"Educator, civic leader, humanitarian…
Benjamin Ruffin... Cradling mankind by giving, loving and investing his
precious time."These words were written as part of a
celebration to honor distinguished African-American men from North Carolina.
Many people echo these sentiments.
Mr. Ruffin made history in 1998, when he was elected
the first African-American chairman of the University of North Carolina
Board of Governors, the policy-making body of the 16-campus university
system. In addition, he is the president of The RUFFIN Group, a consulting
firm in Winston--Salem, North Carolina.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Mr. Ruffin holds
a bachelor's degree from North Carolina Central University and a master's
degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Early in his career, Mr. Ruffin worked as special assistant
to North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. During his tenure, Mr. Ruffin
helped to increase the number of black judges in the state and the number of
black state employees.
"A positive attitude
and strong aptitude
will determine your altitude"
He joined the R. J. Reynolds family in 1986 as director of
corporate affairs for RJR Nabisco and was appointed vice president of corporate
affairs at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1989. Ten years later, he resigned
his position and remains an advisor to the company.
Mr. Ruffin's gives of himself by serving on the boards of
local YMCAs, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the National Urban
League. Also, he serves as chairman of the corporate roundtable of the National
Black Caucus of State Legislators and the North Carolina Institute for Minority
Economic Development. He is a member of the NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,
Inc.
The recipient of the NAACP Kelly M. Alexander Humanitarian
Award and the Donald H. McGannon Citation by the National Urban League, Mr.
Ruffin has been honored with Dollars & Sense magazine's Blackbook
Award for professional achievements.
To future trailblazers, Mr. Ruffin says, "You can achieve
whatever you set out to accomplish. A positive attitude, coupled with a strong
aptitude, will determine your altitude in life. It is not where you are coming
from but where you are going, and it is not what your name is but the name you
make for yourself."
