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Par Excellence! A&T to Establish STEM Center

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A&T TodAyNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Spring/Summer 2013

EdiTorSandra M. Brown

CrEATivE SErviCESBouvier Kelly Inc.

ProduCTionDonna M. W. Gibbs, Graphic DesignRR Donnelley, Printing Services

PhoTogrAPhErSAlicia Funderburk ’13Jessie Gladin-KramerCharles E. Watkins ’03

ConTriBuTing WriTErSCourtney Jackson ’13Tiffany S. Jones ’03

ConTriBuTing CoPy EdiTorNettie Collins Rowland ’72

ChAnCEllorDr. Harold L. Martin Sr. ’74

viCE ChAnCEllor for univErSiTy AdvAnCEmEnTBarbara Pitts Miller

ASSoCiATE viCE ChAnCEllor for univErSiTy rElATionSNicole Pride

BoArd of TruSTEES ChAirWillie A. Deese ’77

A&T Today is published biannually by the Office of University Relations for alumni, parents and friends of the university.

All editorial correspondence should be directed to the editor at the address/email below.

Editorial Offices: A&T Today Office of University Relations 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411 Phone: 336-256-0863 Email: [email protected]

Postage Paid at Greensboro, NC

POSTMASTER, send address changes to: Advancement Services North Carolina A&T State University 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411

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NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURALAND TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant university that is ranked by the Carnegie Classification System as a doctoral/research university. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is an AA/EEO employer and an ADA compliant institution. 45,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $24,315 or $0.54 per copy.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a learner-centered community that develops and preserves intellectual capital through interdisciplinary learning, discovery, engagement, and operational excellence.

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Visit us online at www.ncat.edu

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GettinG it RiGht: Dr. Philip Rubio’s first name is misspelled in the first paragraph on page 28 of the Fall 2012/Winter 2013 issue of A&T Today.

FEATURES

A&T To ESTABliSh STEm CEnTEr$1.76 million grant to fund STEM models

SEASon’S End“Dean of deans” to retire with a legacy of excellence

PAr ExCEllEnCE!Teachers, reseachers lauded for outstanding work

SWEET viCToriESAggie men and women’s basketball teams make history

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A&t Receives $1 Million from Merck

Alumnus Towns Delivers Keynote and Alumni Achievers Recognized at Founders’ Day

On March 21, North Carolina A&T State University faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends celebrated the institution’s 122nd year (est. March 9, 1891) at the 2013 Founders’ Day Convocation in the Richard B. Harrison Auditorium.

Retired U.S. Congressman Edolphus Towns Jr. (D-NY), class of 1956, was the keynote speaker for the occasion. In his speech, “Don’t Sit or Sit in Amazement,” Towns told the members of the audience not to rest on their laurels and to blow their own horn with their knowledge and performance. He also assured students that the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Towns served in the United States House of Representative from 1983 to 2013. He was chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2009 to 2011. During his 30 years in Congress, he represented districts based in Brooklyn: first New York’s 11th Congressional District, 1983–1993, and then the 10th District, 1993–2013.

He served on the Energy and Commerce Committee and was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He co-sponsored and enacted several pieces of federal legislation including the Student Right To Know Act, which mandated the reporting of the rate of graduation, among student athletes, creating the Telecommunications Development Fund that provides capital for minority business initiatives and the development of a federal program for poison and control centers. He is the recipient of the 2012 Chair’s Leadership Award (formerly the Presidential Award).

Outside the political arena, Towns worked as an administrator at Beth Israel Medical Center, a professor at New York’s Medgar Evers College and Fordham University and a public school teacher. He is a veteran of the United States Army and an ordained Baptist minister. He is married to the former Gwendolyn Forbes and they have two children, Darryl and Deidra.

Merck & Co. Inc. has awarded the College of Arts and Sciences at North

Carolina A&T State University with a $1 million grant in support of the

university’s new Center for Outreach Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community

Health.

“N.C. A&T State University is excited about the proposed center, which

will significantly expand the university’s capacity to impact education,

outreach, and policy in Alzheimer’s and aging,” said Dr. Goldie Byrd, dean

of arts and sciences.

“The center will attract an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff and

students across the College of Arts and Sciences, and the university, to

conduct community based outreach activities that influence healthy aging.”

The center will create outreach and educational programs and resources

that will foster the creation of translational research, positively influence

curricula in aging, and advance research funding opportunities and faculty

scholarship in Alzheimer’s, aging and healthy living.

“Merck is pleased to be part of the remarkable effort by North Carolina A&T

State University to establish a new Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s,

Aging and Community Health that will improve education about this

debilitating disease while increasing support to Alzheimer’s patients and

their families,” said Willie A. Deese, executive vice president and president

of Merck Manufacturing Division and A&T alumnus and chairman of the

board of trustees. “The new center’s goal to create a pipeline of researchers

and social support personnel to combat this disease is very much aligned

with the Merck mission to preserve and improve human life.”

The grant is being awarded in three annual installments.

During the program, the university presented Alumni Achievement Awards to alumni who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the university. This year’s recipients were Kathy Hairston, class of 1975, College of Arts and Sciences; Stephanie Adams, ’89, College of Engineering; Archilus “Archie” Hart, ’82, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; Patricia Miller Zollar, ’84, School of Business and Economics; Sandra Carlton Alexander, ’69, School of Education; Erma Jean Smith-King, ’74, School of Nursing; Elijah W. Thorne, ’64, School of Technology; and Kristen L. Rhinehardt, ’12 M.S., Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.

Towns

Adams Alexander Hairston Hart Rhinehardt Smith-King Thorne Zollar

tom Joyner School of the Month

The Tom Joyner Foundation will recognize North Carolina A&T State

University as the School of the Month in October. More information

is forthcoming.

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Thanks to the help of junior civil engineering

major Janie Locklear, a new generation of

engineers may have gotten their first taste of

the future. James Locklear III (eighth grade) and

Rhado Locklear (seventh grade), students at

Pembroke Middle School, and Johnnie Locklear

III (ninth grade), a student at St. Pauls High

School, plan to follow in their cousin’s footstep.

Janie introduced the teens to engineering last

spring. While preparing for a local science fair,

the students were invited to campus to work

on their science projects in the civil engineering

department’s structural and construction

materials lab with the assistance of department

chair, Dr. Sameer Hamoush, and Drs. Won-

ChangChoi and Taher Abu-Lebdeh.

This past March, the three students traveled to

Albuquerque, N.M., to compete in the National

American Indian Science and Engineer Fair

(NAISEF) at the Albuquerque Convention

Center. James and Johnnie won first place in

their categories and Rhado placed second. The

student travel was funded by a grant from the

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian

Education Title VII Program, through Robeson

County Public Schools.

Janie, who traveled with the students, says

she hopes this opportunity will inspire their

interest in science, technology, engineering

and math (STEM).

“My goal is to help provide educational

experiences for Native Americans in my

community who might not otherwise have this

opportunity.”

Held annually, NAISEF provides an opportunity

for students to actively participate in a science-

based learning environment and create science

projects and conduct scientific research

that can be shared with peers, educators,

and other Native role models. Students and

educators come from across the United States,

representing hundreds of tribal nations to

participate in this prestigious event. NAISEF

serves American Indians, Alaska Natives and

Native Hawaiians in grades 5-12.

In a little more than a year, students at North Carolina A&T State University will have a new health center to receive health care and health related information and services.

On Feb. 21, the university broke ground on its new student health center at the corner of Bluford Street and Benbow Road.

“We are long overdue for a new student health center,” Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. said during the groundbreaking ceremony.

“It was built at a time when we had about 2,000 students. Now, we have more than 11,000.”

The current facility, Sebastian Health Center, is located behind Barbee and Vanstory halls and has served the campus for 60 years. It is approximately 11,000 square feet and does not meet modern building code requirements. The new facility will be nearly 28,000 square feet and will meet all building code and Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.

Civil Engineering Student Aims to Broaden Opportunities for Students

Ground is Broken for New Student Health Center

“Had we had a health center that looked like that when I came in 1973, I would have been ill more often,” alumnus and board of trustees chairman Willie A. Deese said laughing during the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is another step forward in the evolution of N.C. A&T.”

The two-story structure will be equipped with 11 exam rooms, a women’s health center, seminar rooms for wellness, prevention and maintenance education, a modern pharmacy, a laboratory diagnostic area, an immunization area, a substance abuse and counseling area as well as a secure record retention and triage area.

Senior biology major Jessica Sanders is the president of the Student Health Advisory Committee, the liaison between the health center and the students. She said the new health center is a visible milestone in A&T’s journey and more.

“This will be a place where we welcome students in a safe, comforting and confidential environment,” Sanders said.

The new student health center will be A&T’s first completely green facility. Upon completion, it will be a LEED silver building. Construction is expected to be completed in August 2014.

“my goal is to help provide educational experiences

for native Americans in my community who might not

otherwise have this opportunity.”

Janie Locklear

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In an effort to educate a more diverse audience and raise awareness of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the School of Education at North Carolina A&T State University hosted the fifth annual Urban Education Institute, March 7-9, at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons.

The first jointly sponsored North Carolina A&T

State University Maximizing Opportunities

in Research (MORE) for Careers in Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Retreat was held Feb. 16, at the Joint School of

Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) on

Lee Street.

The retreat was supported by the Historically

Black Colleges and Universities-Undergraduate

Program (HBCU-UP) TALENT-21, Integrative

Biomathematical Learning and Empowerment

Network for Diversity (iBLEND), Minority Access

to Research Careers (MARC), North Carolina

Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

(NC-LSAMP) and Research Initiative for

Scientific Enhancement (RISE).

North Carolina A&T State University spinoff, Bio-Adhesive Alliance, took

the grand-prize at the Charlotte Venture Challenge on May 2. In addition

to winning the $25,000 top prize, the startup company also won $10,000

in the new energy and high-tech category.

Bio-Adhesive Alliance aims to replace petroleum-based adhesives in

materials with a cost-effective and durable product created from pig

manure. The adhesive can be used in pavement, carpeting, roofing and

book binding.

The company first intends to market its liquid asphalt compound to

improve the quality of pavement, making it more resistant to the effects of

cold temperatures, which will reduce cracking and repairs. It also touts its

process as a solution for the disposal of pig waste.

2013 Urban Education Institute has STEM focus

Bio-Adhesive Company Wins Grand Prize in Charlotte Venture Challenge

“The institutional focus on STEM along with the historical record of leadership and service at the university make A&T uniquely positioned to host a national meeting that examines ways in which STEM involvement and success can be increased in communities of color,” said Dr. William Harvey, dean of the School of Education. The theme for this year’s Urban Education Institute was Addressing the 21st Century Imperative: Improving STEM Success in Communities of Color.

STEM careers are projected to grow at double the rate of non-STEM jobs over the next decade. The conference attracted national leaders from the political, corporate and academic communities to exchange ideas and information to help prepare minority students for futures in STEM fields.

“One of the distinguishing features of this year’s conference was the involvement of more than 100 high school seniors from across the state of North Carolina. These STEM scholars will help us understand—by sharing their insights and perspectives—how schools, colleges, universities and community groups can create more effective ways of involving young people in the STEM fields and how we can increase their success in these disciplines,” Harvey said.

The three-day conference included industry leaders and educators from North Carolina State University, Howard, Brown and others.

The conference helped spread the realization that African Americans can achieve great success in STEM, as evidenced by the recognition and celebration banquet that took place on March 8, when a set of STEM Exemplars who have earned national and international recognition for their accomplishments were honored. The honorees included Dr. Goldie Byrd, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at A&T, and Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County who keynoted the luncheon session earlier in the day.

SteM Retreat held at JSnn

The goal of the retreat was to promote synergy between campus

level STEM undergraduate programs. Students were engaged

in interactive workshops that covered a range of topics such as

research ethics presented by Donna Eaton, director of Research

Compliance and Ethnics; team building and networking presented

by Juanda Johnson-Taylor, program manager, NC-LSAMP, and John

Patterson, program coordinator, MARC; interviewing techniques

presented by Timothy Raines, Ph.D. graduate students, University of

Virginia; intellectual property presented by Laura Collins, registered

patent agent; and scientific presentation presented by Marvin Jones,

mathematics graduate student, N.C. A&T; and communication

presented by Joseph Graves, associate dean for research, JSNN.

JSNN provided a guided tour that included hands-on research

opportunities available to graduate students in the fields of

nanoscience and nanoengineering.

In its 12th year, the Charlotte Venture

Challenge (formerly Five Ventures)

provides support for early-stage

companies with high growth potential

and seeks to accelerate growth of

new enterprises in the region while

promoting Charlotte as a center of

innovation.

This year’s challenge attracted 95

entries from companies in the Carolinas,

Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and

Washington. Twenty-four of the entries

were from companies in North Carolina.

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North Carolina A&T State University and Vance-Granville Community College have formed a partnership that will allow graduates of VGCC’s associate degree nursing program to easily transition to N.C. A&T’s four-year nursing degree program.

Representatives from the two institutions formally signed an agreement in a ceremony Feb. 8, in the Civic Center on VGCC’s main campus. Through this new RN to BSN partnership program, a registered nurse will be able to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing within one calendar year of earning his or her associate degree at VGCC, if the prerequisites have been met.

The bilateral articulation agreement, as such partnerships that allow students to transfer credits are known, is the first between A&T and VGCC, although the UNC and community college systems enjoy a comprehensive articulation agreement that allows VGCC students to smoothly transfer general education credits to all of the state’s four-year public universities.

Advising of VGCC students interested in this new opportunity will begin this summer. New VGCC graduates could potentially enroll in the RN to BSN program at A&T as early as the fall 2014 semester. Once students transfer, they will be able to complete a majority of their coursework online, while also traveling to the university’s campus in Greensboro one day per week for traditional face-to-face classes.

Students who participate in the program will combine their VGCC nursing education with a university curriculum that incorporates principles of leadership and ethics, and focuses on the management of patient populations using emerging technologies. Earning a BSN is particularly attractive for registered nurses today, as hospitals attempt to gain or maintain the coveted magnet status, which is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. As a way to earn magnet accreditation, many hospitals are encouraging current and future employees to advance their education and professional development through credentials such as a BSN degree.

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North Carolina A&T State University and Guilford Technical Community

College have a new joint partnership that will give GTCC students

an opportunity to apply for joint admission to N.C. A&T’s College of

Engineering, beginning this fall.

Representatives from both institutions formalized the agreement March 26,

during an official signing of the documents at GTCC’s Greensboro campus.

The partnership is intended to improve access to undergraduate STEM

(science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, to provide

coordinated services and activities in support of student retention and to

increase graduation rates.

The co-admission agreement is the first of its kind for both institutions

and for the state in the field of engineering. Only a few dual-enrolled

programs currently exist between North Carolina’s public universities and

community colleges. Agreements like this support efforts by the state’s

community college and university systems to improve the completion

rates of students and to align with the UNC system’s new strategic plan.

A&T, GTCC Establish Engineering Co-admission Partnership

The partnership involves two

components: a co-admission program

agreement and an articulation

agreement. Select students will be

co-admitted to both GTCC and A&T

simultaneously. In addition, a variety of

benefits will be offered to co-admitted

students including coordinated

federal and financial aid disbursement;

one application fee for A&T; special

scholarship opportunities for

Guilford County Schools’ graduates;

coordinated student and academic

services; a seamless transition to

A&T’s upper-division coursework for

students who maintain established

academic standards during their first

two years at GTCC; access to co-

curricular programs (e.g., internships,

student clubs), and coordinated

degree completion.

The curriculum articulation agreement

will allow successful students to apply

65 credits toward bachelor’s degrees

in civil or mechanical engineering at

A&T, giving students junior standing

upon transition.

Five new lower division courses in

engineering will be added to GTCC’s

curriculum and include: Engineering

Graphics, Introduction to Engineering,

Engineering Statics, Engineering

Dynamics and Engineering Materials.

GTCC hopes to enroll up to 30

students in the co-admission

program by fall 2013. Students will be

required to satisfy specific admission

requirements in order to participate.

VGCC Signs Nursing Agreement with A&T

Dr. Randy Parker (left), president of Guilford Technical Community College, and Dr. Harold

L. Martin Sr. (right), chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University, shake hands after

signing the co-admission partnership agreement that will allow GTCC students to apply

for joint admission to the N.C. A&T College of Engineering.

In February, North Carolina A&T State University and Vance-Granville Community College formed a partnership

allowing graduates of VGCC’s associate degree nursing program to transition to N.C. A&T’s four-year nursing degree

program. Pictured (l-r) from N.C. A&T are Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr., chancellor; Dr. Inez Tuck, nursing dean; and Dr.

Winser Alexander, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. From VGCC are Dr. Angela Ballentine,

vice president of academic and student affairs, and Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president.

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More than 1,200 candidates received

baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees

during North Carolina A&T State University’s

spring commencement exercises May 11 at

the Greensboro Coliseum. Alumnus Dmitri L.

Stockton (page 10, top left) was the keynote

speaker and honorary degree recipient.

Senior Class President Alisha Fairfax (page 10,

bottom right) also addressed the graduates.

Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley (pictured left with

Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. and UNC Board

of Governors member David Powers) was

recognized as a recipient of the BOG’s Award

for Excellence in Teaching.

commencement 2013


campus briefs

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SPRINGSUMMER

Faculty and Staff

The Alzheimer’s

Association recognized dr. goldie S. Byrd, professor

and dean of the College of

Arts and Sciences, during

Black History Month as

a scientist following the

path of pioneer Solomon Carter Fuller, M.D.,

one of the first recorded African American

scientists who worked with Dr. Alois Alzheimer,

whose findings led to the identification of

Alzheimer’s disease. Byrd is cited as “one such

scientist who is striving to make a difference

in the fight against Alzheimer’s.” Byrd has

worked more than a decade researching the

genetics of the disease, particularly among

African Americans.

dr. Shirley hymon-Parker, associate

dean for research in the School of Agriculture

and Environmental Sciences, is chair of the

Association of Research Directors, a federation

of 18 land-grant universities primarily in the

Southeast that coordinates research initiatives

among its members.

dr. Tracie o. lewis, coordinator for distance

learning, is a member of the 2013 class of

the Leading Change Institute sponsored

by Educause and the Council on Library

Information Resources (CLIR). Educause is a

nonprofit association and foremost community

of IT leaders and professionals committed

to advancing higher education. The Leading

Change Institute, successor to the Frye

Leadership Institute, engages leaders who seek

to further develop their skills for the benefit

of higher education. The former explores

higher education challenges, empowering

librarians and information technologists to

initiate conversations and take action on

issues of importance not just to their individual

institutions, but to the entire higher education

community. The Leading Change Institute will

convene June 2–7 in Washington, D.C.

North Carolina Campus

Compact, a coalition of

38 public and private

colleges and universities,

has honored Chancellor harold l. martin Sr. with

the 2013 Leo M. Lambert

Engaged Leader Award, for his leadership

in community engagement. Named in honor

of Elon University’s president, the Lambert

Award is given to a North Carolina college or

university head who is committed to creating

and sustaining efforts that deeply impact

community and campus. The honoree is

nominated and selected by fellow presidents

and chancellors whose institutions are

members of the Compact. The commendation

describes Martin as “a visionary leader with a

strong commitment to higher education and

to collaborations with community, educational,

and business entities.” He is also cited for

his recent appointment by President Barack

Obama to the Board for International Food and

Agriculture Development.

Civil engineering professor dr. Ellie fini added

another accolade to her list of accomplishments

when she was named to the Triad Business Journal’s

40 Leaders Under Forty—honors young leaders

for their accomplishments and contributions to

the Piedmont Triad as well as their potential in the

years to come—for 2013. Fini has been working

with biowaste for the past four years to create

an adhesive alternate to expensive petroleum

based adhesives. She also has been working with

colleagues to create a spin-off company for the

university, PiGrid. In years past, she has been named

outstanding junior researcher and rookie of the year

in A&T’s Research Excellence Awards.

The North Carolina Chapter of the Society of Research Administrators

International has elected nora Shively as president-elect. This

position serves a one-year term before moving on as president and

past president, both of which are also one year terms. Shively is the

senior research development officer for the Division of Research and

Economic Development, Office of Research Services.

dr. Syrulwa l. Somah, associate professor and graduate studies

coordinator in the Department of Construction Management and

Safety, spent Jan. 7–25 at W.V.S. Tubman University in Harper, Maryland

County, Liberia, to lay the foundation for international projects

between TU and N.C. A&T. The projects include (but are not be limited

to) a study abroad program, faculty and staff exchanges, and the

development of an environmental health and safety curriculum.

dr. Teresa Jo Styles, professor in the department of journalism

and mass communication, recently spoke at Kingston University,

London, UK, on “Writing Against The Grain: Dissent and the Press

in History.” Styles also recently published an article on HBO’s John

Adams, a film directed by Tom Hooper and produced by Tom

Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Kirk Ellis, Frank Doelger, David Coatsworth

and Steve Shareshian. The article appears in American Journalism

(Winter 2013, Vol. 30, No. 1), which is published by Routledge Taylor

& Francis Group.

dr. Justin Zhan, professor of computer

science and director of the iLab in the College

of Engineering, was an invited speaker at the

White House Big Data Workshop, held May

3 at the White House Conference Center in

Washington, D.C. Zhan’s topic was "Big Data

and Cyber Security," as it relates to recent

research conducted at ILAB. The Office of Science and Technology

Policy and the NITRD Big Data Senior Steering Group Researchers

hosted the workshop where representatives from Harvard, UNC

Chapel Hill, Carnegie Mellon and other universities across the

country also presented.


campus briefs

April Burrage, 2013 marketing (sales)

graduate, was the first recipient of

the newly established Chancellor’s

Award for Academic Excellence,

which recognizes a student for the

integration of academic excellence

with other aspects of their lives that

may include leadership, community

service, arts, athletics and career

achievement. While it’s not required

for this award, Burrage has maintained

a cumulative 4.0 GPA. She won the

university’s Outstanding Athlete

Academic award as a valued member

of the tennis team and she won first

place in the Mock Sales Competition

sponsored by the National Sales

Network. Burrage will be working

as an insurance broker for Arthur J.

Gallagher Risk Management Services in

Chicago after graduation.

Jasmine Scott was one of 10

students selected to serve as a U.S.

Forest Service Student Ambassador

for the 2012–13 academic year. A

unique recruiting tool for federal

agencies, the ambassadors program

enlists students to promote job and

internship opportunities to their

fellow classmates on campuses

nationwide. The nonprofit Partnership

for Public Service created the

program in response to research that

found the best messengers to reach

students about federal employment

opportunities are their peers. The

Forest Service looked to Scott to

serve as an on-campus resource for

Forest Service job and internship

information, providing “insider” tips

on where to find and how to land

positions within the agency.

Tiffanie r. Smith, a computer

engineering major, is the first recipient

of the newly established University

Award for Academic Excellence,

to be given annually to a senior

who has enriched the university

through a record of accomplishment

in leadership across areas such

as scholarship, student life and

community service. The student must

also have maintained a cumulative

4.0 GPA. Smith will attend Clemson

University in the fall to pursue a Ph.D.

in human-centered computing.

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Students

Emmanuel Johnson, a 2013 graduate whose major is computer engineering,

is embarking on a new journey to foster a global perspective of robotics as the

recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship Award. He is the first N.C. A&T student to

receive a Fulbright.

The award will allow Johnson to travel to the United Kingdom this fall, to pursue

a master’s degree in robotics at the University of Birmingham. The UK award

remains the most competitive Fulbright scholarship. This year, 706 students

applied for 46 positions.

nadine y. Jansen, a junior mathematics major with

a 3.96 GPA, is a 2013 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

and Excellence in Education Program Award. Jansen

is the first N.C. A&T student to receive the award and

one of eight recipients from North Carolina this year.

The scholarship program was established by Congress

in 1986 to honor Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, who served

his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman,

including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The

foundation’s purpose is to provide a continuing source of

highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers

by awarding scholarships to college students who intend

to pursue careers in these fields.

Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition,

fees, books and room and board, up to a maximum of

$7,500 annually. Scholarship monies not used during one

academic year are not transferable to the succeeding

academic year. Junior-level scholarship recipients are

eligible for a maximum of two years of scholarship support,

and senior-level scholarship recipients are eligible for a

maximum of one year of scholarship support. Scholarships

are awarded based on merit and the actual amount given is

based on financial need.

In addition to his formal studies,

Johnson will live and learn from the

people of the host country through

community engagement, direct

interactions in the classroom, field,

home and routine tasks.

“Being selected as a Fulbright Scholar

is an honor. I am humbled and excited

to have won this award and hope it will

inspire others to compete in the future,”

he said.

The New Jersey native is the first in his

family to attend college and says he is

grateful to his professors and advisors

in the College of Engineering. With

a GPA of 2.9, Johnson says he barely

made it into the program at A&T, and at

the time did not qualify for competitive

academic scholarships.

“I knew I had to work hard and at the

end of my freshman year, I earned a

4.0 GPA.”

Johnson has since received numerous

scholarships that he says enabled him

to pay for his college education.

“Without the aid of scholarships, I would

not have been able to stay in school. It

really challenged me to excel and make

good grades.”

Johnson says that being a Fulbright

Scholar is an incredible opportunity

that will follow him throughout

his career and help him gain more

experience in robotics research

on an international scale. His long-

term goal is to earn a doctorate

degree in robotics and become a

university researcher.

Jansen spent the summer of 2012 doing research in

combinatorics at the University of Maryland at College Park,

and she submitted that research as part of her Goldwater

application. This summer she will study and conduct

research in algebraic combinatronics at the Mathematical

Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) in Berkeley, Calif.


campus briefs continuedreginald nathaniel Johnson, a professional theatre

major and Mister A&T for 2012-13, was crowned Mr.

HBCU at the ninth annual HBCU Kings’ Leadership

Conference and Competition at Lincoln University in

Jefferson, Mo. He was also voted Mr. Congeniality by

fellow contestants. Johnson, 22, is the fourth Mister A&T

in university history and the first to receive the crown at

the competition.

leon White, a doctoral student in the College of

Engineering, and Hector Carmona of California State

University (the ERC’s outreach partner) won the first

Test-Bed for Innovation and Translation Competition at

the National Science Foundation’s Annual ERC Meeting

in Bethesda, Md., last November. The contest required

that projects involve the development of a system-level

test bed aimed at solving an identified problem, in

which the student(s) were engaged in the conception,

design or implementation. White and Carmona’s

concept was “Biodegradability–Revolutionizing Metallic

Biomaterials,” which challenged students at the

undergraduate and graduate levels to work together in

synergy to advance the research.

Thirty-two civil engineering students

participated in the 2013 American Society of Civil

Engineers (ASCE) Carolina’s conference at the

University of South Carolina, where they won five

awards: first-place awards in geotechnical engineering

and surveying competitions, second place in

environmental engineering and third place in the mead

paper and concrete canoe competitions. A&T’s students

competed against schools such as Duke University,

Georgia Tech, N.C. State and Clemson.

In February, A&T’s SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Collegiate design Series teams

competed and won in all categories at the annual SAE

Carolinas’ Collegiate Design Presentation Competition

hosted by Duke University in Durham, N.C. The Baja

SAE, Formula SAE and SAE Aero teams won in each

of their respective categories. The winning teams were

awarded a cash prize of $100 in each category. Other

Carolina Section student SAE chapters competing in

the contest included Clemson, Duke, East Carolina, N.C.

State, UNC-Charlotte, University of South Carolina and

Western Carolina.

Six Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)

Scholars presented their research projects during the

70th Annual Joint National Institute of Science-Beta

Kappa Chi Scientific Meeting in Reston, Va., March 13–17.

Phillip Thomas, junior biology major, won first place

in the Biology-E poster session; marc Thompson,

junior bioengineering major, won first place in the

Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering and

Environmental Science poster session; and Shonkela Pittman, junior biology major, won second place

in the Biology-C oral presentation session. Other

presentations were made by junior biology majors

Agape lucas and niageria lusk; and darius Bost, junior applied mathematics major.

Kiersten Bethea, junior biology major; nadine Jansen, junior, mathematics; nija Jones, senior,

mathematics; Armeshia mcCoy, sophomore,

biology; laura Peace, junior, chemistry; and Taylor rosemond, senior, mathematics, competed at the

2013 Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

in STEM, in Washington, D.C. Feb. 28–March 2. Jansen

won first place for her oral presentation, “Weighed

Walks and Generating Functions,” in the category

of Mathematics and Statistics. dr. mufeed Basti, associate professor of chemistry; Wilsonia Carter,

HBCU-UP/TALENT-21 program coordinator; and

dr. guoqing Tang, HBCU-UP/TALENT-21 project

director and chair of the mathematics department,

accompanied the students.

Four Sport Science and Fitness Management (SSFM)

students in the Department of Human Performance and

Leisure Studies (HPLS)—Samantha Boddie, morgan fuller, Taya gaskins-Scott and nicole Jackson—

attended the "Totally Athletically You - Creating the

Athletic Administrator from Within - Women in Athletics

Professional Development Workshop," in Norfolk, Va.,

April 4–5. HPLS faculty members, drs. regina Epps

and dwedor ford, chaperoned. The workshop is

sponsored by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

(MEAC) Senior Women Administrators, providing the

opportunity for young women who are interested in

seeking athletic administrative leadership positions to

attend workshops and presentations, and to interact

with professional women in the field and network with

peers in the discipline.

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SPRINGSUMMER

The N.C. A&T Aero Team participated in the SAE Aero

Design East competition, March 15-17, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Thirty nine teams from around the world participated in

the regular class, in which A&T’s team ranked 16th. The

Aggies’ airplane flew and lifted about 28 pounds including

the payload (15 lbs.). Team members are monica Allen, Ariana Betts, Katina henson, Samira Johnson, Alexis Trent, James Wolter, Justin gage, michael Troxell, Stephen Poe, Kerwin vargas and Ethan Poe.

dr. messiha Saad is the faculty advisor.


campus briefs continued

Twelve graduate and undergraduate students

in the School of Agriculture and Environmental

Sciences participated in research competitions at

the 28th annual Minorities in Agriculture, Natural

Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS)

Career and Training Conference in Sacramento,

returned with honors. The chapter received

Region II Chapter of the Year honors and a $250

cash prize.

Jessica Wooten, mykea mcKnight, myesha mcElveen, Johnny Williams, maranda Evans and Shakera fudge received first

place (national champions) honors for their

knowledge of agriculture, MANRRS and current

event facts in the MANRRS National QUIZ Bowl.

Taylor Johnson received first place for the

undergraduate written essay. freddrianna mcElveen and gabriel White were elected

national undergraduate president and Regional

II undergraduate vice-president, respectively, for

2013–2014.

Chapter advisors dr. Paula faulkner, dr. Tracy hanner and larry hartsfield—along

with dr. radiah minor—accompanied the

students. Faulkner also served as a judge with

the Graduate Oral Research Division II and

Undergraduate Poster Contest.

A team of four Master of Science in Management

students majoring in human resources

management was selected as the first place

winner of the graduate student division

of the 2013 Annual Southeast Society for

Human Resource Management (SHRM) Case

Competition. The team consisted of Tanya Beatty, Brittney Jones, Adeia nevels and

Angelo Smith. The official award and $2,500

cash prize will be presented in Chicago at the

Annual SHRM Conference in June.

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On April 9, the N.C. A&T Bio-Adhesive Team

won the grand prize for the Southeast

Region’s Department of Energy ACC Clean

Energy Challenge, a national business plan

competition designed to encourage students

from universities throughout the southeastern

United States to pitch clean energy proposals

before a panel of judges comprised of energy

industry representatives from companies such

as ABB, Duke Energy and Siemens. A&T’s

project, presented by civil engineering major

daniel oldham (center), proposes turning

hog waste into an adhesive that can be used in

building materials and road repair. The project

received $100,000 and the chance to compete

in the National Clean Energy Business Plan

finals in Washington, D.C., in June. Other team

members include drs. mahour Parast (left)

of the School of Technology and Ellie fini (right) of the College of Engineering.

Six students maintained a 4.0 grade point average during their collegiate careers to graduate

at the top of their class in May: April Burrage, Briea Curington, monique davis,

Shelby Kilgore, rashida Scott and Tiffanie Smith.

Burrage, of Chicago, Ill., and Curington, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., both earned B.S. degrees in

marketing sales. Chicago native Davis and Westbury, N.Y., native Kilgore earned degrees in

economics and computer engineering, respectively. Scott and Smith, both from Richmond,

Va., majored in business education and computer engineering, respectively.

Burrage Curington Davis

Kilgore Scott Smith


On Feb. 18, Dr. Goldie S. Byrd, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,

announced to the media that a $1.76 million grant from the North

Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation will be used to establish the

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Center of Excellence

for Active Learning at N.C. A&T. The STEM Center will be housed in

Marteena Hall and will benefit current students, future students and

prospective students.

The grant will be awarded over five years and will be used to implement

two new student-centered active learning models for more than

5,000 students annually. The funds also will allow a plethora of course

redesigns, group based education and a new community of practice for

student learning.

Byrd said that the STEM Center builds on the university’s STEM

infrastructure and directly aligns with the university’s long term strategic

plan, Preeminence 2020.

“We are committed to cultivating a spirit of excellence in STEM education

at N.C. A&T, and we couldn’t have a better partner than the N.C.

GlaxoSmithKline Foundation,” she said during the media briefing.

STEM jobs are projected to grow at

nearly double the rate of non-STEM jobs

in the next 10 years. As a STEM-focused

university, A&T is poised to help meet

the state, nation and world’s demand for

more qualified STEM professionals over

the next 10 years.

“Our colleges of engineering and arts

and sciences, as well as our schools

of technology, nursing, business and

economics, as well as agriculture and

environmental sciences, do a remarkable

job of engaging the best and brightest

STEM students,” Chancellor Harold L.

Martin Sr. said.

“To meet the demand, public/private

partnerships like this one are not only

natural, they are necessary.”

The grant will support two strategic

pipeline programs at the high school

and rising freshman levels to provide

motivated students with a strong

foundation for matriculating in STEM

disciplines.

A summer enrichment program will

immerse high school juniors in critical

applications of science, computational

science and mathematics and prepare

them for SATs and college. The bridge

program for rising freshmen will immerse

incoming freshmen in chemistry and

calculus pre-courses. Workshops

will strengthen oral and written

communication, critical thinking, time

management, leadership and business

etiquette and financial management.

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SPRINGSUMMER

By Tiffany S. Jones ’03 “It is with a great deal of pride that we are here for this

announcement,” said Robert Ingram of N.C. GlaxoSmithKline

Foundation. “This grant will help North Carolina build and sustain a

world class STEM work force.”

A&T Interim Provost Winser E. Alexander says this grant reinforces

A&T’s commitment to student success.

“We want more of our students to get through their first year grade

point averages of 3.0 or greater with 24 to 30 credit hours,” he said.

“By having these learning methods available, we expect more of our

students to do well.”

Alexander said research shows that students who make it through

their first two years successfully are more likely to graduate.

A&T alumna Dr. Jillian Davis-Morgan says the center may set

students up for success at the university but it will also be valuable

in the work force.

“It will give them an opportunity to have cooperative active learning

and teach them critical thinking skills that all prove themselves to be

marketable in corporate America,” she said.

“In comparison to students graduating from other schools in STEM

disciplines, these opportunities will give them a leg up on the

competition.”

Davis-Morgan graduated from A&T in 1999 with a bachelor’s in

chemistry and says the strides the university will make with the

creation of this center make her even more proud to be an Aggie.

“I’ve had the opportunity to speak at the chemistry awards banquet

where I heard about what the students have accomplished – study

abroad, acceptance to medical school. I was impressed,” she said.

“It is opportunities like the ones the STEM Center will provide that will

make more of these accomplishments possible.”

A&T to Establish STEM Center

Thanks to a $1.76 million grant from the north Carolina

glaxoSmithKline foundation, north

Carolina A&T will create the

Science Technology Engineering and

mathematics Center of Excellence for Active learning.


Business and Economics (SoBE) at North Carolina A&T State University, Dean Quiester Craig is set to retire at the end of this academic year.

“There is a season and a time for everything,” Craig said about retiring now.

While he feels great and still enjoys his work, Craig feels it is time for him to spend more time with his family and do other things.

“And I won’t have to keep answering the questions, ‘When are you going to retire?’ and ‘You’re retired, aren’t you?’”

In 1972, Craig was appointed professor of accounting and dean. During his tenure, the school’s programs received a unanimous vote for undergraduate accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and became the first HBCU to receive AACSB International accreditation.

“I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of a team that has been a part of quite a few achievements,” Craig said. “I didn’t do this by myself. Everybody was on this train—even the Doubting Thomases and the Doubting Thomasinas, both inside and outside the university.”

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SeaSon’S end

School of Business and economics dean, Dr. Quiester Craig, to retire with a legacy of excellence

By Tiffany S. Jones ’03

After 40 yeArs At the helm of the school of

Craig (third from left) with (left to right) former N.C. A&T Interim Chancellor Cleon F. Thompson Jr., Chancellor Emeritus Edward B. Fort and Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.

Dr. Quiester Craig and a business student

Craig (center) with Milton Wilson (left) and Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.


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SPRINGSUMMER

Over the past four decades, some of the university’s most successful graduates are products of Craig’s work. Regional, national and even global leaders in business, industry, education and even law have all, in some way, been touched by Craig. Whether it was a scholarship, an encouraging word or the figurative kick in the pants, he made a point to make an impact.

“We aren’t worth a dime if they aren’t successful,” Craig said. “You’re only as good as your last graduates and what they are doing. What we want to have is a flock of students who will carry on the legacy of the School of Business and Economics.”

Dr. Frederick Hill is the superintendent for the Natchez-Adams School District in Natchez, Miss., remembers having two encounters with Craig. But it was the first of the two that changed his course.

“One time I met with him to talk with him about some possible scholarships that he may be aware of. He asked me about my GPA. I shared with him what my GPA was at the time and he hit the ceiling. He said come back when I have demonstrated to him that I am serious about college,” Hill said.

After a meeting with his advisor who agreed with Craig, Hill started to improve his studies and get more serious about his education.

“That encounter with him made me who I am today. I have talked with my former advisor and have thanked her several times, but I have not had the opportunity to say thank you to Dean Craig. You made an impact on my life in just the three minutes I stood before you,” Hill said.

Dr. Quiester Craig was appointed

professor of accounting and dean of

the School of Business and Economics

at North Carolina A&T State University

in July 1972. Under his leadership, the

business programs received a unanimous

vote for undergraduate accreditation by

the Association to Advance Collegiate

Schools of Business (AACSB) International

(1979), and the accounting program at

N.C. A&T was the first program of its

kind at a historically black college or

university (HBCU) to receive accreditation.

Craig has received a host of honors

and awards during his tenure at A&T.

The National Association of Black

Accountants presented him with its

Distinguished Service Award in June 1985.

At A&T’s 1986 commencement ceremony,

he was named Administrator of the Year,

and in April 1987, he was a Business and

Public Citation Merit Award recipient for

the University of Missouri–Columbia.

Miller Brewing Company recognized Craig

in its 1988 Gallery of Greats: 12 Black

Educators … Building the Foundation. The

North Carolina Association of Certified

Public Accountants presented him with

the Outstanding Educator Award in 1991.

Craig has received alumni honors from

two universities: Outstanding Graduate

Alumnus of the Year from Clark-Atlanta

University, 1991, and the Distinguished

Alumni Award from the University of

Missouri–Columbia, October 1998.

In 1992, Craig became the only African

American to serve as president of AACSB

International in its 93-year history. From

2000–2002, he was the first African

American president of Beta Gamma

Sigma, the international honor society for

qualified students in AACSB International

accredited business programs.

Craig’s exemplary service was recognized

by A&T in April 2004, with the naming

of the new classroom building for the

School of Business and Economics:

Quiester Craig Hall. The following

year Craig was honored by the HBCU

Dean’s Roundtable as the recipient of

the Milton Wilson Dean’s Excellence

award. In November 2011, he was one

of the inaugural inductees into the Ph.D.

Project Hall of Fame. He will receive the

Outstanding Dean award from Beta Alpha

Psi, the honors organization for financial

information professionals in August.

Craig holds membership in a number

of professional organizations. He has

been active in the Ph.D. Project since its

inception, has authored academic and

professional publication, has made many

professional program presentations and

has served as an educational consultant.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in

business administration from Morehouse

College, an M.B.A. from Atlanta University

and a doctorate in accounting from the

University of Missouri–Columbia. He is

a certified public accountant (CPA) in

Missouri and North Carolina.

the Legacy of Quiester Craig

Transformations like the one Hill made as a student are some of the highlights of Craig’s career. It is challenging to get students to change their course from instant gratification to delayed gratification but the hard work is worth it.

“We are trying to get as many students to buy into quality education as possible. It’s enjoyable to see a student make that choice to delay that gratification to get that education,” he said.

In addition to helping students make impactful decisions about their academics and careers, Craig has spent a great deal of time creating and fostering relationships that translate into scholarship dollars for students in the SoBE. He likes to drive home the point that relationships are paramount to achieving success in the classroom as well as the boardroom. They are preparation for the future.

“I grew up in an era where the opportunities available were a fantasy—they didn’t exist. Now we have transitioned to a time where preparation can be the foundation to get something started,” Craig said.

The awards, the accreditation distinctions, having the SoBE building named after him and securing scholarships are all a part of the legacy Craig will leave at A&T. The most important is the students and the graduates.

“These will always be my students, whether I’m in this office or not,” Craig said. “People in this profession who don’t, won’t or can’t experience the joy of student development have missed out.”

Enjoying the development of students and the team of faculty and staff is what this job is all about, he said. That is why Craig and the SoBE alums he’s interacted with hope the search committee for the new dean will look for someone who is “P.C.”

“The P.C. I’m talking about is passion and commitment. They need to have passion for what the school and the university are about,” he said. “They need to be committed to believing in, caring for and having an interest in the students.”

Craig says the new dean will have to provide the leadership to prepare the students to be competitive and to further the impact they will have on a global society. He is confident the search committee will do just that.

“The university is geared toward the selection of talented people and the alumni are assuming that will continue,” he said.

during his tenure, the school’s programs received a unanimous vote for undergraduate accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and became the first hBCu to receive AACSB international accreditation.


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north Carolina A&T State university’s best teachers and researchers were honored

during the combined Teaching Excellence and research Excellence Awards dinner,

held April 12 at the Alumni-foundation Event Center on campus. The keynote speaker

was dr. Teresa Jo Styles, recipient of the 2012 unC Board of governors Award for

Excellence in Teaching.

Par Excellence! TEAChErS, rESEArChErS lAudEd for ouTSTAnding WorK

2013 OutStAnDinG teAChinG AwARDS

dr. Stephanie luster-Teasley, Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching

and College of Engineering Award

dr. gregory goins, College of Arts and Sciences

dr. guochen yang, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

dr. Joanne utley, School of Business and Economics

dr. david lundberg, School of Education

JuniOR FACuLty teAChinG exCeLLenCe AwARDS

Anna reaves, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

dr. lisa owens-Jackson, School of Business and Economics

univeRSity ReSeARCh exCeLLenCe AwARDS

Senior Researcher of the Year: dr. osei-Agyemang yeboah, Department of Agribusiness,

Applied Economics and Agriscience Education

Outstanding Junior Researcher: dr. Paula E. faulkner, Department of Agribusiness,

Applied Economics and Agriscience Education

Rookie of the Year: dr. Justin Zhan, Department of Computer Science

Intellectual Property Award: dr. lifeng Zhang, Department of Nanoengineering

Interdisciplinary Team Award: Cone Health Foundation White Paper on Access to Health

Care in Guilford County - dr. inez Tuck, School of Nursing (with dr. Schenita davis

randolph, School of Nursing; dr. Kelly graves, Department of Human Development

and Services; Amanda Curry, Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness; dr. rosalyn

lang-Walker, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology; dr. miriam Wagner,

School of Education, Department of Human Development and Services; and

colleagues from the Wake Forest University)

Pictured on page 26 (left to right) are recipients of the university’s research awards: Drs. Inez Tuck, Justin Zhan, Kelly Graves,

Paula Faulkner, Rosalyn Lang-Walker, Osei-Agyeman Yeboah, Schenita Davis Randolph and Lifeng Zhang.

OtheR AwARDS

Advising Excellence Award: dr. Stephen mcCary-henderson,

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

New U.S. Patent Recipients: dr. Shamsuddin ilias, Department of

Chemical Engineering, and dr. Jianmei yu, Department of Family

and Consumer Science

COLLeGe AnD SChOOL ReSeARCh AwARDS

Senior Researcher of the Year: dr. Wendy C. hamblet, Department of

Liberal Studies; dr. lyubov Kurkalova, Department of Economics;

and dr. Comfort o. okpala, Department of Leadership Studies

Outstanding Junior Researcher: dr. narayan Bhattarai, Department

of Chemical and Bioengineering; dr. ibraheem Kateeb, Department of

Computer Systems Technology; and dr. Jing Zhang, Department

of Physics

Rookie of the Year: dr. Kimberly d. Erwin, Department of Curriculum

and Instruction, and dr. mahour mellat-Parast, Department of

Applied Engineering Technology

Intellectual Property Award: dr Ellie fini, Department of Civil,

Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Interdisciplinary Team Award

Evaluation and Mitigation of Multi Hazard Effects on Conventional

Buildings, Modeling and Simulation/Analysis Tools for

Infrastructure Applications, Land Management, and Adaptive

Intelligence Systems Architecture - dr. Sameer hamoush,

Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental

Engineering, and dr. ibraheem Kateeb, Department of Computer

Systems Technology

NASA INSTRUCT - dr. Ajit Kelkar, Department of Nanoengineering,

and nine faculty members representing six departments and

three colleges/schools

NSF Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic

Biomaterials - dr. Jagannathan Sankar, Department of

Mechanical Engineering, and faculty members from multiple N.C.

A&T departments, the University of Pittsburgh, University of

Cincinnati and Hannover Medical School in Germany

NSF Mentoring of Middle Grade Science and Mathematics Teachers -

dr. david Boger, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, with

faculty members from the Department of Human Development

and Services and faculty mentors from the College of Arts

and Sciences, College of Engineering, School of Agriculture and

Environmental Sciences, School of Business and Economics,

School of Education and School of Technology


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Outstanding teacher Molds the Rough Diamonds

By Courtney Jackson ’13

Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley is the magic that happens when

passion and purpose collide. The UNC Board of Governors

recently recognized Luster-Teasley for her outstanding

dedication and service to teaching with the prestigious “2013

Excellence in Teaching Award.”

The associate professor in the Department of Civil,

Architectural and Environmental Engineering and the

Department of Chemical, Biological and Bioengineering has

spent nine years at North Carolina A&T State University

engaging students and molding what she calls diamonds in

the rough for success.

Through her undergraduate mentoring program, “Engage to

be Engineers,” Luster-Teasley provides students with the tools

and resources that will give them the competitive edge they

need to be successful. The program is a community of support

that assists students from a variety of backgrounds including

first generation students and students with children.

It is Luster-Teasley’s relatable nature that sets her apart as a

professor and allows her to assess the core needs of her students.

She is an alumna of N.C. A&T and teaches in the same labs she

once studied in at the university. She remembers the difficulties

of being a graduate student while raising her children.

With a comprehensive summer and academic

school year program for middle school girls,

Luster-Teasley is channeling her energy into

inspiring girls to excel in the male dominated

STEM field.

“A lot of times middle school is when the boys

start telling girls that it is not cool to be good

at math or science,” she says.

Her goal is to erase those assumptions and

self-esteem related barriers and provide role-

models who prove that girls can be engineers.

Among her students and mentees, Luster-

Teasley promotes a positive work-life balance.

“I can have the family and I can have the

career,” she says as she explains her family’s

contributions to her career. “This award is as

much my family’s award in celebration of what

we do as a family.” Luster-Teasley plans to

reward her husband and sons with a vacation

for the first time since she’s been at A&T.

As an African American woman, Luster-

Teasley, represents two critical minorities in

her profession. According to statistics, she

has managed a career of beating odds and

exceeding expectations.

“I think what I’ve done shows that if you

genuinely care about the kids you can get

them to excel,” she said.

Luster-Teasley will continue to uplift and

inspire her students because she can admit

that at one time like most of them—a

diamond in the rough.


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For the first time in 18 years, the North Carolina A&T State

University men’s basketball team was invited to compete in the

NCAA Basketball tournament – The Big Dance. But the journey to

the dance was just as sweet.

DOn’t StOp BeLievinG The Aggies defeated the Morgan State University Bears 57-54 to

win the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference basketball tournament,

N.C. A&T’s 16th MEAC title and the most in conference history.

The win marked coach Cy Alexander’s sixth MEAC title as a head

coach and his first with A&T.

“I think no one in our program ever stopped believing regardless of

all the ups and downs,” Alexander said.

Aggie men win mEAC title then dances ‘The Big

dance’ to earn first nCAA tourney victory while lady

Aggies become the only mEAC team in conference

history to make three WniT appearances

The conference championship victory gave the Aggies one of

27 automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. A&T awaited the

announcement of its destination for tournament play.

Senior Austin Witter had been practicing and playing in Corbett

Sports Center for four years. Each time he looked in the rafters, he

saw the years marking A&T’s 15 MEAC championships. One thing he

noticed was those years didn’t extend into this millennium.

“It’s great to look up there and see all the history,” he said. “It’s great

to look up there and see all the championships. But then it just

stops. There is nothing that comes after 1995. I’ve always wanted to

change that.”

Now, thanks to Witter’s record-breaking season along with the

tenacious play of his teammates and the constant encouragement

from his coaches, the team has a banner raised in its honor in

Corbett Sports Center.

“Nobody believed in us,” said senior Adrian Powell,

tournament most valuable player. “There were times when

our own students and fans were tough on us. But coach

told us it was important that everyone in our locker room

stay together and stay committed. There are times when

you have to believe in yourself when no one else does.”

The Aggies entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed out

of 13 teams with a losing record at 15-16. They opened

the tournament with a win over 10th-seeded Florida A&M

(FAMU), their third win over the Rattlers this season.

In round 2 of play, all four of the tournament’s top seeds

were defeated, including the Aggies’ win over arch rival

N.C. Central, 55-42. In the third round, the Aggies claimed

a six-point victory over the Delaware State University

Hornets to compete in the MEAC championship game.

While this was Alexander’s first year as head coach at A&T,

he made more history of his own. He now has a league

best 31 MEAC Tournament wins and became the third

Aggies head coach to win the MEAC title in his first year in

Aggieland, joining Jeff Capel (1994) and Roy Thomas (1995).

DO A LittLe DAnCeThen, in their 73-72 victory over the Liberty University

Flames, the Aggies snapped the longest losing streak in

NCAA tournament history. This victory was especially

sweet as it made history for the Mid-Eastern Atlantic

Conference and Coach Cy Alexander. It is the first time

in MEAC history that two conference teams won NCAA

tournament games in consecutive years and Alexander’s

first NCAA tournament win.

While Alexander has a lot to celebrate, he shares this

victory with all of N.C. A&T’s constituents.

“I think the whole entire A&T community, the Greensboro

community, and the alumni of A&T are all very proud of

what these young men have done this past year,” he said.

“It's been a long time. The emails and texts I’ve had since we

beat Morgan State on Saturday—everybody is just elated

over how far the program has come in a one-year period.”

With the win, the Aggies moved ahead to face the

tournament’s overall No. 1 seed, the University of

Louisville Cardinals in Lexington, Ky.

SWEET VICTORIES

By Brian M. Holloway ’97 and

Tiffany S. Jones ’03

Aggie fans in Indianapolis

Head Coach Cy Alexander at press conference


2K13

SPRINGSUMMER

aggie athleticsBy Brian M. Holloway ’97

The North Carolina A&T volleyball youth

movement is complete. Head coach Hal Clifton

announced the signing of three players in April.

Jade Boone (6-0, middle blocker, Concord,

N.C., Jay M. Robinson) Liz Martino (5-7, setter,

Elmhurst, Ill., Immaculate Conception) and Jillian

Nobles (5-11, middle blocker, Long Beach, Calif.,

Long Beach Polytechnic School) will be a part of

the volleyball program in 2013.

In year three of his stint at A&T, Clifton is

expected to have a roster that includes six

sophomores and three freshmen.

“This class, like last year’s class, will be very

instrumental in rebuilding this program,” Clifton

said. “Each of these young women brings

different attributes to the table and will

make an immediate impact in our

program both on the court and in

the classroom.”

Boone will help to replace the losses

A&T had at the middle blocker position

this spring with the graduation of Andrea

Evans and the return of Aprill McRae to women’s

basketball. Clifton added that she could see

some playing time on the right side. Last season,

she was All-Southern Piedmont at Robinson

High School. She also competed for John

Brannon and the Carolina Union Volleyball Club.

Martino will be filling a much needed role this

season. The Aggies have been looking for a true

setter for the past few seasons. Rising senior

Chelsea Fox transitioned into the role as a

sophomore in 2011, and competed there in 2012.

While she has been successful in that position,

Clifton is looking to move her back into either an

outside or right side hitter position.

Aggie volleyball 2013Home Games For a listing of all games, visit www.ncataggies.com

Sept. 6 ^ Alabama State Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 ^ UNC Greensboro Moore Gymnasium 11 a.m.

Sept. 7 ^ Murray State Moore Gymnasium 4 p.m.

Sept. 17 Charlotte Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 Campbell Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 Elon Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 S.C. State Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 Savannah State * Moore Gymnasium 1 p.m.

Oct.15 Gardner-Webb Moore Gymnasium 6 p.m.

Oct. 25 N.C. Central * Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Nov. 1 Florida A&M * Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Nov. 3 Bethune-Cookman * Moore Gymnasium 1 p.m.

Nov. 5 East Carolina Moore Gymnasium 7 p.m.

* Conference game

^ Ashford Suites Aggie-Spartan Invitational

StiLL winneRS AFteR ALL theSe GAMeSIn two gymnasiums 412 miles apart, the

North Carolina A&T State University men and

women’s basketball teams put a cap on the

2012-13 season.

In Harrisonburg, Va., the women dropped

a first round Women’s National Invitation

Tournament (WNIT) game to the James

Madison University Lady Dukes 77-64. In

Lexington, Ky., the men suffered a tough loss

to the University of Louisville Cardinals in

a round 1 match of the National Collegiate

Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament.

Though both teams’ seasons ended this way,

their fans say they don’t have anything to hang

their heads about.

“We played our hardest—gave it 100 percent

and that is something to be proud of,” alumnus

Kenneth Crawford said.

Both teams made MEAC history this year. The

women became the only team in conference

history to make three WNIT appearances.

This is the first time in MEAC history that two

conference men’s teams have won NCAA

tournament games in consecutive years.

“This has been an awakening for the university.

It has been like it was back in the day,”

graduate student Dwayne Johnson said.

Johnson is the president of the Graduate

Student Council and a 1995 graduate of A&T.

He says the teams’ success this year have

brought back the “old school HBCU feeling.”

“Aggie Pride is back to a state of being and not just something we say,”

he added.

In spite of being under the radar for the majority of the season, the

women’s team has had a successful year. The Lady Aggies entered the

MEAC tournament as the No. 2 seed with a conference record of 13-3 and

an overall record of 20-6.

The men’s team entered the MEAC tournament as the No. 7 seed and

with a losing record of 15-16. In their first game of the tournament, the

Aggies caught fire against the FAMU Rattlers and burned through

rivals NCCU, Delaware State and Morgan State to win the team’s first

MEAC Championship since 1995. The conference championship won the

Aggies an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they kept up

their winning ways versus the Liberty University Flames in a First Four

contest that earned the university and Coach Cy Alexander’s first NCAA

tournament win.

Excitement about the Aggies’ MEAC Championship and NCAA appearance

spilled over into the city of Greensboro and all across the globe with

messages of support pouring in via university-level Facebook and Twitter

from Aggie alums, rival schools and friends of the university.

Alumni chapters from places like St. Louis, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh,

northern Delaware, Chicago and the Washington (D.C.) area did their part

to support the teams by having watch parties.

“This is what Aggie Pride is all about,” biology major Jasmine Whitaker said.

“It’s great to have a school you can root for and to have other people root

for. Those who didn’t jump on the bandwagon—this was your loss.”

This was the first season for both head coaches, Tarrell Robinson and

Alexander. With players like MEAC Rookie of the Year Eboni Ross and

junior Amber Calvin returning for the women and freshman Bruce Bowen

and juniors Lamont Middleton and Jeremy Underwood returning for the

men, Aggie fans are already looking forward to next year.

“I hope the energy level goes even higher,” Johnson said.

A&T Volleyball Announces 2013 Recruiting Class

Martino leaves Immaculate Conception High as fifth all-time in

career assists and is seventh on the all-time serve percentage.

She was also an All-Suburban Christian Conference selection as a

junior and was also part of a highly successful club team, the Sports

Performance Volleyball team that is nationally known for producing

setters and Division I players.

Like Boone, Nobles will fill a much needed position at middle blocker. At

Long Beach Polytechnic School, Nobles earned Del Rey League first-team

All-League honors and was named Moore League second-team All-League

in 2011. She also earned the team’s 2010 Most Improved Award, and had

strong seasons with the Mizuno Long Beach 18-and-under Rockstar club

team. Her team competed in the Junior Olympics Silver Division in 2012,

and won a silver medal in the 2010 Junior Olympics.

The Aggies open the season on Friday, Aug. 30 in a tournament in

Radford, Va., against host Radford University at 6:30 p.m. For the

complete schedule, visit www.ncataggies.com.

wOMen’S CROSS COuntRyTop Performer Award - Kristin Rush

Men’S CROSS COuntRyTop Performer Award - Saeed Jones

wOMen’S BASketBALLMost Improved Player - Eboni Ross

Defensive Player - Ariel Bursey

Spirit Award - Nikia Gorham

Coach Award - Adriana Nazario

All-Around Award - JaQuayla Berry

Men’S BASketBALLHustle Award - DaMetrius Upchurch

Defensive MVP - Austin Witter

MVP - Adrian Powell

Top Free Throw Shooter -

Jeremy Underwood

Top Rebounder - Austin Witter

SwiMMinGMVP - Lauren Bowling

Rookie of the Year - Miranda Jacobs

Wright Swimmer Award - Victoria Orr

BOwLinGModel of Consistency Award -

Courtney Crook

Rookie of the Year - Emily Strombeck

Coach’s Choice - Amber Brown

wOMen’S tenniSTop Performer Award - Kimberly Stalling

Unsung Performer Award - Victorea Austin

wOMen’S tRACk & FieLDTrack Rookie of the Year - Nakita Gray

Top Field Event of the Year - Sydni Cobb

Men’S tRACk & FieLD Top Performer of the Year - Darryl Williams

Comeback Performer of the Year -

Christian Harrison

Top Field Event of the Year - Keenan Smith

CheeRLeADinGSpirit Squad MVP - Quatnera Repass

Rookie Spirit Squad Member of the Year -

Cierra West

Most Improved - Gloria Smith

The N.C. A&T Athletics Department had

plenty to celebrate at the 2012-13 All-Sports

Awards Banquet, April 15, at the Alumni-

Foundation Event Center.

Each athletic team presented team awards,

and the athletics department unveiled

the top award winners at the festive gala

themed “A Black and White Affair: A Night

in Hollywood.” The program was hosted

by women’s basketball public address

announcer, Joseph Level.

The postseason successes of the bowling,

men’s and women’s basketball teams were

reflected in the top honors given on the night.


continued

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SPRINGSUMMER

aggie athleticsBy Brian M. Holloway ’97

Freeman named MeAC player of the year

Senior first baseman Kelvin Freeman was named MEAC Player

of the Year and earned first-team All-MEAC honors along with

junior shortstop Luke Tendler, the conference office announced

May 15.

Freeman and Tendler will look to lead the Aggies to their fourth

MEAC crown in school history and first since 2005, when they

participated in the 2013 MEAC tournament, May 15–19, at Marty

L. Miller Field on the campus of Norfolk State.

Freeman leads the conference in home runs and RBI and ranks

eighth in the nation in home runs (14) and 21st in RBI (54) this

season. He finishes the regular season with a .339 average, 11

doubles, a triple and 116 total bases. He has a .644 slugging

percentage, which is 24th in the nation, and leads the team

with 13 multi-RBI games and 18 multi-hit games.

Freeman was the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year and earned second-team All-

MEAC honors in 2012. He holds a career .344 batting average with 48 doubles,

three triples, 29 home runs and 170 RBI. He was named MEAC Player of the Week

on April 29.

Tendler is tied for first in the nation in doubles (25) and ranks among MEAC

leaders in average, hits, RBI, doubles, home runs and total bases. He finishes the

regular season with a .357 average, two triples, five home runs and 33 RBI, and

he leads the team in batting average and posted a team-best nine-game hitting

streak from April 24–May 7.

Tendler also recorded 18 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games. He was named

to the second-team All-MEAC in 2012 and to the 2012 MEAC All-Tournament team.

Tendler also garnered 2011 first-team All-MEAC honors. He holds a career .346

batting average with 55 doubles, 13 triples, 17 home runs and 141 RBI. Tendler

was named MEAC Player of the Week on March 7.

Student-Athletes and Teams Recognized at Awards Banquet

OveRALLFemale Rookie Athlete of the Year - Emily Strombeck, Bowling

Male Rookie Athlete of the Year - Bruce Beckford, Men’s Basketball

2012-13 Female Athlete of the Year - JaQuayla Berry, Women’s Basketball

2012-13 Male Athlete of the Year - Adrian Powell, Men’s Basketball

Senior Female Athlete of the Year - JaQuayla Berry, Women’s Basketball

Senior Male Athlete of the Year - Michael Mayhew, Football

Aggie Athletic Foundation Award - Amber Brown, Bowling

Highest Team GPA - Bowling

Academic Athletes (4.0 Cumulative GPA) - April Burrage (Tennis),

Kirby Whicker (Baseball), Jahkeem Forrester (Football)

FOOtBALLMVP - D’Vonte Graham

Defensive Player of the Year - Christopher Neal

Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year - D’Vonte Graham

Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year - Michael Mayhew

Football Aggie Award - Travis Crosby

Lineman of the Year - William Robinson III

vOLLeyBALLMost Valuable Player - Ashley Johnson

Most Improved Player - Ian Thompson

Aggie Pride Award - Jasmine Jones

teAM hiGhLiGhtSThe men’s basketball team made national headlines by winning the MEAC

Championship for the 16th time in program history and picked up its first NCAA

tournament win. The women’s basketball team also earned a berth in a national

postseason tournament, competing in the 2013 WNIT.

The football team ranked second in the nation in total defense, and posted its first

winning season in nine years in the second season under head coach Rod Broadway.

The volleyball team posted the most wins in a season since 2008.

The Aggies also set new program records in cross country, swimming and indoor

track and field. The bowling team finished second in the Southern Division and came

in fifth in the MEAC tournament this year. Tennis, baseball, softball and outdoor track

and field teams also made great strides in competition this academic year.

Pictured left to right: Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., Female Rookie of the Year Emily Strombeck, Bowling Coach James Williams and

Athletics Director Earl Hilton; Aggie Athletic Foundation Awardee Amber Brown; Senior Male Athlete of the Year Michael Mayhew;

2012-13 Male Athlete of the Year Adrian Powell and 2012-13 Female Athlete of the Year JaQuayla Berry

Freeman

Tendler

aggie athletics


2K13

SPRINGSUMMER

For junior Erika Eisenman, making

future plans for a month-long trip to

work in a Jamaican orphanage will

have to wait for another night.

On April 14, Eisenman, a social work

major and member of the swimming

team at N.C. A&T, was among the

students inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most

selective academic honor society. Membership to the

A&T chapter is only given by invitation to the top 7.5

percent of second-semester juniors and the top 10

percent of seniors and graduate students.

Eisenman, who had a 3.83 GPA for the 2012 fall

semester and a 3.55 cumulative GPA, is excited to have

discipline in balancing academics and her athletic

career recognized, even as she continues to work on her

plans for pursuing a career in social work and adoption.

“It’s really exciting because I’ve never really been

honored for grades or anything. I’ve never been a poor

student, but I’ve never excelled to the point that I would

get honored for something like this,” she said, adding

that this has been a challenging school year with her

course load. “Having this at the end, being honored,

really helped to have that extra push to make sure that

I maintain good grades.”

Coach Shawn Hendrix has been impressed with the way

Eisenman is able to succeed both in and out of the pool.

“Erika is a great example of being a remarkable

student-athlete. Her organization skills and discipline

in completing a task in a structured method is only a

few examples of her strengths,” she said. “I believe she

is among the small population that has learned how

to embrace and balance competition in the pool and

classroom. This is the framework of an Aggies leader.”

Eisenman credits her advisor, Dr. Mary Lewis, with

helping her to succeed academically.

“I think she’s just been amazing. She’s really helped

me with classes and professors that have not been the

easiest … she’s really a motivator,” Eisenman said.

The Salt Lake City, Utah, native also values her

academic success because it helps prepare her for

attending graduate school and for the demands of her

chosen career field.

“I’ve always been really interested in helping people. …

I really want to work for a nonprofit or an adoption

agency, in particular with parents who (voluntarily)

want to give up their children. That’s one of my dreams.”

continued

Somewhere out there, perhaps a landfill in Tallahassee, Fla., lies a bloody

baseball glove—a glove that was a part of a no-hitter, a road win over

North Carolina and a championship title all in the same season.

It’s been nearly 20 years since right-hander Ezra Cowan

and the 1993 North Carolina A&T baseball team swept

the conference tournament and celebrated their MEAC

championship title at Rattlers Field, and he still does not

know what happened to his glove.

“The celebration began and I lost my glove,” Cowan said,

adding that when the team bus returned to Greensboro, he

discovered his glove was not among his equipment. “I actually had

reconstructive surgery on my nose in the summer prior to my freshman

year. I got hit in the nose by a ball. I bled on my glove and I kept it. I kind

of liked having the blood on it. … I never found it.”

But even though he does not have the prized glove as a token from

that season, Cowan has plenty of memories of what ended up being an

exciting freshman season. Those memories still hold the Aggies together.

A majority of the founders of the Aggie Baseball Alumni Association,

an organization formed to support and celebrate the history of Aggies

baseball, were from the 1993 team.

“We didn’t get a ton of wins, but we got some big wins,” said Cowan, who

is now the athletics director at Trident Academy in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

“I’m very proud to have been affiliated with them.”

Despite finishing 12-22 in ’93, A&T recorded several key victories that

fueled the title run. A two-hit shutout victory at perennial powerhouse

Florida A&M, a 3-0 no-hitter at St. Paul’s and a 5-4 win at Appalachian

State all helped the Aggies pick up momentum and confidence.

But it was a 16-14 win over the University of North Carolina at Boshamer

Stadium on April 6, the day after UNC won the NCAA Men’s Basketball

Championship title that helped the Aggies the most.

“There’s no coach on this campus in the history of this school that can tell

anybody they ever beat Carolina at any game—we did,” said a smiling

Richard Watkins, assistant coach for the 1993 team, before assuming head

coach responsibilities in 1994-95.

A&T Baseball Celebrates 20th Anniversary of MEAC Championship

eisenman inducted into pkp

For everyone on the 1993 team, that

Carolina game was just as memorable as

winning the MEAC Championship.

“We shocked them when we started

banging and hitting, but we knew we

could hit. That Carolina victory was a

special victory,” said Derrick Dalton, who

was a junior second baseman for the

Aggies that season.

The victory even took A&T Athletics

Director Willie J. Burden by surprise.

According to Watkins, he received a call

from Burden asking if the rumors of a

victory over Carolina were true.

That victory gave the team some extra

confidence and momentum, which helped

them heading into the tournament. The

Aggies dropped the next three games

in close losses after defeating UNC, but

the energy and confidence from that win

helped them sweep the competition in

the MEAC Tournament and to overcome

opponents Coppin State, Howard and

Delaware State. The Aggies beat Delaware

State 6-5 to claim their first MEAC title

since 1974.

It was their longest winning streak of the

season, and it came just at the right time—

not only for the team, but for the program.

“This team, the ’93 team, nobody respected

them because of some of the history (of

the program),” said Watkins. “We didn’t get

any respect. Nobody expected anything

from them.

“I think that’s the reason I was the most

proud of them. They never owned others’

expectations of them. They would do

anything to represent North Carolina

A&T in a classy, professional, respectable

fashion and we started to get better. We

started to get better as a team and we

started to gain everybody’s respect.”

They certainly had the talent with players such as Miguel Cruz, who

batted better than .400, and led the nation in slugging percentage.

Mike Artis was also a big bat in the lineup and ace right-hander

Crawford Moser and right-hander Gerald Brannon were the leaders

on the mound. It was Brannon’s two-hit shutout at Florida A&M—

then a perennial favorite—helped the Aggies gain some confidence

early in the season.

Eisenman

1970sTwo months after retiring as the administrator of the Newport

News Drug Treatment Court, John f. haywood Jr. ’70 became

the inaugural recipient of the Patty L. Gilbertson Excellence

in Service Award. The late Gilbertson had been Haywood’s

supervisor for many years. The award will be given each year

to a Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board

employee who exemplifies the essence of service to others

and commitment to the board’s mission. Now that he’s retired,

Haywood plans to volunteer in the community, work with a

committee to develop an inpatient substance abuse program,

continue memberships on several boards and the N.C. A&T

Williamsburg-Peninsula Alumni Chapter.

1980sToward the end of his active duty career in the U.S. Air Force,

Ted Wood ’81 came up with three plans for life after the Air

Force: run his own business, work for a defense contractor and

attend law school. His business did not work out and he lost

interest in being a defense contractor, but he enrolled in the

University of Dayton and never looked back. Nearly 15 years

after graduating from law school, Wood has been named to the

LMG Life Sciences CleanTech 100 list of top legal practitioners in

clean technology. LMG Life Sciences is a subsidiary of Euromoney

Institutional Investor PLC. Wood was chosen primarily for his

work in smart grid, an electrical grid that uses information and

technology. He says the award validates that he is on the right

track and doing what he’s supposed to be doing.


alumni news

AGGIES ON THE MOVE

Kia d. Buckner, CPA,

has joined the firm of

Heffler, Radetich & Saitta

LLP as a principal. Buckner

will be responsible for

managing the firm’s audit

department, which will

include coordinating the firm

peer review and instituting and monitoring the quality

control procedures and staffing for all attestation

engagements. She will also play a key role in business

development and strategic planning. Buckner’s

professional experience includes over 18 years of audit

experience within Big Four and regional accounting

firms, and she has taught courses on governance,

internal controls, financial reporting best practices and

accounting and auditing research techniques. She is a

CPA in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (and other

states) and resides in Wyncote, Pennsylvania with her

husband and two sons. 1990sdr. frances Williams ’94, associate professor of engineering

at Norfolk State University, is one of 12 recipients of the 2013

Outstanding Faculty Award presented by the State Council

of Higher Education for Virginia and Dominion Resources.

The award is Virginia’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s

public and private colleges and universities, and recognizes

superior accomplishments in teaching, research and public

service. Williams and her peers were chosen from a pool of

109 applicants from across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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SPRINGSUMMER

In her nine years at NSU, Williams has been awarded research

grants totaling more than $12 million, has been named an emerging

scholar by Diverse Issues in Higher Education and has received a

Distinguished Faculty Award. In addition to her duties as a professor

and a researcher, Williams is the director of the Micro- and Nano-

techology Center (MiNaC), a 6,000 square foot, state of the art

cleanroom research facility. She is also the interim director for the

NSU Center for Materials Research that houses the doctorate and

master’s programs in material science and engineering.

today | 41

alumni news

40 | today

2000sElectrical engineering alumnus dr. Cranos Williams ’01, an

accomplished scholar and researcher, was recently awarded

an INSPIRE Grant from the National Science Foundation.

Williams is an assistant professor in the electrical and computer

engineering department at North Carolina State University

where over the past four years he has developed a highly

collaborative, multidisciplinary research program focused on

the development of targeted computational and analytical

solutions for modeling and controlling biological systems.

Currently, his efforts are focused on developing solutions for

understanding the combinatorial interactions of biomolecular,

physiological, and structural processes that impact the

functionality of plant biology. The grant will be used to help the

team of researchers better understand how plants respond to

various stresses, such as lack of essential nutrients.

2010sCivil engineering alumnus James lindsey ’12, a

graduate student at the University of Arkansas,

received the Mike Shinn National Society of Black

Engineers Distinguished Member of the Year Award

during NSBE’s 39th annual convention in Indianapolis,

Ind., March 27–31. This distinction is awarded to NSBE

student members who have demonstrated high

scholastic performance, dedicated service to the

society and who possess high professional promise.

In 2009, Lindsay received an internship with Oak

Ridge National Laboratory, where he conducted

research on building design materials best suited

to saving energy in heating and ventilation. In 2010

and 2011, he interned with the U.S. Forest Service in

Rhinelander and Laona, Wis., assisting with bridge,

culvert and road inspections. During his 2011–2012

term as president of the NSBE chapter at A&T, the

chapter won NSBE’s 2012 Mission Competition for

having the most Summer Engineering Experience

for Kids (SEEK) mentors, and also received A&T’s

Student Organization of the Year Award. During

his presidency, Lindsay also started the first NSBE

Week, Black History and Leadership Month, and

ensured that the chapter members’ passion for NSBE

was ignited at all times by implementing the NSBE

Retention Program.

continued

IN MEMORIAM

Alumni 2012

herbert lee Byrd, High Point, N.C., Nov. 9

Barbara Jones Cook ’74, Winston-Salem, N.C., Jan. 8

Edward Earl gill ’68, Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 26

rita manley Jordan, Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 5

James grover lee iii ’07, Greensboro, N.C., Dec. 9

virginia Anne hopper Price, Reidsville, N.C., Nov. 25

vera S. Tyler ’57, New York, N.Y., Nov. 28

James W. younge iii, Oct. 17

Alumni 2013

nadine marie Albert ’75, Browns Summit, N.C., Jan. 31

Shirlene Anita Anderson ’80, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 3

Audrey Beatrice Thomas Ballentine, Reidsville, N.C.,

March 24

William mcduffy Bass ’52, Reidsville, N.C., March 2

Khristopher Blue, Greensboro, N.C., April 10

Jean marie Bright ’39, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 10

orian Bailey Captain, Omaha, Neb., Jan. 22

david michael gibbs ’88, Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 10

lana “gail” harris, Asheboro, N.C., Feb. 12

lois Elizabeth Brown hauser, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Eugene Waddell hinnant Sr. ’46, Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 17

Ernest C. lipscomb, Greensboro, N.C., March 7

robert Jeffrey mcBryde, Greensboro, N.C.

velma h. Price, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 31

vander d. Purcell, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 18

franklin Earl richmond Sr. ’68, Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 4

geraldine Staples Sapp ’61, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 11

Tracey Booth Snipes ’91, Durham, N.C., March 25

lola Jones Speas ’47, Winston-Salem, N.C., April 4

Priscilla Turner ’72, Greensboro, N.C., March 11

Blossom h. Tynes ’85, Greensboro, N.C., March 1

frank mcCoy Wall Jr., High Point, N.C., Jan. 15

michael lamont Williams, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 7

norma dean “deanie” Williams, High Point, N.C., March 5

Ella marienne hooper Woods ’45, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 5

Barbara Johnson Wright, High Point, N.C., Feb. 11

Employees and others

Bolindra nath Borah, retired professor of mathematics,

Jamestown, N.C., March 20

Cynthia Carolin Williams Chivers, former physical

education and dance instructor, Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 5

rosa Jean lovelace, former instructor, Greensboro, N.C.,

Dec. 17, 2012

Catherine louise “Shug” Staton, housekeeper,

Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 13

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SPRINGSUMMER

HOMECOMING November 2 A&T vs. Virginia University of Lynchburg, Aggie Stadium, 1 p.m.

save the date


By Dr. Antoine J. Alston

As our global population is projected to exceed nine billion by 2050, society faces unprecedented challenges to produce sufficient food, feed, fiber and biofuel feedstock. The Masters in Agricultural and Environmental Systems Program will provide students with advanced interdisciplinary training in a variety of agricultural sciences to solve the complex problems faced in today’s agribusiness enterprise, particularly as related to sustainable agriculture and local food systems.

Agriculture is essential for human health and wellness. Over the next 40 years, we must produce more food than has been produced over the past 10,000 years combined, as well as sufficient biofuel feedstock to ensure a secure and independent energy supply on a contracting land area with fewer inputs.

Failure to meet these goals will cause food insecurity in many parts of the world, leading to instability in the global, geopolitical landscape. Coupled with this is the growing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, and locally grown food systems, to provide fresh food products for changing dietary and health habits.

The United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that collectively, agriculture accounts for 40 percent of the global workforce. Agriculture is America’s and North Carolina’s largest economic enterprise and employer.

mixed bag

Bio Feedbacknew masters in Agricultural and Environmental Systems Program established to provide advanced training that will help graduates solve sustainable agriculture issues

Given the aforementioned factors, the newly established graduate program in agricultural and environmental systems is greatly needed in order to produce individuals equipped with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed by professionals to address the complex issues facing the 21st century global agricultural industry.

The program consists of three concentrations: integrated animal health systems, agribusiness and food industry management, and natural resources and environmental systems. In addition, students will receive interdisciplinary core coursework focusing upon sustainable agriculture and local food systems, and free electives outside of their respective area of concentration.

Compared to other agricultural science graduate programs, this is the only one of its kind with this innovative structure and focus upon agricultural sustainability and local food systems. According to Goecker, Gilmore, Smith, and Smith (2010), vast employment opportunities exist within the agricultural industry for college graduates in the areas of agricultural and forestry production (15%), education, communication and government services (11%), science and engineering (27%), and management and business (47%).

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the united nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that collectively, agriculture accounts for 40 percent of the global workforce.

Colleges of agriculture and natural resources—collectively—only produce 29,300 qualified graduates to fill these positions.

Annually, the agricultural, food and renewable natural resources sectors of the united States’ economy generates

approximately 54,500 job openings.

According to Goecker, Gilmore, Smith, and Smith (2010), vast employment opportunities exist within the agricultural industry for college graduates in the areas of:

education, communication and government services (11%)

agricultural and forestry production (15%)

science and engineering (27%)

and management and business (47%)

Annually, the agricultural, food and renewable natural resources sectors of the United States’ economy generates approximately 54,500 job openings; however, colleges of agriculture and natural resources—collectively—only produce 29,300 qualified graduates to fill these positions, thus creating a tremendous gap that must be filled within the industry. Graduate programs such as this one will help to address this need.

Dr. Antoine J. Alston is professor, agricultural education coordinator and interim associate dean of academic studies in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

remembering the past

A&T FOUR TO BE INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL BLACK COLLEGE ALUMNI HALL OF FAME

44 | today

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North Carolina A&T State

University alumni Ezell Blair Jr.

(now Jibreel Khazan ’63), Franklin

McCain ’63, Joseph McNeil ’63

and the late David Richmond ’10

(degree awarded posthumously)—

collectively known as the

“Greensboro Four” and “A&T

Four”—were recently announced

as the newest inductees into the

2013 class of the National Black

College Alumni Hall of Fame.

On Feb. 1, 1960, these four men

made history when they sat in

protest at the segregated lunch

counter of the F.W. Woolworth

store in downtown Greensboro.

This single act of courage

and the chain of protests that

would follow led to significant

changes in the existing laws that

banned African Americans from

receiving equal treatment in this

country. Their efforts led to the

desegregation of Woolworth

later that year and were a major

contributing factor in the passage

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Established in 1986, the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame

recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of alumni from Historically

Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the fields of arts/ entertainment,

athletics, business/industry, civil rights, community service, education, faith/

theology, government/law, medicine, science, and lifetime achievement.

The A&T Four will be honored in the category of civil rights at the 28th annual Hall

of Fame Weekend Conference in Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 25–29. The conference will also

feature a competition of black college queens, alumni/student leader workshops,

invitational black college golf tournament and gospel choir competition.

Past inductees from N.C. A&T include the late Dr. Ronald McNair (1987), Joe

Dudley (1995), James F. Garrett (2003), Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. (2005), Elvin

Lamont Bethea (2006), Royall Mack Sr. (2006), Donna Scott James (2007),

Dmitri L. Stockton (2008), Willie A. Deese (2010), Dr. Goldie S. Byrd (2010)

and Dr. Velma Speight-Buford (2012).

For more information on the National Black College Hall of Fame, visit

www.nbcahof.org or contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at 336-433-5570.

Aggie FootbAll

2013

Sept. 7 Appalachian State Boone, N.C. 6 p.m._____________________________________________________________________________

Sept. 14 Elon Aggie Stadium 6 p.m._____________________________________________________________________________

Sept. 28 Howard * Aggie Stadium 6 p.m._____________________________________________________________________________

Oct. 5 S.C. State * Atlanta, Ga. TBA (Atlanta Football Classic)_____________________________________________________________________________

Oct. 12 Hampton * Hampton, Va. 2 p.m._____________________________________________________________________________

Oct. 19 Delaware State * Aggie Stadium 1 p.m._____________________________________________________________________________

Oct. 26 Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. TBA_____________________________________________________________________________

Nov. 2 Virginia University of Aggie Stadium 1 p.m. Lynchburg (hOMeCOMinG)_____________________________________________________________________________

Nov. 9 Morgan State * Baltimore, Md. TBA_____________________________________________________________________________

Nov. 16 Savannah State * Aggie Stadium 1 p.m._____________________________________________________________________________

Nov. 23 N.C. Central * Aggie Stadium 1 p.m.

* Conference game


1601 East Market StreetGreensboro, NC 27411

www.ncat.edu

Non-Profit Organization

US Postage PAID

Greensboro, NC

Permit Number 47

toda

yVisit us online at www.ncat.edu


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