including seven from Central State or Wilberforce University. After that, at age 72, Elmore’s grandfather went back to college to earn his degree.

Dr. Fred A. Aikens: Mentoring Future Generations

Dr. Aikens, now Dean of Central State’s College of Business, recalled how CSU prepared him for success and later called him back to mentor future generations. When he learned he was an NAA Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame honoree, Aikens thought: “We’ve got work to do. We have more challenges today than we can address. We have more issues that we need to face, and we need to continue to educate our young folks to make sure that they are capable of addressing those issues when they leave this campus.”

Tyrone E. Nadir: An Education Innovator

“If not for Central State, I would still have my Jheri curl,” he joked. But more importantly, he said he would not have a college degree or a career in educational leadership. Nadir tells his students that he barely graduated high school because he didn’t take it seriously and was accepted into Central State on a probationary basis. As the years went by, his GPA rose, and he had a successful career in educational leadership. “I would not have the opportunity to touch the many young people’s lives that I think that I’m here to do,” Nadir added.

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Angela L. Williams: An Entrepreneurial Trailblazer

As the president and co-founder of DetailXPerts, a leading eco-friendly cleaning franchise, Williams credited Central State with instilling confidence. A first-generation college student, Williams was determined to graduate in four years. After 14 years in the Department of Defense, she launched her own business - despite fears of uncertainty. “Now, we’ve touched more lives than I ever imagined,” she said.

Dr. Alvin Level: A Standing Ovation

Dr. Level, CSU’s Director of Bands, received a standing ovation at the Charter Day Convocation as he reflected on his experience. “Wow. This is just a blessing to forever have my name etched in the historical archives of a place I love so much." Recalling CSU’s past weekly freshman Convocation Series speakers - including Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.’s children - he emphasized the importance of mentorship and perseverance. Former CSU President Dr. Arthur Thomas would tell the students to look around at their classmates, stating that statistically, one in three would not return after their freshman year. “Internally, you’re looking at yourself. Is he talking to me? Is he talking to you? Why is he saying this?” Dr. Level recalled. “After he said that, he would pick you back up. He’d say, ‘Don’t you be that one individual that does not return. You all are the most exceptional, the brightest students on the face of the earth.

Latoya Turner: Planting Seeds Early

Turner, the first speaker in CSU’s revived Convocation Series, is the founder of Brown Hands Literacy, which introduces children to HBCUs through books and an animated film. “Because of CSU, I wrote ‘Brown Hands, Black Schools: HBCUs,’” she said. “Now, children say, ‘I’m going to Central State!’ That’s the power of planting seeds early - not in high school, not middle school, but elementary school.” Turner often returns to CSU, even premiering her film on campus, and thanked students for their unwavering support on social media.

Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti: Leading with Gratitude

President Kuti, saving his full remarks for his March 6 Investiture Ceremony, stepped to the podium with a humorous phrase: “All right, all right, all right.” He thanked his fellow honorees for their testimonies, adding: “Since we’re giving thanks, I want to thank my lovely wife, Bridget, and my brothers - one came all the way from the Motherland (Nigeria), and one just came down from the DMV. He didn’t sacrifice too much.” He then asked students, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees members who were part of Central State before the Nov. 1 nomination deadline to stand. “These are the reasons I was nominated and accepted into the Hall of Fame.

Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame Members

1990: Vernon N. Ford, Raymond V. Haysbert Sr., Bettye Torrey Oldham
1991: Donald K. Anthony, William A. Dupree, James E. Farmer, Deborah K. Brown Gaines, Joseph E. Johnson, Melvin A. Johnson Jr., Fredric H. Leigh, Betty K. Pinkney, Chester C. Pryor II, Joshua I. Smith, James A. Wright
1992: Fillmore Freeman, Dwight L. Johnson, Sylvester G. Lee, Theodore D. Toles, Elliott A. Treadwell, Carolyn Watts-Allen
1993: Michael O. Ajisafe, David G. Carter, Thomas J. Craft Sr., George C. Dumas, Terrence L. Glass, Judy L. Greene McGill, Charles H. Harrell, Maurice L. Reed, James C. Renick
1994: Calvin E. Davis, Jacqueline G. Davis, Jane Frazier Dixon, James Curtis Joyner, Aaron Lowery, Blanche I. Mayo
1995: MacArthur DeShazer Sr., Earl H. Duval Jr., Clifford E. Gates Sr., Lawrence B. Mixon Sr., William Ross Jr., James H. Sangster, Lawrence J. Turner
1996: E. Eugene Brown, Theresa A. Check, Alex B. DarJean
1997: Otha N. Brown Jr., Bryant Crawford Jr., M. Delmar Edwards, Richard H. Shepherd Jr., Audrey L. Norman-Turner, Gloria Taylor Towers
1998: Gordon L. Berry, Bernida L. Thompson
1999: Dixie J. Allen, Albert L. Harrington, John T. Jackson, Anthony “Tony” Williams, Joey D. Williams
2000: Ronald Eugene Cosey, James A. Elam, Janette Hoston Harris, Donis Eugene Toller Sr.
2001: Curtis Symonds, Alfonso Wilson
2002: Mildred Jones Henderson, Harry G. Johns, Edith Olivia Washington Johnson, Thomas E. Kelley Sr.
2003: Robert L. Hylton, Louis G. Long
2004: Gary Allen, John W. Garland, Kwame James C. McDonald
2005: Dolores R. Alston, William J. Waterman
2006: Richard Clay Dixon, Omarosa O. Manigault, Michael L. Nelson Sr., Frances “Kay” Welch
2007: Joyce Beatty, Edward T. Dixon, Carolyn Farrow-Garland
2008: Doris Nicholson, Felton Page, Samuel Williams
2009: Nancy Travis Bolden, The Honorable Nolan B. Dawkins, Fred J. Grigsby Jr., Betty Kennedy Shepherd
2010: Yvette Coursey, W. Marvin Dulaney, Joseph H. Hill, Charles Whitehead
2011: Barbara Saunders, Enrique Riggs, Leon W. Tucker
2012: Charles E. Delane, Curtis Owens
2013: Darryl T. Owens, Kenneth S. Hudson, Mildred C. Joyner, Shirley L. Mays
2014: Caleb Brown Jr., Terri Cope-Walton, Tyrone E. Dickerson, Dr. David “Fred” McBagonluri, Jeffery J. Mims Jr., Dr. Dennis W. Weatherby, Dennis L. Wells
2015: Marsha J. Bayless, Richard R. Boykin, John Benjamin Brown, Edwin R. Clay, Sandi Lynn, Dr. Delors Edgar Magee Jr., Willie A. Terrell Jr., Ethel M. Washington, Roland Winburn
2016: Shendorah Fisher, Derrick Lee Foward, James N. Joyner, Rev. Dr. William Carver Lennard, Dennis J. McNeal, Rosie A. Turner
2017: Harold L. Flowers, Dr. James E. Gordon, Alvin R. Scott Sr., Dr. Thomas E. Simpson, Dr. Hazel Symonette, Timothy L. Tramble Sr.
2018: Gonzalo J. Rodriguez Sr., David A. Lister, William H. Wiley, Brad M. Beasley, Deborah Perkins, Marcella A. Sampson, Lisa M. Peterson
2019: Reginald Elwood Howard Butts, Dr. Robert L. Bowles Jr., Gary A. Dowdell, Gillis L. Bowden, Peter C. Gibbs, Natalia S. Harris
2020: Gladys Gunn, David R. Smith, Esq., Dr. Charlla D. Allen, Marya Rutherford-Long, Eric D. High, MD, Bryan “Scottie” Irving
2021: Gary L. Lawson, Larry Kelly, Sandra Jaribu Hill, Christopher Saunders, Michael “Blue” Williams
2022: Ralph L. McNeal Sr., Richard Austin, Esq., Betty M. Sanders, Bill C. Littlejohn, Esq, A. Christopher Lyons, MBA, Bobby J. Bogan Jr., Dr. Belinda Tubbs-Wallace, Rob Murphy, Oyango A. Snell, Esq.
2023: James Hill, Jr., Joyce Eldridge-Howard, Phillip D. Ayers, Edwin H. Lloyd, Keith Aaron Perkins, Malva A. Alexander, Dwayne M. Daniel, Pamela M. Hodge, Brandon Hayes, Angela K. Davis
2024: Evelyn Garrette Jackson, Suzanne F. Stantley, Dr. Jane R. Caulton, Gonzalo J. Rodriguez Jr., MD, Samuel P. Martin, Cronicle A. Jackson, Phillip Black, Manuel M. Brooks, Kimberly Johnson, Dawn Floyd, Wayne Knox

Notable Alumni Beyond the Hall of Fame

Central State University's impact extends beyond the Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame. Numerous graduates have achieved prominence in various fields:

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Omarosa Manigault Newman: Reality television personality, writer, and former political aide.
Hastings Kamuzu Banda: Malawian politician and statesman who served as the leader of Malawi from 1964 to 1994.
Elizabeth Eckford: American civil rights activist and one of the Little Rock Nine.
Joyce Beatty: U.S. Representative for Ohio's 3rd congressional district.
Hugh Douglas: American former professional football player and radio personality.
Priest Lauderdale: American-Bulgarian former professional basketball player.
John Roseboro: American professional baseball player and coach.
Cecil McBee: American jazz bassist.
Felicia Moore: American politician who served as the president of the Atlanta City Council.
Roberta Alexander: American operatic soprano.
Eddie Milner: American professional baseball player.
John W. Shannon: United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1989 to 1993.
Funmilayo Olayinka: Nigerian banker and politician who served as the deputy governor of Ekiti State.
H. Abram Wilson: Republican politician and a former mayor of San Ramon, California.
Charles Freeman Lee: American Jazz Trumpeter.
Phyllis Bolds: American physicist.
Elle Moxley: American transgender rights activist.

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