Celebrating a Lifetime of Volunteer Service: Lesleyann Samuel
Community Leader and Engineer Honored with KCOBA Award
About the Award
Lesleyann Samuel, a Jamaican-born engineer and community leader, is celebrating a lifetime of volunteer service with her latest accolade – the Kingston College Old Boys Association USA, (KCOBA), Community Award for Leadership and Philanthropy.
The Award Ceremony
Lesleyann Samuel, l., accepts her award from Rainford “Perry” Bloomfield, Immediate Past President of the KC Old Boys Association New York Chapter. (Photo courtesy of Leonard McKenzie)
About Lesleyann Samuel
The award is one of several handed out annually by the New York Chapter of the Kingston College alumni organization to individuals who have significantly contributed to their communities in the USA. Samuel, an alumna of the Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS) in Jamaica and a former president of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc. (UJAA), was recognized for her contribution to the ICHS Alumnae Association and her achievements as UJAA President during her eight-year tenure from 2014 to 2022.
A Passion for Community Service
Born in Kingston, Jamaica to R. Karl and Olga Samuel, Lesleyann’s passion for community service was ignited at an early age by her aunt, the late Dothlyn Joyce (“Dotty”) Campbell, former head of dance at Jamaica’s Festival Commission (now the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission – JCDC).
Educational Background
Samuel immigrated to the USA at the age of 13 and attended Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn (now Meyer Levin Junior High School). She earned a scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an engineering school in upstate New York, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering.
A Career in Engineering
This achievement led her to become one of a small but growing number of Black female engineers hired at major communication and tech companies in the early 1980s. She landed a position with New Jersey Bell, which later became Bell Atlantic and ultimately Verizon. After over a decade with Verizon in Maryland, she returned to the Tri-State area with a strong desire to “give forward.”
Leadership Roles
“Most of us are active in our alumni associations because we attended phenomenal schools with phenomenal teachers. By giving forward (I deliberately do not ever use the word giving ‘back,’ because that is not our direction), we demonstrate our patriotism – our love for Jamaica – by helping to ensure that those who come after us have as good or better experiences than ours,” Samuel explained.
UJAA President
Her term as UJAA president was extended due to the COVID pandemic, and by the time it concluded in 2022, the UJAA membership had grown from 32 to over 60 alumni organizations during her presidency – an achievement of which she is especially proud.
Philanthropic Efforts
With her engineering background, Samuel has been a major force behind UJAA’s support of robotics in Jamaican schools, and has chaperoned several Jamaican student delegations to international robotics competitions in recent years. Her latest project with her own Immaculate Alumnae Association includes extending the robotics program to Immaculate’s Preparatory school, where they participated in the FIRST® LEGO League Jamaica program in late June.
Conclusion
Samuel finds that one of the great ironies in her life of service has been the way her community volunteer activities have influenced her professionally, rather than the other way around. She is not yet ready to slow down and is looking forward to new challenges and opportunities.
FAQs
Q: What is the Kingston College Old Boys Association USA (KCOBA) Community Award for Leadership and Philanthropy?
A: The award is given annually to individuals who have significantly contributed to their communities in the USA.
Q: What is Lesleyann Samuel’s educational background?
A: She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Q: What is Lesleyann Samuel’s career background?
A: She has worked as an engineer at major communication and tech companies, including New Jersey Bell, Bell Atlantic, and Verizon.
Q: What are some of Lesleyann Samuel’s philanthropic efforts?
A: She has supported robotics in Jamaican schools, chaperoned student delegations to international robotics competitions, and extended the robotics program to Immaculate’s Preparatory school.
Q: What is Lesleyann Samuel’s future plan?
A: She is looking to obtain her doctorate in Organizational Leadership and continue her work in Jamaica and other areas.