Raised a stone’s throw from UNC Pembroke’s campus, Caleb Malcolm always knew he would graduate from the institution where he spent his childhood summers.

His brothers, David, James, Joseph and Joshua, and their mother, Vera, all turned their tassel at UNCP. His grandfather, the late Rev. C.E. Locklear, was among the earliest graduates in 1927 when the university was known as Cherokee Indian Normal School.

Caleb wasn’t about to break the family tradition.

“I always knew I would be a Brave, it was just a question of my path."  

Turns out, his path would mirror that of his older brother Joshua, earning a commission from the U.S. Air Force in 1997. He enjoyed a 20-year career achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel and retired as deputy director of Communications with the U.S. Air Forces Central Command at Shaw Air Force Base.

He returned home and launched a second career with Lumbee River Electric Membership Cooperation. He serves as vice president of Information Technology and Chief Operations Officer for LREMC Technologies, but continues to make time to give back to his alma mater, recently being elected president of UNC Pembroke’s Alumni Association board of directors.

His term begins July 1.

In addition to Malcolm, Kelli Wallace was elected first vice president. Chris Peterkin was named second vice president and Allison Harrington, secretary. Owen Thomas will serve as immediate past president.

The board also welcomed four new members – Daphne Holland, ’97;

Tamra Lowry, ’12; Jacqueline Shedrick, ’09; and Emily Oxendine, ’13.

Malcolm describes the 20-member board as “high-caliber, high-passion believers in UNCP.”

“The executive committee, along with the Advancement team, is actively developing common, collaborative, aggressive but achievable goals for the association and the board,” he said.

“At the end of the day, time, talent and treasure are the gifts of all alumni, and we as a board will to continue to nurture those that are giving, reach those that are not giving and inspire those who will soon be members of the Alumni Association.” 

After serving two decades in the military, Malcolm says he reached a point where he is able to give his time and talent to the institution that helped springboard his career. His love for UNCP runs deep.

Under his leadership, the board will develop new initiatives to reach and connect with alumni locally, regionally and worldwide.

“Connection with one’s alma mater is at its core, a relationship,” he said. “That means a two-way effort for two-way benefit. There are older alumni and younger alumni that need their relationship with UNCP nurtured or renewed with the support and collaboration of affinity groups, departments, other alumni or friends of the university. Partnering with those groups will be the cornerstone to reaching the vast number of alumni.”