Lassiter to receive School of Communication’s distinguished alumni award

The East Carolina University School of Communication’s Seventh Annual Spring Reception will include presentation of the school’s distinguished alumni award to communication professional Valeria Lassiter. The event is set for 6 p.m. April 20 at the Greenville Museum of Art.

Valeria Lassiter

The award recognizes alumni with a minimum of four years of work history, outstanding and uncommon achievement in one’s profession, in civic affairs, and/or politics.

Lassiter, who graduated from ECU in 1990, is the founder and CEO of Lassiter & Associates, a strategic partnership and fundraising management firm based in Chevy Chase, Md. She has more than 20 years of experience in the private, government and nonprofit sectors. Her clients come from education, arts and culture, unions, faith-based and public policy organizations.

“It is an honor for me to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Communication. I am deeply appreciative of my experience at ECU,” Lassiter said.

Lassiter is an instructor for the Georgetown University executive nonprofit management certificate program, where she has trained more than 1,000 executives in corporate-nonprofit partnerships, development and fundraising. Before forming Lassiter & Associates in 2003, she was vice president of development for the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation and project director for the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities, Bridges from School to Work program.

A champion for women’s rights and women in leadership, Lassiter served as the administrative director for the 75th anniversary celebration of women suffrage in America, and she is chair of the board of directors for the Women’s Roundtable at ECU, leading an effort to create a legacy of women leaders and raise access scholarships for students. In addition to her bachelor’s degree from ECU, Lassiter holds a master of divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School.

The annual reception is organized by CommCrew, the school’s alumni and supporters’ organization. Priced at $25 for the public and $10 for students, tickets to the reception are available by calling 252-328-4227.

The reception follows an open house to showcase the school’s new multimedia newsroom and communication center, set for 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the Joyner East classroom building on campus. Read more about the open house at http://blog.ecu.edu/sites/poeight/?p=5690.

Both events are open to the public.