Notable Alumni of Norfolk State University: A Legacy of Excellence

Norfolk State University (NSU), a historically black university in Norfolk, Virginia, has a rich history of producing accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions across various fields. NSU alumni are passionate and driven leaders, prompting worldwide change in industries such as business, public policy, healthcare and the arts. This article highlights some of the university's most notable alumni, showcasing the impact of an education at NSU.

A Historical Overview of Norfolk State University

Founded on September 18, 1935, as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University, Norfolk State University has grown into one of the largest HBCUs in Virginia. Eighty-five students attended the first classes held in 1935. Mr. Samuel Fischer Scott, an alumnus of Virginia Union and Portsmouth native, served as the first director with the primary focus of maintaining the solvency of the school. Dr. Lyman Beecher Brooks, a Virginia Union alumnus, succeeded Mr. Scott.

In 1942, the school became independent of VUU and was named Norfolk Polytechnic College. Within two years, by an act of the Virginia Legislature, it became a part of Virginia State College (now Virginia State University). By 1950, the 15th anniversary of the college founding, the faculty had grown to fifty and the student enrollment to 1,018. The City of Norfolk provided a permanent site for the college on Corprew Avenue, and in 1955 Brown Hall, formerly Tidewater Hall, opened as the first permanent building on the new campus. In 1969, the college divided from Virginia State College and was named Norfolk State College. The college was issued accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools the same year with an enrollment of 5,400 students. In 1975 and the year following, the first master's degrees were awarded in Communications and Social Work, respectively. Dr. Harrison Benjamin Wilson Jr., in 1975, succeeded Dr. Brooks.

Norfolk State University celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1985 with a year of observances and with an enrollment of 7,200. Upon the retirement of Dr. Harrison Benjamin Wilson in 1997, Marie Valentine McDemmond became NSU's third President in 1997 and served until her retirement. Alvin J. Schexnider became interim president in July 2005. Carolyn Meyers was selected as the fourth President and began service on July 1, 2006. Tony Atwater was announced as the new president in 2011 becoming the fifth president and served until he was removed by the board of visitors of Norfolk State University on August 23, 2013. Sandra DeLoatch the Provost and President of Academic Affairs was named acting president effective. On September 13, 2013, Eddie N. Moore Jr. was named interim president. Eddie Moore Jr. Upon President Moore announcing his retirement in late September 2017 the NSU board of visitors named Dr. Melvin Stith as interim president. He assumed office on January 1, 2018. On June 24, 2019, Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston became the institution's seventh president.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited Norfolk State to award associate, baccalaureate, master and doctoral degrees. Currently, Norfolk State offers three doctorate and 15 master's degrees, including master's degree programs in electronic engineering, computer science, and criminal justice.

Read also: NSU Football: Past and Present

The Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall is a large health, physical education, and ROTC complex with a seating capacity of 7,500. Other facilities include a 30,000-seat football stadium; a television studio and radio station, an African art museum, and a multi-purpose performing arts center. In September 2009, the New Student Center facility opened. In January 2015, the construction of the New Nursing and General Classroom Building was completed, and in the fall NSU opened a new G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall, a three-story, 154,000-square-foot academic building, which houses the School of Business, College of Liberal Arts, and Mass Communication and Math Department. The building also houses the box office, costume shop, scene shop, mainstage theater, studio theater, amphitheater, as well as drama faculty offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, study areas, and student lounges. Construction of a new four-story residential facility began in 2019. Construction plans for a new science building and physical plant are underway. Other recent construction on the campus include the new police station (2007), the Marie V.

Norfolk State sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision for all sports including football) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The 2011-12 Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team won the 2012 MEAC men's basketball tournament championship which gave them the conference's automatic bid in the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, the school's first ever appearance in the tournament. The Spartans, a 15 seed, defeated the #2 seeded Missouri Tigers in the second round, 86-84. The Spartan "Legion" Marching Band was founded in 1974. There are 230 members. The band performs at campus events and during some Norfolk State football and basketball games. They were featured performers in the Honda Battle of the Bands in 2007 and 2008. The Spartan “Legion” performed at the 2023 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA. All nine of the National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations currently have chapters at Norfolk State University. The Spartan Echo is the official student-produced newspaper of Norfolk State University.

Accomplished Alumni in Various Fields

Norfolk State University has a diverse alumni base, with graduates making significant impacts in various sectors. Here are some notable alumni who have excelled in their respective fields:

Arts and Entertainment

J.B. Smoove: Jerry Angelo Brooks, known as J.B. Smoove, is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He attended Norfolk State in 1984, where he studied engineering and graphic design. During his time at Norfolk State, he shortened his name to J.B. and later added the “Smoove” in pursuit of his career in stand-up comedy. He is best known for his starring roles on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007-2024) and the CBS sitcom The Millers (2013-2015). He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the BET improv-comedy reality television parody Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013-2016).
Tim Reid: Timothy Lee Reid Sr. is an American actor, comedian, film director, and producer. Reid is one of the most iconic black TV fathers to ever grace our screens. But before he was the overbearing yet lovable Ray Campbell on the hit show Sister Sister he was your average Norfolk State University. Reid who is also a native of Norfolk, Virginia graduated from NSU in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After graduation, he launched his career in marketing as a representative for DuPont. Not long after starting his marketing career, Reid realized that show business was his true passion. Reid has starred in numerous TV roles throughout his career on shows including The Richard Pryor Show, Simon & Simon, Frank’s Place, and WKRP in Cincinnati where he portrayed his most known TV character DJ Venus Flytrap. In 1982, Reid married Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress Daphne Maxwell The two would go on to work on several projects together as husband and wife including Frank’s Place. His role as both a producer and an actor on the series earned him two Emmy nominations for “Best Actor in a Comedy” and for “Best Producer of a Comedy Series.” Reid’s journey didn’t stop at acting. Reid has directed several projects including the 1996 film Once Upon a Time… When We Were Colored. He created and directed a children’s TV series called Bobobobs that aired in the late 80’s. In 1997, Reid and his wife opened New Millennium Studios in Petersburg, Virginia. This was the only Black-owned film studio since the 1930s and one of the largest independent film studios outside of Hollywood. The studio was used to film several movie and TV productions including elements of the 2012 Steven Spielberg film, Lincoln. Reid later sold the studio for $1.5 million in 2015. Reid also received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Norfolk State in 1996.

Read also: A Look Back at Norfolk State in the NCAA Tournament
Future Man: Roy Wilfred Wooten, also known as RoyEl and best known by his stage name Future Man, is an American musician, inventor, and composer.
Karen Briggs: Karen Briggs, also known as the "Lady in Red", is an American violinist who has performed predominantly in the jazz and contemporary instrumental genres.
Gordon Banks: Gordon Banks was an American guitarist, producer, writer and musical director. He was voted one of the top 100 guitarists in America by Rolling Stone magazine in 1985.
Ralph Lee Bowerman: Master Sergeant Ralph Lee Bowerman, was a composer, songwriter, musician and entertainer. A saxophone player since childhood, Ralph Bowerman is best known for winning the US Army Bicentennial Army hymn competition on June 14, 1975, and for the memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery, during which SFC Ralph Lee Bowerman's composition "Mighty Is Our Army," the winning selection from over 1,200 entries in the Army Chaplains' Bicentennial Army Hymn Composers Competition, was presented. Ralph has also performed in a honky tonk band with country singer Loretta Lynn during the early 60's.
Emoni Matthews: A 2016 NSU graduate, Emoni Matthews, made her mark as the Music Coordinator, overseeing her first major film, Candy Cane Lane, starring Eddie Murphy and Tracie Ellis Ross. She played a crucial role in hiring band consultants to provide an HBCU-inspired band for both on-screen performances and recordings.

Read also: A Look at NSU Baseball
Alex Blake: A 2010 NSU graduate, Alex Blake, served as the band consultant for the movie Candy Cane Lane.

Sports

Kyle O'Quinn: Kyle Brandon O'Quinn is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association. He played for the Norfolk State Spartans, and led them to a victory over the #2 seed Missouri Tigers in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. He was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft with the 49th overall pick, by the Orlando Magic.
Debbie Dunn: Debbie Dunn is an American sprinter, who specializes in the 400 metres. Originally from Jamaica, she attended Fairmont Heights High School in Maryland, then Norfolk State University, and became an American citizen in 2004.
April Holmes: April Holmes is a Paralympic athlete from the USA competing mainly in category T44 sprint events.
Brehanna Daniels: Brehanna Daniels is a tire changer for NASCAR, the first African American woman in a NASCAR Cup Series pit crew, and part of the first female duo to do pit crew work.
Shonte Seale: Barbados’ vice-captain Shonte Seale has earned a fantastic early birthday present, signing to play professional volleyball in Asia. The high jumping Seale, who turns 25 on February 9, landed a two-year-old pro contract to play for Amaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan which could see the former Springer Memorial all round athlete competing in the Asian Cup. Seale plays for domestic team Deacons and her last outing for Barbados was the 2023 Caribbean Zonal Championships where the outside attacker played a key role in Barbados taking a bronze in Suriname.
Bob Dandridge: Professional Basketball Player.

Politics and Public Service

Elbert Guillory: Elbert Lee Guillory is an American politician who is a former member of the Louisiana State Senate. A Republican, he represented District 24, including his native Opelousas, and several rural precincts, from May 2, 2009, when he won a special election, until January 11, 2016, when his full term to which he was elected in 2011 ended. Guillory previously served from 2006 to 2009 as state representative for District 40. Guillory was a candidate in Louisiana's 6th congressional district in the 2024 election.
Randall Robinson: Randall Robinson was an American lawyer, author and activist, noted as the founder of TransAfrica. He was known particularly for his impassioned opposition to apartheid, and for his advocacy on behalf of Haitian immigrants and Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Due to his frustration with American society, Robinson emigrated to Saint Kitts in 2001.
Evelyn J. Fields: Evelyn J. Fields is a rear admiral, retired, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, who served as the director of the Commissioned Officer Corps and director of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, from 1999 until her retirement in 2003. Fields was the first woman, and first African American to head the NOAA Corps.
Yvonne B. Miller: Yvonne Bond Miller was a Virginia educator and American politician who became the first African-American woman to serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly. A Democrat, in 1983 Miller became the first African-American woman elected to the state house, where she served for four years before winning election to the state Senate, where she consistently won re-election until her death in office. Miller taught in the Norfolk Public schools, and later taught early and childhood education at one of her alma maters, which had become Norfolk State University during her lifetime.
Kenneth Pritchett: At its meeting on January 18, 2024, the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Regional Board (RSB) elected Kenneth Pritchett as the chair for 2024. Pritchett has been a member of the RSB since 2007, and during this time, he has served on various committees, including the committee responsible for developing the school’s strategic plan and the committee in charge of hiring school directors. Pritchett has previously held the position of RSB chair in 2023, 2013, and 2012, as well as vice-chair in 2022 and 2021. A single dad of two girls, Kenneth Pritchett had accomplished a lot as a medical records technician for nearly 25 years and as a local school board member. Inspired by his eldest daughter, who was thriving at Norfolk State University, Kenneth decided it was time to fix that. “I was just energized, because I wanted to show my girls that no matter how old you are, you still can get your degree,” Kenneth recalls. “You can do it if you put your mind to it.
Michael Rochelle: Michael D. Rochelle is a retired United States Army lieutenant general, who served as deputy chief of staff, G-1 in the Department of the Army.

Business and Entrepreneurship

Phil Thornton: At 43, entrepreneur, music industry executive and television producer Phil Thornton ’03 has the resume that many people decades older could only dream of. And he’s far from finished. The Hampton Roads native’s accomplishments are due, in part, to an early start. At age 5, he started a bookmark business with his cousin, making and selling bookmarks with cartoon characters for a nickel. He knew at age 10 that he wanted to be involved with the entertainment business, and by the time he was 12, he was an intern at local radio station WOWI-FM. Thornton graduated from NSU in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. While at NSU he and a fellow student wrote a proposal to the president of the university about switching the college radio station WNSB, Hot 91.1 from an all-jazz rotation to hip-hop and R&B. having a college radio station. The president loved the idea and agreed to the switch. After graduating, he launched his company, Bright Star Entertainment, an artist management/ consultant firm. Thornton has a list of celebrity clientele including R&B group 112 and singer Lil’ Mo. In 2007, along with Marcus Spence Paul Coy Allen, Thornton formed the multi-media conglomerate Ten2One Entertainment. Along with Sony Pictures and Thinkfactory Media, Ten2One Entertainment released the made-for-TV film Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge, & Miche’le. Focusing on artist management at Ten2One, Thornton has assisted with the careers of artists such as Faith Evans, Kenny Latimore, and Mack Wilds. Thornton also launched several successful TV One shows including LisaRaye: The Real McCoy and I Married A Baller. While working at Ten2One, Thornton was named senior vice president and general manager of RCA Inspiration, a division of Sony Music, where he worked with gospel artists like Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, and more. Before working at RCA, he served as the vice president and general manager of Urban Inspirational at eOne Music.
Ashley Jones: For Tones of Melanin CEO and Norfolk State alumna, Ashley Jones being an entrepreneur was in her blood. Her grandparents owned the first Black beauty supply companies in her hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Jones who is a 2015 graduate of Norfolk State University started her HBCU apparel company, Tones of Melanin, in 2017. During her time at NSU, Jones would design apparel for organizations on campus but noticed something was missing in HBCU fashion. Back in May, Jones made an appearance on the ABC show Shark Tank. Tones of Melanin was the first HBCU athleisure company to be pitched on the show. She initially offered the sharks 5% for a $300,000 investment. After sharing her inspirational story and a convincing pitch, Jones made a deal with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for 12 % equity for the same $300,000 investment. According to Jones, Tones of Melanin has accumulated $3.3 million in sales as of May 2023. Tones of Melanin reported $1.4 million in sales in 2022 and over $300,000 in revenue just earlier this year. Tones of Melanin has 40 HBCU licenses and can be found in major retailers, including Belk Stores, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Follett College Bookstores.
Otis Jones: Otis Jones ’83 comes from a long line of watermen. The Northern Neck native grew up in a family where his great-grandfather, grandfather, father and uncles spent their lives working on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries oystering, crabbing and fishing for menhaden. Although Jones took his career down a different path, he keeps his connection to the water through his service on the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Board of Trustees.

Media and Journalism

Jawn Murray: DMV native Jawn Murray is a well-known TV host, media personality, executive producer, and pop culture expert. Murray was born in Warrenton, Virginia before relocating to Falls Church, Virginia. He went on to attend Norfolk State where he studied mass communications. During his time at NSU Murray was an intern at the Washington, DC radio station WPGC 95.5 FM. This was the kickstart of Murray’s professional career in the media industry. His writing career eventually led him to be the writer of BV Buzz, a popular entertainment column for AOL’s Black Voices. He worked with AOL for the next seven years. In 2006, he joined the Tom Joyner Morning Show as an on-air radio personality. This made him one of the youngest people to ever join the Urban Adult Contemporary radio program. Murray made his TV debut on the E! Entertainment series, Love Chain. He has also been a commentator on other E! shows including E!’s True Hollywood Story and Hollywood Wives’ Tales. He later became a regular expert on the TV One bio series, Life After. Throughout his career, he has also starred on several talk shows as a co-host and panelist. He co-hosted the daytime talk show The View a few weeks before Barbra Walter’s retirement. Not only is he seen as a force in the world of TV and radio but social media as well. The Huffington Post credits him with propelling Kim Kardashian’s level of fame with one of his early stories for AOL Black Voices in 2006. In 2010, Grey Goose selected him as one of their “Archetype 25” honorees. He was also named one of Washington D. C’s most influential men by Don Julio. Murray joined the talk show, Sherri, as the executive producer and commentator.

Education and Academia

Dr. Walter R. Clemons: Dr. Walter R. Clemons is a two-time alumnus of Norfolk State University. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from Old Dominion University and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from Virginia Tech. For more than 33 years, Dr. Clemons has had an illustrious career as a public-school educator, serving as a classroom teacher at middle and high schools; a principal and an administrator. In 2014, Dr. Clemons was appointed the Superintendent of Gloucester County Public Schools, a position he held for nearly a decade until his retirement last year.
Dr. Aurelia T. Williams: Dr. Aurelia T. Williams currently serves as the Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at Norfolk State University. Serving Norfolk State University for more than two decades, Dr. Williams has been an advocate and champion for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and utilizes networking to make an impact on multiple campuses. She is also a professor of Computer Science and the Founding Executive Director of NSU’s Cybersecurity Complex. An exemplary leader for the HBCU Cybersecurity Workforce Development Consortium, Dr. Williams has secured $25 million to benefit 13 HBCUs across the nation as well as 50 million dollars in external funding for NSU’s Cybersecurity initiative. Department of Treasury awarded NSU the HBCU Visionary Award. A trailblazer for underrepresented students to persist in the field of cybersecurity.
Julian Earls: Julian Manly Earls is an American physicist who worked for NASA for over forty years. He has been awarded two NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals and was inducted into the Presidential Rank Award of the Senior Executive Service by both Bill Clinton and George Bush.

Other Notable Alumni

Glenna Hawkins Moore: Glenna Hawkins Moore is a changemaker. She hails from a family of changemakers. She fits into two categories of changemakers: the social driver, dedicated to the progress of a group of people, usually marginalized groups, and the activist: who leads movements against oppression and systemic injustices. A Norfolk State College (now Norfolk State University) alumna, she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1974.
Davon and Danielle Yonkers: Davon and Danielle Yonkers, two music teachers who fell in love in college are making beautiful music together in Henrico County. Davon Yonkers, the Director of Bands at Highland Springs High School, teaches valuable lessons in his classes. "Band not only teaches you music, it teaches you life skills," he explained. In fact. Mr. Yonkers said a band is like a family. Maybe that is what attracted him to another musician some time ago. "When we first met, we didn't think we were going to be together,” Danielle Yonkers laughed.
Mrs. Jaz: Mrs. Jaz’s basketball background, having played four years at Norfolk State University, laid the foundation for her physical prowess and work ethic. After a few years in the fitness industry, a twist of fate propelled her into the world of rugby, where she found her true calling.
Ted Thomas, Sr: Bishop Ted Gera Thomas Sr. was an American cleric with the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) who was consecrated to be the senior bishop of the Historic First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Virginia, one of the largest dioceses/jurisdictions of the COGIC in Virginia.

Norfolk State University: A Hub for Academic and Extracurricular Excellence

Beyond academics, Norfolk State University provides a vibrant campus life with numerous opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities. The Spartan "Legion" Marching Band, founded in 1974, performs at campus events and during football and basketball games. All nine of the National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations have chapters at NSU, fostering a strong sense of community and leadership development. The Spartan Echo, the official student-produced newspaper, provides a platform for students to express their voices and hone their journalistic skills. WNSB Hot 91.1, the university's radio station, offers students hands-on experience in broadcasting and media production.

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