New SGA President Joins PCC Trustees Board

WINTERVILLE—Pitt Community College Trustees welcomed their newest member Aug. 25, when Student Government Association President Najella Williams was sworn onto the governing board as an ex-officio member.

Williams, who was elected to her SGA role during the spring semester, fills the board spot previously held by Curtisia Canady, who graduated from Pitt in May. Though she is a non-voting member, Williams will serve as the voice of PCC’s student body throughout the 2020-21 academic year.

A University Transfer student, Williams says her focus as SGA president will be to maintain a cohesive campus community as PCC continues to operate remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic. She plans to make good use of social media platforms and video conferencing software for meetings and activities that help students and employees “overcome the distance of social distancing” and stay connected.

“I know that many SGA presidents have probably stated that they wanted to see unity within campus between students, faculty and staff,” Williams said. “But this needs to be the year that we really strive to make this happen. My cabinet and I will do our part and be there for our student body.”

Though it was difficult to imagine as she participated in her first board meeting, Williams says she was shy as a youngster growing up in Bertie County. Bullying, she said, robbed her of confidence, until she made a conscious decision to conquer it when she reached her high school years.

“It’s the pain that makes us who we are today; it’s never the success,” she says. “Use your struggle to actually make you a better person, to help you get to the goals that you want to accomplish.”

Williams credits her participation in the Teen Court program at Bertie Early College High School with helping her regain self-esteem. She worked her way from prosecuting attorney to defense lawyer to junior commissioner before graduating in 2019.

Though she wasn’t sure exactly what career she wanted to pursue after receiving her diploma, Williams said she opted to follow in her family’s footsteps and enroll at Pitt for general education courses. She is now pursuing a career as a broadcast news reporter and hopes to host a TV show someday.

“I just love talking to people,” she said. “My main goal in life is to help the community. I want to make sure that I can help the community that helped me – help them have the same opportunities for success that I’ve had.”

09/08/2020