When LaToyia Strickland-Ledbetter ’06 stepped onto the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in 2002, she couldn’t have imagined how deeply those four years would shape her life.
Now, as senior director of marketing at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, LaToyia’s path has been defined by bold faith, fearless leadership and a determination to create meaningful change.
“I loved my years at Olivet,” she recalls. “Even from my very first visit while walking through campus with my parents during registration, the warmth of the community drew me in and created quite a memorable experience.”
A legacy of leadership: Reviving Proclamation Gospel Choir
During her freshman year, LaToyia answered a simple flyer invitation to join the gospel choir, that appeared under her dorm room door. At the time, she was unaware that the group had dwindled and was essentially starting from scratch. By the end of the first rehearsal, she had been voted president and held that position for her entire college tenure.
“What we didn’t know at the time was that we were reigniting something that had existed decades before,” she says. “In honor of the original group, I [thought we should] keep the name as Proclamation Gospel Choir.”
With no formal music training and only a cassette tape player to rehearse with, Ledbetter and a handful of fellow students began meeting in Kelly Prayer Chapel, and over time, built something special. By the fall of her senior year, the by then, very popular choir competitively held more than 200 auditions for a handful of spots and had moved rehearsals to a much bigger rehearsal space. In just four years, Proclamation Gospel Choir had grown to more than 80 members and was traveling on national tours — entirely student-led.
Their performances left a lasting mark on campus. One chapel service in Chalfant Hall ended with the choir singing I Need You to Survive, a moment so powerful that hundreds of students climbed over chairs after the chapel service was finished to come back to the front of the sanctuary to join hands and sing together as the choir led worship from stage.
During another more slightly controversial performance, the choir sang Lonnie Hunter’s “Let’s Dance” during a time where tight dance policies were enforced on campus. Then University President, Dr. John Bowling got on the mic immediately following the performance to a hushed crowd and announced that Proclamation Gospel Choir had just led the entire campus in its first all-school dance. The choir and the entire chapel erupted in cheers and excitement. That song then went on to become one of the choir’s most highly-requested songs.
Creative Calling
LaToyia credits Olivet not only for building her confidence, but also for helping her discover her calling. She gives a lot of credit to the professors and mentors across campus who encouraged her and helped connect her to opportunities that would shaper her for her future career. Once a shy student afraid to speak in public, she pushed herself to perform in the campus talent show, held by the multiethnic relations club. She entered the competition singing solos in her attempt to conquer her fear — and won, year after year, far exceeding her initial intentions.
“Olivet gave me space to grow,” she says. “The opportunities were there, but [I] had to take them.”
That same courage propelled her into a high-impact career. After interning, and later working for Johnson Publishing Company (publishers of Ebony and Jet magazines), LaToyia went on to roles at Condé Nast publications (Publishers of Vogue and GQ magazines), Disney, iHeart Media Chicago (where she worked for V-103, WGCI-FM, KISS FM, and Inspiration 1390 AM), Centro, the historic Chicago Defender Newspaper and more, building a diverse portfolio in marketing, media and brand strategy.
Through it all, she remained grounded in her faith.
“People respected that,” she says. “You can thrive in these spaces without compromising who you are.”
Today, LaToyia leads external marketing communications for one of Chicago’s most beloved institutions, which sees about 2 million guests from around the world annually. Her team is responsible for engaging audiences of all backgrounds by sharing creative content and education through the institution’s owned channels, which include Shedd’s consistently viral social media pages, eNews, blogs, and website. Additionally, the team leads in the creation and launch of Shedd’s marketing campaigns. Their work can be seen on downtown Chicago train stops, airports, digital and radio advertising, expressway billboards and city street banners.
One of her most successful contributions was creating the “HBCU and Divine Nine Night” as part of the aquarium’s Jazzin’ at the Shedd series. The event has sold out three years in a row, drawing thousands and garnering corporate sponsorships from companies like Allstate.
“What started as an idea in prayer became something the whole city talks about,” LaToyia says. “It’s a reminder that faith and innovation aren’t mutually exclusive.”
Her leadership has earned her numerous honors, including the Golden Trumpet Award for Excellence in Marketing – Branding, from the Public Relations Society of America for Shedd’s currently campaign The Answer Lives at Shedd in 2023. In 2024, she was named a Millennial Mastermind by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and earlier this year she was chosen along with 49 other African American women leaders and honored as a Chicago Defender Woman of Excellence, out of 400+ nominations from around the Chicagoland area — joining an annual recognition of leaders who exemplify extraordinary stature, poise and grace and are distinguished among a field of exceptional leaders across the realms of community, faith, business, and government.
Full-Circle Impact
Even with her full schedule amidst work and completing her master’s in integrated marketing communications at Northwestern University, LaToyia remains passionate about mentoring students, especially those navigating early career paths in marketing, media or leadership as people of faith.
“I never could have imagined all the places God would take me,” she says. “But I’m grateful every day, and I’m committed to helping the next generation see what’s possible.”
LaToyia is particularly excited about staying connected with Olivet and supporting initiatives that invest in underrepresented students, first-generation college students and young women stepping into leadership.
“I want to help students who wonder, ‘How do I get from here to there?’” she says. “Whether it’s building a resume, preparing for an interview, transitioning across career disciplines or stepping out in boldness, I’m here to share what I’ve learned.”
To learn more about the McGraw School of Business or Olivet’s School of Music, visit Olivet.edu/Academics
