Archon Nigel Alston of Gamma Kappa Boulé Named to Head Marketing, Alumni and Community Relations at WSSU

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Acting on the recommendation of Chancellor Donald J. Reaves (Gamma Kappa Boulé), the Board of Trustees for Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) voted unanimously on October 1 to approve naming Archon Nigel Alston, a well-known business and community leader, executive director for marketing, alumni and community relations for the university. This new position will report directly to Chancellor Reaves.

“I am truly delighted that Nigel has agreed to accept this extremely important position on our campus,” said Archon Reaves. “His experience on the University’s Board of Trustees has provided him with a wealth of knowledge about WSSU and his long-standing community involvement will certainly be important in this new role. Nigel certainly has the skill set that we were seeking. Additionally, he understands WSSU’s opportunities and challenges and posses the necessary abilities to help us move the University forward.”

“The search committee for this position was extremely impressed with the number of highly-qualified applicants we reviewed,” said Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of the School of Health Sciences and search committee chair. “Certainly, Nigel quickly rose to the list of finalists because of his deep connections in the local community and the region, as well as his depth of knowledge of the university. His business background and past management experiences will also be extremely beneficial as he provides new leadership for our marketing, communications, alumni and community relations efforts.”

The executive director of marketing, alumni and community relations is a newly created position designed to provide additional focus on marketing, alumni and community relations. Marketing and alumni relations had reported through the Office of University Advancement and the school did not have a formalized community relations program.

“While we certainly have not ignored the community and our faculty, staff and students are actively engaged with a variety of community organizations, we recognized the need to strengthen our existing relationships and develop new ones that can benefit both the University and the community,” Reaves added. “Additionally, by creating this new position, we have freed up the University Advancement staff to focus more exclusively on fundraising, which is extremely important to the school’s future.”

Archon Alston, who will begin work November 1, is a former executive with GMAC Insurance, formerly Integon. He joined the company as a management trainee in 1974 and moved up the ranks to become a manager of new business. He served as director of GMAC’s employee and community relations from 1990 until 2010.

Well known as a motivational speaker and columnist, Archon Alston has served on numerous boards and councils in the Piedmont Triad area. Currently, he is vice chair of the Center for Design Innovation Board and chair of the BBB Education Alliance. He also serves on the NewBridge Bank Advisory Board and on the boards for the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, the Center for Congregational Health, Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth, the Center for Urban Ministry, Inc., the Echo Council and the Piedmont Triad Leadership Council. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Archon Alston has previously served as chair of the WSSU Board of Trustees, chair of the Forsyth County Board of Social Services, president of the Leadership Winston-Salem Board, and chair of the Forsyth County Early Childhood Partnership/Smart Start.

A graduate of Livingstone College with a B.S. degree in business administration, Archon Alston also received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Livingstone in 2002. He is a Certified Development Dimensions International Trainer and a certified Dale Carnegie Trainer. He is also a graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem, the Triad Leadership Network and Leadership North Carolina.

Archon Alston has received numerous community awards including the NAACP’s Charles McLean Community Service Award, the Businessman of the Year Award from the Western N. C. Conference of the A.M.E. Church, the Excellence in Leadership award from the Salvation Army Boys Club, and an Emory O. Jackson Best Column Award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association.