Winston-Salem Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian Burke
The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina has elected Dr. Vivian Burke to serve on the Board of Trustees of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), fulfilling a partial three-year term that ends on June 30, 2011. Burke is a long-time educator who retired from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System and is mayor pro tempore for the City of Winston-Salem.
“Dr. Burke’s experiences in education and community service will certainly be an asset to our Board of Trustees,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves. “She has been a tireless advocate for causes that highlight minority achievement and we are extremely pleased that she will be bringing that energy and determination to this new role at WSSU.”
A former member of the Board of Trustees at Elizabeth City State University, Burke retired from the school system after having served as a guidance counselor and industrial education coordinator. She has been a member of the Winston-Salem City Council since 1977 where, in addition to serving as mayor pro tempore, she chairs the Public Safety Committee. Burke is a member of numerous civic and governmental organizations, including the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, the N. C. Mental Health Board, the N. C. League of Municipalities, National Women of Achievement and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also the founder of the local Black Political Awareness League and a former member of the N.C. Banking Commission.
Burke earned her undergraduate degree from Elizabeth City State University and her M.S. degree from North Carolina A&T State University. In 2002, Livingstone College conferred upon her a Doctor of Humane Letters degree and she received a similar degree from Winston-Salem State University in 2004. She is married to Logan Burke, a former state representative. They have one son, L. Todd Burke, a Superior Court Judge, and two grandchildren.
