At Founders’ Day Convocation, ‘Choices Today Define Leaders Tomorrow’ - Jermaine Coble from Etsy Tells FSU Freshmen
Coble, ‘13, delivered a keynote on the power of decision-making, while the university celebrated 158 years of tradition and honored the McLean family’s enduring commitment to the community.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Your future isn’t sealed by a bad choice; it can unlock if you make the right one.”
That was the message alumnus and convocation speaker Jermaine Coble, ’13, senior manager of Real Estate and Workplace Sourcing at Etsy, delivered Friday to Fayetteville State University freshmen at their first Founders’ Day Convocation. Speaking from the Seabrook Auditorium stage, Coble urged students to see leadership as a responsibility defined by daily choices, emphasizing that wise decisions can shape their futures.
The ceremony brought together faculty, staff, trustees, and administrators in academic regalia. Community leaders joined them, alongside hundreds of first-year students, who filled the auditorium for their first introduction to one of the university’s oldest traditions. This gathering set the stage for the messages that followed.
In keeping with tradition, the program celebrated Fayetteville State University’s 158-year legacy and urged students to sustain it. Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Monica T. Leach, Ed.D., reinforced this legacy while presiding on behalf of Chancellor Darrell T. Allison.
“Founders’ Day is more than a ceremony; it is a call to action,” she said. “Our founders fought to create this institution against extraordinary odds. We honor them by preparing our students to lead with courage, conviction, and purpose.”
Expanding on this message, Chief Marshall and 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year John Brooks, Ph.D., associate professor of history, issued a challenge of his own. He reminded the audience that the same principles that steered the founders through adversity remain vital today.
This focus on principles and leadership continued as campus and civic leaders took the stage to offer greetings. Among them were Glenn B. Adams, chair of the Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees, and Kirk deViere, chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, who also spoke on behalf of Mayor Mitch Colvin.
Refocusing on the students, Coble brought those themes to life by connecting them to the student experience. As a former Student Government Association president and now vice chair of the Fayetteville State University Foundation Board of Directors, he described his own missteps as a student and the defining moment when he realized the impact of his choices.
“I made some bad choices early on,” Coble admitted. “But one day a university official pulled me aside and said, ‘Jermaine, you have a choice.’ That moment stuck with me. It reminded me that your future isn’t sealed by a bad choice; it can unlock if you make the right one.”
To drive the lesson home, Coble asked the students to take out their phones and record a message to themselves: “I’m choosing to finish these next four years and to be mindful of the choices I make,” he said. This action was to help students consciously remind themselves of their commitment when faced with challenges.
“When midterms hit and you want to drop that class, or when Netflix asks if you’re still watching, play this video and remind yourself you already made a choice.”
Coble closed with a charge to lift others as they grow. “The measure of your success will be how you use it to lift others,” he said.
As part of the broader celebration, the convocation also recognized Robert L. McLean, ‘61, and Marian P. McPherson McLean, ‘63, as Family of the Year, honoring their multi-generational contributions to the university.
Their longstanding support of scholarly and campus programs represents the enduring commitment that links the university’s past to its future. Honoring the McLeans reinforced the importance of community and tradition within the larger event.
The morning ended with the annual pilgrimage to the Founders’ Monument, where participants laid flowers in tribute. This gesture was more than symbolic; it bridged past sacrifices with present duty, reminding all that legacy and leadership are inseparable at Fayetteville State University.