First Black Women Graduate From Corps of Cadets

2002

Originally published in The Citadel Magazine, Summer/Fall 2002

They came here for different reasons—for the structured educational environment, to prepare for a career in the military, for the challenge and even because mom said so.

On May 11 [2002], the first Black female cadets graduated from The Citadel and walked into the world that awaits them. They did so knowing they’ve accomplished something unique.

“We are paving the way for other Black women, any women really, to have the chance to be here,” said Toshika “Peaches” Hudson of Columbia. “It may motivate or inspire some other young lady to do the same.”

Hudson, a company commander and star on the track and cross country teams, was one of seven African American women who became the first Black female cadets to get their Citadel diplomas. Standing proudly with her were Renee Hypolite of Philadelphia, Pa.; Natosha Mitchell of Dyersburg, Tenn.; Geneive Hardney of Staten Island, N.Y.; Lesjanusar “Sha” Peterson of Chicago; Adrienne Watson of Stanford, N.C.; and Jamey McCloud of Wadmalaw Island.

Their graduation came 32 years after the first African American man joined the Long Gray Line. Charles Foster was the first Black cadet to graduate from The Citadel in 1970.

The Citadel admitted its first class of four women in fall 1996. Today, there are nearly 100 women in the Corps of Cadets. A dozen are already among the thousands of alumni living all over the nation and world. Minorities make up 19 percent of the student body. The Class of 2002 included 20 women and 278 men.

But no matter who you are, The Citadel is a challenging environment. Peterson, who serves on the regimental staff this year, said The Citadel prepares people for life. “I believe being here has been an eye opener and an experience in dealing with people who are different from myself,” she said. Said McCloud: “The value of a Citadel education is knowing that I can go anywhere and compete with anyone and be able to achieve and succeed as well as they can.”

“What’s significant is I have kept my head strong,” said Hardney.

Said Watson: “My father has instilled in me to never let anyone tell you what you can’t do. To know that I was among the first Black females to break the race and sex barrier makes me proud.”

Mitchell, when asked what she would tell other young women, particularly Black women, considering a Citadel education, said: “Nothing worth having is easy to come by. There will be bad days, weeks and months where you will call home for someone to come get you. Everyone goes through it. You have to come here with the mentality that you belong here and nothing is going to make you leave.”

Like Peterson, Watson is preparing for a military career after graduation. She’s headed into the Army. Peterson is going into the Air Force. It was the military that actually prompted Watson to attend The Citadel.

Hypolite had also planned on a military career but wants to go straight to medical school instead.

Where are they now?

Toshika Hudson Cannon lives in Concord, N.C., with her husband of 20 years, Dan Cannon, ’02, and their three children. She works as a behavior therapist for children with
autism.

Adrienne Watson Crosby is a registered nurse working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C. She also serves as a preceptor, providing mentorship and guidance to new graduate nurses and training them to provide patient- centered care to neonates, newborns and families.

Renee Hypolite earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from The Citadel and then went on to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Today, she is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist. When she’s not taking care of patients, she exercising, traveling and spending time with her husband and four boys.

Natosha Mitchell Johnson lives in Grayson, Ga., with her family. She is the mother of two children and is currently employed as an inbound subrogation manager at the General Insurance Company.

Geneive Hardney Marshall is a chaplain for the state of Virginia. In 2021, she earned her master’s degree in Christian divinity from Oral Roberts University. She lives in Norfolk, Va., with her husband David Marshall and their four children.

Jamey McCloud wanted to work in the healthcare profession helping others. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from The Citadel, she earned an associate’s degree in medical laboratory technology from Trident Technical College. Today, the Wadmalaw Island, S.C., native is a medical laboratory scientist at the University of North Carolina at Eastowne in Chapel Hill.

L. Sha Peterson served nine years in the U.S. Air Force and Illinois Air National Guard as an intelligence officer and is an Iraq War veteran. Several years after separating from the military, she became the assistant director of admissions and enrollment management at Mercer University School of Law. She is a licensed attorney in Georgia and Illinois, specializing in Georgia real estate and Illinois workers’ compensation. She currently serves as a senior advisor at Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education.