麻豆原创

ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥� 麻豆原创 officially installed Dr. Evan D. Duff as its 8th president on Friday, September 17, 2021. An inauguration ceremony was held in Minges Auditorium at The Dunn Center on the College鈥檚 campus.

Opening remarks were given by Rebecca Mitchell, NC Wesleyan senior, double majoring in Psychology and Biology and intern in the President鈥檚 Office. 鈥淔rom the beginning, Dr. Duff has demonstrated his passion for helping students, offering them a voice and a place to call home,鈥� stated Mitchell. She continued, 鈥淒r. Duff truly cares about his students and their overall well-being.鈥�

Greetings to Dr. Duff were given by students, faculty, staff, board members and friends. Some unable to attend sent personal greetings via video. Constance Williams, NCWC Board Member and human resource professional, offered her congratulations, stating 鈥淧resident Duff is by far one of the most visionary, humble and forward-thinking executives I have ever had the privilege to know. He prioritizes and operates from a position of fairness, excellence, inclusion and kindness.鈥�

Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of the ActOne Group and NCWC Board Member, also sent her well-wishes, noting 鈥淒r. Duff鈥檚 vision for the school is only exceeded by his strong competency and his vision for what life can be like for all of us.鈥�

Award-winning actress, Sharon Lawrence, delivered her virtual greeting saying 鈥淚 know that under Dr. Duff鈥檚 successful leadership, this institution has thrived in very challenging circumstances. I also recognize that today鈥檚 installation honors the tradition of Wesleyan excellence and investment in education for our region.鈥�

A surprise, handwritten letter from Governor Roy Cooper was presented to Dr. Duff on his accomplishments. It read, 鈥淩ocky Mount is proud to be home to 麻豆原创 and the outstanding programs and experiences it offers to its students. I know under your leadership, it will continue to grow and be an important North Carolina institution of higher learning. On a personal note: thanks Dr. Duff鈥� this is my home area and I know how important this great College is.鈥�   

Dr. Dan Crocker, Chairman of NC Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees, conducted the Investiture of the President. Afterwards, Paul Bauer, Vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees, presented Dr. Duff with a Presidential Medallion, a symbol of authority and a token of esteem and confidence. One side displays the President鈥檚 name and date of Inauguration, the other the College seal. The Seal includes five symbols 鈥� an owl is shown for wisdom, a lion for courage, a triangle for the Trinity, a budded cross for Christianity and a lamp for learning.

Dr. Duff was then joined on stage by his wife of 23 years, Marcy, and their four children 鈥� Tyson, Landon, Peyton and Chloe 鈥� as Rev. Laura Wittman gave a blessing of the presidential family.

Immediately following the Inauguration, a luncheon honoring Dr. Duff was held at the Rocky Mount Event Center for family and close friends.

ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥� 麻豆原创 will welcome award-winning author and political columnist, Rob Christensen, on Tuesday, October 5. Rob plans to share a glimpse of Eastern North Carolina with his latest history, 鈥淭he Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys,鈥� at the free event starting at 6:00 p.m. in Minges Auditorium at The Dunn Center. With a career spanning over 45 years as a political journalist with The News and Observer out of Raleigh, Christensen brings to life the multi-generational story of the Scott family鈥� one of North Carolina鈥檚 most influential political families.

Released in 2019, 鈥淭he Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys鈥� is the recipient of the prestigious Ragan Old North State Award for Nonfiction. Through investigative journalism that weaves together interviews paired with archival research, Christensen steps back in time to offer an engaging historical account of an important turning point for North Carolina鈥檚 political scene.

“I am looking forward to speaking at NC Wesleyan because Branchhead Boys is to a large degree about Eastern North Carolina and the continuing struggles with North Carolina’s urban/rural divide. Nash County, in particular, figures heavily in my book,鈥� commented Christensen.

Christensen shares the story of the Scott family legacy and how race and populism influenced the political landscape of the twentieth century during a period known as the era of progressive politics in North Carolina. Three generations of Scott鈥檚 held statewide office overcoming racial stereotypes. W. Kerr Scott, Robert Scott and Meg Scott Phipps were able to gain the support of rural North Carolinians who were colloquially known as the Branchhead Boys, a group of grassroots rural voters. Christensen recounts the hardships faced by the Scott鈥檚 to help develop rural North Carolina and introduce modern amenities such as having electric and telephone power lines extended and to have roads paved. Instrumental in their own downfall, Christensen concludes to what ultimately led to their demise.

Christensen retired in 2018 after a successful career in journalism. He has appeared as a political analyst on over 600 television and radio programs including the CBS Evening News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, ABC鈥檚 Nightline, C-Span, PBS, NPR and the BBC. He has been interviewed by Don Imus, Mitch Albom, Diane Rheems, Jeff Greenfield, Chris Matthews, Cokie Roberts, Al Franken and more. He has shared his insights and industry knowledge through hundreds of talks across the state to colleges, libraries, bookstores, civic and political clubs.

ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥� 麻豆原创 held its 65th annual New Student Convocation today in Minges Auditorium at The Dunn Center. President Dr. Evan D. Duff welcomed the Class of 2025, congratulating them on taking the next step in their educational journey.

鈥淕et involved. Get connected. You never know who you may network with while you鈥檙e in college that might help you in your future. Have fun, but remember to study and stay safe鈥� take care of each other,鈥� stated Duff.

Keynote Speaker for the event was , local businesswoman and novelist. She is the author of A Woman Is No Man, a New York Times bestseller, which hit the ninth spot on Amazon’s Bestseller List and was selected by Jenna Bush Hager as her book club’s May 2019 read. Rum is part-owner of three local businesses in Rocky Mount鈥擝arley & Burger, a bold and refined kitchen and bar, and Tipsy Tomato, a premier Italian pizza restaurant. Her newest venture, Books and Beans, centers around two of Rum鈥檚 favorite things: writing and coffee. Outfitted with a counter and handful of tables, Books and Beans also serves breakfast, lunch and coffee from a North Carolina roaster.

While addressing the new class of Bishops, Rum shared tips to encourage discipline and goal-setting throughout their college experience. She also spoke about learning how to overcome adversity for success, transforming through suffering and developing the mindset of a winner.

鈥淲e often forget that college is a place where we learn how to learn. If there鈥檚 anything that you can take with you throughout these four years, it鈥檚 how do you develop the mindset of a winner?鈥� stated Rum. 鈥淭here are three things that I think are very important for you to foster before you leave Wesleyan鈥o after what you want, be disciplined and transform through suffering. It鈥檚 really important for everyone here to understand that you have the power to learn from your adversity.鈥�

Rum grew up in a Palestinian-American household as the oldest of nine children in Brooklyn, New York. While raising her two children, she enrolled at North Carolina State University, where she earned a B.A. in English Language and Literature, a B.S. in Philosophy, and an M.A. in American and British Literature and Philosophy. In addition to speaking at 麻豆原创鈥檚 New Student Convocation, Rum also addressed educators at Faculty Convocation on August 17.

After New Student Convocation, students exited The Dunn Center and were immediately greeted by a cheering crowd of returning students, faculty, staff and friends of the College forming a time-honored tradition鈥� the Bishop Tunnel. As they proceeded through the tunnel to enter the annual Rock the Mount event, they were each welcomed by President Duff and his wife, Marcy. Rock the Mount is an annual tradition for NC Wesleyan to welcome new students to campus and to the community. It takes place the day before the College鈥檚 first day of classes, serving as the official kick-off event for the new academic year. Local businesses and organizations are given the opportunity to come and celebrate the start of a new school year with food, music and advertising. This year, nearly 80 community organizations lined the street in the center of campus to celebrate Wesleyan鈥檚 Class of 2025.

ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥� 麻豆原创 recently welcomed Rev. Edwin Ferguson as the new Chaplain. Rev. Ferguson assumes the role from former Chaplain, Dr. Barry Drum, who will transition this fall to full-time faculty after filling the role since 2003.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Rev. Ferguson is currently the pastor of Invitation at A.M.E. Zion Church in Snow Hill, NC. He has also served as pastor to young adult populations as the Youth/Young Adult minister at his home church, the Washington Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in St. Louis. While there, he also held the role of St. Louis District YACM (Young Adults in Christian Ministry) Director. In addition, Rev. Ferguson helped to lay the foundation for a college ministry while serving at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church in Elizabethtown, NC. He set up group chats for spiritual development for young adults while they were in college and care packages were sent to them. He was also invited to share with the Minority Male Mentoring program at Bladen Community College. 

鈥淎s an institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we are excited to welcome to our chaplaincy someone with Rev. Ferguson鈥檚 background of service to young adults. Spiritual exploration is a key component of the college experience for most students, and spirituality is a foundational element in their holistic development,鈥� stated Dr. Jason Modlin, Dean of Students. 鈥淎s our students seek to become the person they were created to be, our campus ministries play an integral role in their search. Rev. Ferguson is an ideal fit for NC Wesleyan as he shares the College鈥檚 mission of preparing students for all aspects of life.鈥� 

Rev. Ferguson has a passion for helping young adults achieve their potential. He looks forward to strengthening existing partnerships, as well as creating new ones, between the College and local faith-based organizations for the mutual benefit of students and the community. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Concordia University and a Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary where he is currently pursuing his doctorate. 

8th President of the College

ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥� 麻豆原创 will officially celebrate the appointment of Dr. Evan D. Duff as its 8th president in an inauguration ceremony Friday, September 17, 2021. The NCWC Board of Trustees named Dr. Evan D. Duff President of the College on June 10, 2020, after serving in the interim role since June 14, 2019. Due to the global pandemic, his inauguration has been delayed until now. This allows family and friends to attend, along with the campus community as they return for the fall semester.

Duff has served the College in many leadership roles since 2011 including Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of Adult & Professional Studies, adjunct professor and Provost. In these roles, Dr. Duff was responsible for leading the effort to approve new majors, co-writing the College鈥檚 first graduate application to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools- Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) and creating seven new offsite instructional locations. He was also responsible for facilitating the development of partnerships with 20 two-year and four-year colleges, which led to articulation agreements or memorandums of understanding between those colleges and NC Wesleyan. Most recently, he worked with Dr. Chaunt茅 Garrett to develop an ROTC partnership with Rocky Mount Prep.

He earned his Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Business Administration from Mount Olive College, holds a Master鈥檚 in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Along with his formal education, Dr. Duff also completed certificate programs with NC State University and Cornell University. 

During his career, Dr. Duff has authored or co-authored a great number of academic publications and presentations. He serves on many community boards and was awarded the volunteer of the year award with the Triangle Literacy Council in 2014. He has been honored with a variety of awards for service to the College and the community. He and his family most recently attended Hope Community Church in Cary, NC. Prior to this, Dr. Duff and his family were active members of Covenant UMC in Greenville, NC, where he served on the Pastoral Personnel Committee. Dr. Duff and his wife of 23 years, Marcy, have three sons and a daughter 鈥� Tyson, Landon, Peyton and Chloe. Their household is completed with five furry loved ones鈥攖hree dogs and two cats鈥攁ll of which are rescues.

The NCWC Board of Trustees cordially invites the public to Dr. Evan D. Duff鈥檚 Presidential Inauguration. The ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 17 in Minges Auditorium at The Dunn Center.