Helen Brady Best, a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, is a 1976 graduate of Shaw University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education. In September of that year, she became a 3^rd grade teacher at Knightdale Elementary School in Knightdale, North Carolina.

In 1977, seeking a new career opportunity, Helen accepted a position at State Capital Insurance Company as an Underwriting Assistant and was later promoted as Supervisor of Rating Unit, Education and Training Coordinator and Product Development and Research Analyst. Helen also worked part-time at Time Warner Cable where she worked as a retention specialist/trainer and received the Presidential Award as Employee of the Year. In 1987 she left the private insurance industry and became a regulatory insurance analyst with the North Carolina Department of Insurance where she is currently employed.

Helen continues to be active in many organizations including the National Alumni Association of Shaw University (NAA) and its Raleigh-Wake Alumni Chapter. In the NAA she serves as Alumni Giving Coordinator, Membership Committee Liaison, Information and Communications member and Recording Secretary.

In the Raleigh-Wake Alumni Chapter Helen has served in several capacities including Fundraising Chair, Corresponding Secretary, Nominating Committee Chair, Recording Secretary, Constitution & By-Laws, Public Relations, Finance Committee member, Alumni Giving Coordinator, and Membership Chairperson. Under her leadership and involvement as Membership Chair of the Raleigh-Wake Alumni chapter, membership has increased 52% from 2006 to present. Helen is committed to not only increasing membership but to increase alumni involvement. Helen has also paved new roads for increased communication at the local chapter and national level of the Alumni Association implementing a weekly email newsletter for both, the RWAC Wednesday Word and NAA Monday Message, respectively. Both include words of encouragement and also current events and updates to keep the membership engaged and informed.

Helen is also actively involved with Shaw University working closely with the Department of Institutional Advancement, where in 2013 she was instrumental in raising the Alumni Giving percentage from 7% to an unprecedented 32%. Helen is also engaged with the Student Activities and Public Relations Departments at Shaw University where she was recently invited to participate in the Website Persona Seminar to provide insight into improving the web presence of the University.

Aside from her heavy involvement with Shaw, Helen is also an active member of the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and has served as Advisor of Alpha Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, May Week Chairperson, Health Awareness Committee, Charity Ball, Founders Day Committee, and Meals on Wheels Chairperson. Helen also finds time to be active in her church, Mount Peace Baptist Church and has participated in the Tutoring Ministry Newsletter Ministry, Greeters Ministry, and Usher Ministry.

Helen resides in Raleigh, North Carolina and recently celebrated 38 years of marriage to her college sweetheart, Ralph M. Best. Helen and Ralph have two daughters, Nakia and N’kengie.