RamPages: News and Events for Faculty and Staff

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.

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) will celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2023 at a Commencement Ceremony at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial (LJVM) Coliseum on Friday, May 12.

Another Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Commencement is upon us, as graduates depart to serve. Here's a glimpse of where a few students from the Class of Spring 2023 are headed. 

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.

We are only halfway through April 2023 and Winston-Salem State University students, faculty, and staff are unleashing their genius on our campus, at the North Carolina House of Representatives, and at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Here’s a quick overview.

The Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America will hold its annual Distinguished Citizen Award event on Thursday, April 27, 2023, to recognize Dr. Elwood Robinson, chancellor of Winston-Salem State University, who has shown to personify the spirit of Scouting.

Dr. Keisha G. Rogers, Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at Winston-Salem State University received the Professional Writing and Research Award at the North Carolina Counseling Association (NCCA) Annual Conference, held on February 10-11, 2023, in Durham, NC.

The Center for Applied Data Science (CADS) at Winston-Salem State University hosted the 2023 Day Data Science Workshop for High School Students in early March. The workshop was funded by a grant from University of North Carolina System and received support from Hanes Brands, Inc.

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

After an internal search process, I am pleased to announce the interim appointment of Dr. Montrale Boykin as the interim Dean of the Graduate College effective December 1, 2022. Dr. Boykin’s appointment is for one year. We will conduct a national search for a permanent dean during the 2023 calendar year. Dr. Boykin previously served as the co-chairperson of the Department of Health Care Management in the School of Health Sciences at Winston-Salem State University since 2012.

Winston-Salem State University ranks high on a diverse group of national lists, especially in the areas of value, affordability, and student success.

Here is a list of some of WSSU’s notable rankings for 2022-2023.

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.”

Winston-Salem State University has earned a high ranking for its online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program. EduMed.org named the WSSU online MHA program no. 5 in the nation based on quality, accessibility, affordability and commitment to student success. 

Winston-Salem State University alum actor Chris Greene portrays an assistant chaplain in the Netflix hit true crime drama “DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” In the limited series, viewers are walked through the upbringing of one of the most notorious serial killers in history, the warnings neighbors made concerning his behavior, how he lured his victims, his capture, and ultimately, his trial.

Winston-Salem State University employee Tiffany Turner Lynch was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Award for Excellence in the category of Efficiency and Innovation. 

Winston-Salem State University has been awarded a $525,658 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) led by Dr. Fenghai Guo Professor of Chemistry to develop and utilize highly selective metal-catalyzed carbon bond formation reactions that will lead to an efficient synthesis of novel selenium, sulfur, and oxygen-containing heterocycles with rich biological activities. 

Winston-Salem State University has been awarded a $30,000.00 grant from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund led by Dr. Karen T. Williams, Director of the A. H. Ray Student Health Center, to conduct rapid COVID testing of students who present with symptoms of COVID and testing of students who are exposed to COVID.

Here’s what you need to know.

Winston- Salem State University has been awarded a $299,835 grant from NSF led by Dr. Sarah Adjei-Fremah, for Environmental Factors Modulation of Structure-Function of Biological Systems.

Winston-Salem State University has been awarded a $139,594.83 grant from DHHS Administration for Community Living (ACL) led by Dr. Allison Calhoun, Clinical Assistant Professor Occupational Therapy to build a stronger and more resilient dementia-capable aging network in Forsyth County.

Winston-Salem State University has been awarded a $10,000.00 grant from the Ellucian Foundation led by Raisha Cobb, Associate Provost & Chief Information Officer Office of Information Technology to provide scholarships to students in financial distress so they can reach their educational goals. 

Occupational therapy involves the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or occupations of individuals. All-to-often though, a key tool is missing for occupational therapists: mental health training.

When Rita Ismailova was selected to be a Fulbright Scholar, she had the choice to pick most any college or university in the world to attend for almost a year of research.

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.

Rod Isom has been elevated to chief audit risk and compliance officer at Winston-Salem State University, effective immediately.

Haley Gingles has been appointed chief marketing officer (CMO) at Winston-Salem State University.

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.

It is no secret that underserved segments of the population … minorities and the disabled … face serious barriers when it comes to health care in this country.

A team of Winston-Salem State University faculty members – Dr. Tammara Thomas, Dr. Keisha Rogers, and Dr. Felicia Simpson – recently concluded research that showed those barriers were even more pervasive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sometimes to move forward, you need to look back, or at least that’s according to the old adage.

It certainly rings true for Laura Garner, aquatics director at Winston-Salem State University.

Students and faculty affiliated with Winston-Salem State University’s Center for Applied Data Science (CADS) presented their research on COVID-19, spatial justice, and other key topics during a virtual departmental showcase on April 6, 2021.

The S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation has been awarded a grant by the Small Business Administration to establish the 6th Women’s Business Center in North Carolina and the second at a North Carolina historically black university.

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 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.

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.

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

Dr. Ereka Williams had several goals when she stepped into her new leadership role as the associate dean of education. WSSU News caught up with her to discuss her mission, goals and personal experiences. Here are eight questions with... Dr. Ereka Williams.

Eight WSSU faculty members and CITI fellows become Adobe Creative Campus Faculty Fellows after completing the Adobe Creative Campus Faculty Development Institute.

August Mebane joins WSSU as the associate vice chancellor of human resources. Her appointment began on July 13. 

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

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.