The Graduate College Inducts Boyce '15, Grady '18 as Inaugural Hall of Fame Members

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 11, 2025) – The Graduate College at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has inducted Crystal W. Boyce ‘15 and Siobahn Day Grady ‘18, Ph.D., as inaugural members of its Hall of Fame.

Boyce, who earned an M.S. in adult education and B.S. in journalism and mass communication from N.C. A&T in 2007, is associate vice chancellor for Alumni Relations at the university. In this role, she oversees programs and operations that engage and support more than 70,000 alumni worldwide. From coordinating The Greatest Homecoming on Earth to leading commencement recognition and milestone celebrations for the 50-year (Golden) and 25-year (Silver) anniversary classes, she plays a pivotal role in preserving Aggie traditions and strengthening alumni connections. As a key member of the A&T leadership team, she is a prominent public representative of the university, fostering relationships with one of its most vital constituencies: its alumni. Her dedication and leadership ensure that Aggies remain connected to their alma mater for a lifetime.

Grady made history as the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer science from A&T. Since then, she has distinguished herself as a leader in academia, innovation and service, dedicating her career to advancing equity and social justice through technology. As director of the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Equity Research at North Carolina Central University, she spearheads groundbreaking initiatives that address bias in artificial intelligence (AI), equity in human-computer interaction and the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Her research focuses on developing frameworks to ensure fairness in AI governance, working to create systems that promote inclusivity rather than perpetuate inequalities. Through her pioneering work, she is shaping the future of AI while advocating for a more just and equitable technological landscape. Her contributions continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation of scholars and innovators.

The Graduate College Strategic Advisory Board, formed during the 2021-22 academic year, established the Hall of Fame in conjunction with The Graduate College to recognize the outstanding alumni of N.C. A&T’s master’s and doctoral programs for their accomplishments.

The board chose Boyce and Grady as the hall’s first inductees based on eligibility criteria and a thorough review process.

The Graduate School Hall of Fame provides opportunities for its member alumni to remain engaged with the university and increase awareness of the need to support A&T graduate students.

“It was an historic day as we celebrated the accomplishments of two of our distinguished alumnae of graduate programs here at A&T,” said Clay Gloster, Ph.D., The Graduate College dean. “We plan to continue to let the Triad, the state, and the nation know about the outstanding accomplishments of our graduates.”

The university awarded its first graduate degree in 1941 to Woodland Ellroy Hall, who earned an M.S. in agricultural education with his master’s thesis, “A Study of the Needs in Vocational Agricultural Education of Negroes in Gates County, North Carolina.”

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors approved A&T’s first doctoral programs – electrical engineering and mechanical engineering – Oct. 1, 1993.

Today, The Graduate College has more than 10,000 alumni.

Additionally, U.S. News & World Report has recognized six of A&T’s programs in its latest “Best Graduate School” rankings: MBA, tied at No. 77 and the highest rated among all historically Black colleges and universities; M.S. in mental health counseling, tied at No. 49; and the College of Engineering, tied at 149, with its industrial and systems engineering program tied at No. 55, mechanical engineering program tied at No. 133 and electrical engineering program tied at No. 138.