Harriot College Alumni Profile: Akeem Thomas
ECU 2023 “40 Under Forty” Leadership Recipient
Mr. Akeem Devon Thomas (M.S. Criminal Justice ’19), who resides in Greenville, NC, is one of ECU’s 2023 “40 Under Forty” Leadership Awardees and a Harriot College alumnus.
“I am delighted and honored to have been selected for such a prestigious acknowledgment. To be chosen as a member of the 2023 class provided me with additional motivation to achieve all my endeavors,” Thomas said.
Thomas said his #HarriotCollegeMajor is helping him #MakeAMajorDifference in the lives of youth in the community as a juvenile court counselor for the NC Department of Public Safety. In his role, Thomas evaluates complaints received from law enforcement officers to determine whether a juvenile has committed a delinquent act and decides if that matter is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Additionally, he evaluates juvenile and family needs to develop and implement plans for treatment and compliance with court orders.
“I enjoy being able to offer opportunities to the youth in our community, addressing their treatment needs, rehabilitation and successful reintegration into the community,” Thomas said. “I enjoy the fact that I have a passion for my profession, and I’m blessed with the ability to go to work every day and not just make a dollar but make a difference. Moreover, I get to form great relationships with kids and their parents or guardians.”
While a student at ECU, Thomas said the university, college and criminal justice department prepared him to succeed by instilling time management, teamwork and problem-solving skills into his professional toolkit.
“I was able to increase my attention to detail while improving my adeptness in communicating effectively with individuals of various demographics,” Thomas said. “More specifically, my department prepared me for the rehabilitative nature of juvenile justice and how the balance of treatment versus punishment plays a role in the decision-making of each case.”
When not helping guide the youth of the community, Thomas enjoys listening to film scores from his favorite movies.
Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn.
ECU’s 40 Under Forty awards will transition to a biennial celebration, with the next iteration honoring the recipients of 2025.