Friends of the UNCG Libraries Board Member Mae Douglas Gives Major Gift to Name Presentation Room in Digital Media Commons

Mae Douglas has spent much of her life mentoring others.  With her recent gift to the University Libraries, she continues to do so.

To honor her nephew Sterling, Douglas has made a major gift to the University Libraries Enrichment Fund that will name the Presentation Practice Room in the Digital Media Commons (DMC).  The gift is a current restricted fund to support the Digital Media Commons in the Libraries, for furniture, equipment, and updated technology for the Practice Room and throughout the DMC. 

A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Douglas graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in sociology. She went on to enjoy a storied and well-decorated career as a Human Resources executive that spanned two major industries and culminated with her tenure as a highly revered executive vice-president and chief people officer for Cox Communications. Douglas held positions of progressive responsibility in Human Resources before Cox, including eighteen years with pharmaceutical giant Ciba-Geigy. She also was appointed the first Administrator for the Commission on the Status of Women in Greensboro.

Douglas has received numerous personal awards. She has been listed among the top minorities and women in cable and in May 2011, Douglas received the industry's highest recognition--the Vanguard Award for Leadership from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). She has been a  member  of  the  Executive  Leadership  Council,  an organization  of the  most  senior  African American executives in corporate America. Black Professional Magazine listed her among their Top 100 Blacks in Corporate  America.

Throughout her career, she has remained active in her community by working with nonprofit organizations. She served on the Henry W. Grady System Foundation to improve the quality of health care services for metro Atlanta's indigent, uninsured and critical care patients. Douglas has long had a heart for mentoring and advocating for the poor and those who are unable to speak for themselves.

She was profiled in the 2007 book Daughters of Men: Portraits of African American Women and Their Fathers by Rachel Vassel, published by Amistad Books, a division of Harper Collins.  The book includes testimonials by women from various backgrounds on the influence of their fathers and how their lives were shaped by the love of their fathers. She has traveled professionally and personally throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and the Caribbean.

Greensboro native Sterling J. Douglas received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Marketing from Morehouse College in 2007.  He serves as a sales executive, affiliate sales for Disney and ESPN Media Networks, where he supports domestic distribution and licensing efforts for The Walt Disney Company’s media networks.  In 2012, he founded the product ideation group Aspire Holdings Co. where his responsibilities included driving revenue within their iOS Application design team for several client brands.  The team is currently completing the successful launch of the Spacely App. Douglas resides in Hartford, CT. 

Others wishing to donate to the University Libraries may do so online or by contacting Director of Development Linda Burr at lgburr@uncg.edu or by phone at 336-256-0184.