N.C. A&T Alumni Times

N.C. A&T Alumnus, Christopher Wallace Receives Erskine B. Bowles Staff Service Award

Christopher Wallace ’03 was recently recognized by the University of North Carolina System for his humanitarian efforts for 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.

Since 2012, Wallace has served as the director of the Communiversity Youth Program and Undergraduate Programs at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this position, he assist with training UNC students how to work with K-12 students in a unique after school program. In addition, he manages two fellowship programs; the Undergraduate International Studies Fellowship that is designed to assist students who have limited or no abroad travel experience an opportunity to travel and study abroad, and the Sean Douglas Leadership Fellows Program, which allows a student the chance to work alongside the Center Director and hone their leadership skills.

“It’s incredible to be recognized by the UNC System for our hard work and dedication to the youth in the community. My hope is that the young people we serve will understand the magnitude of this award and feel proud to be a part of this moment with us,” said Wallace.

Wallace, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, journey to this point wasn’t easy and he uses his testimony to impact the lives of youth through his “Chris Inspires You,” motivational speaking platform.

“When I was six months old, my mother dropped me off at the doorstep of my grandmother’s house and I was raised largely by my dad, who was also abusing drugs at that time, and partially by my grandmother. I didn’t meet my mom until the age of 16 and I was a teenager who was sparring with my dad and other family members because I felt like I knew everything. My grades were subpar and I was spiraling out of control academically as well. And now when I look back on my journey and I am now comfortable with telling my story, I am so proud of my dad because not only has he overcome his addiction but he is also an awesome dad to me,” said Wallace.

When Wallace attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, he majored in journalism and mass communications with a concentration in print. After he graduated in 2003, he interned for the Carolina Panthers for two years in the public relations department. He later obtained a position in higher education that he held for two years until he was terminated after a misunderstanding with a supervisor.

“Being fired changed my life and my career trajectory, I was just promoted in my role, my wife was pregnant with our first son and I had just closed on my first house. I made a decision at that moment that I would work in a position that I desired and that could provide me an opportunity to inspire young people,” said Wallace.

In 2008, Wallace became the director of the Spirit of Excellence program for the Black Child Development Institute. He was responsible for training 30 full-time AmeriCorps tutors to work with at-risk youth in an afterschool program. In 2012, he secured his role at UNC-Chapel Hill as the program director of the Communiversity Youth Program and Undergraduate Programs at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History.

In 2016, Wallace received the Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award, one of UNC’s most prestigious and highest service honors. In 2017 he received the University Diversity Award, one of the highest diversity honors at UNC. That same year, he also received the Hometown Hero Award from WCHL-Radio in Chapel Hill.

“Through all of my accomplishments, the most important one to me is being a great husband and father to my two sons. My wife, Latasha Wallace ’04, makes me the best version of myself and she sharpens me to be better,” he said.

Wallace received a second bachelor’s degree in communications studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2006, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University in 2011.

In the future, Wallace plans to continue being the best version of himself by serving youth and encouraging people through his profession.

"If you want happiness, you have to learn to love yourself, discover who you are and what you desire, own your dreams and embrace your struggles.”