Elizabeth Mann Brantley '01
(Awarded 2011)

She hails from a long line of Davidson alumni and friends, and yet Elizabeth Brantley said "I was not going to Davidson." She had aspirations of making a name for herself elsewhere. But thankfully Davidson's pull was too strong. As she said in a Davidson Journal interview, she learned to accept that "this is not [my] father's school or [my] cousins' school or [my] family's school. This place is perfect for [me]. This is [my] school." With this confidence, Elizabeth made her mark at Davidson in her own ways.

At "her school," Elizabeth majored in English and minored in Spanish. You could often see her in the College Union studying with friends, while numerous others would stop by her table to speak. She was a friend to many on campus, and has maintained those friends today. It was no surprise that Elizabeth was asked to co-chair the senior class gift effort, and thanks to her far-reaching friendships, the Class of 2001 achieved 78.6% participation.

Following her college years, Elizabeth moved to Washington, DC where she continued to wave the Davidson flag. She served the Annual Fund and became her Class Secretary, a role she still embraces today. From Washington, Elizabeth attended law school and now practices in Greensboro, NC where she serves as the alumni chapter president. She is also a member of the Reunion Committee for her 10th Reunion this year.

Beyond her commitments to Davidson, Elizabeth exemplifies "a life of leadership and service" in her community. She is involved in the Future Fund of Greensboro, the Young Lawyers Division of the Greensboro Bar Association, the Greensboro Rotary Club, and Dustin's Village. Like Davidson, her community is benefiting from her energy and desire to serve those around her.

After an alumni event in Washington, DC in 2004, Elizabeth emailed President Bobby Vagt '69 and said "just knowing that a place like Davidson exists makes me feel better. And not only because it's ‘my' place, but also because I know it's out there for so many other students." Davidson feels the same about this special daughter.

For your loyalty and contagious enthusiasm for Davidson, for your willingness to be an active member of this family, and for the leadership and service you have demonstrated to and for your classmates, the Davidson College Alumni Association is proud to honor you, Elizabeth Brantley, with the Alumni Service Award.