James R. Martin II, Ph.D., presides over his first commencement as N.C. A&T’s 13th chancellor.
Seventy-seven undergraduate and 23 master’s and doctoral candidates in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences left the First Horizon Coliseum with degrees in hand during two ceremonies held Dec. 13-14.
“It is, indeed, is a momentous day, a day that belongs to each of you,” said James R. Martin II, Ph.D., who presided for the first time as N.C. A&T’s chancellor. “It’s a day for reflection, celebration, and pride. You’ve made it here through dedication, resilience and an unyielding commitment to your goals. Today, we stand together to honor these achievements.”
Marques McCammon ’98, who has served since 2023 as president of ultra-luxury automaker Karma Automotive in Irvine, California, encouraged graduates to “dream in IMAX.”
As one of just three Black CEOS ever in the automotive industry, McCammon said, those huge dreams will be “beaten down, burned, quenched, and beaten down again. But every time, you will get stronger. Seek the challenge that will break you.”
McCammon graduated from A&T with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. During his nearly 30 years in the automotive field, he has worked for Chrysler Corp., Daimler-Chrysler, ASC, Saleen and electric car start-up Aptera, among others, in product development, brand marketing, and manufacturing, as well as work in green energy and sustainability.
Graduate program graduation keynote speaker Cynthia W. Turner ’90, Ph.D., CPA, called on the graduating class to stand as “a flame of hope” upon receiving their degrees.
“The world you enter, while brimming with potential, has its share of challenges and unlit places,” said Turner. “From injustice, poverty and inequality, global health and environmental crises, to our own personal stuff – our doubts, our fears, our discouragements, and our disappointments. But these are not strangers to any of us. In fact, I believe each of you here today has the power to be a light, not by solving all the world’s problems at once, but by starting right where you are.”
Master’s degree candidate Ashlie Thomas, who received her B.S. in microbiology from Francis Marion University in 2016, said that her decision to pursue an advanced degree in food and nutritional sciences was a good decision.
“It’s never too late to pivot and follow your heart,” said Thomas. “Your heart and your passion will sometimes lead to the most impactful work that’s not just important to your family but also your community and perhaps for the country. I came to A&T in 2022 and inquired about the food and nutrition program, and it immediately like home.”
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