South Carolina Court of Appeals Chief Judge (Ret) and UNC Pembroke alumnus James Lockemy has been appointed to the UNCP Board of Trustees.

He was appointed by the UNC Board of Governors during a meeting last week. Student Government President Taliyah Daniels also joined the board to serve as an ex-officio member for 2022-2023.

“We are honored to welcome Judge Lockemy and Taliyah to our Board of Trustees,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings.

“Both have a deep understanding of UNC Pembroke and experiences rooted in being a student here. The valuable perspectives they will bring to our board will be instrumental in continuing to advance our university.”

Lockemy brings more than 47 years of distinguished military, political and professional experience to the board. He retired in December 2021 after serving as a circuit court judge, appellate judge and chief appeals judge. Still, he agreed to remain on the bench as a special appellate judge until the end of the year.

"I am very honored to serve my alma mater as a member of the Board of Trustees," Lockemy said. "Anytime you are asked to serve the university that gave you your start in the world professionally and opened so many doors that UNC Pembroke did for me­­–– it is an honor.”

A native of Dillon, S.C., and a member of the Lumbee Warriors Association, Lockemy was South Carolina's first Native American Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. He received UNCP's Outstanding Alumni and Distinguished Service awards and served as the spring commencement speaker in 2017.

Lockemy earned a degree in history from UNCP in 1971. He later earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina and entered the U.S. Army acquiring the rank of captain. After completing a three-year tour of duty, he joined the South Carolina Army National Guard and accepted a position as a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond.

He served as a legal counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee and was later admitted to the United States Supreme Court. He was activated by the National Guard and served a tour of duty in war-torn Kosovo. He retired from active service as a full colonel. He then entered the South Carolina Military Department, where he retired as a major general.

In 1982, Lockemy was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served for seven years. In 1989, he was elected as a circuit judge, where he served for 18 years. In 2009, he joined the Court of Appeals and became its Chief Judge in 2016 until his retirement recently.

He served as the Circuit Judges' Association president in the South Carolina Judiciary. Judge Lockemy has been an adjunct professor at the USC School of Law since 2017.

In 2012, he received his master's degree in history from The Citadel and is currently working on completing a doctorate in history from the University of South Carolina.

He has remained active in many civic and judicial organizations and boards throughout his career, including the American Bar Association Board of Governors and the National Guard Association of South Carolina, where he served as President and present Executive Council member.

"I look forward to doing my utmost to provide benefits to the university," he said. "In addition, I look forward to providing guidance in any way I can to students considering entering law school or a post-graduate education.

"As a member of the Board of Trustees, I look forward to the opportunity to tell the UNCP story to as many people as I can. I recall being a student there, and the help rendered to me over the years, so my goal is to give back and make a difference in the lives of students and faculty at this outstanding university."

Daniels, a native of Longwood, N.C., is studying political science and minoring in sociology. Outside of SGA, her involvement on campus includes Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., a LEAD Fellow, a member of the Leadership Living Community, NAACP and the university’s E¢ial Hip Hop Dance Team.

Daniels considers it an honor to join the Board of Trustees and represent the student body as its president. 

“I plan to represent and safeguard the interests of all students no matter their backgrounds, classifications, cultures or communities. As the SGA president, my main goal is to champion the concerns of the entire student body. I will focus not only on making sure the voices of all students are heard, but to echo them to administration to ensure the university is continuing to move forward together." 

During her service as the student body president, Daniels’ efforts will focus on inclusivity, accessibility and unity.

"Leadership is a process, not a position. It’s about serving others and empowering others. I hope to encourage all students to use their voices to advocate for themselves and their peers. I want to highlight the diverse student body we occupy at UNCP and acknowledge the importance of speaking up for those underserved communities on campus.”