Dr. Juanette Council
Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Fayetteville State University
Born and raised in Fayetteville, NC and fifth generation, Dr. Juanette Council is a true Fayettevillian at heart and active Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority member. She graduated from E.E. Smith High School and received her bachelors at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, masters from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia and finally, her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Fayetteville State University. Upon her graduation from Chapel Hill, Council was at a crossroads and didn’t want to go into education as a teacher because it seemed that’s what everyone in her family did. So, she started working at FSU in a temporary position while she decided what she wanted to do. By destiny, she started working on a grant in the department of student affairs. “Student Affairs chose me,” Council confided. After she finished her masters, Fayetteville State University called. Council anticipated a move to the Big Apple, but God had another plan in store for her in 1990 when she moved to a different position within student affairs. It was then that she fell in love with FSU, it's students and all things Fayetteville State and higher education. “I received the opportunity to be the director of student services in the student center.” Dr. Council understood that she needed to go out to the students to make them feel comfortable and that is something that her mentor at FSU, Olivia Chavis, noticed. And then, Dr. Council’s career blossomed at the HBCU on Murchison Road. “I really have a passion for my job. Students give you life. I love helping them realize their dreams and ambitions.”
Dr. Kimberly Scruton
Dean of School of Business,
Methodist University
Dr. Kimberly Scruton is the Dean of the Reeves School of Business at the home of the Monarchs in North Fayetteville where she also holds the position of assistant professor of management. Dr. Scruton is from Michigan.
Prior to higher education, she worked in the cosmetics industry for beauty giants like Laura Mercier and Clinique. But she feels she receives the most reward with helping young men and women on their career journeys. “There is tremendous satisfaction working with the students. I enjoy knowing that the work I am doing provides opportunities for others to grow and make a positive impact in the world.”
Dr. Scruton also realizes the potential of women in the work force to bring new ideas to the forefront and understands that more strides need to be made for equality. “We are at a time when it is becoming increasingly important for the role of women in business to be emphasized. Women play a substantial role in growing their local and national economies. It is important to ensure women have representation at the leadership and decision making levels. Having more women in business results in more ideas being realized, more innovation and more diversity in an organization.” She herself inspires women by striving to provide them with opportunities and a platform to reflect, collaborate and gain knowledge about how they can achieve their highest potential. “I believe women face several challenges unique to them that may prevent them from achieving their highest potential. It is important to acknowledge these obstacles and develop personal strategies to overcome them,” she explained.
Dr. Scruton is the busy wife and mother of two. She stays productive by setting daily goals and utilizing time management skills. “In order to accomplish all the needs to be done in my day, it is important to clearly known my priorities and plan.”
Dr. Scruton: a true skillmaster.
Wendy Lowery
Vice Chancellor of Advancement, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Wendy Lowery was reared in Lumberton, completed her bachelors and masters at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and now resides in Gray’s Creek. “I am a true girl of the south. I haven’t lived anywhere else but Robeson and Cumberland counties,” Lowery said with a smile. “When I moved to Fayetteville, I knew in order to be successful, I needed to be engrained in the community and I love it here.” Lowery loves it so much that when she began her tenure at UNCP four years ago, she didn’t move back to Robeson County. Lowery has been across the higher education gamut, working in fundraising at Methodist University, Fayetteville Technical Community College and Fayetteville State University. Perhaps Lowery has the longest commute to work (35 minutes) out of our key players and she uses that time to decompress and think about everything she has to accomplish during her work day and then later at home as a mother of two. “It probably makes me a better mother, because on the way home I get to cool off from a busy day.”
When addressing motherhood, work and balance, Lowery said simply, “It’s not easy. It can be a struggle and over the past year I became a ‘student’ and I started reading on how mothers are successful in their careers.” She continued, “I look at it now as a seesaw. Maybe one day, your family will be at the top and work will suffer and the next day it your work is at the top. I had to get rid of guilt. Once I was able to do that, I became successful in both.” Lowery believes her children have a strong work ethic because of the example she has showed them. And with fundraising, Lowery recognizes she has to be “on” 24/7 because her career is all about building relationships. On productivity, Lowery uses a calendar (even though most busy women use their iPhones) in order to stay on top of tasks and she encourages women to not sweat the small stuff, surround yourself with positive, good people who keep your confidence level up. And she can’t forget to-do lists either.
And like Dr. Council, she didn’t chose the higher education life, the higher education life chose her. When the job at Methodist came available at the beginning of her fundraising career, she took it on.
As a woman in higher education, Lowery’s advice to others is not to sit back… but to grab a seat at the table.
Wendy Lowery
Vice Chancellor of Advancement, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Wendy Lowery was reared in Lumberton, completed her bachelors and masters at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and now resides in Gray’s Creek. “I am a true girl of the south. I haven’t lived anywhere else but Robeson and Cumberland counties,” Lowery said with a smile. “When I moved to Fayetteville, I knew in order to be successful, I needed to be engrained in the community and I love it here.” Lowery loves it so much that when she began her tenure at UNCP four years ago, she didn’t move back to Robeson County. Lowery has been across the higher education gamut, working in fundraising at Methodist University, Fayetteville Technical Community College and Fayetteville State University. Perhaps Lowery has the longest commute to work (35 minutes) out of our key players and she uses that time to decompress and think about everything she has to accomplish during her work day and then later at home as a mother of two. “It probably makes me a better mother, because on the way home I get to cool off from a busy day.”
When addressing motherhood, work and balance, Lowery said simply, “It’s not easy. It can be a struggle and over the past year I became a ‘student’ and I started reading on how mothers are successful in their careers.” She continued, “I look at it now as a seesaw. Maybe one day, your family will be at the top and work will suffer and the next day it your work is at the top. I had to get rid of guilt. Once I was able to do that, I became successful in both.” Lowery believes her children have a strong work ethic because of the example she has showed them. And with fundraising, Lowery recognizes she has to be “ on” 24/7 because her career is all about building relationships. On productivity, Lowery uses a calendar (even though most busy women use their iPhones) in order to stay on top of tasks and she encourages women to not sweat the small stuff, surround yourself with positive, good people who keep your confidence level up. And she can’t forget to-do lists either.
And like Dr. Council, she didn’t chose the higher education life, the higher education life chose her. When the job at Methodist came available at the beginning of her fundraising career, she took it on.
As a woman in higher education, Lowery’s advice to others is not to sit back… but to grab a seat at the table.
Dr. DeSandra Washington
Dean, Fayetteville Technical Community College Spring Lake Campus
A native of Fayetteville and graduate of E.E. Smith, Dr. Washington headed to North Carolina Central University to complete her post-high school education all the way through to her doctorate. As the dean of the Spring Lake FTCC campus, she is very involved with the Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce as well as the Fayetteville Regional Chamber and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
After working in the public school system in Charlotte, she felt it didn’t meet her needs and wants as she sought to work with adults in continuing education. “It was just the right avenue for me,” she said.
Dr. Washington has been with FTCC for over 15 years and thanks her mentors who have helped her along the way, filling many different roles at the community college and moving up the ladder.
She enjoys meeting the needs of the Spring Lake community, which is continuing education, as it is her passion. “I love to see people succeed. It’s a diverse population at Spring Lake and I am always fighting for the underdog,” she confessed. “It’s important for people to understand their worth.”
Dr. Washington enjoys going into the Spring Lake community and serving those who need it most. Currently, she is involved in Leadership Fayetteville. “It comes along with the job. You have to accommodate the civic components of the profession.”
