Central State University celebrates 10 alumni inducted into NAA Achievement Hall of Fame at Charter Day

Above: Dr. Alvin Level, a 2025 inductee into the National Alumni Association Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame, was wearing multiple hats during the Charter Day Convocation, including as Director of Bands. Before his name could even be announced, his current and former students, family, friends, and supporters cheered loudly, giving him an approximately 30-second standing ovation. 

On March 4, Central State University marked its 138th Charter Day Convocation by celebrating 10 distinguished alums, known as Centralians, inducted into the National Alumni Assocation Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame. Held at the Paul Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center Auditorium, the event drew a large audience of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters, all celebrating over a century of academic excellence. 

 This year’s inductees, spanning five decades and various fields, included: 

• Leontyne Price, ’48 — Legendary opera singer and one of the most celebrated sopranos of the 20th century. 
• Dr. Jesse Willard Gardner, ’63 — Renowned educator and community leader. 
• Helen Bourn, ’65 — Advocate for social change. 
• Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, ’85 — Scholar, researcher, and the 10th President of Central State University. 
• Jeffrey Elmore, ’86 — Respected business and finance leader. 
• Dr. Frederick A. Aikens, ’88 — Academic mentor and Dean of the CSU College of Business. 
• Tyrone E. Nadir, ’92 — Education innovator. 
• Angela L. Williams, ’92 — Entrepreneurial trailblazer. 
• Dr. Alvin Level, ’94 — Champion for student success and Director of Bands at Central State. 
• Latoya Turner, ’09 — Educator, author, filmmaker, and nonprofit leader. 

Click here to read the honorees biographies in full. 

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Reflections from the honorees 

At a private banquet on March 3 and the following day, the honorees reflected on their journeys and the profound impact of their alma mater.  

Leontyne Price 

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Leontyne Price, a pioneering African American soprano, made history in 1961 as the first Black woman to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. While Price was unable to attend, Associate Professor Victoria Ellington spoke on her behalf, emphasizing Price’s legacy and how she created opportunities for aspiring artists. 

“Ms. Price’s journey from the halls of Central State to the world stage is a testament to her extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion,” Ellington said. “Her groundbreaking contributions to opera and her profound impact on the African American community have paved the way for countless aspiring artists, including myself, to dream beyond boundaries and embrace their true potential. “ 

Helen Bourn 

A dedicated dietitian and civil rights advocate, Helen Bourn’s journey began in segregated Mississippi. Paige Turner, a junior and Bourn’s sorority sister, delivered her remarks, recalling the obstacles Bourn overcame. 

When she arrived at Central State University in 1961, she had never had a new schoolbook or classroom furniture or taken a regular biology or chemistry class. She experienced the KKK burning a cross in her family’s yard in 1950, being arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, for using the wrong restroom, and protesting unfair hiring practices. 

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“In my schools in Mississippi, Black students received hand-me-down and outdated books from white schools. Indeed, the only Black person I saw in a Mississippi schoolbook was a Black man picking cotton in the eighth-grade civics book,” Bourn wrote. “That environment could have been damaging, but my parents instilled in me a love for Black excellence. My education at CSU convinced me that I was worthy and had a place in this world. 

“What I do know is that a fire still burns in me today in the eternal quest for freedom, justice, and equality,” Bourn wrote. “When I reflect on my education at CSU, I am in awe of how many of my professors convinced me that I was worthy, that I had a place in this world, and that I would become an outstanding contributor to society.” 

Dr. Jesse Willard Gardner 

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Dr. Gardner, who described Central State as his lifeline, is a lifelong educator with nearly 50 years of experience teaching in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Throughout his career, he dedicated himself to guiding young people toward success by instilling core values such as self-motivation, perseverance, and achievement. 

“My greatest joy was serving as Class of 1963 president for 62 years,” he said. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated classmates who stood beside me.” 

Jeffrey Elmore 

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Elmore, whose entire family are HBCU graduates, credited Central State for shaping his path. His parents met at CSU, as did he and his wife, Caye Elmore, now the Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance. 

“If it weren’t for Central State, I wouldn’t be standing here,” he shared, adding that his grandfather ensured all 10 of his children graduated from college, including seven from Central State or Wilberforce University. After that, at age 72, Elmore’s grandfather went back to college to earn his degree. 

Dr. Fred Aikens 

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Dr. Aikens, now Dean of Central State’s College of Business, recalled how CSU prepared him for success and later called him back to mentor future generations. 

When he learned he was an NAA Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame honoree, Aikens thought: “We’ve got work to do. We have more challenges today than we can address. We have more issues that we need to face, and we need to continue to educate our young folks to make sure that they are capable of addressing those issues when they leave this campus.” 

Tyrone E. Nadir 

With humor and sincerity, Nadir shared how CSU transformed his life. 

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“If not for Central State, I would still have my Jheri curl,” he joked. But more importantly, he said he would not have a college degree or a career in educational leadership. Nadir tells his students that he barely graduated high school because he didn’t take it seriously and was accepted into Central State on a probationary basis. As the years went by, his GPA rose, and he had a successful career in educational leadership.  

“I would not have the opportunity to touch the many young people’s lives that I think that I’m here to do,” Nadir added.  

Angela L. Williams 

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As the president and co-founder of DetailXPerts, a leading eco-friendly cleaning franchise, Williams credited Central State with instilling confidence.  

A first-generation college student, Williams was determined to graduate in four years. After 14 years in the Department of Defense, she launched her own business — despite fears of uncertainty.  

“Now, we’ve touched more lives than I ever imagined,” she said. 

Dr. Alvin Level 

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Dr. Level, CSU’s Director of Bands, received a standing ovation at the Charter Day Convocation as he reflected on his experience. 

“Wow. This is just a blessing to forever have my name etched in the historical archives of a place I love so much." 

Recalling CSU’s past weekly freshman Convocation Series speakers — including Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.’s children — he emphasized the importance of mentorship and perseverance. 

Former CSU President Dr. Arthur Thomas would tell the students to look around at their classmates, stating that statistically, one in three would not return after their freshman year. 

“Internally, you’re looking at yourself. Is he talking to me? Is he talking to you? Why is he saying this?” Dr. Level recalled. “After he said that, he would pick you back up. He’d say, ‘Don’t you be that one individual that does not return. You all are the most exceptional, the brightest students on the face of the earth. You could compete with any college student anywhere, anytime, anyplace, because you attend Central State University.’” 

Latoya Turner 

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Turner, the first speaker in CSU’s revived Convocation Series, is the founder of Brown Hands Literacy, which introduces children to HBCUs through books and an animated film. 

“Because of CSU, I wrote ‘Brown Hands, Black Schools: HBCUs,’” she said. “Now, children say, ‘I’m going to Central State!’ That’s the power of planting seeds early — not in high school, not middle school, but elementary school.” 

Turner often returns to CSU, even premiering her film on campus, and thanked students for their unwavering support on social media.  

Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti 

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President Kuti, saving his full remarks for his March 6 Investiture Ceremony, stepped to the podium with a humorous phrase: 

“All right, all right, all right.” 

He thanked his fellow honorees for their testimonies, adding: 

“Since we’re giving thanks, I want to thank my lovely wife, Bridget, and my brothers — one came all the way from the Motherland (Nigeria), and one just came down from the DMV. He didn’t sacrifice too much.” 

He then asked students, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees members who were part of Central State before the Nov. 1 nomination deadline to stand. “These are the reasons I was nominated and accepted into the Hall of Fame. Thank you.”   

A ceremony to remember 

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The celebration began with performances by Robeson Chamber Winds and the Central State University Chorus, the Posting of the Colors by the Army ROTC Marauder Battalion, and introductions by Dr. Amy Hobbs Harris, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Miss CSU Breanne Lovelace and Mister CSU Aisayah Akens offered welcoming remarks. Mer’Kyah Warren, Executive Chief Justice of the Student Government Association, brought the occasion.   

Anthony Gardner, President of the National Alumni Association, also announced he has been term-limited after four years leading the NAA, making this his last Charter Day Convocation. Central State University thanks him for his dedicated service to his alma mater.   

Watch the Celebration