Back in ’77, though, she wasn’t thinking about the fact that her college experience would help blaze the trail for future African American college students at UNCG. She didn’t know that by Fall 2023, non-white students would make up more than half of the Bryan School’s population.
“My thoughts were more centered on enjoying school and graduating on time,” she said. “I had a goal in mind to achieve the college degree which my parents weren’t afforded and my brother couldn’t complete.”
Loretta thrived on campus. She lived in Winfield Dorm, started UNCG’s chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and developed friendships that are still maintained today. Her skin tone only came into play in the classroom. From 1977 to 1981, Helton experienced many moments of being the only brown person in class, and professors asked her to present her viewpoint of the issues as an African American person.
“I was raised to speak my mind and know that my thoughts mattered, so UNCG and the Bryan School helped me build on that,” she said.
Loretta also credits the Bryan School for helping her develop an eye for communications, business and technology — three key components of her future professional life. She obtained her master’s degree in business education from North Carolina Central University, but her goal of becoming a principal changed after she was recruited by IBM in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park working in Information Technology. She’s since worked with Duke University, the State of Louisiana and is currently with Legal and General America as the Team Lead for their System Administrators and Engineers.
Loretta is married and the parent of three adult children, all of whom have college degrees.