| During its annual meeting on Nov. 15, the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities (APLU) will present North Carolina A&T State University alumnus and former chairman of the Board of Trustees, Willie Deese ’77, with the 1890 Universities Career Exemplar Award.
The award recognizes alumni from the 19 historically black land-grant universities who have made outstanding advancements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and/or related careers and have provided exceptional mentorship to other talented, aspiring students in similar career fields.
In a letter to Deese, APLU president M. Peter McPherson said Deese’s “professional and personal contributions exemplify the importance of broadened access and opportunity which the Second Morrill Act helped realize and the mission of your undergraduate alma mater embodies.”
“APLU proudly acknowledges the significance of your contributions in your distinguished careers and for generating pathways for others,” McPherson said.
Deese is the executive vice president and president of the Merck Manufacturing Division with responsibility for Merck’s worldwide manufacturing operations. He manages a network of more than 80 manufacturing and distribution sites with approximately 26,000 employees in more than 25 countries around the world.
Deese graduated from N.C. A&T with a B.A. in business administration in 1977. He earned his M.B.A. from Western New England College in 1983.
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