Campus Life

Not only is Wilson now leading the WSSU Campus Activities Board (CAB) as president, but his college experience has landed him at the White House – not once, but twice – and next year he will be headed to California to pitch a product concept to NASA.

The Delta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. presents a $1,300 check to Samaritan Ministries for its annual Penny Campaign.  The funds were raised during the fraternity's 27th Annual Homeless Awareness Week held on the campus of Winston-Salem State University.

N.C. Governor Roy Cooper visited Winston-Salem State University recently to discuss diversity in education. The visit on Nov. 17 was the final stop on the DRIVE Task Force’s statewide tour. DRIVE stands for Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education.

In February 2023 the Winston-Salem State University Chancellor’s Executive Staff issued a request for proposals for faculty and staff to create programs designed to improve undergraduate student success outcomes focused explicitly on student retention, student engagement, student belonging, and student debt load.

Oscar Ball III, Winston-Salem State University Class of 2009, is the creator of the 4th Quarter Scholarship Fundraiser. The event is a basketball game between current WSSU students and alumni and is held on the Sunday after each homecoming at the C.E. Gaines Center.

Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated along with Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) students will brave the elements on Friday, Nov. 17, to shed light on the issue of homelessness in the community.

The NBA today announced that the Virginia Union University Panthers (VUU) and Winston-Salem State University Rams (WSSU) men's basketball programs have been selected to compete in the 2024 NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T. 

Healthcare Management’s Global Understanding Class will be collecting items for gift bags through Nov. 15 to be presented to the homeless population. The bags will be delivered to the Samaritan Ministry on Nov. 17.

WSSU’s Forever Red Homecoming is the time to celebrate Winston-Salem State University’s spirit and respect some of our most beloved traditions. By celebrating all the wonderful things about being a Ram, it is advised to be cautious while enjoying the festivities of WSSU Homecoming.

The couple, Prince David and Nancy Patterson Jernigan, both members of the WSSU Class of ’73, served and retired from extensive careers in public education; have raised tens of thousands of dollars for their alma mater over a span of 40 years; and most recently, established the Prince David and Nancy Patterson Jernigan Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Winston-Salem State University is ranked as one of the Best Colleges in America for the seventh year in a row by Money magazine.

Winston-Salem State University was ranked by Washington Monthly magazine as the No. 1 HBCU in the Southeast for “Best Bang for the Buck” for the 2023-24 academic year. The ranking is based on how well schools help non-wealthy students earn high-quality marketable degrees for affordable prices.

Winston-Salem State University will host its first esports competitive event this month to further expose students to the growing gaming industry. WSSU Campus Clash will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the University Recreation Game Room and Salon on campus.

Winston-Salem State University student David Wilson has been named a White House HBCU Scholar for 2023. He is among 102 undergraduate and graduate students from 29 states and countries who were selected for their accomplishments in academics, leadership and community engagement.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Hossein Khalili as the Senior Associate Dean for the School of Health Sciences. Dr. Khalili is an internationally recognized scholar, expert, and leader in the field of interprofessional education. He has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, 15 of which are in higher education. 

Winston-Salem State University has become the first university in the country to partner with Spentys to use 3D printing technology to produce high-quality, economic orthotic splints and introduce that technology into its occupational therapy curriculum.

I am especially pleased to welcome Dr. LaToya McNeill Wiley back to WSSU. Effective August 3, 2023, Dr. Wiley will serve as the Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Financial Planning and Budget.

Dr. Elva J. Jones is professor and founding and current chair of the Department of Computer Science at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), a position she has held since 1991. 

For the second year in a row, Winston-Salem State University has been selected for a Home Depot® Retool Your School Award. WSSU was in the top 10 HBCUs to win the award.

Winston-Salem State University congratulates the faculty members listed below who received promotions and/or tenure in 2021-2022.

The campus of Winston-Salem State University has become even more beautiful, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Home Depot Retool Your School initiative. Home Depot is dedicated to giving back to the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to honor what HBCUs bring to their communities “a strong foundation, renewed purposed and distinctive character.”

On October 25 Winston-Salem State University’s Political Action Committee in conjunction with Black Voters Matter and Common Cause organized a march to the polls that brought out over 200 students and trended on the @blackvotersmtr Twitter account with over 394,000 views.

Here’s what you need to know.

Awardees are recognized during the annual MLK celebration event that is co-sponsored by WSSU and Wake Forest University. The awards are presented to a professor or administrator and a student from each institution who exemplify Dr. King’s spirit of justice and equality for the betterment of the community as well as the institutions.

Thesha Woodley has been appointed director of alumni engagement for Winston-Salem State University, where she will lead the creation of programs and services to effectively manage and sustain relationships with the over 30,000 alumni.

Winston-Salem State University has partnered with Barnes & Noble College to implement BNC First Day® Complete, a course material delivery model that will drive student success by ensuring all students are prepared to begin learning on the first day of class.

First Day® Complete, an innovative course material delivery model, addresses equitable access, convenience, and affordability across all courses at an institution by bundling the cost of course materials into tuition and ensuring students have all their materials for the semester available on or before the first day of class. WSSU will cover all associated expenses so that no additional costs will be passed on to students.

WSSU alum Tristen Johnson'16 becomes first lieutenant in the newly minted United States Space Force. 

WSSU Department of World Languages and Culture will now offer the STARTALK intensive Chinese summer program in a digital format. Beginning July 12, the three-week program that explores the Mandarin language and Chinese culture will be available to high school and college students from anywhere in the world.

WSSU-Novant Health Physical Therapy Neurologic Clinical Residency Program receives full accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education. WSSU is the first HBCU in the nation to offer a fully accredited PT residency program.  

WSSU has been recognized once again as a Top 10 Military Friendly School for its caring and supportive learning environment for veteran and military students.

WSSU Red Sea of Sound Marching Band to be featured on ABC Network's “National Battle of the Bands: A Salute to HBCU Marching Bands” on Feb. 28.

Marquia James became a part of history when she added her makeup artistry to Vice President Kamala Harris’ Vogue cover look last month. Read more as James gives an inside look at her evolution as a makeup artist, her memories of WSSU and what’s in store for 2021.  

Former teacher, mentor, school administrator, school board member and Winston-Salem State University alumnus Victor “Vic” Johnson Jr.’61 dies of COVID-19 at age 85.

Ronnie Long, a North Carolina man who served over 40 years in prison after being wrongly convicted in 1976 and the focus of WSSU Justice Studies’ Ronnie Long Project, has been pardoned by N.C. Governor Roy Cooper.

Mona Zahir, WSSU’s 2016-17 student body president, was recently awarded the U.S. Department of State Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship.

As the first year of this new decade comes to an end, here’s a look back at some of the year’s most memorable WSSU news stories.

WSSU receives $30 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.   

Nationwide partners with WSSU to provide $100,000 sponsorship over the next four years for ongoing support of Computer Science and Information Systems and Analytics programming.

Nationwide partners with WSSU to provide $100,000 sponsorship over the next four years for ongoing support of Computer Science and Information Systems and Analytics programming.

NBA star and WSSU student Chris Paul teamed up with WSSU Student Government Association to organize “March to the Polls Pt. 2,” on Oct. 27.

Kelly White, a native of Hertford, North Carolina, has joined Winston-Salem State University’s Police and Public Safety department as deputy chief.

Elizabeth Barker Johnson’49, World War II Army Veteran and the first woman to enroll in the university on a GI Bill, passed away on Aug. 23 at the age of 100.

Dr. Ereka Williams joins WSSU as the associate dean of education, quality assurance, and community engagement as of July 1.

Eight questions with … Chief Amir Henry, director of campus police

Justin Ross, a business administration major, finance minor from Philadelphia, has secured a full-time, post-graduation job with Vanguard, one of the world’s largest investment management companies.

Six WSSU students accepted into the North Carolina You Can Vote Civics Fellowship Program, an eight-week program that develops community leaders that educate, register and mobilize voters.   

Winston-Salem State University has had a stellar year of grant funding. Over 12 months, more than $27 million has been awarded, bringing the university’s total portfolio to just over $51 million, in support of new and ongoing research projects.

Based on guidance from public health officials, feedback from our alumni, and our overriding concern for the health and well-being of the Ram Family, WSSU has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Homecoming event.

WSSU’s School of Health Sciences has secured just over $5 million in grants to directly support students in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Occupational Therapy departments.