La Donia Alfred Jefferies

La Donia is an NCAT alum who wrote a popular children's book, “Homecoming,” about NCAT's homecoming culture. She also co-wrote another children's book called the HBCU's ABC's. However, before that, she worked as part of the Obama administration campaign, hearing her call to politics. She later became a field organizer for voting precincts in the A&T and Bennett College areas. That job turned into an unexpected career in Virginia state politics and later a relocation to Ohio. La Donia's accomplishments and determination are never at a halt, as today she continues her schooling and advocating for human rights. “I wrote the book because I could not find a book about North Carolina A&T homecoming, so I wrote the first book,” Jefferies said.

Before this, she was part of the Obama campaign, involved in Virginia and Ohio politics, where her interest in politics and advocacy grew. “This was so long ago, I hosted events with Alicia Keys, Kevin Hart, Trey Songz, and I got to attend Obama's inauguration,” Jefferies said. La Donia Alfred Jefferies wrote a book covering the culture at North Carolina A&T, specifically the homecoming, explaining the acronym of HBCUs. Currently, she is a part of a non-profit organization, Community Justice. In May, Jefferies is going to be the first woman in the State of North Carolina to graduate with a doctorate degree in animal science.

 La Donia Alford Jefferies was a part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority incorporated. She was as well Miss 1908, a part of the NAACP, and a part of the honor college. Because of her Miss statues, La Donia was able to ride the Homecoming float yet again. “It felt surreal to see my parents in the crowd, and I’m waving at them. It was like, how did this happen?” she says. “It was definitely like life had come full circle.”

She went to high school at Grimsley High School and went to college at NCAT to study animal science. She later went to graduate school at Georgia State University from Fort Valley State University.

Her service to the community would be the impact of her two books, exposing young children to visual HBCU representation. Currently, she is the Director of Financial Operations of the non-profit Community Justice, where all rights are reserved for everyone. Currently, this organization is having a conversation about changing the conversation on gun violence prevention by interacting with families who have been affected. “I think my career is going well, and I just wanted to create a space to advocate for others,” Jefferies said.

 La Donia Alford Jefferies was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. La-Donia’s mother was a professor with NC A&T School of Business and Winston Salem State University for almost 40 years, and her father was an alum with lifetime football season tickets. She attended A&T’s Child Development Laboratory, a preschool. That’s when she rode her first homecoming parade float, as a toddler. This new experience was the beginning of her exposure to the NCAT culture. “I’ve been attending homecoming since I was 3 years old,” Jeferries said. “I’ve also been attending the child development lab because my mom worked there, so that’s why I was in the parade.”

La Donia Alfred Jeffries has had an eventful career in the beginning of her years out of college, and she continues to pursue her efforts in communities that need it the most. Collecting her doctorate from North Carolina A&T State University in May, La Donia's work is far from done.  Because of her strong skill set, La Donia was able to transform challenging spaces into spaces suitable for her team members and colleagues. With over 15 years of non-profit leadership experience, she continues to push for HBCU acknowledgment, specifically North Carolina A&T, and the importance of culture.