NC-09: Cynthia Wallace (D)
PROFILE
About Wallace:
Cynthia Wallace resides in Charlotte, N.C., in the 9th Congressional District. The granddaughter of farmers, she grew up in Springfield, Ga., a small town with a rural route address with no street address. She is the daughter of Mary T. Wallace and the late Homer Lee Wallace, the first African – American county commissioner elected in the history of Effingham County in Georgia, serving from 1985-2002. He was also co-founder of his local NAACP in the turbulent 1960s.
Wallace’s parents were strong proponents of higher education. They believed in perfect attendance which she achieved most years, graduating high school with honors. She had two aunts who spent their careers in the educational system. Her parents supported her desire to graduate from the prestigious Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. While completing her bachelor’s in science degree, cum laude, in Mathematics at Spelman, she enjoyed singing for many years with the college gospel choir.
While pursuing her master’s degree in Statistics at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., she served as a teacher’s assistant and taught undergraduate math classes. To support herself in addition to her fellowship, she interned for two summers with the Jacksonville Transit Authority. She became an officer with the Atlanta Chapter of the NAASC when she moved back to Atlanta to pursue a career opportunity. Her support of young people pursuing their education included her serving with the Atlanta Inter Alumni Caucus which raised funds for college education.
When she relocated to Charlotte, Wallace helped to recharter the Charlotte Chapter of NAASC and served as chapter president from 2008-2012. During her presidency, the Chapter launched a scholarship fund and raised more than $10,000 for its inaugural Dovey “Mae” Johnson Roundtree scholarship fund in honor of the late Spelman graduate and Charlotte native who was a renowned civil rights activist, attorney, and ordained minister.
Her expertise in risk management and regulations has propelled her to a 25-year career in the financial services industry, and she has worked for three fortune 500 financial services companies. She spent one year in Paris on an International Risk assignment. She is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Wallace has developed the experience and skill sets to hit the ground running as congresswoman, able to interpret and propose laws that will deliver programs and policies for the constituents she will serve. Always seeking to mentor and provide support to others in her sphere, Wallace co-founded the Charlotte chapter of one of her company’s diversity networks in 2007.
Wallace has lived in Charlotte for 14 years and considers Charlotte her home.
