Alvin L. Atkinson '81
Winston-Salem, N.C.

Occupation
Executive Director, Center for Community Safety
Winston-Salem State University

Education
A.B. Davidson, 1981

Alumni Activities
Former: Chair, 30th Class Reunion; Board Member, Davidson Athletic Foundation; Committee Member, 10th Class Reunion; Board Member, Davidson Alumni Association

At Davidson
Varsity Football; Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities; Member, Black Student Coalition; Thomas A. Sparrow Award; Omega Phi Alpha

Other Activities
Current: Member, North Carolina Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee; Board Member, Forsyth County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; Board Member, Micro Enterprise Loan Program; Deacon, Mount Zion Baptist Church

Family
Spouse: Janet Atkinson
Children: Alvin II (AJ) '12, Jennifer

When asked to consider running as a candidate for the Alumni Association President, my first reaction was, "You must be kidding!"

It was not that I didn't think I could do the job. I can. My experiences after Davidson have instilled a quiet confidence in my abilities to motivate, lead, and achieve. It was more, "Wow, this is something I never thought I'd have an interest in doing." I do.

After hearing about the responsibilities of the position, and getting an okay from my wife to seriously consider it, I began imagining myself as the Alumni Association President. I thought about how being in this position could continue to fulfill my passion to be of service to others, which has become my mantra and the reason I am in my current occupation. I also thought about how in serving in the position I could reconnect with my Davidson football teammates and classmates, people who helped me to learn about myself and who, over time, have become a part of fond memories of my college years. Lastly, I reflected on how being elected for this position would make a positive statement to my son, AJ '12, and other black and minority alumni and, in reality, to all Davidson alumni about how the benefits of the Davidson experience transcend race.

After pondering all of these thoughts, a smile came upon my face as I knew I was going to answer yes to this call to join a new Davidson team; yes to the call to give of myself, my time, and talents in service to the Davidson College family in hopes of making Davidson better for those who will become a part of this family. And finally, yes to having more opportunities to interact with the kind of people who make life worth living. People who, like me, have benefited from learning about themselves on the Davidson campus, and because of this foundation consequently gained the confidence needed to do and become all for which God created us to do and become. Thank you for this opportunity to smile and to serve!