N.C. A&T Alumni Times

Dr. Robert L. Canida, II ’14 was recently recognized by the University of North Carolina System for his humanitarian efforts with the Erskine B. Bowles Staff Service Award. According to the UNC System Staff Assembly, the award is given to a permanent, full-time staff member who has shown exemplary understanding, empathy and devotion to mankind and whose accomplishments are consistent with the goals exemplified by Erskine B. Bowles during his tenure as UNC president and in accordance with the university’s public service mission.

Canida, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, started his public service career in North Carolina in 1995 when he moved to work for the library administration for the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. In 2003, he was named the first director of minority affairs at UNC-Pembroke, which was newly created. In this role, he provided leadership for overseeing programs and services that promote the academic, personal growth and development of minority students. As UNC-Pembroke grew, the office underwent two name changes in order to better serve the growing diverse student population. Therefore in 2013, the Office for Multicultural and Minority Affairs, became the Office for Diversity and Inclusion.

“When I first moved to Lumberton, N.C. it was a culture shock being in one of the poorest counties in the state and being a transplant from a major city,” said Canida. “However, I believe that God put me here for a reason and I have learned so much more about myself living in the rural south.”

For Canida, he believes in the personal touch with diversity and inclusion and creating an environment where students can speak up to be heard without feeling judged. The cultural diversity makeup of the student population at UNC-Pembroke is majority American Indian, Caucasian and African American.

“Due to my upbringing, I was raised by really strong women, who taught me the importance of being a great listener and to treat everyone with respect,” said Canida. “This skill has helped me to make an impact on this campus by understanding as humans we all need love and respect from each other. It’s important to me that I continue reaching one student at a time.”

On March 26, Canida was honored at a special award reception by UNC President Margaret Spellings.

“It was an honor to be named as the recipient of this award in recognition of a former UNC System president,” said Canida. “Especially, being the first African American chair of the Staff Council Senate at UNC-Pembroke and the first UNC Pembroke staff member to receive this prestigious award, I knew this moment was a really big deal for my university, my family and myself.”

In the future, Canida plans to continue working in higher education and hopes to one day become a vice chancellor or vice president of student affairs.

Canida received his bachelor’s in political science from Xavier University, masters in library and information sciences from the University of Kentucky, and his doctorate in interdisciplinary leadership studies from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.