BLACK ALUMNI Together
Leadership
Laurie L. Brogdon
Founder, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and President/CEO
As CEO and President of Black Alumni Together, Laurie Brogdon leads a visionary, independent organization dedicated to uniting Black alumni across the nation. Under her leadership, the organization has become a transformative platform that celebrates, amplifies, and preserves the collective narrative of Black alumni. In her dual role as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Laurie advances the mission to foster connection, collaboration, and purpose-driven leadership among Black alumni and students—100% of the time. Through innovative partnerships and a bold, inclusive approach, Black Alumni Together transcends institutional boundaries to build a national community rooted in legacy, service, and excellence.
Laurie is widely recognized for her cultural fluency, strategic thinking, and a lifelong passion for planning experiences that bring people together. Her expertise in event planning—a space where she consistently excels—has allowed her to craft inclusive, high-impact gatherings that leave lasting impressions and foster genuine community. She has produced dozens of large-scale, high-impact events that center Black excellence, engage diverse audiences, and foster meaningful dialogue and celebration. Laurie's signature events, including the award-winning Black Alumni Reunions at Virginia Tech (2010, 2012, 2023) and the DMV Black Alumni Weekend, reflect her unmatched talent for designing experiences that combine purpose, pride, and unforgettable moments. Event planning is not only her professional expertise—it is the heart of her work and her favorite way to build lasting community.
With over two decades of experience, Laurie has advised university presidents, collaborated with national nonprofit leaders, and designed programs that uplift underrepresented voices and stories. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the fields of higher education advancement, Black alumni engagement, inclusive leadership, and of course, event strategy and planning. A proud double alumna of Virginia Tech, Laurie holds a B.A. and M.A. in Communications.
Before assuming her current role, Laurie built a distinguished career in alumni relations, donor engagement, and advancement. At American University, she led strategy and operations for alumni and annual giving, overseeing outreach to more than 20,000 alumni and managing events and campaigns supporting a $10 million annual fundraising goal. Prior to that, she held senior positions at the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Strayer University, and Virginia Tech, where she consistently expanded outreach, improved engagement metrics, and cultivated meaningful relationships between institutions and their alumni communities. She built an alumni program from the ground up, increasing engagement by over 400% and tripling the number of active alumni chapters nationwide.
Laurie’s tenure at Virginia Tech included two pivotal leadership roles: Director of External Relations and the university’s first Director of Multicultural Alumni Programs. In addition to her renowned Black Alumni Reunions, she founded Ex Lapide, the university’s LGBTQ+ alumni group, and helped establish an endowed scholarship to support underrepresented students. Her early career also includes impactful alumni engagement work at Cornell University and the University of Maryland, where she worked closely with high-profile donors, volunteers, and advisory boards to amplify institutional goals.
Latanya Walker
Board of Directors
Latanya Walker is a proud Virginia Tech alumna, higher education professional, and lifelong advocate for student success and inclusive alumni engagement. Latanya served as Director of Alumni Relations for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement at Virginia Tech, where she spent 10 years fostering meaningful connections between the university and its multicultural alumni communities.
Throughout her tenure, Latanya was known for building bridges between past and present Hokies—creating programs, events, and partnerships that honored legacy, elevated diverse voices, and cultivated a strong sense of belonging among underrepresented alumni. Her leadership was instrumental in aligning alumni engagement with institutional diversity goals, and her impact continues to resonate across the Hokie Nation.
Before transitioning to alumni relations, Latanya spent over a decade supporting students through roles in the university’s Upward Bound program and as an academic advisor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Her early career included positions in counseling and human services, reflecting her lifelong dedication to access, empowerment, and community care.
Latanya earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree from Radford University. Today, she continues her service as a member of the Board of Directors for Black Alumni Together, where she helps guide a national movement to unite, amplify, and celebrate Black alumni across generations and institutions.
Latanya’s legacy is one of warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to connection—values she continues to embody in her work with Black Alumni Together and the broader alumni community.