Morehead-Cain Foundation celebrates 50 years of Black alumni

Nearly 100 Black Morehead-Cain Alumni, current scholars, and guests gathered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in October for a reunion weekend.

The three-day event, A Family Reunion: Fifty Years of Black Morehead-Cain Excellence, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Morehead-Cain Program’s first Black graduate, Harvey Kennedy ’74 (pictured seated at right). The alumnus has spent the last 45 years practicing law at the firm Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy & Kennedy, LLP, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The idea for the event originated from conversations among Black alumni at Morehead-Cain’s 2022 Alumni Forum, according to Jessica (Lynch) Jolley ’10, a member of the reunion’s steering committee. Harvey delivered a SEVEN Talk entitled, “Carolina Memories and Inspiration,” at the Forum, detailing his experiences as a scholar.

“This reunion showed the inspiration Harvey continues to provide for future generations and was a reminder of the strong community within Morehead-Cain’s alumni network,” said Jessica, head of global talent and people programs at Pendo.io.

I think about the confidence and self-assurance it must have taken for Harvey to be a pioneer of our community as the first Black Morehead-Cain graduate. True leaders are defined by how they navigate unfamiliar and challenging circumstances, and Harvey’s achievement is a testament to that strength and courage. I hope to carry that same spirit in my own leadership journey. —Kelsie King ’21

Bringing together a “community of excellence” was an opportunity to celebrate Morehead-Cain’s history, as well as become part of that history, fellow steering committee member Ray Sawyer ’13 said.

“Black Morehead-Cains are part of the collective, and the full story of the Foundation is incomplete until our story is told, too,” said Ray, director of community health partnerships at Well in Chapel Hill. “In the time since Harvey’s graduation, Black scholars and alumni have made irreplaceable contributions to Morehead-Cain, UNC–Chapel Hill, our state, and the world. This celebration honors all that has been done and serves as a catalyst for the impact to come.”

The reunion, which took place October 25–27, brought together alumni spanning five decades. The weekend included a cookout at the Pit, a walking tour of campus that highlighted key Black history sites, and a gala at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center.

Attendees also celebrated other pioneering members of the Black Morehead-Cain community, including Karen Stevenson ’79. The alumna is the first Black female Morehead-Cain Scholar and the first female African American Rhodes Scholar from the United States.

Karen serves as chief magistrate judge for the Central District of California. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute, a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and co-author of Rutter Group Practice Guide: Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial. Listen to Karen’s SEVEN Talk about being in the first class of female Morehead-Cains from the 2015 Alumni Forum.

Harvey and Karen were joined by trailblazing alumni Bob Wynn ’76 and Robyn Hadley ’85 at a panel event on October 26 moderated by Nigel Long ’93.

Ray said he hopes attendees left the weekend with feelings of “celebration, connection, gratitude, and joy.”

“Our Black community is often recognized for our strength and resilience, especially in times of hardship, but this time around, we wanted to show up with a different agenda, one where we create the conditions and proactively choose to amplify our excellence,” the alumnus said.

Steering committee members Janel Monroe ’10 and Kelsie King ’21 said they hope current Black scholars who attended feel reconnected within the family of Black Morehead-Cain “cousins.”

“We recognize that scholars are facing unprecedented times as Black students at Carolina, and while it may be different from what we experienced, we are here for you,” Janel said.

Kelsie expressed that she hopes scholars remember the “authenticity, empathy, and faith” that led them to receiving the Morehead-Cain, and that they know they have “a purpose and place” at Morehead-Cain.

“As young leaders and visionaries, the world can feel like a lot to navigate . . . Remember to take time to pause when needed. You are unique and significant, and we need your perspective.”

The event was sponsored by Barbara Rosser Hyde ’83, Chip Tillman ’86, Katherine Kirby Dunleavy ’91, Pam Alston Oliver ’96, Will Alston, Jr. ’00, Tamaurus (T. J.) Sutton ’00, and the Morehead-Cain Foundation.

View more photos from the event or watch the highlight video.

It’s hard to find a man who has endured more hardship, but Harvey Kennedy ’74 is not defined by his hardship. He’s defined by the way he lights up a room when he enters, and by the impact he has on everyone around through his personal and professional pursuits. —Ray Sawyer ’13