Category: Education
Dr. Pamela Olivia Gilchrist
Director, Imhotep and Kyran Anderson Academies
North Carolina State University, The College of Science – The Science House
Raleigh, NC
BS, Middle School Education, Science and Social Studies Concentration
MAED, Instructional Technology
Ph.d, Educational Research and Policy Analysis
SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE (SM): Describe what makes you a successful leader in the category for which
you were honored?
Dr. Pamela Olivia Gilchrist (POG): What makes me a successful leader is that I am committed to serving
and helping any person realize their potential, understand the world around them, discover their passion,
and transform the world doing it.
SM: Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe
someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?
POG: There are so many strong, God-fearing, African-American women who have
impacted my life in a tremendous way as a leader. As child, my mother, Harriett
Gilchrist instilled in me the importance of never giving up and doing all I can to
excel in school. My sister, Lorrie Gilchrist Brown, who supported me during my
high school and college years, demonstrated the importance of making sacrifices
to meet the needs of others and those you love. As a high school senior, Ms.
Amy Haigler and Reverend Anna Maynor assisted me with preparing for
college when I had no idea what to expect as a first generation college student.
They encouraged me to press towards my dreams in the mist of many trials,
struggles, and unknowns. In college and my professional career, three ladies
invested into my life as an educator, Dr. Patti Sanders-Smith, the late Esther
Morris, and Dr. Joyce Hilliard-Clark. These ladies taught me how to embrace
life with grace, purpose, and persistence.
SM: What problem or condition in your respective field do you want to solve or
improve?
POG: I want every child to have equal access to quality science, technology,
engineering and mathematics education no matter their geographical location,
gender, or race.
SM: What legacy will you like to leave behind?
POG: The legacy I want to leave behind is that my life was lived to empower others to reach their life
long dreams.
www.spectacularmag.com | November 2014 | SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE
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