New Interviews Added to Student Leadership Initiative

Three new video oral histories have been added to the Student Leadership Initiative , which chronicles the experiences and impact of former North Carolina State University student leaders. People recently interviewed are Wesley A. McClure (Student Body President, 1967-1969), Stephen G. Rea (Student Body Treasurer, 1980-1981), and the Honorable Ronald E. Spivey (Student Body President, 1981-1982).  Excerpts of the videos are available online.

In his interview Wes McClure discusses the adoption, in 1969, of a new Student Government constitution that is still in effect today. He talks about the beginnings of  the Free Expression Tunnel and student reactions to the 1960s North Carolina Speakers Ban.  He also describes the School of Design in the 1960s. After graduation from NC State in 1969 McClure became an architect, and he was a principal of McClure Hopkins Architects and other firms.  He and his wife are founders of Savvy Parrot, Inc., the developer of “Adventures on Pepi’s Island," a web-based social emotional learning software.

In his interview Steve Rea discusses building consensus in Student Government and working on such hard issues as student fee increases.  He also talks about mentors and his leadership role in the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the importance those had on his career.  After earning both bachelor and master degrees from NC State, Rea worked at Carolina Power & Light and then Heyward Incorporated, where he has been most recently the Senior Vice President for Power Capital Sales.

In his interview Judge Ron Spivey discusses working with administrators to expand operation hours of  a campus snack bar and a gym. He talks about serving as the student member of the Board of Trustees, opening lines of communication with students, and meeting such influential people as Roy H. Park and Gov. Jim Hunt.  He also recounts the start of the desk-signing tradition of Student Body Presidents.  After graduating from NC State in 1982, Spivey earned a law degree, and later he became a North Carolina District Court judge and a Superior Court judge.

Since its launch in 2010, the Student Leadership Initiative has sought ways in which to more fully connect users with university history, enrich university archives by adding personal narratives, and positively impact learning and research in the NCSU Libraries Special Collections Research Center . This multi-year program has chronicled the experiences and impact of former student leaders through the collection of video oral histories and the development of interactive virtual and physical exhibits, with the ultimate aim being to better expose how the college career informs a life.