Passing the gavel at the SC State University National Alumni Association
New SCSUNAA president aims to engage every Bulldog, everywhere.
Yolanda Williams takes the helm with plans to grow and energize SC State’s alumni network.
Williams, a 1995 SC State graduate, said she plans to expand the association’s outreach by growing membership, increasing participation, and strengthening ties with the university and elected officials.
From digital engagement to campus support, her priorities reflect a focus on relevance and inclusion.
“As your national president, I want to make sure our association feels welcoming, relevant and energized — no matter where you live, when you graduated or how connected you feel today,” she said. “This is about creating space for every Bulldog to get involved and make a difference.”
On Aug. 2, Williams accepted the president’s gavel at the association’s 35th National Convention.
The convention was hosted by the SCSUNAA’s Charlotte, North Carolina, Chapter at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa.
Williams is an experienced leader in the Charlotte-area banking community. She most recently served as the SCSUNAA's second vice president before ascending to her current role.
SC State University President Alexander Conyers welcomed Williams’ leadership with optimism.
“She honors the legacy of those who came before her, but she’s also bringing new ideas that can open doors — new ways to connect, to support our students and to engage our alumni family,” Conyers said.
Williams praised outgoing president Hank Allen for leading with “heart, vision, and a deep commitment to SC State.”
“One of the lasting marks of his leadership is the Four Pillar Framework he introduced: Growth, Engagement, Collaboration and Education,” Williams said. “These pillars gave us structure, focus, and a clear path to make a real impact, and we’re going to keep building on that momentum.”
Allen also voiced confidence in Williams and the association's future under leadership.
“She’s going to do an amazing job,” Allen said. “She’s going to be an amazing leader and definitely take the association to a higher level.”
In addition to Williams, the SCSUNAA installed the following national officers during its 35th National Convention in Charlotte:
- Micheal Summers, first vice president.
- Sabrina Matthews, second vice president.
- Sandra Mack, financial secretary.
- Pamela Thompson, recording secretary.
- Trina Brown-Linning, corresponding secretary.
- William Asmond, treasurer.
- Tikeenia White, chaplain.
- Don Prioleau, parliamentarian.
‘It means the world’: Hank Allen closes out four unforgettable years leading SC State’s National Alumni Association
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hank Allen didn’t just talk about loving South Carolina State University — he proved it, four years straight.
From the moment he took the helm of the South Carolina State University National Alumni Association (SCSUNAA), Allen tapped into something powerful: a fierce, action-driven loyalty shared by Bulldogs across generations.
This past weekend, as he passed the president’s gavel to 1995 graduate Yolonda Williams at the association’s 35th National Convention, Allen reflected on a journey fueled by vision, growth and a whole lot of heart.
“Well, I would say it means the world because it actually gave me a chance to see how committed our alumni really are and how much they love their university and the students and their willingness to do extraordinary things in order to help the university,” Allen said.
The convention was hosted by the SCSUNAA’s Charlotte, North Carolina, Chapter at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa. It was the association’s largest convention to date with Bulldogs traveling from all over to take part in the festivities.
A legacy of purpose and momentum
SC State University President Alexander Conyers was on hand to witness the transition in leadership.
“Hank Allen has been a remarkable force for good at South Carolina State University,” Conyers said. “As president of our National Alumni Association, he helped reconnect and reenergize our alumni around a shared purpose — supporting our students and advancing our university. Under his leadership, the association grew stronger, more engaged, and more impactful than ever before.
“Hank’s love for SC State has never been about fanfare — it’s been about action, collaboration, and results,” Conyers said. “We are all better for his service, and the legacy he leaves will continue to inspire us for years to come.”
A 1978 SC State graduate with a degree in biology, Allen is a former pharmaceuticals executive who has served his alma mater in various support capacities over the years. In 2009, he was inducted into the university’s prestigious Thomas E. Miller Society, which recognizes donors who have contributed $100,000 or more to the university. He is a 2023 inductee of the National Black College Hall of Fame.
As he prepared to sign off from his tenure as SCSUNAA, Allen said the position allowed him to witness firsthand how alumni transformed their passion for SC State into action.
“In terms of the love, it’s almost to the point where they made love an avert,” Allen said. “So it’s not just, ‘Hey, I love the school,’ but their love for the school is followed by action of some sort — whether it be given their time, whether it be given their talent, or their funds.”
Allen pointed to measurable growth over his term as evidence of alumni commitment.
“Tremendous things have happened over the past four years,” Allen said. “We went from $833,000 in assets to $1.9 million. That’s never been done.”
Guided by vision: The Four Pillars
Allen credited the team’s success to a clear roadmap built around four strategic priorities.
“One of the things you want to do is just kind of start with a vision,” Allen said. “Because I always believe that if people know where they need to go, it’s a lot easier to get there.”
“We actually focused on four strategic pillars — growth, collaboration, engagement and education — which allowed people to actually pick a pillar where they’re most adept at or they’re most excited about,” Allen said.
“You may have a group that wants to spend time, ‘Hey, I want to be a part of that school because we’re educating our lives.’ ‘We’re engaged with public officials or collaborating with the school.’ So that was pretty much the focus of it,” Allen said.
He recalled how one initiative — the “Ride with SC State” campaign, which raised funds for a new motorcoach for student travel — galvanized immediate giving.
“The development was led by the chair, Michael Summers, whose goal was to do things differently,” Allen said. “He announced the bus initiative at a meeting, and by the time the meeting was over, we had raised $70,000. That had never been done in that short time span. Because people saw that what we were doing was going to make a difference.”The result of that campaign was unveiled at the convention. The brand-new motorcoach, equipped with modern technology, was parked outside the convention center.
Alignment between university and alumni leadership
Allen said the current alignment between university and alumni leadership made this kind of engagement possible. He noted that SC State University President Alexander Conyers and Board of Trustees Chairman Douglas D. Gantt consistently emphasize unity and collective responsibility.
“When I look at President Conyers and Chairman Gantt, everything they do is about we,” Allen said. “It’s about the university. It’s about the students. And why it’s important for us to support those two entities.
“It’s almost like a match made in heaven,” Allen said. “But I would say this … it seems like everybody’s focused on the same thing. Again, it’s how we can help our university, our students move forward. And when you have people all along that path, it’s hard to lose.”
Allen added that effective leadership includes being willing to work across lines to advance the university’s mission.
“You’re constantly out there talking to elect[ed] officials that may not look like you, that may not be at the same party as you, but you understand, hey, in order for us to get what we need to get, we have to talk to you,” Allen said.
Asked what’s next for him, Allen said he will remain a committed Bulldog and act as a resource for Williams and the association’s leadership team when invited.
“For me, I will go back to doing what I was doing before — supporting my alma mater in any way that I can,” Allen said.
For more information about the South Carolina State University National Alumni Association, visit https://www.scsunaa.org.