‘Youth tRAMSformation Tour’ Introduces Middle-Schoolers to College Life

"WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winston-Salem State University is partnering with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools for the inaugural “Youth tRAMSformation Tour” on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The event will bring 550 seventh-grade students from area schools to campus.

The visitors will interact with student-athletes, professors, and staff from diverse areas of the university. They will take a tour of the campus and visit the WSNC radio station; the Diggs Art Gallery; the virtual hospital at the Enterprise Center; the RJR Stock Trading Room; classrooms in the departments of education, biology, chemistry, and computer sciences; the Anderson Center; O’Kelly Library; and the Donald J. Reaves Student Activities Center. The grand finale of the day will be a closing session featuring the WSSU drumline, cheerleaders, and student-athletes.

This tour is designed to be transformational for students who may have never visited a college campus. The seventh-graders will be given a hands-on experience of university life where they can see first-hand the opportunities that WSSU provides to its current and future students.

“We are excited about the opportunity for our middle-school students to engage in these activities and learn more about college life at WSSU,” said Carol Montague Davis, assistant superintendent of middle and high school administration for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

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About Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in a liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, Winston-Salem State University is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region and beyond. Guided by the motto “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment."

- A Press Release

WSSU Choir to Perform Fundraising Concert on Jan. 30 for Travel to Carnegie Hall

"WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- Winston-Salem State University’s (WSSU) choir is headed back to Carnegie Hall for a May performance in the MidAmerica Productions concert series. But in order to get there, the choir will perform a free benefit concert with an opportunity for attendees to make a contribution during intermission, to help raise funds for their trip, Saturday, January 30, at 5 p.m., at First Baptist Church located at 700 North Highland Avenue in Winston-Salem.

At present, the WSSU choir has raised $24,000 of the $54,000 it will need to make the trip to Carnegie Hall. The benefit concert will raise the remaining $30,000 to reach the goal.

“I hope that our friends will make donations to support what I think is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” said Maestra D’Walla Simmons-Burke, Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at WSSU.  

Donations may be made payable to the WSSU Foundation and indicate WSSU Choir Travel #2172 in the memo section.  Donations may also be mailed to: 311 Blair Hall, Winston-Salem, NC 27110. You may also contact the Advancement Office at 336-750-3140 or make donations online by going to the WSSU Web site at wssu.edu and click the Donate Now button.

 In addition to the WSSU Choir, the performance will feature guest opera singers Kenneth Overton, baritone, and soprano Teresa Moore-Mitchell.

Overton was heralded by the BBC for his “exceptional voice.” Overton made his New York City Opera mainstage debut in 2012 as Doctor Grenvil in Verdi's La Traviata. That season, he also made an acclaimed debut in the world premiere of David Ott's The Widow's Lantern at Pensacola Opera, whereby he was immediately reengaged to star as Joe in Showboat.

His 2012–13 debuts included performances with the New Jersey Symphony and the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra.  In collaboration with pianist Kevin Miller, Overton released his first solo CD in the fall of 2013. Been In De Storm So Long: Songs My Fathers Taught Me, is his homage to the spiritual tradition that has been formative in his artistic life.

Moore-Mitchell is a veteran operatic performer and soloist. She has performed several times at Carnegie Hall dating back to 1989 when she performed with the Pfeiffer University Choir in Brahms’ Requiem and a solo performance debut in the soprano role for Anton Dvorak’s Te Deum with the Manhattan Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002. She made her Lincoln Center debut as the Mother of Alexander the Great and Strauss Selections in 2004. In 2010, she was the soloist for the Livingstone College Concert Choir at Carnegie Hall.

She has numerous operatic, theater, and symphonic performances to her credit in the United States and abroad.

The guest artists will be accompanied by Winston-Salem State University’s own piano faculty, Dr. Gregory Thompson and Dr. Myron Brown. The benefit concert will be comprised of music by African American composers, which will include spirituals and art songs.

   

The Carnegie Hall concert will not only include the WSSU Choir, but will also feature Simmons-Burke as a soloist in the Ensemble Spotlight Series of the MidAmerica Productions concert.

Over the course of 33 seasons, MidAmerica has presented conductors, soloists, and choral and instrumental ensembles from the U.S. and abroad in New York’s Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; and Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall, both at Lincoln Center.

The Carnegie Hall Concert will be held Sunday, May 8, at 7 p.m."

- A Press Release

WSSU Trustee Donates $25,000 for Scholarships

"WINSTON-SALEM, NC – A $25,000 donation from a member of the Winston-Salem State University Board of Trustees will create scholarships for financially challenged students while supporting academic excellence at the university.

WSSU Trustee Sue Henderson and her husband, Doug, created the Sue and Doug Henderson Endowed Scholarship in honor of WSSU Provost Dr. Brenda A. Allen’s transformative leadership for excellence in education. 

“Sue has served on the academic affairs committee and during that time she has come to understand, support and be an advocate for the academic curriculum enhancements made at the university over recent years,” said Michelle Cook, WSSU vice chancellor for advancement.

Henderson has been a member for the WSSU board of trustees since being elected by the UNC Board of Governors in 2009.  During that time she has chaired the Advancement Committee and served as a member of the Academic Affairs and Advancement committees.

 “During my board tenure, I have been able to witness a total transformation under Provost Brenda Allen’s leadership from conception to execution, and it has resulted in a dramatic evolution and upgrade in quality and standards,” said Henderson, who is senior vice president and regional director at Wells Fargo Wealth Management in Winston-Salem.   “It is our pleasure to contribute to the elevation of the quality of education at Winston-Salem State University.”"

- A Press Release

WSSU Phi Beta Sigma Chapter to Host 19th Annual Sleep-Out for the Homeless on November 20

"WINSTON-SALEM, NC — The Delta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) will conduct its 19th annual overnight sleep-out to raise awareness of homelessness in the Piedmont Triad on Friday, Nov. 20, beginning at 6 p.m. near the Clock Tower on campus.  

Activities during the past week have included the collection of nonperishable food items, school supplies and clothing items for the homeless. The campaign will culminate with the all-night sleep-out that will have members of the fraternity and other students supporting the initiative by spending the night in cardboard boxes, sleeping bags and tents.  A makeshift cardboard city will be set up near the Phi Beta Sigma monument on the university's Greek plots area outside of the Thompson Student Services Center.

Clothing items donated will go to the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, while the nonperishable food items will be given to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. The school supplies will support Project Hope of the Winston- Salem/Forsyth County School System and the monetary donations will go to the Samaritan Ministries Annual Penny Campaign.  

In 2014 members collected $330 for Samaritan Ministries, approximately 17 boxes of clothing and shoes for the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, 740 pounds of non-perishable food items for Second Harvest Food Bank and $150 cash for Project Hope.

This year, the fraternity’s goal is to raise $1,000 in cash donations for Samaritan Ministries and Project Hope, 1000 lbs. of canned goods and other non-perishable items, and at least 20 boxes of clothing.  The drive this year is putting special emphasis on collecting old blankets and toys.

Donations may be made from 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, through 6 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Clock Tower on the WSSU campus."

WSSU Researchers Receive $215,000 Grant to Implement Diabetes Prevention Programs for African-Americans

"WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- Winston-Salem State University researchers have received a two-year $215,000 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) grant to work with Winston-Salem area churches to explore diabetes prevention in African-Americans age 18 and older. 

The grant will fund the development of a faith-based initiative titled, “The HOSEA Project: Training, Equipping and Empowering Churches to Prevent Diabetes.” The research effort will be guided by WSSU researchers Dr. Dionne Roberts, associate professor in the Division of Nursing and Dr. Dee Ellis, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Sport Studies (HPSS). Together the team will work to prevent Type-2 diabetes (adult-onset) in African-Americans.  Dr. Cynthia Williams Brown, chair of the Department of HPSS will also serve on the project.

The project officially kicks-off this month as November is National Diabetes Month. Project partners include over 14 African-American Churches in the Winston-Salem vicinity. 

The aim of the HOSEA Project is to prevent diabetes in African-Americans adults (age 18 and up) by offering a 6-month intervention program modified from the National Diabetes Prevention Program or a 12-week community wellness program. Both programs will include weekly exercise schedules and requires the participants to attend educational seminars.

The program will also provide participants with complimentary health screenings and incentives for the completion of all required program activities. Partner churches will receive a stipend for participating.

“The HOSEA Project is a faith-based and culturally-tailored program designed to equip churches to prevent the devastating effects of diabetes” said Roberts. “Our hope is to provide evidence that our intervention can be an affordable, effective model to combat diabetes in our communities.”

Diabetes is a devastating disease and considered a major health threat affecting nearly 26 million Americans. It is estimated that another 79 million Americans have prediabetes, which means almost one-third of the total U.S. population is affected by diabetes. The disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, costing an estimated at $245 billion per year.

Diabetes is a serious health problem that the African-American community faces today. African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities have a higher prevalence of diabetes and also have higher rates of complications.  

“Our health initiative is purposely named “The HOSEA Project” based on the scripture Hosea 4:6 “my people perish for a lack of knowledge” said Roberts.

“African-American churches have historically served as community anchors functioning beyond spiritual guidance and social support, often times leading community outreach programs with health education as a major component. Our goal is to utilize the African-American church to address diabetes prevention in the African-American communities by training pastors and congregants to educate and empower others.”

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetic. People with prediabetes are at a higher risk for developing Type 2-diabetes. They are also at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

“A healthy diet and staying physically active is the most effective way to combat the onset of diabetes. However, we know that developing these lifestyle habits is a challenge for a lot of people. That’s why interventions like these that are affordable and culturally tailored are so important to the ongoing efforts to prevent diabetes” said Ellis.

This marks the third funding cycle CMS has awarded WSSU. CMS has funded WSSU research activity addressing cardiovascular disease and obesity, both targeting African-American women."

- A Press Release

M-Strong Program at WSSU Responds to State and National Need for More Males in the Classroom

"WINSTON-SALEM, NC –  A new program at Winston-Salem State University is focused on addressing a national demand for getting more African-American males in nation’s elementary and secondary schools. 

WSSU’s new M-Strong is designed to attract African-American males interested in the teaching profession and providing them an opportunity to get into the pipeline.  As North Carolina considers strategies to address the alarming decline in the number of individuals entering the overall field of teaching, WSSU is doing its part to increase teacher productivity and quality through its Educator Preparation Program.   There are about 7.5 percent African-American male students compared to less than 2 percent African-American male teachers in public schools nationwide, according to several studies. 

“Each year enrollment in elementary and secondary schools across North Carolina and the nation have become increasingly diverse, yet teachers are still mostly white and female,” said Dr. Gregory Henderson, assistant professor and WSSU department of Education faculty member.  “We want to be a leader in this effort to diversify the pool of quality teachers in public education.”

Henderson created the M-STRONG program in 2014 with the core objective to increase African-American male involvement and retention in the educational environment. M-STRONG stands for Men (who are) Spectacular Teachers Responding to Ongoing National Goals (in Education).  According to Henderson, this educational enrichment program was developed to prepare highly qualified African American male educators through innovation, research, collaboration, and strategic training. 

The four primary goals of this unique program are: to prepare African American education majors to become highly qualified and skilled teachers of the 21^st century; to increase retention of African American male education majors; to build a professional network of African-American male educators; and to increase African American male recruitment to the teaching profession. 

Last spring, a cohort of 15 education majors completed Phase One of the 12-week program that included high-impact instruction, action research, technology integration, critical thinking skill development, and intensive reading.  Phase II of the program, which began this fall, focuses on application of learning in real-world settings.  Participants will be linked to schools and develop action plans for success, select a male mentor from within the public school system, attend school board meetings, and engage in ongoing book discussions and review sessions.

M-STRONG participant Joshua J. Sermon said that the program, “helped me advocate the importance of African Americans in Education.  This is my second semester in M-STRONG and it has challenged me to think outside of the box as an educator.  Dr. Henderson wants students in this organization to realize that we can change the direction of young people.”

Sermon said books participants were required to read were written by scholars and activists including Cornel West and Kevin Powell.  According to Sermon, “This organization makes me more passionate about being a teacher because I know how much of an impact I can have in a school.”

"WSSU is committed to preparing educators who effectively support social justice in a diverse 21^st century, and M-STRONG is another reflection of this commitment," according to Henderson."

- A Press Release

Charlie Wilson to Perform at WSSU Homecoming Concert on Oct. 30

"WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winston-Salem State University’s 2015 Homecoming concert is in for a high impact performance like no other, when R&B icon and BET Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Charlie Wilson takes the stage on Friday, October 30 at 8 p.m. in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The concert will also feature the thrilling sounds of Raheem Devaughn and Leela James.

A nine-time Grammy nominee, Charlie Wilson has been recognized around the world for his live performances with sold-out shows in the United States, France and the UK. His numerous awards and accolades include a BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, which will long be remembered as one of the finest tributes ever paid to a legend. The star-studded performance, featuring Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, India Arie and Jamie Foxx, remains one of the annual awards show’s singular, top-rated moments.

Wilson has commanded center stage since his days as the lead vocalist for the GAP Band ("Outstanding," "You Dropped A Bomb On Me"). As a solo artist he has topped the Billboard charts with numerous hits including "Charlie, Last Name Wilson," "Magic," "There Goes My Baby," "Can't Live Without You," "You Are," "Life of the Party" and "My Love Is All I Have."

In addition to his success as a solo artist, Wilson has collaborated with numerous chart-topping artists and producers including Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, T. Pain, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake and Mos Def.

James first burst onto the scene with her 2006 debut album “A Change is Gonna Come,” introducing audiences to her considerable vocal chops and garnering nominations for Outstanding New Artist at the NAACP Image Awards and Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist of 2008 at the Soul Train Music Awards.  James has gone on to record three subsequent albums including “My Soul,” which reached #7 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart and #37 on the Billboard 200 chart, and earned acclaim from critics for her songwriting skills. She has starred on the TV show R&B Divas LA for three seasons.

It’s often said that love makes the world go around and three-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Devaughn knows that to be the truth. With the release of his fourth studio album, “A Place Called Loveland,” Raheem embraces the global theme while bringing his heart and soul into all tracks of his latest work of aural art. With songwriting collaborations with Ne-Yo and production via talents like Mario Winans, Carvin & Ivan, and Ne-Yo, Raheem proves why he is the “Love King.”

Ticket costs start at $39 and are available at www.ticketmaster or Bridger Field House at BB&T field.  For more information, call 800 745 3000."

- A Press Release

WSSU, First Tennessee Sponsoring Networking Event on Feb. 12

ISAAC GREEN

"Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and First Tennessee Bank are sponsoring a networking event featuring Isaac Green, founder and CEO of Piedmont Investment Advisors, as the keynote speaker on Thursday, February 12, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Anderson Conference Center on the university campus.

Green is responsible for the strategic direction of Piedmont Investment Advisors and is also the co-portfolio manager for the firm’s flagship Strategic Core large cap equity product.  Prior to founding Piedmont in 2000, he was executive vice president and managing director of Loomis Sayles’ Value Equipment Management Division with responsibility for more than $10 billion in assets.

Throughout the course of his investment career, Green has been a guest on television programs such as CNBC and Bloomberg Television, and most recently UNC-TV’s North Carolina People. He has also been featured in several investment publications, including Institutional Investor, Pensions & Investments, Triangle Business Journal and Black Enterprise. In 2010, Green was honored with the Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. Award, an award given annually by the National Association of Securities Professionals to the financial services industry professional who best exemplifies entrepreneurial achievement, community service and high moral standards.

The event, which is free and open to the public, also will provide networking opportunities with finance and business professionals who will provide information on career paths and what students can do now to be successful after college."

- A Press Release

SYMPOSIUM AT WSSU BRINGS IN NATIONAL GUEST SPEAKERS OCT. 2

WSSU and SECCA Collaborate to Present Gather Round –

A Symposium on the Work of Kevin Jerome Everson

"Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) have partnered to bring artist Kevin Jerome Everson together with distinguished scholars and other artists to Winston-Salem for a daylong symposium.

Gather Round will be held Oct. 2 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on the WSSU campus. The symposium coincides with the opening week of an exhibition of Everson’s work at SECCA by the same title and marks the first event co-organized by the two institutions.

“This collaboration between Winston-Salem State University and SECCA on the Kevin Everson exhibition and symposium complements the signature strengths of each of these historic institutions,” says Corey Walker, dean of WSSU’s College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education, and John W. and Anna Hodgin Hanes Professor of the Humanities. “It is a model partnership which realizes the unique opportunities available in a city where the arts, creativity and innovative thinking are the hallmarks of our wonderfully diverse community.”

Everson’s work ranges from painting, sculpture and photography to a prolific output of films. The Gather Round symposium will explore Everson’s artistic perspectives and output through and alongside questions of regionalism, history and the representation of black experience in film, particularly in the South.

Symposium panelists include Terri Francis, associate professor, communication and culture at Indiana University; Michael B. Gillespie, assistant professor of film, School of Interdisciplinary Arts, School of Film and the Department of African American Studies, Ohio University; Sabine Gruffat, media artist, filmmaker and assistant professor of art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Claudrena N. Harold, associate professor of history and African American studies and African studies at the University of Virginia; Wesley C. Hogan, director of the  Center for Documentary Studies, Duke University and a historian of the civil rights movement; and Greg Tate, writer, cultural producer, musician and Sterling Brown ’22 Distinguished Visiting Professor of Africana Studies at Williams College.

“As a State of North Carolina cultural resource committed to strengthening partnerships that enrich the lives of Triad residents and citizens across North Carolina, we’re excited to be working with Winston-Salem State University to bring nationally recognized scholars and artists into Winston-Salem,” says SECCA Executive Director Mark Leach. “Together we can continue to increase the city’s relevancy as a key cultural and knowledge destination in the Southeast.”

SECCA Curator of Contemporary Art Cora Fisher adds, “Gather Round will present a one-of-a-kind experience for those interested in art, film, history, and visual culture to listen to and take part in important conversations around labor, memory and community in our everyday lives which Everson’s artistic vision makes manifest.”

The morning session begins at 9:15 a.m. in Hill Hall, Room L 05, directly followed by highlights of Everson’s latest film. After the lunch break, the afternoon sessions will resume at 1 p.m. A reception with the artist will take place from 5-7 p.m. in the Diggs Gallery. Walker, Fisher and Endia Beal, interim director of the Diggs Gallery, will serve as moderators for the various sessions.

The exhibition of Everson’s work will be on display at SECCA from Oct. 1–Dec. 1.

The Gather Round symposium is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to visit the WSSU campus parking office to obtain a day pass in order to park in the visitor’s parking lot. WSSU Campus Parking office can be reached at 336-750-2905. 

For more information or full program schedule visit www.secca.org or www.wssu.edu.

About Gather Round Symposium

Gather Round Symposium is organized by Corey D. B. Walker, Dean, College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education/ John W. and Anna Hodgin Hanes Professor of the Humanities, Winston-Salem State University and Cora Fisher, Curator of Contemporary Art, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA).

About SECCA

The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, N.C. seeks to enhance perspectives, inspire community and ignite new ideas at the intersection of art and its visitors. Located at 750 Marguerite Drive, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. For hours, please visit www.secca.org. SECCA is an affiliate of the North Carolina Museum of Art, a division of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. SECCA receives operational funding from The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Additional funding is provided by the James G. Hanes Memorial Fund.

About Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, is a public university that traces its roots back to Slater Industrial Academy which was founded in 1892 in Winston-Salem, N.C.  WSSU is a historically black university that today is a recognized regional institution offering more than 40 baccalaureate, 10 master’s degree programs and two doctoral programs to a student population of more than 5,000 students. For more information, visit www.wssu.edu.

About the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's cultural resources to build the social, cultural and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDCR's mission is to enrich lives and communities by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history and libraries in North Carolina that will spark creativity, stimulate learning, preserve the state's history and promote the creative economy. NCDCR was the first state organization in the nation to include all agencies for arts and culture under one umbrella.

Through arts efforts led by the N.C. Arts Council, the N.C. Symphony and the N.C. Museum of Art, NCDCR offers the opportunity for enriching arts education for young and old alike and spurring the economic stimulus engine for our state's communities. NCDCR's Divisions of Archives and Records, Historical Resources, State Historic Sites and State History Museums preserve, document and interpret North Carolina's rich cultural heritage to offer experiences of learning and reflection. NCDCR's State Library of North Carolina is the principal library of state government and builds the capacity of all libraries in our state to develop and to offer access to educational resources through traditional and online collections including genealogy and resources for people who are blind and have physical disabilities.

NCDCR annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation's first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council and the State Archives. NCDCR champions our state's creative industry that accounts for more than 300,000 jobs and generates nearly $18.5 billion in revenues. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov."

- A Press Release

The College of WSSU Receives More than $1 Million in Grants for Undergraduate Research

"WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Professors in the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education of Winston-Salem State University have received $1,181,744 in grants to support projects that can positively impact student education and success through undergraduate research efforts.

“The funding from these grants will enable WSSU to provide our undergraduate students with unique research opportunities that will enhance their educational experience,” said Dr. Corey D. B. Walker, dean of The College.  “Each of these projects is aligned with the new and bold science endeavors that are part of WSSU’s strategic plan and new science effort.  This Transformative Science Initiative is designed to facilitate the integration of student academic success, faculty teaching and research excellence.”

The Minority Access to Research Careers for Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (MARC U*STAR) program has received $151,351 in funding that is renewable annually for five years for a total of $756,755 from the National Institutes of Health.  The grant will allow WSSU to continue this program that trains students from underrepresented groups to hold leadership positions in cutting-edge scientific research.

“Students from various majors including biology, chemistry, psychology and exercise science receive extensive hands-on laboratory research experiences that strengthen their academic and research credentials,” said Dr. Azeez Aileru, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and director of the university’s Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center who will continue to serve as the principal investigator for the grant.  “Students are then better prepared for high caliber graduate training at the Ph.D. level in biomedical and behavioral research.” 

Dr. Maria Ngu-Schwemlein, a chemistry professor, will serve as the principal investigator for a $399,989 grant from the National Science Foundation to enhance undergraduate research experiences in the chemistry curriculum.  This targeted infusion project will lay the foundation for effective research skills that will ultimately promote student success by adapting high impact and evidence-based educational practices.

“This grant will support a collaborative effort by a team of chemistry faculty to strengthen undergraduate research skills to help students navigate the challenges in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) research and also to increase retention and success of minority students in the chemical sciences,” said  Ngu-Schwemlein.  

The university also received a $25,000 grant from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to determine the types of undergraduate research experiences that lead to student retention and graduation in STEAM fields, which incorporates art and design into the traditional STEM areas as a catalyst for new technologies and discoveries.  Dr. Johanna Porter-Kelly, associate professor of biological sciences, will be working with Dr. Vanessa Duren-Winfield, assistant professor of healthcare management and director of research in the WSSU School of Health Sciences, to engage students in the STEAM pipeline that are often overlooked for research opportunities.  Students enrolled in the project will be Thurgood Marshall Fellows.

“These students will be engaged in research training related to the sickle cell trait with additional emphasis on training in research methodology and working with human subjects,” Porter-Kelley explained.  “The combination of conducting experiments and clinical research will lead to an interdisciplinary project that promotes teamwork and collaboration working across STEAM disciplines.”"

A Press Release

Jenkins, Harlan Join WSSU’s Advancement Team

ANDREA JENKINS

NATHAN HARLEN

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Andrea Jenkins and Nathan Harlan have joined the Advancement Office at Winston-Salem State University with Jenkins being named director of major and planned gifts and Harlan serving as director of corporate and foundation relations.

They are filling two vacant positions and will report to Michelle Cook, vice chancellor for advancement and executive director of the university’s foundation.

Most recently, Jenkins had served as a major gift officer with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where she was involved in alumni and donor efforts for a $1 billion comprehensive joint capital campaign with Wake Forest University.  Prior to working at the Medical Center, she had served as director of fundraising and marketing for Communities in Schools of Forsyth and Stokes counties.

Jenkins earned her M.P.A. in nonprofit management from High Point University and holds a B.A. in political science and African American studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She is a member of the UNCG Alumni Association board of directors, the advisory committee for the Black Philanthropy Initiative of the Winston-Salem Foundation, and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Prior to joining WSSU, Harlan had served as director of development and communications for Mountain BizWorks, a non-profit that helps local small businesses start, grow and create jobs through loans, classes and coaching.  He was responsible for fundraising efforts that raised $1 million annually in grants and donations, as well as for the organization’s communications and marketing efforts.

Harlan had previously been a development associate for major gifts and grants with the National Wild Turkey Federation and director of development for the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  He also spent four years in development with the Land Trust Alliance working in Kentucky and Washington, D.C.  Harlan earned a B.A. degree in English from Western Kentucky University.

- A Press Release

WSSU Student from Pelham Selected for Nanobiotechnology Summer Program

MARTIKA HARPER

"Martika Harper, a rising senior biology major at Winston-Salem State University, is participating in a first-of-its-kind summer research program for college undergraduate students interested in conducting cutting-edge nanobiotechnology research.

Harper was one of 10 students selected for the nine-week program called “Development of Safe Nanomaterials for Biological Application” being held at Alabama State University in Montgomery.  The inaugural three-year program is being funded by a $336,634 grant from the National Science Foundation.  Participating students receive a stipend, housing, meal and travel allowances.

“There are about 10 different research projects dealing with nanomaterials being conducted this summer,” said Harper.  “My particular project deals with the bacteria streptococcus pneumonia that can cause a pleather of infections as well as complications in the lungs.  Children and the elderly are more susceptible to the bacteria because of their underdeveloped or low immune systems.  During the summer, I’ll be developing gold and silver nanoparticles to see if they can be used as antimicrobial agents that can inhibit the growth of the bacteria.”

The program is designed to give students from across the nation hands-on experience in experimental research.  This year, students participating in the program are of diverse backgrounds from several southeastern colleges and universities including Auburn University, Savannah State University and Southern University."

A Press Release