N.C. A&T Women’s History Month Spotlight
Women’s History month was declared as the month of March in 1987 by the United States Congress. The month is dedicated to the study, observance, celebration
Since early graduates like Frances T. Grimes, the first female graduate in 1901, and Sophia M. Parker, the first female department head in 1897, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is no stranger to trailblazing women who have been catalysts for change and beacons of achievement.
Sandra D. Hughes
Sandra Hughes ‘69 earned her bachelor’s degree in English education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She went on to excel in her journalism career as a news anchor at WFMY-TV, receiving a number of accolades and honors. In 1974, Hughes hosted “Sandra and Friends,” making her the first African American woman in the Triad to host her own show.
Hughes received the Edward R. Murrow Award for news reporting from the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce in
Hughes retired from WFMY in 2011 after nearly 40 years of dedication to the station and began teaching at N.C. A&T the following year as an adjunct professor of journalism. In November 2016, Hughes “unretired” and returned to WFMY News 2 as a broadcast news anchor.
Also, in 2010, The National Academy of Television Art & Sciences inducted Hughes into the Silver Circle, the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters inducted her into the Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame, and she received an honorary doctorate of humanities from A&T. In 2014, she received the Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. In 2017, she received the Living Legend Award as a graduate of North Carolina’s HBCUs in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Shirley T. Frye
Shirley T. Frye
In 1970, Frye became the first African American president of the YWCA of Greensboro, after leading the merger with the city’s two segregated organizations. She served on the National YWCA board from 1973 to 1993. She also served on the Greensboro City Schools Board of Education, was vice chairwoman of the United Way of Greensboro, and was an administrator at Bennett College and North Carolina A&T State University. For more than 10 years, she was the vice president of community relations for Greensboro’s CBS affiliate, WFMY-TV.
Frye is also the former board chair and interim director of the North Carolina A&T Real Estate Foundation Inc. In addition, she has an endowed scholarship in her honor for journalism students who attend A&T.
Frye has been involved in over 100 associations and affiliations. She has served on local, state and national boards. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., The Links Inc., 100 Black Women, Women Administrators in Higher Education, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (life member). In addition, she has been a board member of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation since
In 2016, the YWCA Greensboro named their facility after Frye and in 2017, she was named Woman of the Year by the Greensboro News & Record.
Dr. Kelly R. Pope
Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope
In 2018, Pope’s documentary “All the Queens Horses” about Rita Crundwell’s 2012 fraud crime debuted on
For her work on the documentary, Pope received two best documentary awards, which were the HBO Spotlight Award, and a Golden Laurels Award at the 2018 Beloit International Film Festival.
Ngozi Opara
Ngozi Opara ’10 is a native of Washington, D.C and graduated from N.C. A&T with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. She is the owner and extension manufacturer of NZO Beauty, LLC and the founder of Heat Free Hair.
Opara went to hair school at the age of
Opara was named one of the top 30 professionals under the age of 30 by WKYS 93.9 FM radio in the Washington D.C. area. While earning her undergraduate degree, Opara was also named Miss A&T in 2009-2010.
