[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 172 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1568-E1569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LIFE AND WORK OF NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY 
                  CHANCELLOR DR. DEBRA SAUNDERS-WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2016

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work 
of Dr. Debra Saunders-White, a dear friend, nationally recognized 
academic, and the eleventh Chancellor of North Carolina Central 
University in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Saunders-White transitioned 
to her heavenly home on Saturday, November 26, 2016 after a courageous 
battle with cancer. She will be greatly missed by the entire NCCU 
family and all who knew her.
  Dr. Saunders-White was born in Hampton, Virginia on January 8, 1957. 
As a first-generation college student, she received her undergraduate 
training at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Graduating 
in the Class of 1979 with a Bachelor's degree in history, Dr. Saunders-
White went on to receive a Master's of Business Administration from the 
College of William and Mary (in 1993) and a Doctorate in Higher 
Education Administration from George Washington University (in 2004).
  The massive outpouring of accolades that arose upon Dr. Saunders-
White's passing speaks to her character and abilities. She was 
installed as the eleventh chancellor of my alma mater, North Carolina 
Central University, on June 1, 2013. And, I might add, she became the 
first permanent woman chancellor in the University's 106-year history.
  Prior to assuming her duties at NCCU, she served as the acting 
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education at the 
U.S. Department of Education in the Obama Administration under 
Secretary Arne Duncan. Dr. Saunders-White joined the Department of 
Education in May of 2011 as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for higher 
education programs.
  Throughout her tenure as NCCU's Chancellor, Dr. Saunders-White made 
many important contributions to the University, including increasing 
the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate from 69 percent to 80 percent; 
growing faculty and staff annual giving from 19 percent to 76 percent; 
creating the Triangle area's first dual-enrollment, residential 
transfer program known as Eagle Connect, in conjunction with Durham 
Technical Community College; and opening a Fabrication Laboratory in 
2015 that is part of a select number of such laboratories at HBCUs.
  Always committed to uplifting Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Dr. Saunders-White was named a ``cyber star'' by Black 
Issues in Higher Education and has published articles and whitepapers 
on the role of technology in learning. At NCCU, she was instrumental in 
raising scholarship funds for students and prioritized innovative 
academic instruction to prepare students of color to be competitive in 
the global marketplace.
  Beyond her academic contributions, what is more illuminating of Dr. 
Saunders-White's stellar character was the way she connected with 
students at the university. She took a personal interest in the 
scholarship and mentorship program by encouraging ``Eagle Excellence'' 
that went beyond success in the classroom. Her dedication to 
scholarship and preserving the legacy of our Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities earned her the respect and admiration of 
students and colleagues alike.
  It is dedicated leaders like Dr. Debra Saunders-White whose 
passionate commitment to helping all students succeed will leave a 
lasting mark on the future of our students and our country. NCCU (and 
all of those connected with institutions of higher learning) have lost 
a great educator and friend. Mr. Speaker, the Nation has lost a great 
educator.
  Dr. Saunders-White is survived by two children, Elizabeth Paige White 
and Cecil White, III; her mother, Mrs. Irene Saunders; and her 
brothers, Roger, Ralph, and Kyle. I hope the outpouring of love shared 
by the community has been a comfort to Dr. Saunders-White's family.
  Today, we remember Dr. Debra Saunders-White and reflect on her motto 
`Eagle Excellence.' That motto, which Dr. Saunders-White embodied in 
her work each day, will remain embedded in the fabric of the University 
for generations to come.
  This is indeed a solemn occasion. But it's also an occasion to 
celebrate. Dr. Saunders-White fought the good fight, kept the faith, 
and was a friend to so many and we are all thankful that she was able 
to touch so many lives. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
the life, work, and legacy of Chancellor Debra Saunders-White.

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