Jamaican-born enterprise chief Sophie L. Gibson has made historical past as the primary girl to chair the Board of Trustees at Saint Augustine’s College (SAU), a traditionally Black college primarily based in Raleigh, North Carolina. In its 158-year historical past, SAU has by no means had a lady on the helm of its Board till Gibson’s latest appointment.
Her new position comes at a pivotal second because the college works to stabilize operations and safeguard its accreditation. For Gibson, the appointment isn’t just about breaking boundaries—it’s about honoring those that got here earlier than her and guaranteeing a stronger path ahead for the generations to come back.
Sophie L. Gibson’s Journey
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Sophie L. Gibson has constructed a formidable profession as an entrepreneur, strategist, and creator. She is the founder and CEO of VIVO360, Inc., one of many first digital advertising companies launched by a lady of shade in america. Since 2001, her company has labored with main organizations together with the NAACP Picture Awards, the NFL, Delta Air Strains, and Spelman School.
Her work has earned quite a few awards, from the AMY Award to the Communicator Gold Award of Excellence. She has additionally been acknowledged by the Atlanta Jamaican Affiliation with the Trailblazer Award for her achievements in enterprise and management.
Past her skilled success, Gibson is an energetic group chief. She has served on a number of nonprofit boards and continues to make use of her experience to assist training, advocacy, and cultural illustration.
Management and Illustration
Gibson’s appointment as chair of the SAU Board of Trustees holds deep symbolic worth. She shared with Jamaicans.com that her new position is greater than a private milestone—it’s about illustration and the legacy of ladies who paved the best way.
“Turning into the primary girl to chair the Board of Trustees at Saint Augustine’s College is greater than a private milestone—it’s a tribute to the generations of ladies whose power and imaginative and prescient paved the best way. I’m honored to proceed that legacy by serving to information the college into its subsequent chapter of progress and transformation.”
She added that illustration issues, particularly for younger girls of shade who might not all the time see themselves in management areas.
“To face as the primary girl in 158 years to guide the Board of Trustees at Saint Augustine’s College is each humbling and energizing. I hope my management reminds younger girls—particularly girls of shade—that they belong in each room the place selections are made.”
A Dedication to the Way forward for SAU
Saint Augustine’s College has confronted challenges in recent times, notably relating to its accreditation. Gibson has pledged to information the Board with integrity, imaginative and prescient, and a dedication to college students.
“Saint Augustine’s College has all the time been a beacon of hope, training, and alternative. Serving as the primary girl to chair its Board of Trustees is a accountability I embrace with deep gratitude. Collectively, we are going to make sure the college continues to thrive and influence generations to come back.”
Her management arrives because the college implements methods to regain monetary stability, strengthen governance, and proceed serving its college students and group.
Jamaican Roots, International Influence
Whereas Gibson now resides in Atlanta, her Jamaican heritage continues to form her values and management fashion. From Kingston to america, she has carried ahead a spirit of resilience, innovation, and cultural delight.
Her memoir, Sopossible, displays her private journey of overcoming challenges, embracing identification, and pursuing function. In some ways, her personal story mirrors the resilience of the establishments and communities she serves—remodeling struggles into alternatives for progress.
Images – Sophia Gibson/Jamaicans.com
