RALEIGH, NC – The NAACP North Carolina State Conference announced today that Da’Quan Marcell Love will retire from NAACP staff service effective May 30, 2026, concluding nearly four years of leadership as state Executive Director.
Director Love began his service with the North Carolina State Conference on August 1, 2022, stepping into leadership during an especially critical moment. Over nearly four years, his steady guidance helped lead the Conference out of national administratorship, strengthen internal operations, and position the organization for long-term sustainability.
During his tenure, the State Conference retained and expanded sponsorships and new revenue streams, deepened partnerships across North Carolina’s civil rights and advocacy ecosystem, and implemented essential technology upgrades that modernized the Conference’s advocacy programs. These efforts strengthened statewide engagement and operational capacity, ultimately improving the lives of Black North Carolinians.
Working in close partnership with statewide and national coalition partners, Da’Quan helped the State Conference support historic Black voter turnout efforts and collective actions to push back against partisan gerrymandering during this period. Da’Quan led the North Carolina State Conference’s support of the Charlotte Branch in hosting the NAACP’s 116th Annual National Convention in Charlotte in 2025, coordinating with national staff, partners, and local stakeholders to deliver a historic convening.
“Da’Quan brought steady leadership and clear focus at a time when this Conference truly needed it,” said Deborah Dicks Maxwell, President of the NAACP North Carolina State Conference. “We are grateful for his service and proud of the foundation he helped put in place. While we are sad to see him retire from staff service, we respect his decision and appreciate his continued commitment to the NAACP.”
Director Love also holds the distinction of being the only individual in the NAACP’s 117-year history to have served as executive director of two different state conferences. Prior to coming to North Carolina, he successfully led the Virginia State Conference out of national administratorship in 2021. His experience, institutional knowledge, and steady leadership have been valuable assets to the Association.
Love’s retirement aligns with recent amendments to the NAACP Constitution requiring a two-year separation between paid employment and volunteer service. Love intends on pursuing volunteer leadership after the required separation period.
State Conference leadership will continue advancing advocacy, fundraising, and programmatic priorities across the state, with Secretary Demetrius Holder assuming interim administrative duties during the transition period as outlined in the NAACP Bylaws. The NAACP North Carolina State Conference remains committed to advancing civil rights, economic justice, and equity for all North Carolinians.