ECSU graduates 177 on December 11
Kesha Williams
December 14, 2010
Elizabeth City State University held its 151st Commencement on December 11 at the R. L. Vaughan Center. A crowd of administrators, faculty, staff, family and friends applauded 177 graduates on completing their degree programs.&nbsp The honorees included 161 undergraduates and 16 graduate students. Leading the line of undergraduates was Joshua Askew, a Camden County resident who majored in political science and graduated with a 4.0 grade point average. Askew was the class’s Bearer of the Mace, the non-transfe r ring senior who earned the highest grade point average. Their speaker was Gale King, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, for Nationwide.
King congratulated them on reaching an important marker in their lives — completion of their degrees. She urged them to believe in themselves and their ability to make great contributions to the community remember that much would be expected of them once employed in their jobs. She also urged them to prepare to reward their relatives, neighbors and friends who had been supportive of them during the years of their college enrollment.
King was elected to this position in 2 009. In this role, King is responsible for developing the company’s human resources strategy. This includes the full range of tools, policies and programs for the company’s 33,000-plus business leaders and associates throughout the United States. These services include talent management, compensation, performance management, associate and leadership development, organizational effectiveness, change management and diversity and inclusion.
King began her insurance career as a claims representative and then served in various leadership roles, including administrative officer — Office of the President — Property &amp Casualty, vice president for Nationwide Insurance human resources, and senior vice president for Property &amp Casualty human resources.
Understanding the importance of education, in 2007, King established a scholarship fund in the name of her late grandmother and mother. The fund provides four college scholarships annually.