WSSU celebrates faculty excellence in research and teaching at annual banquet

On May 1, 2023 Winston-Salem State University celebrated its Faculty Awards and Research and Sponsored Program Banquet. WSSU honored faculty and staff members for excellence in teaching, research, and procuring grant funding.

Enjoy the event photo album

EMERGING RESEARCH OF THE YEAR

Dr. Alicia Anderson-Brown is currently Associate Dean of Education in CASBE. Dr. Brown's research interests include obesity prevention and intervention in children and college women, and cardiovascular disease interventions in women. She is also interested in community health outreach programs, especially those related to faith-based institutions. Dr. Brown designs and conducts physical activity intervention for children, youth and adults. Her current research focuses on weight management and chronic disease in African American adults and obesity prevention in children. She serves on numerous university committees, is active in professional organizations, and is involved in work with the community.

RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR

Dr. Cynthia Williams Brown is currently Associate Dean of Education in CASBE. Dr. Brown's research interests include obesity prevention and intervention in children and college women, and cardiovascular disease interventions in women. She is also interested in community health outreach programs, especially those related to faith-based institutions. Dr. Brown designs and conducts physical activity intervention for children, youth and adults. Her current research focuses on weight management and chronic disease in African American adults and obesity prevention in children. She serves on numerous university committees, is active in professional organizations, and is involved in work with the community.

Dr. Georgia McCauley is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Clinical Lab Science (CLS) in the School of Health Sciences. Dr. McCauley’s research focus is CLS workforce preparedness and high impact practice simulation for diverse and underserved students. She has received numerous teaching and service awards from state and national medical laboratory professional organizations. Dr. McCauley is the Immediate Past-President of the North Carolina State Society of American Medical Technologists (NCSSAMT) and serves on the NCSSAMT Board of Directors. Additionally, Dr. McCauley serves on AMT national committees and is currently Vice-Chair for the Scientific Speakers Committee and the Hematology Lead for the Education, Qualifications, and Standards (EQS) Committee. Her current grant funding provides scholarships to disadvantaged students in the Clinical Lab Science program.

NEW RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR

Dr. Karen Williams-Thompson is a Director of Student Health Services in the University Wellness Center. Her research involved reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus by administering COVID-19 rapid testing kits to allow for early identification and isolation of persons who were contagious to slow the spread of disease. She received funding for this project from the Thurgood Marshall Foundation.

RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR

Dr. John Yi is a Professor of Chemistry. His research involves molecular spectroscopy employing state-of-the-art high-resolution spectroscopic techniques (in the terahertz (THz), and ultraviolet (UV) spectral regions) to obtain quantitative information about the structures and dynamics of large biomolecules. Dr. Yi’s current research “Training a Diverse Workforce in the Carolinas through Establishing the Winston-Salem Quantum Education Collaboratory (WES-QC) is funded through the U.S. Department of Education.

TEACHING AWARDS

SHEPPARD MASTER TEACHER AWARD

Dr. Chinno Ingram is a native of Winston-Salem, NC. He has practiced as an Occupational Therapist for 10 years. He has taught in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program over the past 7 years at Winston-Salem State University. His research area focuses on leisure and health benefits within the African American population.  

BOARD OF GOVERNORS EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

Dr. Elva Jones is a professor of Computer Science and an avid technology enthusiast. Dr. Jones served as chairperson of the WSSU Department of Mathematics/Computer Science; served as the first chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and guided the department to achieve and maintain national ABET accreditation for the computer science (1995) and information technology (2012) programs.  Under her leadership the first Master's Program in the College of Arts and Sciences, the MS in Computer Science and Information Technology, was established.  She has been awarded private and federal funding, including grants from NSF, NASA, DoD, the Department of Education, IBM, Digital Equipment, Duke Energy, Altria, RJ Reynolds, Google, and Nationwide.  The Elva J Jones Computer Science building, a $13 million academic, research, and Information Resources facility, was dedicated in her honor, September 2005.  Dr. Jones has committed her life to teaching excellence, recruiting, mentoring, and retaining young persons in the computing field, research, and “giving back” through community service. 

WELLS FARGO EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

Dr. Rafael Loureiro is a Botany and Plant Physiology Assistant Professor at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), specializing in plant physiology and biochemistry. Dr. Loureiro's research currently focuses on analyzing phytohormonal data and microbial-plant interactions to reduce stress and assess the viability of in situ resources for growing crops on the Moon and Mars. Dr. Loureiro has also established the first space act agreement between WSSU and NASA's crop production team at Kennedy Space Center. Through this agreement, students from MSI/HBCU can collaborate with NASA scientists and participate in NASA research.

CEDRIC S. RODNEY SERVICE AWARD

Dr. Jack S. Monell is the current Faculty Senate Chair and Associate Professor of Justice Studies in the Department of History, Politics & Social Justice.  Dr. Monell has served numerous university-wide initiatives, committees, and previously served as the program coordinator for the Justice Studies major. Dr. Jack S. Monell recent publications "Black Masculinity, Media Stereotyping and its Influence on Policing in the United States: A Functionalist Perspective" and “Policing and the Black Community: History, Reality and a Model for Change,” explores the issues faced by African American males and the violent encounters they face due to stereotypical perceptions and biases. As a national trainer, he provides technical and supportive services to local, state, and Federal agencies in the fields of criminal justice and social work.

JOSEPH PATTERSON MASTER TEACHER AWARD

Dr. Felicia Simpson is an Associate Professor of Statistics and chair of the Department of Mathematics at Winston-Salem State University. Her research interests include design and analysis of clinical trials, and metrics of aging, with a current focus on interfaces among aging, diabetes, and lifestyle. Dr. Simpson is an active member of the ASA and International Biometric Society. She currently serves on ENAR’s regional committee. She is passionate about increasing the exposure of statistics and biostatistics among students in underrepresented populations.

JOHN FOUNTAIN MASTER TEACHER AWARD

Dr. Nancy Smith is a Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatrics from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. Prior to teaching at Winston-Salem State University, she practiced geriatrics and acute care for 11 years. Dr. Smith's research focuses on the effects of mobile technology on clinical reasoning, and on interprofessional education and practice using human patient simulation, community engagement, and standardized patients.

WILVERIA B. ATKINSON DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHER AWARD  

Dr. Russell M. Smith is a Professor of Geography in the Department of History, Politics & Social Justice at Winston-Salem State University and the Faculty Lead for the Spatial Justice Studio at the Center for Design Innovation in Winston-Salem, NC. His research interests include exploring issues of spatial (in)justice related to the built environment and local government boundary change.  Dr. Smith is the author of numerous research publications, contracted reports, and presentations and has received funding for his work from a wide variety of sources. In 2018, Dr. Smith published a book titled, Municipal Incorporation Activity in the United States: Patterns, People and Procedures, which provides a comprehensive examination into the establishment of cities in the United States.

Winston-Salem State University

Research & Sponsored Programs Recognition

Faculty and Sponsored Programs History

Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award

Wells Fargo Excellence in Teaching Award

WSSU Students Choice Award

Joseph Patterson Master Teacher Award

John Fountain Master Teacher Award

Willie Burke Master Teacher Award

Wilma Lassiter Master Teacher Award

Cedric S. Rodney Service Award

Sheppard Master Teacher Award

Wilveria B. Atkinson Distinguished Researcher Award

Faculty and Sponsored Programs History

WSSU Red Jacket Society

2019 - 2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

Emerging Research of the Year 

New Researcher of the Year

Researcher of the Year

Unit of the Year