Alumni Spotlight Wall: 28 Tigers Who Have Made and are Making History

By Savannah State University

During the month of February, each day, as we celebrate Black history, we will shine a light on Savannah State University’s notable alumni who have made and are making history.

Traci Adams, class of ‘00

Traci Adams, class of ‘00, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and graduated cum laude. Upon graduating, Adams began her career as a Programming & Promotions Assistant at Radio One. Adams is currently the Executive Vice President for Promotion at Epic Records, an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment. 

From Mariah Carey to Future, Adams has worked with every artist across the board. Adams is also credited for her recent work on projects like “Khaled, Khaled,” which hit number one on the Billboard charts upon its 2021 release, and artist Bia’s “Whole lot of Money” in addition to other major projects. 

Adams served as a board member for the 2021 XXL Awards and was honored by Billboard as a 2021 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Player. 

She was also Savannah State University’s 190th commencement ceremony speaker.  

Donnie Cochran, class of ’75

Captain Donnie Cochran, class of ‘76, is an SSU NROTC graduate earning a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering Technology and a commission in the United States Navy. Captain Cochran was raised on a farm near Pelham, GA, with 11 brothers and sisters. He was inspired by the military planes flying over his family’s farm, and dreams of flight led him to make history as the first African American Blue Angels pilot and flight leader.

In 1984, Captain Cochran applied for the Blue Angels but was not chosen for the team. He decided to give it another go in 1985 and made history when he was chosen to be on the 1986 team. 

As part of his interview, he was asked if he would feel additional pressure as the first Black pilot to fly with the Blues. In an article published by The Naval History and Heritage Command, Captain Cochran gave his response: “Well, I don’t think it’s a matter of am I going to feel additional pressures or not. It is a matter of how I am going to deal with the pressure. And I believe that flying off the ship day and night has given me a perspective and some of the skills necessary to deal with the pressures that [come with] being a part of the team.”

Captain Cochran went on to be a professor of Naval Science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Florida State University. He was also recognized as the 1989 Black Engineer of the year. 

On May 10, 1991, Savannah State University dedicated the Blue Angels motif A-4 Skyhawk aircraft display to Captain Cochran, and in 2017 he visited the campus for a discussion and the signing of his book Glad to be Here: My Lessons Learned as a Blue Angels Flight Leader and Pilot. 

Captain Cochran is a 2022 inductee to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.

Ezinne Kalu, class of ‘15

Ezinne Kalu, class of ‘15, is from Newark New Jersey. Kalu earned her bachelor’s degree in African Studies and went on to lead the Nigerian women’s basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That was only Nigeria’s second appearance in the nation’s history on the Olympic stage in the sport.

Kalu has played for the Nigerian national team since being recruited in 2011 while a student-athlete at Savannah State. Kalu was an integral piece of the first MEAC Championship winning team in 2015. She was also the first to score over 2,000 career points at SSU.  

As an undergraduate Kalu was also recruited to play professionally in the European basketball league. She was named the 2016 Guard of the Year Portugal 1st Division; Captain of the Nigeran National Team 2016-17; 2017 Afro-Basketball Tournament Champion; 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Budapest 1st Division; 2018 Co-Captain of Nigerian Team; 2019 MVP of Afro-Basket Tournament; 2019 Afro-Basketball Tournament Champion; 2020 Top 12 Best Player of Africa; 2020 1st Team All-French Player; 2020 1st Team All-Imports France League; 2020 Guard of the Year France 1st Division. 

Jerome Miller, class of ’75

Born in 1954, the late Jerome Miller, class of ‘75, earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics. Miller was the founder, owner, and Chief Executive Officer of J. Miller & Company management consulting firm.  

Prior to his retirement as vice president (VP) for Diversity and Inclusion at Toyota Motor Inc., Miller served as the chief people officer at Kumho Tire Georgia, senior VP and Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer at TIAA-CREF, and VP of Diversity and Social Responsibility at Toyota Motor Sales. Miller was also VP for Global Diversity and Community Affairs at Delta Air Lines and president of Delta Airlines Foundation. 

During his distinguished career, Miller’s leadership and achievements were recognized by numerous organizations including Latina Style, Working Women, Diversity Inc, and Black Enterprise. He was featured in many publications including Ebony, Atlanta Tribune and Who’s Who.  

Curtis V. Cooper, class of ’55

The late Curtis V. Cooper, class of ‘55, born in 1932 in Savannah, GA, was a healthcare and civil rights leader. Cooper is known for reshaping health care for the poor in Savannah. In 1972, he secured funds for the establishment of a comprehensive health center for the city’s impoverished and served as its executive director. Under his management, it grew into the Westside-Urban Health Center, a major medical resource. The center saw its first patients in 1974 from a makeshift building on West Bay Street. 

On March 12, 2004, the ribbon was cut on a new state-of-the-art health care center at 106 E. Broad Street. As soon as ground was broken for this new facility in 2002, the Board of Directors, staff and citizens throughout Savannah and Chatham County knew that the organization should bear the name of Curtis V. Cooper. 

Cooper is also known for becoming one of the first Black members of Memorial Medical Center’s board of directors. He became chair of that same board. He also was the chair of the Chatham County Hospital Authority and served on the Georgia State Access to Health Care Commission and the Georgia State Health Strategies Council. Cooper led the local Youth Council of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and later became president of the NAACP Savannah Branch. 

LeAndrea Mikell, class of ’13

Mikell recently made history by becoming the first Black president of the Georgia branch of the United States Junior Chamber, also known as the Jaycees. She has also been chosen as 2022 Chairwoman for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and was featured in Savannah Magazine last year as a 2021 New Guard honoree.

Mikell’s dedication to SSU shines through her presence in the community and her involvement with several organizations on and off campus. “I’m keenly aware that I am not working for myself. My passion for others definitely drives me,”said Mikell to Savannah Magazine in reference to her current role at SSU.