BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROFILE: Roosevelt Leggett

Roosevelt Leggett, who has been on staff at Limestone for almost three years serving as the Junior Database Administrator for the Information Technology Department, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Upstate with a bachelor's degree in information management and systems. He also worked in the USC-Upstate IT Department.

After graduating, he initially went full-time into Christian ministry at USC-Upstate. After a few years of working with the ministry, he realized how much he enjoyed being on college campuses and how much he missed working in IT. And that led him to Limestone.

He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in health informatics at Limestone.

Leggett resides in Spartanburg, where he can often be found riding his bike downtown, enjoying coffee from Little River coffee shop, and exploring the area every chance he can get.

He and his wife, Hilary, are parents to their 16-month-old daughter and they are expecting their second child to be born next month.

"February is a month where we get to talk about the accomplishments and successes of black people in America,” he said about the importance of Black History Month. “Those are stories that often go untold. There's been a lot of pain in the lives of African-Americans, and through that pain, a lot of joy has come."

A recent inspiration of his within the black community is author, Isabel Wilkerson. Her book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration,” gave Leggett a better understanding of the impact that the Great Migration had on American history. It tells the story of black southerners migrating from the south – which still heavily oppressed the black community – to the north in search of better treatment and opportunities. However, they were still met with animosity throughout the country. Through perseverance and hard work, they were able to change the trajectory of America for the better. He encourages everyone to pick up a copy to read for themselves.

(As part of its observance of Black History Month, Limestone University is profiling some of the faculty, staff, and alumni members who make The Rock such a special place. Check out our social media pages and website throughout the month of February as we highlight the talents, gifts, and accomplishments of some of our Saints!)