Debra Saunders-White was born on January 8, 1957, in Hampton, Virginia and died on November 26, 2016.

She was the 11th chancellor of North Carolina Central University.

White assumed office on June 1, 2013, and was the first woman to hold the permanent position of chancellor at NCCU.

Debra was previously Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education.

Saunders-White earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Virginia in 1979 and a master of business administration from the College of William and Mary in 1993.

He received her doctorate in higher education administration from George Washington University in 2004.

She died from complications of kidney cancer.

Saunders-White passed away at 59 years old.