WSSU’s annual breast cancer awareness luncheon focuses on education, hope and resilience
Stories of survival, tears of joy and a sea of pink were part of Winston-Salem State University’s annual breast cancer awareness luncheon Oct. 16.
Held at the Albert H. Anderson Jr. Conference Center and themed “Getting Back to Education,” the event featured testimonies from breast cancer survivors, perspectives from caregivers and advice from healthcare officials with firsthand knowledge of the disease’s widespread impact.
An estimated 275 people attended the event, which WSSU Chancellor Bonita J. Brown said has become a meaningful tradition at the university.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about much more than wearing pink ribbons or attending events,” said Brown, a breast cancer survivor. “It is about turning awareness into action. It is about encouraging the women — and men — in our lives to pay attention to their health, understand their risks, talk with their health care providers and get recommended screenings because early detection can save lives.”
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Stevie L. Lawrence II introduced keynote speaker Dr. Cassandra Caldwell, who, in a story that was simultaneously serious and comical, walked attendees through her breast cancer diagnosis and its aftermath.
Caldwell learned she had breast cancer while checking her biopsy results online, after she and her best friend of more than 40 years had attended an annual jazz festival in Miami.
“I didn’t know what kind of cancer,” said Caldwell, WSSU’s senior director for graduate student success and assessment. “I couldn’t distinguish between what was going on, so I called Sonya at the airport and said, ‘Girl, I have cancer.’”
She later learned she had triple-negative breast cancer, an often aggressive form of the disease. “But you know I’ve always been an overachiever, so you know that made sense to me,” Caldwell said as attendees chuckled.
Caldwell said she went into survivor mode. “And what I did was; I had a small group that I called my village,” she explained. “I’ve always been a believer. I’ve always been deep in my faith, so that’s what sustained me the whole time that I was going through my journey.”
In an interview, Caldwell said she agreed to be the keynote speaker because she’s “a breast cancer survivor, thriver and inspirer and a fierce advocate for breast cancer awareness.”
The luncheon was sponsored by Rams Cancer Network Center, a cancer equity and prevention initiative housed under WSSU’s School of Health Sciences. CNC’s mission is to reduce cancer disparities through proactive education, culturally responsive outreach and early detection strategies that empower students, employees and surrounding communities.
Dr. Cassandra Wineglass, associate professor and chair of healthcare management, led the committee that organized the luncheon. She expressed appreciation for everyone who supported the event, emphasizing its importance. Although African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at rates comparable to white women, they die from the disease at higher rates.
Brown praised Wineglass and her committee during her remarks. The chancellor also told attendees WSSU is positioning itself to become the premier health sciences institution in the region while preparing the next generation of professionals who will help build healthier communities.
Dr. Cheryl A. Thaxton, dean of the School of Health Sciences, said it takes a community of care to support people battling breast cancer.
“Healing is not simply about surviving a diagnosis,” Thaxton, also a breast cancer survivor, said in her remarks. “It’s about reclaiming strength, independence, dignity and quality of life. Sometimes the greatest act of kindness is not asking someone what they need. True action extends from our hearts to our hands, and that commitment cannot end when breast cancer awareness month is over.”
After a meal featuring shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles, attendees heard from Mandy Marshall, a breast cancer survivor representing the community, and Montrale Boykin, dean of The Graduate College, who spoke from a caregiver’s perspective. Boykin cared for his mother, Sabrina B. Coppedge, as she battled breast cancer. Coppedge, a 2008 WSSU graduate, was in attendance.
The luncheon ended with a panel discussion and Q&A session. Dr. Cleopatra Morrison, assistant professor in the Department of Social Work, moderated. Panelists were Tracey Gaffney, a nurse practitioner; Dr. Kim Pemberton, associate professor of elementary education and department chair; Dr. Keisha Rogers, professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling and chair of the Faculty Senate; and Dr. Tanisha Watkins, healthcare marketer and senior strategist for HumanBranding.
During the session, panelists emphasized the importance of knowing one’s family history of cancer and staying informed about the latest breast cancer screening guidelines.
WSSU senior Kendal Armstrong, a healthcare administration major from Chicago, grew emotional while asking panelists for tips on how to effectively support her mom, Bonnie Armstrong, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in November 2024 and is now in remission. One panelist advised Armstrong to try to remain positive and to encourage her mom to do the things she’s always enjoyed.
Armstrong, a member of the Simon G. Atkins Honor Society and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, said she learned about the luncheon from two of her professors and decided to attend “to support anyone who has had any form of cancer, due to my mother’s situation.”
Attendee Cassandra P. Harper was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 2013, a rare and aggressive form of cancer with a low survival rate. Harper, of Greensboro, now volunteers at The Wesley Long Cancer Center and separately mentors newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
During the Q&A session, she encouraged panelists to stress to attendees the importance of knowing their bodies and being aware of any changes. Her message was personal: Her cancer was not detected during a routine mammogram.
“I thought it was informative and inspiring,” Harper said of the luncheon. “I always enjoy listening to other breast cancer survivors share their stories – and sharing mine. I commend Winston-Salem State University for hosting this very important annual event.”
