Robyn S. Massey, ’81

Distinguished Alumna Award

“It was not simply career preparation that Robyn Massey took away from UNC Charlotte, but also a sense of obligation to humanity as an agent of change,” states Nancy Gutierrez, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. “Robyn exudes quiet determination and is committed to making the university and the greater Charlotte communities more engaging, active, and inclusive.”

Robyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 1981 and her MBA from Wake Forest University. Upon graduation from Wake Forest, she began a career with IBM – the first UNC Charlotte graduate with that honor – a career that spans nearly 30 years, the last 13 of which have been spent serving as a Project Executive for IBM Global Services.

But Robyn’s mission goes far beyond that of the office or university. She works tirelessly to develop and participate in programs which give individuals a voice. She believes people are disadvantaged not because of intelligence, but because of access.

Robyn served as president of the Alumni Board of Directors from 2008 to 2010. During her first year, she went on a “listening tour” of all the colleges, exploring how the Alumni Association could partner with the academic units to better serve their common constituency.

“This initiative provides a snapshot of Robyn’s style of engagement,” says Gutierrez. “She initiates and takes the lead, without being overbearing; she looks for common points of association, without forcing the issue; and she looks for common goals and interests. She understands that relationships are the foundation for successful projects and strives to thoughtfully build these relationships over time.”

Robyn has served as a board member of the UNC Charlotte Black Alumni Chapter; was an advisory council member for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; and currently serves on the UNC Charlotte Foundation Board. She also served on the Green Tie Gala and Levine Scholars program inaugural committees. The list goes on. Yet, her civic service does not end with her board and council appointments.

She conceptualized a mentoring program at UNC Charlotte, designed to prepare students for their foray into corporate America. She partnered with the United Black Professionals, a student organization, to coordinate a series of panel discussions that explored discovering new career fields, entrepreneurship, and business etiquette and networking. She also initiated the Harper-Herman Thomas scholarship.

“Robyn is extremely proud to be a 49er and always wants to share the exciting projects she is working on as an alumni volunteer” recalls Anne McNeill, Senior Manager of the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge. “She is one of the finest people I have had the opportunity to work with on making our community and the world a better place. Her passion for UNC Charlotte is evident in everything she does.”