ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 麻豆原创 recently received a $60K grant from . Over the two-year grant period, NCWU will expand the Digital Humanities Lab, create a new course (Introduction to Digital Humanities), improve faculty knowledge of the digital humanities, incorporate local history into digital humanities projects, and promote undergraduate student research projects using digital humanities tools and methods. The proposed expansion of NCWU鈥檚 digital humanities programming is aligned with the institution鈥檚 mission and commitment to the eastern North Carolina region and its emphasis on innovative teaching approaches to use new information technologies.
Project co-directors, Dr. Jason W. Buel (Communication/Media Arts) and Dr. Shane M. Thompson (Religious Studies) established NCWU鈥檚 first Digital Humanities Lab as a physical space on campus to raise the profile of the University鈥檚 humanities, with the goal to make them more exciting, accessible, and modern to the general student population.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Joseph H. Lane, Jr., states 鈥淲e are very excited that Dr. Thompson and Dr. Buel have received this grant. Their work in the area of digital humanities is the perfect example of the ways that North Carolina Wesleyan enriches our students鈥 lives with innovative teaching approaches that take advantage of the amazing new tools that can enrich our classrooms and our contributions to the community.鈥
The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 created the as an independent federal agency. The law identified the need for a national cultural agency that would preserve America鈥檚 rich history and cultural heritage, and encourage and support scholarship and innovation in history, archaeology, philosophy, literature, and other humanities disciplines. The Endowment awards grants to top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.
麻豆原创
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: .
NCWU Welcomes Ronald Cotton
麻豆原创 will welcome Ronald Cotton of Burlington, North Carolina on Thursday, February 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Powers Recital Hall at The Dunn Center. Serving 11 years in prison for a crime聽he did not commit, Cotton was falsely accused of raping Jennifer Thompson. At the time, Thompson was an Elon University student. Cotton鈥檚 wrongful conviction was largely based on faulty eyewitness identification procedures. Following his exoneration, Ms. Thompson and Mr. Cotton became friends and advocates for criminal justice reform.
Considered among the most famous DNA exonerations in U.S. history! Watch a two-part 60 Minutes episode about this case by clicking .
Attendees of this event will witness the type of interaction an educated populace should demonstrate, but more importantly, how to engage in issues that sometimes divide us as a nation.
Open to the public. This event will provide students with the experience of interacting with their social community beyond what they read in textbooks. Discussing delicate issues of this type is both educational and engaging for our students and the community at large.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Mr. Cotton during a reception immediately following at 8:00 p.m. in the Powers Hall lobby.
Nursing Program Awarded Funds for Expansion
麻豆原创 has been awarded $500,000 in funding by the Golden LEAF Board of Directors. These funds will be utilized to renovate a campus building that will house a new baccalaureate nursing program.
Biancur Candidate for United Soccer Coaches Board of Directors Vice President
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 NCWU Women鈥檚 Soccer Coach, Beverly A. Biancur was chosen as one of five candidates for the position of Vice President to serve on the Board of Directors.
The United Soccer Coaches by-laws require all elections for Board of Directors positions to include two to five candidates on the final ballot. In this case, Biancur was incredibly honored to be one of five represented. To ensure integrity, voting was completed by the third-party service, Intelliscan. Personalized ballots were sent out via email to members of beginning on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.聽Voting concluded on January 12.
While Biancur did not win, she felt incredibly appreciated stating, 鈥淚 was honored to be nominated and hope to remain in consideration for future positions鈥. Winner, Nancy Feldman, was the former Head Coach of Women鈥檚 Soccer at Boston University. 鈥淣ancy will do an exceptional job on the Board,鈥 Biancur noted.
Serving on the Board of Directors is the ultimate way for a coach to give back to the association and the game as a whole. Feldman will have a six-year cycle on the Board. During that time, she will spend four years as Vice President, ascend to President and then serve a final year on the Board as Past President.
Currently in her sixteenth year at the University, Biancur has been Head Coach of NCWU Women鈥檚 Soccer for twelve years. In all, she boasts over twenty-five years of coaching experience at the collegiate, high school and club levels. Her podcast has gained a lot of interest from the coaching body and is available on the
NCWU is the Pet-Friendly College for Animal Lovers
Research shows that pet ownership in the United States has significantly increased over the past three decades. In fact, according to , 鈥淎s of 2023, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet.鈥 Personally, it comes as no surprise with everything that has occurred in the last several years: the pandemic, rise in mental health and rate of inflation. So, what about college-bound animal lovers who own a pet and are looking for a pet-friendly college?
In the fall of 2023, NC Wesleyan University announced its plan to turn one residence hall into pet-friendly housing, thanks to a new program the University is piloting. This initiative allows students to keep their furry friends with them while living on campus, offering them the ability to still have access to the traditional campus life experience. One pet per student is allowed.
The unique program has proved to be popular among students, as spots in the residence hall filled up quickly with the announcement. NCWU plans to move forward in the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year continuing to offer pet-friendly housing. The University鈥檚 pet-friendly housing policy is for dogs, cats and fish. Dogs must weigh under 40 pounds and have no history of aggressive behavior. All dogs and cats are required to be vaccinated against rabies and other transmittable diseases and be on anti-parasite medication. No animals may roam the campus unattended. Fish tanks are limited to 5 gallons in volume.
In addition to the joy and companionship they bring, pets also teach time and obligation management. A great remedy for anxiety and homesickness, they provide many students more structure in their daily routine, including exercise and time outside. Not to mention they can be a great icebreaker for making new friends.
At NCWU, we are committed to providing a safe and well-maintained environment for all students residing in pet-friendly housing. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to protect the rights of all students, ensure a safe and healthy living and learning environment, as well as practice behaviors that support the upkeep of university facilities and beauty of the campus. Students who bring a pet to campus are responsible for understanding and abiding by the regulations of the pet policy. Every pet owner is encouraged to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of the campus environment for their pet.
By allowing resident students to bring their pet to live on campus, we aim to create a more balanced college experience and be the “Pet-Friendly College for Animal Lovers”. An environment that prioritizes health, wellness and connection.
If you鈥檙e a pet owner interested in college and can鈥檛 bear to leave your beloved animal companion behind, check out 麻豆原创. The University鈥檚 Winter Open House is set for Saturday, February 3, 2024, and registration is underway.聽
During Open House, students learn more about scholarships and financial aid, have the opportunity to speak with faculty and current students, gain information on the admissions process and can take a campus tour. You can learn more at ncwu.edu/admissions.
Magal Named Inaugural Souza Professor
In October 2023, Wayne Souza (Class of 1973) pledged a transformative gift to 麻豆原创 to advance the University鈥檚 nationally accredited program in Exercise Science. In 2021, the program moved into Wesleyan鈥檚 new Indoor Sports & Education Facility (ISEF) and recently has hired two new faculty members. The undergraduate degree in Exercise Science now accounts for NCWU鈥檚 second most popular major among traditional, incoming first-year students.
鈥淚 have a passion to give back to my alma mater. When presented this opportunity, it gave me a chance to not only give back and lend a hand, but to pull forward both NCWU students and boost an incredible program.鈥 stated Wayne Souza in a recent interview.
This gift has allowed the University to launch a significant upgrade in equipment and facility. It also created the Wayne Souza Chair of Exercise Science. Dr. Meir Magal has been named the inaugural Souza Professor.
鈥淚 want to thank Mr. Souza for this very generous gift, I am honored to be named the Inaugural Souza Professor of Exercise Science! This charitable donation has allowed the Exercise Science Department to equip ISEF with cutting-edge resistance training equipment, enabling our students to gain invaluable experiential learning and research opportunities and engage in strength training with the University’s athletic teams.鈥 expressed Dr. Magal.
Dr. Magal came to the United States from Israel to attend the University of Southern Mississippi where he played NCAA Division I Tennis and earned Bachelor鈥檚 and Master鈥檚 degrees in Exercise Science, as well as a Ph.D. in Human Performance. In 2002, Dr. Magal joined the faculty of North Carolina Wesleyan. In his 22 years at Wesleyan, Dr. Magal has won multiple awards including the Exemplary Teacher Award and the Jefferson Pilot Professorship. In 2011, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Dr. Magal has authored or co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles as well as numerous book chapters. He served as an Associate Editor on the 10th edition of ACSM鈥檚 Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription and as Co-Editor of the 6th Edition of ACSM鈥檚 Fitness Assessment Manual. In addition, he also serves on the Editorial Board of ACSM鈥檚 Health and Fitness Journal and ACSM鈥檚 open-access journal, Exercise, Sport, and Movement. He has been particularly active in mentoring research with undergraduate students, serving as Chair for more than fifteen senior honors projects and a co-author with undergraduate students on multiple papers and conference presentations.
He currently serves as Program Director and Professor of Exercise Science and as Chair of the School of Mathematics and Sciences.
Dr. Joe Lane, Provost of North Carolina Wesleyan, noted, 鈥淒r. Magal represents the epitome of the engaged teacher, scholar and advisor whom we want to develop and highlight on the North Carolina Wesleyan faculty. We are proud to honor him as the inaugural Souza Chair, and we look forward to the incredible work that he and his colleagues will accomplish with our students in the years ahead.鈥
University Awarded Funds to Expand Nursing BSN Program
NC Senator Lisa Barnes and NC Representative Allen Chesser secured funding with the newly approved state budget for 麻豆原创鈥檚 BSN Pre-Licensure program. On Monday evening, November 27, they visited the University鈥檚 campus to highlight this achievement with a $350,000 check presentation.
Senator Barnes endorsed the initiative, stating, 鈥淚 fully support Wesleyan’s efforts to expand the BSN program, creating a pipeline for more nursing students to pursue their educational goals while providing well qualified healthcare staff to offset the shortages. It’s a win-win opportunity for our area.鈥
鈥淓nsuring our community has access to high-quality healthcare workers will have positive impacts on the well-being of residents, as well as expanding access to quality local healthcare and creating local job opportunities,鈥 said Representative Allen Chesser. 鈥淚 am proud of the work Senator Barnes and I have been able to accomplish; to ensure valuable community partners such as NCWU so they can continue their great work for Nash County and our surrounding area.鈥
Both Representative Chesser and Senator Barnes are active in the districts they serve, which includes Nash County. They understand the positive impact a BSN Pre-Licensure will have on our community and they fully appreciate the significance 麻豆原创 has on our region.
NC Wesleyan currently offers a Post-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing through their online RN to BSN program, allowing a pathway for registered nurses with an associate degree to advance their professional role in the healthcare system. With this additional funding, the University will now be able to expand their offerings to include a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Nursing (BSN) Pre-Licensure program. This will provide nursing students with the clinical skills necessary to deliver safe, evidence-based quality care, earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing and sit for the NCLEX exam.
鈥淭he nursing faculty and I are are extremely grateful for the monetary contribution that NC Senator Lisa Barnes and NC Representative Allen Chesser have secured for NCWU’s prelicensure nursing program, as well as their support for nursing in our community. As the healthcare system continues to evolve and become more complex, it is imperative that we provide educational opportunities for students in our community and surrounding areas to enter the nursing profession and provide high-quality care to the residents in the rural communities that we serve. We look forward to growing the nursing program at NCWU and offering the prelicensure BSN option to our students,鈥 stated Dr. Crystal Ostheim.
President Duff also acknowledged, 鈥淒r. Dan and Brenda Crocker have also pledged $100,000 to our BSN Licensure program. As a retired physician from our community, Dr. Crocker understands the value and importance of having qualified nurses in our healthcare system. We are extremely grateful for this donation and their unwavering support of NC Wesleyan.鈥
Those in attendance included: Dr. Joe Lane, NCWU Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dan Bell, NCWU Board Member; Roger G. Taylor 鈥70, NCWU Board Member; Terri Sharpe, NCWU Board Member; Paul A. Bauer 鈥86, Chairman of the NCWU Board of Trustees; Allen Chesser ’19, NC Representative; Cindy Edwards, NCWU Senior Executive of Operations; Lisa Barnes, NC Senator; Mark Hinson, NCWU Senior Executive of Philanthropic Engagement; Dr. Evan D. Duff, NCWU President; Suzanne Brackett ’87, NCWU Senior Vice President of Administration; Thomas Winstead, NCWU Board Member; and Dr. Daniel L. Crocker, NCWU Board Member.
New Offering at NCWU Allows for Two Degrees, Two Certificates in 2.5 Years
麻豆原创 is introducing a new unique, accelerated program designed for students wishing to elevate their associate degree to a master鈥檚 degree. Through this new pathway, students will have the opportunity to earn an Executive Leadership Certificate, Human Resources Management Certificate, bachelor鈥檚 degree and a Master鈥檚 in Strategic Leadership in approximately two and a half years.
This degree option was designed with working adults in mind by offering 100% online classes. Students can earn certificates as they go with a focus on two classes per term. The University also offers career assistance, supportive advisors and faculty, and special tuition pricing for North Carolina community college graduates*. Students admitted into the Associate to Master鈥檚 program must meet all undergraduate requirements, attain bachelor degree conferral and submit graduate admissions material before they begin the M.S. in Strategic Leadership program.
鈥淣CWU remains on the cutting edge of programming to accelerate the educational attainment of working adults in our state. We have been a leader in alternative pathways for adults to complete their college degree for over 45 years,鈥 stated Dr. Evan D. Duff. 鈥淭his is a one-of-a-kind program in North Carolina that allows community college graduates to fast track their learning while attaining multiple credentials along the way.鈥
Upon completion of the Associate to Master鈥檚 program, students will be qualified to attain the following industry certifications: SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) Certification, HRCI鈥檚 Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) Certification and the Strategy Planning Professional (SPP) Certification.
If you already have an associate degree, this is a great opportunity to advance your education in less time in order to gain a competitive advantage in the workforce. Apply today to gain new skills and earn multiple degrees at a top-ranked university, taking the first step towards accelerating your career! Those who are interested can learn more at .
Veterans Day Celebration Planned at NCWU
Join 麻豆原创 on Friday, November 10 for a Veterans Day event celebrating and honoring the men and women of our armed forces. The morning will start off at 10:00 a.m. with a patriotic salute to all Veterans and a special pinning for Vietnam Veterans.
The event will be held at the main flagpole in front of the Braswell Administrative building with guest speaker, . In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Garner Lobby at The Dunn Center. Rep. Chesser is an alumnus of NC Wesleyan and currently serves on the University鈥檚 Veteran Advisory Committee. Elected in 2022, Rep. Chesser is currently the State Representative for North Carolina House District 25, which covers the majority of Nash County. Before serving in the North Carolina House, he was a police officer for the City of Raleigh and the Town of Nags Head. Rep. Chesser is a combat veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard.
“With wars and rumors of wars consistently in the headlines, it is important to pause and recognize those who have served our Country and kept America free. We are thankful to have the opportunity to honor our Wesleyan and Rocky Mount Veterans by continuing our tradition of the Veterans Day Salute. We are excited to have Rep. Chesser, Dawn Cash-Salau and Andrea Bishop joining us this year and look forward to their contribution to the day,鈥 stated Laura Brown Brown, Associate Dean of Veteran Services.
During the ceremony, Mrs. Dawn Cash-Salau will present the to this year鈥檚 recipients. In addition, the University is supporting the local Ride of Honor taking place November 10 and 11. This fundraiser benefits the to help veterans and bring Camp Cocoon to Nash County. Andrea Bishop BSN, RN, Administrator of PruittHealth Hospice of Rocky Mount, will be speaking briefly about this event at NCWU鈥檚 Veterans Day Salute.
Tolson Awarded Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
For his great career in serving the region鈥檚 people and needs, 麻豆原创 presented Norris Tolson with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award at their Homecoming game on Saturday, October 14. Mr. Tolson is the Vice President of Special Projects for the . The award is presented to a community leader who best exemplifies excellence in character, leadership, service to the community and a commitment to spiritual values. This humanitarian award is meant to recognize those who have selflessly given and served others and the community.
Algernon Sydney Sullivan rose to success in New York City as a respected lawyer and a man who “reached out both hands in constant helpfulness” to others. After his death in 1887, the Society sought to honor him and the award bearing his name was established in 1925 by the Sullivan Memorial Committee and the New York Southern Society, which Mr. Sullivan had served as its first president.
鈥淢r. Tolson, for many years, has been a remarkable public servant in this region and statewide. When considering the attributes someone should possess in order to be awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, he was a clear choice and is well deserving of this honor,鈥 stated Mark Hinson, Sr. Executive of Philanthropic Engagement at 麻豆原创.
Before joining the Carolinas Gateway Partnership, Tolson served as a senior advisor for economic development with the Williams Mullen law firm, was President and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, served as both the North Carolina Secretary of Commerce and the North Carolina Secretary of Transportation. He was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly and served in the House of Representatives from 1994 until 1997 representing parts of Edgecombe, Nash, Pitt and Wilson Counties at the time. In 1999, Tolson served as the Chairman of the North Carolina Hurricane Floyd Relief Fund and in 2001 he was appointed to be the North Carolina Secretary of Revenue and stayed in this role until 2007.
Tolson proudly resides in Pinetops, NC. He has three children and five grandchildren.
