Marcia Sturdivant PhD is shown after accepting her New Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence award in June 2012. (Photo by J.L. Martello/File)
After a national search, The Negro Education Emergency Drive, NEED, found it’s new president and CEO right in its own back yard.
The 50-year-old scholarship and mentoring agency announced today that Marcia Sturdivant PhD, current deputy director of Allegheny County’s Office of Children Youth and Families, has accepted the position.
She will officially take the reigns July 1, replacing interim CEO and board member Claudette R. Lewis.
““It is a great day for NEED to name Dr. Sturdivant to lead this enduring 50 year old organization,” said Lewis. “We are fortunate to have attracted a person of her caliber, educational and professional background. NEED is in excellent hands to meet the challenges facing the young people we serve.”
Sturdivant earned her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh and is an internationally recognized leader in the field of child welfare, education and psychology. She began her career with CYF in 1990, and has served as deputy director since 1998.
UPMC Diversity Director and NEED board President Candi Castleberry-Singleton said NEED will be in good hands with Sturdivant in charge.
“We believe Marcia’s passion for youth and education will serve as a guiding light for the future direction of NEED,” she said. “We are excited that she has responded to the very important mission of providing career and college access, helping youth complete higher education, and meet their highest potential.”
She was recocnized by the New Pittsburgh Courier as one of their 50 Women of Excellence in 2012.
Dr. Sturdivant’s commitment to persons of color extends globally and she was highlighted recently in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for her work with Somalian refugees. She also has been cited by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of Forty Local, Gifted and Black African American Leaders and is a contributing author of the National Association of African American Studies Monograph Series.
Dr. Sturdivant is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2007 National Association of Black Administrators in Child Welfare Valeria Bullard Award as the nation’s Black Administrator of the Year, Three Rivers Youth 2005 Nellie Award for Community Leadership, the Urban League of Pittsburgh’s 2009 Ron Brown Civic Award, and the 2009 Josh Gibson Civil Service Award.
A woman of faith, Dr. Sturdivant directs the Children’s Church and Children’s Choir at Nazarene Baptist Church in Pittsburgh and has committed her personal and professional life to improving the quality of life for children and being a voice for those who are unable to advocate for themselves. Dr. Sturdivant is married to Larry Anderson, Sr. and is the proud mother of two sons, Larry Jr. and Marshall
Currently NEED provides nearly $1 million in college grants to deserving students each year, and since 1963 has provided almost $20 million in support to more than 19,000 young people.