ALUMNA ACCEPTS CARTER LEADERSHIP AWARD

Posted on October 6, 2011

Alumna Cynthia James ’02 received the 2011 Jennie Carter Leadership Award during a luncheon on Oct. 6 in the Kara Alumni House.

The award is named in honor of Elizabeth “Jennie” Adams Carter, Class of 1881, the University’s first African-American graduate.

Cal U celebrates Jennie Carter Day annually on Oct. 9, her birthday. Because the date falls on a Sunday this year, the celebration has been moved ahead.

James is the executive director for Public Allies Pittsburgh, a national leadership and service organization, which she launched in partnership with the Coro Center for Leadership in 2006. She is also a member and vice president of the board of directors for Umoja African Arts Company, also in Pittsburgh.

At Cal U, James held office in the Student Government Association, the Student Activities Board, the Black Student Union and the University Ethics Committee. She was inducted into the Order of Omega for her service to her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta, and received the Student Leadership Award.

As a young leader, James has been listed among the Pittsburgh Courier’s “Fab 40”  and Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 Under 40.” She also received the Urban League’s Young Professional Community Leader Award for promoting civic engagement.

The award was presented by William Carter, the great-grandson of Jennie Carter. Noting that the annual award "celebrates the importance of diversity in the heritage of this school," he said James embodies the indomitable spirit of his ancestor.

"Cynthia James is an advocate of social change through responsible leadership," he said. "Her primary goal is to train young people who want to make a career out of making a difference."