“Continue to Pass it On,” FSU Celebrates Founders’ Day and 2024 Fall Convocation

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Fayetteville State University held its annual Fall Convocation: Celebrating Our Founders event, the ceremonial start to a new academic year, on Sept. 19 in the J.W. Seabrook Auditorium at 10 a.m.

With FSU’s 12th Chancellor Darrell T. Allison presiding over the ceremony, the auditorium was filled with students, faculty, staff and distinguished guests. Before Willie H. Smith ‘82, Ph.D., former senior procurement executive for the U.S. Department of Transportation, continued to pass it on, university’s gospel choir appropriately sang Lovely Day with tremendous skill opening the event with an upbeat style.

A warm welcome was delivered from Cumberland County Commissioners Chair Glenn Adams, City of Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen, FSU Board of Trustees Chair Kimberly Jefferies Leonard ‘86, President of the FSU National Alumni Association Linda Coley ’76 and Student Body President Johnae Walker ‘25 as their remarks recognized the vision of FSU’s seven founders and encouraged the FSU community to prepare for an extraordinary 158th academic year.“To our incoming students, you have selected an institution that is guided by a single guiding principle – we care,” said BOT Chair Leonard. “From the faculty challenging and mentoring you to staff supporting you to the administration advocating for you, we are united in our commitment to your success,” she added.

Smith approached the podium, adjusted the microphone for his height, and proclaimed how thankful he was to be home. He referenced a movie where a character was encouraged to share the extreme amount of knowledge they were amassing; they were told to pass it on. “It is so nice to be back at my Fayetteville State University and continue my attempt to pass it on,” he said.

Since he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, Smith elevated throughout his career controlling hundreds of billions of dollars in contracts and gained increasing knowledge from two master’s degrees and a doctorate in management and organizational leadership. His career culminated as the longest tenured senior procurement executive in DOT history, serving 13 years.

“I found myself at the top of my career in the federal government and using my FSU education to assume responsibility with thousands of employees across the country and across the world,” Smith said.

He described having the president introduce an initiative and the following morning have it on his desk as “amazing and exciting” for his work to have a direct impact. “It is also amazing to be on the other side of that equation,” Smith said. “Using my FSU education to prepare policy and guidance and see the Secretary of Transportation and President of the United States use my words in a communication to the nation,” he continued.

Smith concluded his convocation address with his top ten pieces of advice to a long successful career in his attempt to “continue to pass it one.” Some of his advice included, “life is a pop quiz. You should always expect and be prepared for the unexpected,” and “you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to,” and “enjoy the minute while you’re in it.” He listed his thoughts with context rooted in experience as he encouraged the young Bronco students to prepare for a world where they are needed to enhance society.

After Chancellor Allison bestowed Smith with the Chancellor’s Medallion, he announced the 2024 Family of the Year. The award was presented to the Hamer Family. More on the Hamer Family can be read in this Family of the Year article.