n.c. A&T
FALL 2018
Marching on
Band celeBrates 100 years
Art of teAching | follow your Art | Angel investors | oscAr-worthy
N.C. A&T Magazine
Board of TrusTees Chairman
Timothy O. King ’76
ChanCellor
Harold L. Martin Sr. ’74
Chief of sTaff
Erin Hill Hart (Interim)
assoCiaTe ViCe ChanCellor
for uniVersiTy relaTions
Todd H. Simmons
ediTor
Sandra M. Brown
ProduCTion
Donna M. W. Gibbs, Graphic Design
Village Printing, Printing Services
WriTers
Tonya D. Dixon ’04
Brian M. Holloway ’97
Jordan M. Howse
Scott W. Pastorick
PhoTograPhy
Ezekiel K. Best/Best Perspectives
Chris English/TigerMoth Creative
Stephen Jarrell Harris/Relnice
Photography for BGMM
Erin E. Mizzelle
iStock
N.C. A&T Magazine is published biannually by
the Office of University Relations for alumni
and friends of the university.
All editorial correspondence should be directed
to the editor at the address/email below.
ediTorial offiCes
N.C. A&T Magazine
Office of University Relations
1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411
Phone: 336-256-0863
Email: [email protected]
Postage Paid at Greensboro, NC
PosTmasTer
Send address changes to:
Advancement Services
North Carolina A&T State University
1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411
grand oPening North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
On Sept. 20, Aggies from near and far (N.C.A&T) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges. | N.C. A&T does not
attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony discriminate against any person on the basis of age, color,
for a first look inside the new Student disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin,
Center. The 150,000-square-foot race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any
LEED Silver facility is located on John other basis protected by law. | N.C. A&T is an AA/EEO and ADA
Mitchell Drive. compliant institution.
N.C. A&T Magazine
Board of TrusTees Chairman
Timothy O. King ’76
ChanCellor
Harold L. Martin Sr. ’74
Chief of sTaff
Erin Hill Hart (Interim)
assoCiaTe ViCe ChanCellor
for uniVersiTy relaTions
Todd H. Simmons
ediTor
Sandra M. Brown
ProduCTion
Donna M. W. Gibbs, Graphic Design
Village Printing, Printing Services
WriTers
Tonya D. Dixon ’04
Brian M. Holloway ’97
Jordan M. Howse
Scott W. Pastorick
PhoTograPhy
Ezekiel K. Best/Best Perspectives
Chris English/TigerMoth Creative
Stephen Jarrell Harris/Relnice
Photography for BGMM
Erin E. Mizzelle
iStock
N.C. A&T Magazine is published biannually by
the Office of University Relations for alumni
and friends of the university.
All editorial correspondence should be directed
to the editor at the address/email below.
ediTorial offiCes
N.C. A&T Magazine
Office of University Relations
1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411
Phone: 336-256-0863
Email: [email protected]
Postage Paid at Greensboro, NC
PosTmasTer
Send address changes to:
Advancement Services
North Carolina A&T State University
1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411
grand oPening North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
On Sept. 20, Aggies from near and far (N.C.A&T) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges. | N.C. A&T does not
attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony discriminate against any person on the basis of age, color,
for a first look inside the new Student disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin,
Center. The 150,000-square-foot race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any
LEED Silver facility is located on John other basis protected by law. | N.C. A&T is an AA/EEO and ADA
Mitchell Drive. compliant institution.
taBle of contents
n.c. A&T
measure of men magazine
The 2017-18 Chancellor’s
Speakers Series wraps
with multifaceted award-
winning artist Common
Features 32
marChing on
Band celebrates 100 years
Self-expression and Sports 24
Sports journalist Jemele Hill keeps it real
The Art of Teaching 36
Set designer David Tidwell learns as much
as he teaches
Follow Your Art 38
Gregory Horton’s colorful journey
Full “STEAM” Ahead 46
Donna Bradby’s passion for STEAM yields
20 new theater artists, leaders 48
Angel Investors
Season subscribers are the mainstay of
N.C. A&T’s successful theatre arts program
departments Oscar-worthy 50 40
Short film by alumnus Kevin Wilson Jr. ’11
nominated for Academy Award arTful ConneCTions
Campus Highlights 4 In Memoriam 60 Three artists connect their craft to students,
community
Athletics 26 People Behind the Scholarships 61
Second Sight 54
Alumni Notes 56
Once shy and overlooked, Zonya Love’s
star shines on stage
2 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 3
taBle of contents
n.c. A&T
measure of men magazine
The 2017-18 Chancellor’s
Speakers Series wraps
with multifaceted award-
winning artist Common
Features 32
marChing on
Band celebrates 100 years
Self-expression and Sports 24
Sports journalist Jemele Hill keeps it real
The Art of Teaching 36
Set designer David Tidwell learns as much
as he teaches
Follow Your Art 38
Gregory Horton’s colorful journey
Full “STEAM” Ahead 46
Donna Bradby’s passion for STEAM yields
20 new theater artists, leaders 48
Angel Investors
Season subscribers are the mainstay of
N.C. A&T’s successful theatre arts program
departments Oscar-worthy 50 40
Short film by alumnus Kevin Wilson Jr. ’11
nominated for Academy Award arTful ConneCTions
Campus Highlights 4 In Memoriam 60 Three artists connect their craft to students,
community
Athletics 26 People Behind the Scholarships 61
Second Sight 54
Alumni Notes 56
Once shy and overlooked, Zonya Love’s
star shines on stage
2 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 3
human CaPiTal
caMPUs highlights enrollmenT
Full-time Faculty: 70%
Part-time Faculty: 30% Fall Headcount: 14,000
No. public
iN
making news 1 NatioN
Hbcu
tHe
(U.S. News & World Report, 2019) diVersiTy
Student Demographic: researCh and
Percent deVeloPmenT
Non-African Patents
American Key Metrics: 20
Strategic Plan ‘refreSh’ 30%
enviSionS n.c. a&t in 2023 2023
With the launch of the 2018-19 academic year, North • Graduation rates for student athletes and conference
Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University championships, which exceeded goals in 2017 and ranking and
began the implementation of “A&T Preeminence: Taking 2014, respectively; and affordaBiliTy reCogniTion
the Momentum to 2023,” the ambitious successor to North Carolina U.S. News Ranking
the visionary strategic plan that has propelled the • Significant progress toward goals in such areas as (Public Institutions) National Universities:
university’s development and national rise over the past research contracts and grants, endowment growth, Top 25% 185-200
seven years. student body diversity and doctoral and transfer
student enrollment.
The strategic plan “refresh” seeks to build on the
extensive progress charted under “A&T Preeminence Preeminence 2023’s new key performance indicators
2020: Embracing Our Past, Creating Our Future,” call for the university to stretch further in these areas
establishing new objectives and goals to guide the and more, including: sTudenT suCCess*
university over the next five years. The new plan is the Four-year Graduation Rate: 40%
product of a broad range of input and discussion by • N.C. A&T’s overall enrollment goal has been Five-year Graduation Rate: 50%
university leadership, faculty, staff, students, community expanded from 13,500 to 14,000. Commensurately Six-year Graduation Rate: 55%
and local government leaders, and University of North with that, the university is expanding on-campus and
Carolina System leaders. off-campus housing options to accommodate an Placement Rate: 50-70% *
overall student body with about 3,300 more students Job-rich/STEM and Other: 18%
“Our disciplined implementation of ‘A&T Preeminence than when the initial strategic plan was put into place. increase **
2020’ led to early fulfillment of a range of goals in
mission-critical areas,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin • Four-, five- and six-year graduation rates, as well as
Sr. “We took advantage of the opportunities created by graduation of students in STEM disciplines and overall Key components of the plan were approved earlier this “Our aspirations are too valuable to our many
that success to revisit our planning and establish new diversity of the student body. year by the N.C. A&T Board of Trustees and the UNC constituents in the Piedmont Triad region, the state of
expectations for our future that will serve our students Board of Governors. The complete plan was introduced North Carolina and the nation to allow our pursuit of
and our university well for generations to come.” • Boosting the number of full-time faculty, as well as to A&T employees during the Faculty and Staff Institute them to be guided by chance,” the brochure reads in
patent activity emanating from faculty research, in August. part. “A&T Preeminence is a roadmap of our collective
Among the successes of the initial plan: and growth in national rankings and recognition of intentions that will alight our efforts with our vision for
the university’s academic strengths. As with Preeminence 2020, the university will publish the future.”
• Undergraduate enrollment that surged past the 2020 annual reports on its implementation progress, in a
goal of 10,000 three years ahead of schedule; • Expansion of public service and community spirit of transparency and accountability. The reasoning
engagement, including economic development, behind such an aggressive strategic planning process is
• New freshman average GPA that grew from 3.04 partnerships with business and industry and creation expressed in a brochure being distributed to every A&T * Placement rate is defined as employment, graduate school or military:
to 3.51 last fall, eclipsing the goal of 3.4; of programs that meet the evolving needs of the employee in concert with the plan rollout: 50% placement 30 days after commencement; 60% placement 60 days
global workforce. after commencement; 70% placement 90 days after commencement
** Other - teacher education and health professions
4 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 5
human CaPiTal
caMPUs highlights enrollmenT
Full-time Faculty: 70%
Part-time Faculty: 30% Fall Headcount: 14,000
No. public
iN
making news 1 NatioN
Hbcu
tHe
(U.S. News & World Report, 2019) diVersiTy
Student Demographic: researCh and
Percent deVeloPmenT
Non-African Patents
American Key Metrics: 20
Strategic Plan ‘refreSh’ 30%
enviSionS n.c. a&t in 2023 2023
With the launch of the 2018-19 academic year, North • Graduation rates for student athletes and conference
Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University championships, which exceeded goals in 2017 and ranking and
began the implementation of “A&T Preeminence: Taking 2014, respectively; and affordaBiliTy reCogniTion
the Momentum to 2023,” the ambitious successor to North Carolina U.S. News Ranking
the visionary strategic plan that has propelled the • Significant progress toward goals in such areas as (Public Institutions) National Universities:
university’s development and national rise over the past research contracts and grants, endowment growth, Top 25% 185-200
seven years. student body diversity and doctoral and transfer
student enrollment.
The strategic plan “refresh” seeks to build on the
extensive progress charted under “A&T Preeminence Preeminence 2023’s new key performance indicators
2020: Embracing Our Past, Creating Our Future,” call for the university to stretch further in these areas
establishing new objectives and goals to guide the and more, including: sTudenT suCCess*
university over the next five years. The new plan is the Four-year Graduation Rate: 40%
product of a broad range of input and discussion by • N.C. A&T’s overall enrollment goal has been Five-year Graduation Rate: 50%
university leadership, faculty, staff, students, community expanded from 13,500 to 14,000. Commensurately Six-year Graduation Rate: 55%
and local government leaders, and University of North with that, the university is expanding on-campus and
Carolina System leaders. off-campus housing options to accommodate an Placement Rate: 50-70% *
overall student body with about 3,300 more students Job-rich/STEM and Other: 18%
“Our disciplined implementation of ‘A&T Preeminence than when the initial strategic plan was put into place. increase **
2020’ led to early fulfillment of a range of goals in
mission-critical areas,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin • Four-, five- and six-year graduation rates, as well as
Sr. “We took advantage of the opportunities created by graduation of students in STEM disciplines and overall Key components of the plan were approved earlier this “Our aspirations are too valuable to our many
that success to revisit our planning and establish new diversity of the student body. year by the N.C. A&T Board of Trustees and the UNC constituents in the Piedmont Triad region, the state of
expectations for our future that will serve our students Board of Governors. The complete plan was introduced North Carolina and the nation to allow our pursuit of
and our university well for generations to come.” • Boosting the number of full-time faculty, as well as to A&T employees during the Faculty and Staff Institute them to be guided by chance,” the brochure reads in
patent activity emanating from faculty research, in August. part. “A&T Preeminence is a roadmap of our collective
Among the successes of the initial plan: and growth in national rankings and recognition of intentions that will alight our efforts with our vision for
the university’s academic strengths. As with Preeminence 2020, the university will publish the future.”
• Undergraduate enrollment that surged past the 2020 annual reports on its implementation progress, in a
goal of 10,000 three years ahead of schedule; • Expansion of public service and community spirit of transparency and accountability. The reasoning
engagement, including economic development, behind such an aggressive strategic planning process is
• New freshman average GPA that grew from 3.04 partnerships with business and industry and creation expressed in a brochure being distributed to every A&T * Placement rate is defined as employment, graduate school or military:
to 3.51 last fall, eclipsing the goal of 3.4; of programs that meet the evolving needs of the employee in concert with the plan rollout: 50% placement 30 days after commencement; 60% placement 60 days
global workforce. after commencement; 70% placement 90 days after commencement
** Other - teacher education and health professions
4 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 5
caMPUs highlights
Boeing, TMCF to Invest in Scholarships
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund Atlanta, Morehouse, Spelman, Howard,
(TMCF) has announced that a portion Morgan State and Tuskegee.
of a $6-million investment from Boeing A&T currently offers a B.S. degree with
will directly benefit students at North an aerospace option for students who
Carolina A&T. are interested in aerodynamics, aero-
propulsion, avionics and aero-structures.
N.C. A&T is one of eight institutions Last spring, seven mechanical engineering
that will receive a yet-to-be-determined students competed in an international aero
amount of funding for scholarships, design competition and placed No. 1 in the
internships, on-campus engagement United States and No. 2 in the world.
and immersive “boot camp” programs
to introduce students to The Boeing “The support from Boeing is more than a
Company’s culture and career paths. gift,” said Harry L. Williams, TMCF president
Boeing is interested in developing students and CEO. “It is the manifestation of a long-
from diverse backgrounds who are term strategic partnership that will change 2
interested in aerospace careers. the trajectory of so many innovative, No.
intelligent and deserving students.”
“This investment is another example of Most
how we are building a diverse pipeline To date, TMCF has awarded more than
of future talent,” said Michael Ford, $300 million in assistance to HBCUs. affordable
vice president of global diversity and As the nation’s largest organization oNliNe
inclusion at Boeing. “We hope to inspire dedicated to exclusively representing Master’s
and enable (historically black college and the HBCU community, TMCF provides iN big data
university) students to pursue careers in programmatic, capacity building, public
the aerospace industry.” policy and advocacy for its 47-member (College Choice)
institutions and the nearly 300,000
Other HBCUs benefitting from this students who attend them.
reSearch funding SurgeS investment include Alabama A&M, Clark
to $64.26 Million
n.c. a&t to Join cgs’s Ph.d. career Pathways ProJect
Faculty researchers at North Carolina A&T earned techniques to improve food production and safety
$64.26 million in contracts and grants in 2017-18, an or human health” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin North Carolina A&T has been In addition to N.C. A&T, three The resulting data will allow students and alumni make
increase of nearly $2 million over the previous year. Sr. “Our continued growth as a research university is a selected to join the Council other federally-recognized, universities to analyze Ph.D. more informed selections of
testament to their outstanding work.” of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) minority-serving institutions career preferences and Ph.D. programs.
The university has been on a steady trajectory of Ph.D. Career Pathways (MSIs) will participate: outcomes at the program
growth over the past two decades, adding nearly $46 As a land-grant, doctoral university, N.C. A&T is one of Project coalition. Howard University, University level and help faculty A&T currently offers nine
million in annual research funding since 2001. Those 107 U.S. universities ranked as having “higher research of Arizona and University of and university leaders doctoral degree programs;
contract and grant monies, which come largely from activity” in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions The coalition gathers Nevada, Las Vegas. strengthen career services, seven are STEM related.
the highly competitive federal funding sector, support of Higher Education. That second-highest designation data regarding careers of professional development
a wide range of projects in areas ranging from food among research universities is determined by Ph.D. students and alumni, Over the course of opportunities and mentoring The CGS is an organization
security to bioenergy to computer science and many measuring the aggregate level of research activity specifically those in science, the multi-year project, in doctoral programs. of approximately 500
points in between. and the amount of activity divided by the number of technology, engineering and universities will collect institutions of higher
full-time faculty. mathematics fields. The NSF- data through surveys that The data will provide education in the United
“Our faculty continued to demonstrate a high level of funded project currently were developed by CGS universities from across States and Canada
curiosity and innovation during the past year as they A&T is one of the state’s three most productive public includes 33 universities as in consultation with senior the country with beneficial engaged in graduate
explored solutions to a variety of complex problems research campuses, along with NC State and UNC- grant recipients as well as university leaders, funding comparison data for Ph.D. education, research, and the
impacting society, creating new technologies, Chapel Hill. an additional 31 affiliate agencies, disciplinary career preferences and preparation of candidates
building new financial models, or developing new partners. societies, researchers and outcomes with CGS’s for advanced degrees.
Ph.D. students and alumni. national dataset helping
6 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 7
caMPUs highlights
Boeing, TMCF to Invest in Scholarships
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund Atlanta, Morehouse, Spelman, Howard,
(TMCF) has announced that a portion Morgan State and Tuskegee.
of a $6-million investment from Boeing A&T currently offers a B.S. degree with
will directly benefit students at North an aerospace option for students who
Carolina A&T. are interested in aerodynamics, aero-
propulsion, avionics and aero-structures.
N.C. A&T is one of eight institutions Last spring, seven mechanical engineering
that will receive a yet-to-be-determined students competed in an international aero
amount of funding for scholarships, design competition and placed No. 1 in the
internships, on-campus engagement United States and No. 2 in the world.
and immersive “boot camp” programs
to introduce students to The Boeing “The support from Boeing is more than a
Company’s culture and career paths. gift,” said Harry L. Williams, TMCF president
Boeing is interested in developing students and CEO. “It is the manifestation of a long-
from diverse backgrounds who are term strategic partnership that will change 2
interested in aerospace careers. the trajectory of so many innovative, No.
intelligent and deserving students.”
“This investment is another example of Most
how we are building a diverse pipeline To date, TMCF has awarded more than
of future talent,” said Michael Ford, $300 million in assistance to HBCUs. affordable
vice president of global diversity and As the nation’s largest organization oNliNe
inclusion at Boeing. “We hope to inspire dedicated to exclusively representing Master’s
and enable (historically black college and the HBCU community, TMCF provides iN big data
university) students to pursue careers in programmatic, capacity building, public
the aerospace industry.” policy and advocacy for its 47-member (College Choice)
institutions and the nearly 300,000
Other HBCUs benefitting from this students who attend them.
reSearch funding SurgeS investment include Alabama A&M, Clark
to $64.26 Million
n.c. a&t to Join cgs’s Ph.d. career Pathways ProJect
Faculty researchers at North Carolina A&T earned techniques to improve food production and safety
$64.26 million in contracts and grants in 2017-18, an or human health” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin North Carolina A&T has been In addition to N.C. A&T, three The resulting data will allow students and alumni make
increase of nearly $2 million over the previous year. Sr. “Our continued growth as a research university is a selected to join the Council other federally-recognized, universities to analyze Ph.D. more informed selections of
testament to their outstanding work.” of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) minority-serving institutions career preferences and Ph.D. programs.
The university has been on a steady trajectory of Ph.D. Career Pathways (MSIs) will participate: outcomes at the program
growth over the past two decades, adding nearly $46 As a land-grant, doctoral university, N.C. A&T is one of Project coalition. Howard University, University level and help faculty A&T currently offers nine
million in annual research funding since 2001. Those 107 U.S. universities ranked as having “higher research of Arizona and University of and university leaders doctoral degree programs;
contract and grant monies, which come largely from activity” in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions The coalition gathers Nevada, Las Vegas. strengthen career services, seven are STEM related.
the highly competitive federal funding sector, support of Higher Education. That second-highest designation data regarding careers of professional development
a wide range of projects in areas ranging from food among research universities is determined by Ph.D. students and alumni, Over the course of opportunities and mentoring The CGS is an organization
security to bioenergy to computer science and many measuring the aggregate level of research activity specifically those in science, the multi-year project, in doctoral programs. of approximately 500
points in between. and the amount of activity divided by the number of technology, engineering and universities will collect institutions of higher
full-time faculty. mathematics fields. The NSF- data through surveys that The data will provide education in the United
“Our faculty continued to demonstrate a high level of funded project currently were developed by CGS universities from across States and Canada
curiosity and innovation during the past year as they A&T is one of the state’s three most productive public includes 33 universities as in consultation with senior the country with beneficial engaged in graduate
explored solutions to a variety of complex problems research campuses, along with NC State and UNC- grant recipients as well as university leaders, funding comparison data for Ph.D. education, research, and the
impacting society, creating new technologies, Chapel Hill. an additional 31 affiliate agencies, disciplinary career preferences and preparation of candidates
building new financial models, or developing new partners. societies, researchers and outcomes with CGS’s for advanced degrees.
Ph.D. students and alumni. national dataset helping
6 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 7
caMPUs highlights
No.
oN
3 liNe
Mba iN NortH caroliNa
(Online MBA Today)
University, long known
for its leadership studies
programs, to conduct
leadership development
programming in broadening
STEM participation for
emerging academic
leader. Based on CASL’s
research findings, this effort
n.c. a&t, at&t collaborate for will seek to establish the
foundation for informing
online MaSter’S for eMPloyeeS HBCUs and all of American
higher education on the
research-based strategies
for producing new leaders to
North Carolina A&T is collaborating “N.C. A&T’s program is a great Business administration will be broaden STEM participation.
with AT&T, a global leader in fit for our culture of continuous administered in the College of
telecommunications, media and learning,” said Scott S. Smith, chief Business and Economics while The Association of American
entertainment, and technology, to human resources officer, AT&T information technology and N.C. A&T AmoNg ReCipieNTs Colleges and Universities,
provide AT&T employees access to Communications. “Outstanding technology management will be recognized nationally and
online master’s programs. relationships like this one help administered in the College of of $9M nSf grant for internationally as the leading
us deliver training to our global Science and Technology. In total,
The collaboration is designed to workforce, and help our employees A&T offers 29 master’s programs SteM leaderShiP reSearch association dedicated to
advancing the quality,
help working professionals acquire continue to develop their skills to with 46 concentrations across vitality and public standing
the tools critical to advancing in the ensure they’re equipped for the jobs eight colleges; eight of those of liberal education and
competitive workforce. of the future.” programs are available in the online national science Foundation enables HBCu study by CasL inclusive excellence in
environment.
“This program presents a significant AT&T has been widely recognized as results of this work are UVI, which houses several higher education, will lead
the knowledge transfer and
opportunity for AT&T employees an innovator in providing learning In addition to this announcement, The National Science expected to aid HBCUs and other NSF-funded projects, outreach efforts of CASL.
to gain the information and skills opportunities for employees, and the telecommunications giant Foundation (NSF) has other institutions of higher will lead the research It will leverage its research
necessary to become leaders and is in the midst of what Fortune will also make a donation to the awarded a grant of $9 million learning in developing a component of the project. findings to rightfully place
change agents in their industry,” said Magazine last year said “may be the Cheatham-White Scholarship. that will allow the Center new generation of leaders The research will focus HBCUs at the center of our
Clay Gloster, interim vice provost most ambitious retraining program for the Advancement of to broaden participation on studying the nature of nation’s effort to produce
for research, graduate programs in corporate American history.” The Cheatham-White Scholarship STEM Leadership (CASL) to in STEM. the leadership styles and a more diverse and
and extended learning and dean is a merit scholarship program at widen and deepen its work strategies associated with competitively trained
of The Graduate College. “This is a “I’m excited that N.C. A&T is A&T and North Carolina Central to advance and accelerate Funded by the HBCU- the stellar record of HBCUs STEM workforce.
model corporate partnership for The joining universities like Georgia University established by the state diversity and inclusion in Undergraduate Program at in graduating African
Graduate College that we hope to Tech, Notre Dame and the legislature that gives recipients a the nation’s STEM higher NSF, the project involves Americans in STEM and in CASL’s administrative
replicate in the future.” University of Oklahoma in this fully funded four-year award that education enterprise. four partner institutions in being national leaders in offices will be housed in
initiative,” said Venessa Harrison, covers the cost of tuition, student
In June, AT&T announced to its more president of AT&T North Carolina fees, housing, meals, textbooks, CASL will examine how higher education: University preparing African Americans Washington, D.C., on Capitol
Hill and headed by the
for doctoral study in STEM.
of the Virgin Islands (UVI),
than 250,000 employees that these “And I’m proud that educational a laptop, supplies, travel and leadership at historically Fielding Graduate University, center’s executive director,
three programs can be completed resources found here in North personal expenses along with black colleges and North Carolina A&T State N.C. A&T, a leading HBCU Orlando Taylor, who is also
exclusively online in one and one- Carolina will be making a difference funded enrichment and networking universities (HBCUs) has University (N.C. A&T) and research university in the vice president for strategic
half or two years. Enrollment for in the lives and careers of my AT&T opportunities. To receive state funds played a role in broadening the Association of American STEM fields, will team initiatives and research
AT&T employees began this fall. colleagues around the globe.” for the scholarship, A&T must raise the participation of African Colleges and Universities. with Fielding Graduate at Fielding.
matching funds. Americans in STEM. The
8 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 9
caMPUs highlights
No.
oN
3 liNe
Mba iN NortH caroliNa
(Online MBA Today)
University, long known
for its leadership studies
programs, to conduct
leadership development
programming in broadening
STEM participation for
emerging academic
leader. Based on CASL’s
research findings, this effort
n.c. a&t, at&t collaborate for will seek to establish the
foundation for informing
online MaSter’S for eMPloyeeS HBCUs and all of American
higher education on the
research-based strategies
for producing new leaders to
North Carolina A&T is collaborating “N.C. A&T’s program is a great Business administration will be broaden STEM participation.
with AT&T, a global leader in fit for our culture of continuous administered in the College of
telecommunications, media and learning,” said Scott S. Smith, chief Business and Economics while The Association of American
entertainment, and technology, to human resources officer, AT&T information technology and N.C. A&T AmoNg ReCipieNTs Colleges and Universities,
provide AT&T employees access to Communications. “Outstanding technology management will be recognized nationally and
online master’s programs. relationships like this one help administered in the College of of $9M nSf grant for internationally as the leading
us deliver training to our global Science and Technology. In total,
The collaboration is designed to workforce, and help our employees A&T offers 29 master’s programs SteM leaderShiP reSearch association dedicated to
advancing the quality,
help working professionals acquire continue to develop their skills to with 46 concentrations across vitality and public standing
the tools critical to advancing in the ensure they’re equipped for the jobs eight colleges; eight of those of liberal education and
competitive workforce. of the future.” programs are available in the online national science Foundation enables HBCu study by CasL inclusive excellence in
environment.
“This program presents a significant AT&T has been widely recognized as results of this work are UVI, which houses several higher education, will lead
the knowledge transfer and
opportunity for AT&T employees an innovator in providing learning In addition to this announcement, The National Science expected to aid HBCUs and other NSF-funded projects, outreach efforts of CASL.
to gain the information and skills opportunities for employees, and the telecommunications giant Foundation (NSF) has other institutions of higher will lead the research It will leverage its research
necessary to become leaders and is in the midst of what Fortune will also make a donation to the awarded a grant of $9 million learning in developing a component of the project. findings to rightfully place
change agents in their industry,” said Magazine last year said “may be the Cheatham-White Scholarship. that will allow the Center new generation of leaders The research will focus HBCUs at the center of our
Clay Gloster, interim vice provost most ambitious retraining program for the Advancement of to broaden participation on studying the nature of nation’s effort to produce
for research, graduate programs in corporate American history.” The Cheatham-White Scholarship STEM Leadership (CASL) to in STEM. the leadership styles and a more diverse and
and extended learning and dean is a merit scholarship program at widen and deepen its work strategies associated with competitively trained
of The Graduate College. “This is a “I’m excited that N.C. A&T is A&T and North Carolina Central to advance and accelerate Funded by the HBCU- the stellar record of HBCUs STEM workforce.
model corporate partnership for The joining universities like Georgia University established by the state diversity and inclusion in Undergraduate Program at in graduating African
Graduate College that we hope to Tech, Notre Dame and the legislature that gives recipients a the nation’s STEM higher NSF, the project involves Americans in STEM and in CASL’s administrative
replicate in the future.” University of Oklahoma in this fully funded four-year award that education enterprise. four partner institutions in being national leaders in offices will be housed in
initiative,” said Venessa Harrison, covers the cost of tuition, student
In June, AT&T announced to its more president of AT&T North Carolina fees, housing, meals, textbooks, CASL will examine how higher education: University preparing African Americans Washington, D.C., on Capitol
Hill and headed by the
for doctoral study in STEM.
of the Virgin Islands (UVI),
than 250,000 employees that these “And I’m proud that educational a laptop, supplies, travel and leadership at historically Fielding Graduate University, center’s executive director,
three programs can be completed resources found here in North personal expenses along with black colleges and North Carolina A&T State N.C. A&T, a leading HBCU Orlando Taylor, who is also
exclusively online in one and one- Carolina will be making a difference funded enrichment and networking universities (HBCUs) has University (N.C. A&T) and research university in the vice president for strategic
half or two years. Enrollment for in the lives and careers of my AT&T opportunities. To receive state funds played a role in broadening the Association of American STEM fields, will team initiatives and research
AT&T employees began this fall. colleagues around the globe.” for the scholarship, A&T must raise the participation of African Colleges and Universities. with Fielding Graduate at Fielding.
matching funds. Americans in STEM. The
8 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 9
11
caMPUs highlights
No. enrollMent SurPaSSeS 12,000
iN tHe NatioN
include even more emphasis placed
Carolina A&T has enrolled its largest
demographic group. A&T is expected
for best oNliNe scHools For the third consecutive year, North student level and racial/ethnic key performance indicators also
on student success, affordability,
for WoMeN iN steM student body in university history, to remain the nation’s largest, four- diversity and recognition.
as well as what is likely its most
year historically black university for
(Guide to Online Schools) academically accomplished. the fifth consecutive year.
This fall’s new enrollment report
On the strength of an entering class The intentional, steady growth in comes on the heels of new rankings
of 2,201 first-year students, N.C. enrollment is the direct result of a from Money magazine, which named
SuMMit bringS tech nation, hbcu A&T’s student body has expanded strategic plan put in place in 2011 that A&T North Carolina’s most affordable
to 12,142—a 2.2 percent increase over envisioned a bold future for A&T by university and ranked its alumni third
leaderS to n.c. a&t last year’s enrollment. The entering 2020, including a total enrollment in the University of North Carolina
class has an average high school GPA of 13,500 and 10,000 undergraduate system in early career earnings.
of 3.61, average SAT score of 1040 students. A&T surpassed the latter
and elevate mankind, As part of the summit, and ACT score of 20. goal last year, and undergraduate The university is also making
and HBCUs have led the dozens of companies shared enrollment this fall exceeds 10,600. preparations to open its new
charge to produce great their own efforts to address Counting the increase in headcount $90-million Student Center this
African-American talent. those workforce needs in this fall of nearly 300, A&T has now Refreshed over the past year, the month while breaking ground on
Both sectors have broken partnership with HBCUs, added close to 1,600 students over university’s new strategic plan, A&T a new residence hall and the $90
tremendous barriers which contribute significantly the past five years, a 15 percent Preeminence: Taking the Momentum million Engineering Research and
individually. Just imagine to the number of African expansion of its student body. That to 2023, projects a student body of Innovation Complex later this fall.
what we can do when we American graduates in STEM includes growth at nearly every 14,000 by its conclusion. The plan’s
work together.” fields. North Carolina A&T,
for instance, produces more
Minority representation in African American engineers
tech industries lags behind than any other university in
their representation in the America and more African STEM Early College at N.C. A&T
overall economy. A study American master’s grads in
released by the Brookings mathematics and statistics. Earns Three National Recognitions
Institution earlier this year
shows African Americans Summit attendee Danny
make up about 12 percent of Allen, vice president of tech The STEM Early College at N.C. A&T has earned on performance of state-required tests and college
all workers, but only about diversity and inclusion at three prominent national recognitions of school readiness. More than 20,500 public high schools
8 percent of employees German business software quality and character across the country. were accessed nationally. The school placed 179th
North Carolina A&T’s and state elected officials in computer and math giant SAP SE, told a news in national rankings and earned a gold medal for
reputation as a national including N.C. Gov. Roy occupations. The gap is outlet covering the event First, the STEM Early College at N.C. A&T is being among the top 500 schools.
intellectual hub for critical Cooper and U.S. Rep. David bigger for Hispanics, who that “it doesn’t make sense” among the 300 public and 49 private K-12 schools
STEM dialogue took on new Price and representatives of account for 16.7 percent of that the tech industry lags named as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018 Third, STEM was also named a 2018 National
visibility Aug. 8-9, when 45 tech industry concerns, all workers, 6.8 percent in behind on hiring people of by the U.S. Department of Education on Oct. 1. School of Character by Character.org, a non-profit
some 200 leaders gathered such as Google, Apple, Intel, computer and math fields. color. Recognition is based on a school’s overall academic organization that validates character initiatives in
in Greensboro for the first HP, Facebook, Nielsen and performance or progress in closing achievement schools and communities around the world. It was
HBCU Bipartisan Caucus many more. There is concern in many “Who knows who’s going to gaps among student subgroups. STEM was one of only 73 U.S. schools in 17 states to receive
Diversity in Tech Summit. quarters that those come out of North Carolina recognized in the award category of Exemplary the designation.
“This summit is a landmark numbers are trending in A&T or any other HBCU and High Performing Schools.
Organized and hosted by convening,” Adams told the wrong direction. And develop something we’ve The STEM Early College at A&T is part of the
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, co- attendees and media tech companies working to never even thought about.” Second, in its annual report on the top U.S. public Guilford County School System.
founder of the caucus, the assembled for an event- address those gaps also face he said. “You have to have high schools, U.S. News & World Report has
two-day event drew senior opening press conference. an overall shortage of more an opportunity. You have to ranked STEM third among Guilford County high
administrators from 25 HBCU “The tech community has than 1 million workers for have a place at the table.” schools and eighth among all North Carolina high
campuses, dozens of federal led the push to innovate STEM jobs. schools. The report evaluated high schools based
10 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 11
11
caMPUs highlights
No. enrollMent SurPaSSeS 12,000
iN tHe NatioN
include even more emphasis placed
Carolina A&T has enrolled its largest
demographic group. A&T is expected
for best oNliNe scHools For the third consecutive year, North student level and racial/ethnic key performance indicators also
on student success, affordability,
for WoMeN iN steM student body in university history, to remain the nation’s largest, four- diversity and recognition.
as well as what is likely its most
year historically black university for
(Guide to Online Schools) academically accomplished. the fifth consecutive year.
This fall’s new enrollment report
On the strength of an entering class The intentional, steady growth in comes on the heels of new rankings
of 2,201 first-year students, N.C. enrollment is the direct result of a from Money magazine, which named
SuMMit bringS tech nation, hbcu A&T’s student body has expanded strategic plan put in place in 2011 that A&T North Carolina’s most affordable
to 12,142—a 2.2 percent increase over envisioned a bold future for A&T by university and ranked its alumni third
leaderS to n.c. a&t last year’s enrollment. The entering 2020, including a total enrollment in the University of North Carolina
class has an average high school GPA of 13,500 and 10,000 undergraduate system in early career earnings.
of 3.61, average SAT score of 1040 students. A&T surpassed the latter
and elevate mankind, As part of the summit, and ACT score of 20. goal last year, and undergraduate The university is also making
and HBCUs have led the dozens of companies shared enrollment this fall exceeds 10,600. preparations to open its new
charge to produce great their own efforts to address Counting the increase in headcount $90-million Student Center this
African-American talent. those workforce needs in this fall of nearly 300, A&T has now Refreshed over the past year, the month while breaking ground on
Both sectors have broken partnership with HBCUs, added close to 1,600 students over university’s new strategic plan, A&T a new residence hall and the $90
tremendous barriers which contribute significantly the past five years, a 15 percent Preeminence: Taking the Momentum million Engineering Research and
individually. Just imagine to the number of African expansion of its student body. That to 2023, projects a student body of Innovation Complex later this fall.
what we can do when we American graduates in STEM includes growth at nearly every 14,000 by its conclusion. The plan’s
work together.” fields. North Carolina A&T,
for instance, produces more
Minority representation in African American engineers
tech industries lags behind than any other university in
their representation in the America and more African STEM Early College at N.C. A&T
overall economy. A study American master’s grads in
released by the Brookings mathematics and statistics. Earns Three National Recognitions
Institution earlier this year
shows African Americans Summit attendee Danny
make up about 12 percent of Allen, vice president of tech The STEM Early College at N.C. A&T has earned on performance of state-required tests and college
all workers, but only about diversity and inclusion at three prominent national recognitions of school readiness. More than 20,500 public high schools
8 percent of employees German business software quality and character across the country. were accessed nationally. The school placed 179th
North Carolina A&T’s and state elected officials in computer and math giant SAP SE, told a news in national rankings and earned a gold medal for
reputation as a national including N.C. Gov. Roy occupations. The gap is outlet covering the event First, the STEM Early College at N.C. A&T is being among the top 500 schools.
intellectual hub for critical Cooper and U.S. Rep. David bigger for Hispanics, who that “it doesn’t make sense” among the 300 public and 49 private K-12 schools
STEM dialogue took on new Price and representatives of account for 16.7 percent of that the tech industry lags named as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018 Third, STEM was also named a 2018 National
visibility Aug. 8-9, when 45 tech industry concerns, all workers, 6.8 percent in behind on hiring people of by the U.S. Department of Education on Oct. 1. School of Character by Character.org, a non-profit
some 200 leaders gathered such as Google, Apple, Intel, computer and math fields. color. Recognition is based on a school’s overall academic organization that validates character initiatives in
in Greensboro for the first HP, Facebook, Nielsen and performance or progress in closing achievement schools and communities around the world. It was
HBCU Bipartisan Caucus many more. There is concern in many “Who knows who’s going to gaps among student subgroups. STEM was one of only 73 U.S. schools in 17 states to receive
Diversity in Tech Summit. quarters that those come out of North Carolina recognized in the award category of Exemplary the designation.
“This summit is a landmark numbers are trending in A&T or any other HBCU and High Performing Schools.
Organized and hosted by convening,” Adams told the wrong direction. And develop something we’ve The STEM Early College at A&T is part of the
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, co- attendees and media tech companies working to never even thought about.” Second, in its annual report on the top U.S. public Guilford County School System.
founder of the caucus, the assembled for an event- address those gaps also face he said. “You have to have high schools, U.S. News & World Report has
two-day event drew senior opening press conference. an overall shortage of more an opportunity. You have to ranked STEM third among Guilford County high
administrators from 25 HBCU “The tech community has than 1 million workers for have a place at the table.” schools and eighth among all North Carolina high
campuses, dozens of federal led the push to innovate STEM jobs. schools. The report evaluated high schools based
10 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 11
caMPUs highlights
CAES Breaks Ground on $5M Farm Pavilion
the Most affordable
caMpus iN NortH caroliNa
The College of Agriculture and Environmental The University Farm was created in 1904 to provide
(Money Magazine’s Best Colleges for Your Money 2018)
Sciences at North Carolina A&T broke ground July 11, food to the fledgling university’s cafeteria. The 492-
for a $5 million pavilion at the University Farm, which acre farm is now the largest classroom on campus, a
is located at 3136 McConnell Road in Greensboro. laboratory for agricultural research and a showcase of
the latest farming resources and technology.
The CAES Extension and Farm Pavilion will expand
the farm’s capacity for education, research and Continued development at the University Farm is in
outreach. Funded by USDA’s National Institute keeping with strategic goals of the university and the
google in reSidence PrograM PlaceS for Food and Agriculture, the 17,000-square-foot CAES to promote excellence in research, strengthen
structure will include an auditorium, laboratories, a community engagement and outreach, and foster
veteran engineer at n.c. a&t thiS fall demonstration kitchen, a 50-person classroom and a entrepreneurial success. The expansion also portends
400-person conference room. economic and development benefits for the East
Greensboro corridor where it is located.
A Google engineer with Dave Foulser usually leads “ n.C. a&t’s reputation for excellence USDA-NIFA will provide financial support for three One of the farm’s greatest advocates is its
additional projects in the next four years. The
28 years’ experience a team of more than 25 subsequent projects are an amphitheater, student superintendent, Leon Moses, who started working
will teach classes, share engineers at Google’s is strong, and I look forward to and community gardens, and a community and urban at the farm when he was an undergraduate.
insights with students and office in Cambridge, inspiring students there to go even food complex with a dairy, research labs, classrooms
trade ideas with faculty Massachusetts, but has and a small business incubator.
as part of the Google in taken a leave of absence further in their understanding and
Residence program that and is now leading love of computer science and software
debuted this semester at undergraduate courses
North Carolina A&T. at N.C. A&T. He is also development. ” — Foulser
holding office hours where college of science and technology
Launched in 2013, the he meets one-on-one A&T’s Robin Coger, dean “We’re working together secures competitive $1m nsf s-stem grAnt
Google in Residence with students and plans of engineering, said, “While on problems that are
program aims to improve to take up tutoring and every discipline has key important today even as
diversity in the tech career counseling, including fundamentals students we prepare to take on the The College of Science and Technology “We are very much excited about this The institutional goal of the SciTech
industry by embedding helping students prepare must master, the speed problems of tomorrow.” (CoST) has been awarded a $1 million opportunity to recruit outstanding Scholars project is to develop and test
engineers at historically for internship interviews. in which industry moves grant from the National Science and talented students to join our a model for student success that can
black colleges and constantly evolves how While Google has made Foundation under the Scholarships in CoST’s community of scholars. The be duplicated across the university
universities and Hispanic “N.C. A&T’s reputation those fundamentals are strides in improving Science, Technology, Engineering and SciTech Scholars program will increase to mentor underrepresented minority
serving institutions. for excellence is strong, applied. We are looking the diversity of early Mathematics Program (S-STEM). The the number of students majoring in and economically underprivileged
Expanding the pool of and I look forward to forward to the examples pipeline talent—this year, grant will fund the college’s SciTech four STEM areas of national need,” students in STEM disciplines. The
technologists is core to inspiring students there and experiences Dave its summer internship Scholars Enrichment project: Advancing said Abdellah Ahmidouch, dean and program seeks to diversify the STEM
Google’s strategy to have to go even further in their brings to our computer program welcomed Academically Talented Students in principal investigator for the project. workforce, develop an understanding of
representation of black understanding and love science department, the largest-ever cohort Science, Technology and Mathematics “One of the goals of the project is the challenges that low-income STEM
and Latinx Googlers in of computer science and and the value of those from underrepresented Degree Programs. to make sure that these students students encounter at historically black
the United States reach or software development. I perspectives to the backgrounds, with 49 graduate in a timely manner and are colleges and universities, and build upon
exceed the available talent also want to open doors education of our students. percent of Google’s global The project will award 100 scholarships very well prepared for and succeed in the teaching skills of underrepresented
pool at all levels of the to opportunity in the interns identifying as black, over a five-year period to support graduate studies and/or gain immediate minority faculty members.
company and is one way tech job market to these “In today’s world, the Latinx and/or women, undergraduate students in the placement into the STEM workforce.”
the company is looking students who are from complexities of the the company knows it is national need disciplines of chemistry, SciTech Scholars will be immersed in
to attract and hire more underrepresented groups problems we solve require important to continue to electronics technology, mathematics Ahmidouch added that N.C. A&T’s CoST’s active learning environment
diverse Googlers to truly in tech, whether African partnerships between invest in tomorrow’s talent, and physics. Scholarships will be status as a historically black university while residing in a living-learning
reflect the diversity of American, women or universities, companies and which is why programs awarded to high-achieving students places this project in a unique position community and receiving guidance
their users. Latinx,” said Foulser, who governments. The Google like Google in Residence with a demonstrated financial need. to make a significant contribution to from mentors and participating in other
joined Google in 2007. in Residence program is continue to be critical to diversity in higher education and the proven community-building activities,
an example of that. making the tech industry STEM workforce. leadership development, and student
more diverse. persistence initiatives.
12 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 13
caMPUs highlights
CAES Breaks Ground on $5M Farm Pavilion
the Most affordable
caMpus iN NortH caroliNa
The College of Agriculture and Environmental The University Farm was created in 1904 to provide
(Money Magazine’s Best Colleges for Your Money 2018)
Sciences at North Carolina A&T broke ground July 11, food to the fledgling university’s cafeteria. The 492-
for a $5 million pavilion at the University Farm, which acre farm is now the largest classroom on campus, a
is located at 3136 McConnell Road in Greensboro. laboratory for agricultural research and a showcase of
the latest farming resources and technology.
The CAES Extension and Farm Pavilion will expand
the farm’s capacity for education, research and Continued development at the University Farm is in
outreach. Funded by USDA’s National Institute keeping with strategic goals of the university and the
google in reSidence PrograM PlaceS for Food and Agriculture, the 17,000-square-foot CAES to promote excellence in research, strengthen
structure will include an auditorium, laboratories, a community engagement and outreach, and foster
veteran engineer at n.c. a&t thiS fall demonstration kitchen, a 50-person classroom and a entrepreneurial success. The expansion also portends
400-person conference room. economic and development benefits for the East
Greensboro corridor where it is located.
A Google engineer with Dave Foulser usually leads “ n.C. a&t’s reputation for excellence USDA-NIFA will provide financial support for three One of the farm’s greatest advocates is its
additional projects in the next four years. The
28 years’ experience a team of more than 25 subsequent projects are an amphitheater, student superintendent, Leon Moses, who started working
will teach classes, share engineers at Google’s is strong, and I look forward to and community gardens, and a community and urban at the farm when he was an undergraduate.
insights with students and office in Cambridge, inspiring students there to go even food complex with a dairy, research labs, classrooms
trade ideas with faculty Massachusetts, but has and a small business incubator.
as part of the Google in taken a leave of absence further in their understanding and
Residence program that and is now leading love of computer science and software
debuted this semester at undergraduate courses
North Carolina A&T. at N.C. A&T. He is also development. ” — Foulser
holding office hours where college of science and technology
Launched in 2013, the he meets one-on-one A&T’s Robin Coger, dean “We’re working together secures competitive $1m nsf s-stem grAnt
Google in Residence with students and plans of engineering, said, “While on problems that are
program aims to improve to take up tutoring and every discipline has key important today even as
diversity in the tech career counseling, including fundamentals students we prepare to take on the The College of Science and Technology “We are very much excited about this The institutional goal of the SciTech
industry by embedding helping students prepare must master, the speed problems of tomorrow.” (CoST) has been awarded a $1 million opportunity to recruit outstanding Scholars project is to develop and test
engineers at historically for internship interviews. in which industry moves grant from the National Science and talented students to join our a model for student success that can
black colleges and constantly evolves how While Google has made Foundation under the Scholarships in CoST’s community of scholars. The be duplicated across the university
universities and Hispanic “N.C. A&T’s reputation those fundamentals are strides in improving Science, Technology, Engineering and SciTech Scholars program will increase to mentor underrepresented minority
serving institutions. for excellence is strong, applied. We are looking the diversity of early Mathematics Program (S-STEM). The the number of students majoring in and economically underprivileged
Expanding the pool of and I look forward to forward to the examples pipeline talent—this year, grant will fund the college’s SciTech four STEM areas of national need,” students in STEM disciplines. The
technologists is core to inspiring students there and experiences Dave its summer internship Scholars Enrichment project: Advancing said Abdellah Ahmidouch, dean and program seeks to diversify the STEM
Google’s strategy to have to go even further in their brings to our computer program welcomed Academically Talented Students in principal investigator for the project. workforce, develop an understanding of
representation of black understanding and love science department, the largest-ever cohort Science, Technology and Mathematics “One of the goals of the project is the challenges that low-income STEM
and Latinx Googlers in of computer science and and the value of those from underrepresented Degree Programs. to make sure that these students students encounter at historically black
the United States reach or software development. I perspectives to the backgrounds, with 49 graduate in a timely manner and are colleges and universities, and build upon
exceed the available talent also want to open doors education of our students. percent of Google’s global The project will award 100 scholarships very well prepared for and succeed in the teaching skills of underrepresented
pool at all levels of the to opportunity in the interns identifying as black, over a five-year period to support graduate studies and/or gain immediate minority faculty members.
company and is one way tech job market to these “In today’s world, the Latinx and/or women, undergraduate students in the placement into the STEM workforce.”
the company is looking students who are from complexities of the the company knows it is national need disciplines of chemistry, SciTech Scholars will be immersed in
to attract and hire more underrepresented groups problems we solve require important to continue to electronics technology, mathematics Ahmidouch added that N.C. A&T’s CoST’s active learning environment
diverse Googlers to truly in tech, whether African partnerships between invest in tomorrow’s talent, and physics. Scholarships will be status as a historically black university while residing in a living-learning
reflect the diversity of American, women or universities, companies and which is why programs awarded to high-achieving students places this project in a unique position community and receiving guidance
their users. Latinx,” said Foulser, who governments. The Google like Google in Residence with a demonstrated financial need. to make a significant contribution to from mentors and participating in other
joined Google in 2007. in Residence program is continue to be critical to diversity in higher education and the proven community-building activities,
an example of that. making the tech industry STEM workforce. leadership development, and student
more diverse. persistence initiatives.
12 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 13
caMPUs highlights
maranda mCBride, an The CREST Center for BioEnergy,
associate professor of directed by aBolghasem
Faculty and staff management and director of shahBaZi, received $2.1 million
the Transportation Institute
from NSF. The center aims to
in the College of Business make biomass a more viable
and Economics, was awarded source of renewable energy,
$1.4 million from the U.S. conducting fundamental research
Department of Transportation. toward the development of
The institute educates students advanced thermochemical
and professionals from diverse populations to biomass conversion technology for the efficient, economic
provide qualified transportation professionals in the production of liquid transportation fuels and hydrogen.
workforce. Institute activities are designed to provide Shahbazi is a professor in the Department of Chemical,
ongoing initiatives in the areas of education, research, Biological and Bio Engineering.
Professors solomon sameer hamoush’s and workforce development. It serves as a national,
Bililign and marC n. project, “Pipeline regional and local clearinghouse for transportation
fiddler, along with Development of Skilled education, research and outreach. leonard Williams is among
doctoral student Jaime Workforce through Research the group of researchers who
Green, collaborated on a in Advanced Manufacturing,” took part in the exhibition in
study led by researchers was awarded $2 million radiah C. minor, an the District of Columbia to help
at the University of from the U.S. Department associate professor of animal demonstrate how multiple types
Washington. The team’s of Energy. The funds will science in the College of of U.S. Department of Agriculture
research explored the be used to fabricate metal Agricultural and Environmental funding (intramural, extramural,
formation of pollution particulates containing test parts and determine material properties using a Sciences, was chosen for the competitive, and capacity) work
sulfate and nitrate in the wintertime, when they metal 3D printing machine, train students in the use 2018 Excellence in Teaching together to bolster American
are produced more slowly but spread over larger of 3D printing, collaborate with other research hubs Award for N.C. A&T. The innovation. Williams, a professor and researcher in the
geographic areas. The research was published in the on fabrication and metal properties and develop prestigious annual award College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. a workforce pipeline by offering outreach and recognized Minor, along with director of the Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest
education workshops targeting secondary education faculty representing each of the other 16 campuses in Technologies, presented “Developing Agricultural
students. Hamoush is a professor in the Department the UNC System, for bringing innovative and creative Products with Health Benefits while Supporting Small
sung-Jin Cho, an assistant professor in the of Civil, Architectural, Agricultural and
Department of Nanoengineering, is developing a Environmental Engineering. teaching methods and approaches, which make a real and Limited Resource Farmers.”
new generation of solid-state lithium batteries that difference in how students learn.
will enable electrical vehicles to basically do more guoChen yang and lu
with less. Current battery models are heavy, adding shengmin sang’s Zhongge, researcher and
significant weight to the vehicles, and don’t allow shirley hymon-Parker, “Nutrimetabolomics Approach research assistant, respectively,
for driving very far on a single charge. Cho’s work a professor and associate to Identify the Biomarkers of in the Department of Natural
focuses on two specific areas: high-performance, dean for research in the Whole Grain Intake” project Resources and Environmental
hetero-structured cathode material and the College of Agriculture and was awarded $2.8 million Design, have received a U.S.
fundamental study of rotating molecules for polymer Environmental Sciences, from the U.S. Department of Patent for research that will
electrolytes. accompanied North Carolina
Commissioner of Agriculture Agriculture. The research will help ensure a more plentiful and
Steve Troxler on a trade identify novel bioactive natural reliable source of Alexandrian
eTTa graVely, an associate mission to Brazil, studying products that can be used in laurel (Danae Racemosa L.), an evergreen shrub in high
professor of chemistry in the South American country’s farms, factories functional foods and dietary supplements to prevent demand in the agricultural marketplace, particularly
the College of Science and and other agriculture-related industries. Brazil is a chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Sang in the landscape and nursery industries. Yang and
Technology and a recent leading exporter of some of the same commodities is a professor of family and consumer sciences in the Zhonggee have found that germinating seeds in the
inductee into the American for which North Carolina is known—poultry, tobacco, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. presence of cytokinnis and/or auxins increased in vitro
Chemical Society Fellows cotton, soybeans—and Hymon-Parker came away shoot multiplication and seedling quality in the shrub.
Program, delivered the from the tour with impressions on how agriculture in Ordinarily, the seed germination of Alexandrian laurel
keynote address to the Brazil and North Carolina can be mutually beneficial. often takes up to 12–18 months with a germination rate
inaugural North Carolina The trip also included discussion about Brazil’s role of only about 20 percent, taking up to six years to
Community Colleges Chemistry Consortium in July. in addressing global food security. produce a saleable one-gallon size plant.
14 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 15
caMPUs highlights
maranda mCBride, an The CREST Center for BioEnergy,
associate professor of directed by aBolghasem
Faculty and staff management and director of shahBaZi, received $2.1 million
the Transportation Institute
from NSF. The center aims to
in the College of Business make biomass a more viable
and Economics, was awarded source of renewable energy,
$1.4 million from the U.S. conducting fundamental research
Department of Transportation. toward the development of
The institute educates students advanced thermochemical
and professionals from diverse populations to biomass conversion technology for the efficient, economic
provide qualified transportation professionals in the production of liquid transportation fuels and hydrogen.
workforce. Institute activities are designed to provide Shahbazi is a professor in the Department of Chemical,
ongoing initiatives in the areas of education, research, Biological and Bio Engineering.
Professors solomon sameer hamoush’s and workforce development. It serves as a national,
Bililign and marC n. project, “Pipeline regional and local clearinghouse for transportation
fiddler, along with Development of Skilled education, research and outreach. leonard Williams is among
doctoral student Jaime Workforce through Research the group of researchers who
Green, collaborated on a in Advanced Manufacturing,” took part in the exhibition in
study led by researchers was awarded $2 million radiah C. minor, an the District of Columbia to help
at the University of from the U.S. Department associate professor of animal demonstrate how multiple types
Washington. The team’s of Energy. The funds will science in the College of of U.S. Department of Agriculture
research explored the be used to fabricate metal Agricultural and Environmental funding (intramural, extramural,
formation of pollution particulates containing test parts and determine material properties using a Sciences, was chosen for the competitive, and capacity) work
sulfate and nitrate in the wintertime, when they metal 3D printing machine, train students in the use 2018 Excellence in Teaching together to bolster American
are produced more slowly but spread over larger of 3D printing, collaborate with other research hubs Award for N.C. A&T. The innovation. Williams, a professor and researcher in the
geographic areas. The research was published in the on fabrication and metal properties and develop prestigious annual award College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. a workforce pipeline by offering outreach and recognized Minor, along with director of the Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest
education workshops targeting secondary education faculty representing each of the other 16 campuses in Technologies, presented “Developing Agricultural
students. Hamoush is a professor in the Department the UNC System, for bringing innovative and creative Products with Health Benefits while Supporting Small
sung-Jin Cho, an assistant professor in the of Civil, Architectural, Agricultural and
Department of Nanoengineering, is developing a Environmental Engineering. teaching methods and approaches, which make a real and Limited Resource Farmers.”
new generation of solid-state lithium batteries that difference in how students learn.
will enable electrical vehicles to basically do more guoChen yang and lu
with less. Current battery models are heavy, adding shengmin sang’s Zhongge, researcher and
significant weight to the vehicles, and don’t allow shirley hymon-Parker, “Nutrimetabolomics Approach research assistant, respectively,
for driving very far on a single charge. Cho’s work a professor and associate to Identify the Biomarkers of in the Department of Natural
focuses on two specific areas: high-performance, dean for research in the Whole Grain Intake” project Resources and Environmental
hetero-structured cathode material and the College of Agriculture and was awarded $2.8 million Design, have received a U.S.
fundamental study of rotating molecules for polymer Environmental Sciences, from the U.S. Department of Patent for research that will
electrolytes. accompanied North Carolina
Commissioner of Agriculture Agriculture. The research will help ensure a more plentiful and
Steve Troxler on a trade identify novel bioactive natural reliable source of Alexandrian
eTTa graVely, an associate mission to Brazil, studying products that can be used in laurel (Danae Racemosa L.), an evergreen shrub in high
professor of chemistry in the South American country’s farms, factories functional foods and dietary supplements to prevent demand in the agricultural marketplace, particularly
the College of Science and and other agriculture-related industries. Brazil is a chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Sang in the landscape and nursery industries. Yang and
Technology and a recent leading exporter of some of the same commodities is a professor of family and consumer sciences in the Zhonggee have found that germinating seeds in the
inductee into the American for which North Carolina is known—poultry, tobacco, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. presence of cytokinnis and/or auxins increased in vitro
Chemical Society Fellows cotton, soybeans—and Hymon-Parker came away shoot multiplication and seedling quality in the shrub.
Program, delivered the from the tour with impressions on how agriculture in Ordinarily, the seed germination of Alexandrian laurel
keynote address to the Brazil and North Carolina can be mutually beneficial. often takes up to 12–18 months with a germination rate
inaugural North Carolina The trip also included discussion about Brazil’s role of only about 20 percent, taking up to six years to
Community Colleges Chemistry Consortium in July. in addressing global food security. produce a saleable one-gallon size plant.
14 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 15
caMPUs highlights
The auTonomous
auTo (a3) Team recently
completed the first year of the
students three-year SAE International
and General Motors (GM)
AutoDrive Challenge, walking
away with an overall score
landing them in top 10
standing. The team placed
third in the straight-line sioBahn day successfully defended her
challenge, autonomously dissertation to become the first woman to
following a two-mile track graduate A&T’s computer science doctoral
in the shortest timeframe degree program. Day began work on the
while appropriately following faculty at The University of North Carolina
stop signs and general traffic at Greensboro this fall. She will continue
obstacles. Held in Yuma, her research of the authorship of tweets
Arizona, the competition on Twitter.
required teams to operate and
successfully navigate their
transformed autonomous cars
through three main dynamic Junior journalism and mass communication
challenges: straight line, lateral multimedia student denVer lark spent
and object detection and approximately two months traveling the
avoidance. country as a 2018 Chevrolet and National
Newspaper Publishers Association “Discover the
More than 30 undergraduate Unexpected” Journalism Fellow. Lark is among
and graduate students six students chosen from historically black
are involved in the project colleges and universities for the fellowship. In two
with different backgrounds groups of three, the students will explore and share positive, inspirational
and disciplines in Image and relevant stories from African-American communities.
Processing and Learning;
Software Architecture and Tony WaTlingTon Jr., senior economics student and SGA senator,
Functional Safety Analysis; is helping to close the diversity gap on Capitol Hill. Watlington was
Sensor Integration; CPU/ a summer intern for the third class of the Congressional Bipartisan
FPGA; Control and Dynamics; HBCU Caucus, which was launched in 2016 by co-chairs, U.S. Rep. Alma
Mechanical Design; Social Adams and U.S. Rep. Mark Walker. The first of its kind, the program
Responsibility; and Social gives two interns the opportunity to spend four weeks in the office of
Media and Outreach. The both a Republican and a Democrat.
second leg of the competition
is scheduled for May 2019.
Mid-challenge targets will A team of seven A&T students traveled to Van Nuys, California, to compete
focus on enhanced autonomy at the SAE International Aero Design West competition. They returned
levels of the self-driving cars home the best team in the country. naThan Blake, Jhalyn daVis,
by avoiding dynamic obstacles simon esau, Xinru niu, ChrisToPher PloTT, Jasmine shaW and
and safely passing through Chad sTaPles worked together on the NC(AT)2 Team to create and
intersections, challenging road operate an aircraft. Their work earned second-place overall in the regular
conditions and multiple lane class—the Elliott & Dorothy Green Overall Regular Class Award—behind a
changing. team for Politechnika Poznanska (Poland), with Universidad Aeronautica
en Queretaro (Mexico), Ningxia University (China) and Warsaw University
of Technology (Poland) rounding out the top five.
16 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 17
caMPUs highlights
The auTonomous
auTo (a3) Team recently
completed the first year of the
students three-year SAE International
and General Motors (GM)
AutoDrive Challenge, walking
away with an overall score
landing them in top 10
standing. The team placed
third in the straight-line sioBahn day successfully defended her
challenge, autonomously dissertation to become the first woman to
following a two-mile track graduate A&T’s computer science doctoral
in the shortest timeframe degree program. Day began work on the
while appropriately following faculty at The University of North Carolina
stop signs and general traffic at Greensboro this fall. She will continue
obstacles. Held in Yuma, her research of the authorship of tweets
Arizona, the competition on Twitter.
required teams to operate and
successfully navigate their
transformed autonomous cars
through three main dynamic Junior journalism and mass communication
challenges: straight line, lateral multimedia student denVer lark spent
and object detection and approximately two months traveling the
avoidance. country as a 2018 Chevrolet and National
Newspaper Publishers Association “Discover the
More than 30 undergraduate Unexpected” Journalism Fellow. Lark is among
and graduate students six students chosen from historically black
are involved in the project colleges and universities for the fellowship. In two
with different backgrounds groups of three, the students will explore and share positive, inspirational
and disciplines in Image and relevant stories from African-American communities.
Processing and Learning;
Software Architecture and Tony WaTlingTon Jr., senior economics student and SGA senator,
Functional Safety Analysis; is helping to close the diversity gap on Capitol Hill. Watlington was
Sensor Integration; CPU/ a summer intern for the third class of the Congressional Bipartisan
FPGA; Control and Dynamics; HBCU Caucus, which was launched in 2016 by co-chairs, U.S. Rep. Alma
Mechanical Design; Social Adams and U.S. Rep. Mark Walker. The first of its kind, the program
Responsibility; and Social gives two interns the opportunity to spend four weeks in the office of
Media and Outreach. The both a Republican and a Democrat.
second leg of the competition
is scheduled for May 2019.
Mid-challenge targets will A team of seven A&T students traveled to Van Nuys, California, to compete
focus on enhanced autonomy at the SAE International Aero Design West competition. They returned
levels of the self-driving cars home the best team in the country. naThan Blake, Jhalyn daVis,
by avoiding dynamic obstacles simon esau, Xinru niu, ChrisToPher PloTT, Jasmine shaW and
and safely passing through Chad sTaPles worked together on the NC(AT)2 Team to create and
intersections, challenging road operate an aircraft. Their work earned second-place overall in the regular
conditions and multiple lane class—the Elliott & Dorothy Green Overall Regular Class Award—behind a
changing. team for Politechnika Poznanska (Poland), with Universidad Aeronautica
en Queretaro (Mexico), Ningxia University (China) and Warsaw University
of Technology (Poland) rounding out the top five.
16 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 17
caMPUs highlights
students, continued Seven A&T scholars experienced
unique development opportunities this
past summer through the university’s
partnership with the Bluford
Healthcare Leadership Institute (BHLI).
North Carolina Department of Transportation HBCU Summer
Interns—dominiQue Parrish, morgan CroWder, As members of the 2018 BHLI
Teon Parker and eriCa BaTTs—were the first HBCU Cohort, eliJah eVans, a junior
students to experience a week-long immersion at the finance student; nassir holden,
international headquarters and test site of Virgin Hyperloop sophomore, economics with law
One in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Virgin Hyperloop One concentration; aleXandria
is a new mode of transportation that will move people and sTanTon, junior, biology; and
freight in pods through a low-pressure tube at speeds up to sakilae WhiTe, junior, chemistry
600 miles an hour or more. with minor in psychology, all spent two
weeks in Kansas City, Missouri, for a
comprehensive overview of healthcare
leadership from leading executives in
the field.
Three additional Aggies from previous
cohorts continued their professional
delaney P. VandergrifT has facilitated political Other SGA officers include development while serving in
(right) is president of education workshops darian ThomPson, internships coordinated by the BHLI:
the student government and spearheads civic vice president of internal kailyn PriCe, junior bioengineering
association (SGA) for the engagement initiatives affairs; Julian Cuffie, major, student-interned at Duke
2018–19 academic year. on campus. She has vice president for University Hospital in ambulatory
completed fellowships with external affairs; arleTTe and emergency services; Teeghan
A senior majoring in NC Ignite, an internship haWkins, secretary; Wiggins, junior bioengineering
political science with a with The African American Jamie WomaCk, treasurer; major, Cone Health’s Innovation and
minor in multi-journalism, Policy Forum and currently Tyra slade, attorney Transformation Department; and
the Raleigh, North serves as a Democracy general; kaliah CorBeTT, James WashBurn, senior business
Carolina, native’s love Fellow for Campus Vote. chief of staff; kayla management major, John Hopkins All
of the political arena is Curry, parliamentarian; Children’s Hospitals (St. Petersburg,
evident in her choice of The Vandergrift Jada BroWn, Miss Florida) under the direct supervision of
extracurricular activities Administration stands N.C. A&T; and derek the vice president of human resources.
while matriculating on the platform of “The edWards, Mister N.C. A&T.
at N.C. A&T. In 2016, Family Plan,” hoping to Class presidents include BHLI was program developed by
Vandergrift co-founded continue to uplift the spirit CorTina miChelle current Board of Trustees member
a political education of community, advocacy, mosley, senior class; John W. Bluford III to cultivate the
organization, Black family and student power allison gilmore, next generation of healthcare leaders.
University, that highlights throughout her presidency. junior class; and eddie Bluford is a national, innovative leader
the importance of HBCUs Upon completion of her diCkerson, sophomore in the healthcare field whose career
and reminds students studies, Vandergrift plans class. has spanned four decades in executive
of the power of their to continue social justice leadership. Twenty A&T scholars have
voices in North Carolina. and advocacy work participated since the initial 2013
She has completed two domestically and globally. cohort.
social justice fellowships,
18 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 19
caMPUs highlights
students, continued Seven A&T scholars experienced
unique development opportunities this
past summer through the university’s
partnership with the Bluford
Healthcare Leadership Institute (BHLI).
North Carolina Department of Transportation HBCU Summer
Interns—dominiQue Parrish, morgan CroWder, As members of the 2018 BHLI
Teon Parker and eriCa BaTTs—were the first HBCU Cohort, eliJah eVans, a junior
students to experience a week-long immersion at the finance student; nassir holden,
international headquarters and test site of Virgin Hyperloop sophomore, economics with law
One in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Virgin Hyperloop One concentration; aleXandria
is a new mode of transportation that will move people and sTanTon, junior, biology; and
freight in pods through a low-pressure tube at speeds up to sakilae WhiTe, junior, chemistry
600 miles an hour or more. with minor in psychology, all spent two
weeks in Kansas City, Missouri, for a
comprehensive overview of healthcare
leadership from leading executives in
the field.
Three additional Aggies from previous
cohorts continued their professional
delaney P. VandergrifT has facilitated political Other SGA officers include development while serving in
(right) is president of education workshops darian ThomPson, internships coordinated by the BHLI:
the student government and spearheads civic vice president of internal kailyn PriCe, junior bioengineering
association (SGA) for the engagement initiatives affairs; Julian Cuffie, major, student-interned at Duke
2018–19 academic year. on campus. She has vice president for University Hospital in ambulatory
completed fellowships with external affairs; arleTTe and emergency services; Teeghan
A senior majoring in NC Ignite, an internship haWkins, secretary; Wiggins, junior bioengineering
political science with a with The African American Jamie WomaCk, treasurer; major, Cone Health’s Innovation and
minor in multi-journalism, Policy Forum and currently Tyra slade, attorney Transformation Department; and
the Raleigh, North serves as a Democracy general; kaliah CorBeTT, James WashBurn, senior business
Carolina, native’s love Fellow for Campus Vote. chief of staff; kayla management major, John Hopkins All
of the political arena is Curry, parliamentarian; Children’s Hospitals (St. Petersburg,
evident in her choice of The Vandergrift Jada BroWn, Miss Florida) under the direct supervision of
extracurricular activities Administration stands N.C. A&T; and derek the vice president of human resources.
while matriculating on the platform of “The edWards, Mister N.C. A&T.
at N.C. A&T. In 2016, Family Plan,” hoping to Class presidents include BHLI was program developed by
Vandergrift co-founded continue to uplift the spirit CorTina miChelle current Board of Trustees member
a political education of community, advocacy, mosley, senior class; John W. Bluford III to cultivate the
organization, Black family and student power allison gilmore, next generation of healthcare leaders.
University, that highlights throughout her presidency. junior class; and eddie Bluford is a national, innovative leader
the importance of HBCUs Upon completion of her diCkerson, sophomore in the healthcare field whose career
and reminds students studies, Vandergrift plans class. has spanned four decades in executive
of the power of their to continue social justice leadership. Twenty A&T scholars have
voices in North Carolina. and advocacy work participated since the initial 2013
She has completed two domestically and globally. cohort.
social justice fellowships,
18 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 19
Larenz Tate, Joseph Sikora, Michael Rainey Jr. and
Rasheed Ali Cromwell discuss issues facing men today
men of “power” and Common headline
spring Chancellor’s series
The spring 2018 editions to be significant themes Known on “Power” as Tommy Rainey’s “Power” character,
of the Chancellor’s Town throughout the discussion. Egan, Sikora has acted for Tariq St. Patrick, appeared
Hall and Speaker Series nearly 30 years in film and on sparingly in the first two
continued the university’s “If a man doesn’t respect Broadway. His movie credits seasons, but became a
commitment to creating himself, he won’t make include “Shutter Island” and series regular by the third.
an intellectual climate that respectful choices with “Safe,” and he has appeared His credits include roles in
encourages the creative others,” said Tate. He added, on such television shows “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,”
exchange of ideas. Both “When I think of manhood, as “Boardwalk Empire,” the third installment of the
events bring nationally I think of accountability and “Law & Order: SVU,” “Grey’s “Barbershop” franchise and
distinguished guests to responsibility.” Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds” the Netflix series, “Orange
Greensboro for campus and “White Collar.” An is the New Black.” Rainey is
dialogue on matters According to Sikora, Ovation Award recipient, also involved in homeless
of current and abiding recognizing some of those he recently starred in the feeding programs and
importance to the university same traits in another man short film, “The Coworker,” participates in the New York-
community and the is one of the best ways to part of a high-profile PSA based “Shoot 4 Success”
world beyond. propel personal growth and campaign from the Rape, organization, which focuses
maturity. “A wonderful thing Abuse & Incest National on education through sports
The PoWer of men is to look up to men you Network and the National for boys and girls.
believe are in a place you Women's Law Center titled,
On March 21, a panel want to be.” “#ThatsHarrassment.” continued, page 22
discussion on “The Power of
Men” was the focus of the With over 50 years’
Chancellor’s Town Hall Series, combined experience in
MeaSure Tate, Joseph Sikora and the actors have collectively
featuring actors Larenz
the entertainment industry,
Michael Rainey Jr. Former
explored a wide range of
A&T Student Government
male roles. They’ve also
used their visibility to focus
Association President
Rasheed Ali Cromwell ’97
moderated. attention on social and
health challenges.
Men acclaimed Starz! network fourth season of the show
of
Tate was introduced to
Tate, Sikora and Rainey
co-star in the critically
“Power” audiences in the
television show, “Power.”
as Councilman Rashad Tate.
Then in its fifth season, the
His film career includes roles
show has become a fan
in “Menace II Society,” “Dead
Presidents,” “Love Jones,”
favorite, garnering three
NAACP Image Awards this
“The Inkwell,” “Why Do Fools
year. Their discussion looked
Fall in Love,” “Ray” and,
most recently, “Girl’s Trip.” In
at the development of men
and expectations of male
he works with The Tate Bros.
identity, as well as ways
Foundation, a nonprofit that
men discover and define
raises awareness of children
individual purpose. Manhood, addition to his acting career,
By Tonya D. Dixon ’04 respect and what they living with sickle cell anemia.
mean for men proved
20 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 21
Larenz Tate, Joseph Sikora, Michael Rainey Jr. and
Rasheed Ali Cromwell discuss issues facing men today
men of “power” and Common headline
spring Chancellor’s series
The spring 2018 editions to be significant themes Known on “Power” as Tommy Rainey’s “Power” character,
of the Chancellor’s Town throughout the discussion. Egan, Sikora has acted for Tariq St. Patrick, appeared
Hall and Speaker Series nearly 30 years in film and on sparingly in the first two
continued the university’s “If a man doesn’t respect Broadway. His movie credits seasons, but became a
commitment to creating himself, he won’t make include “Shutter Island” and series regular by the third.
an intellectual climate that respectful choices with “Safe,” and he has appeared His credits include roles in
encourages the creative others,” said Tate. He added, on such television shows “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,”
exchange of ideas. Both “When I think of manhood, as “Boardwalk Empire,” the third installment of the
events bring nationally I think of accountability and “Law & Order: SVU,” “Grey’s “Barbershop” franchise and
distinguished guests to responsibility.” Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds” the Netflix series, “Orange
Greensboro for campus and “White Collar.” An is the New Black.” Rainey is
dialogue on matters According to Sikora, Ovation Award recipient, also involved in homeless
of current and abiding recognizing some of those he recently starred in the feeding programs and
importance to the university same traits in another man short film, “The Coworker,” participates in the New York-
community and the is one of the best ways to part of a high-profile PSA based “Shoot 4 Success”
world beyond. propel personal growth and campaign from the Rape, organization, which focuses
maturity. “A wonderful thing Abuse & Incest National on education through sports
The PoWer of men is to look up to men you Network and the National for boys and girls.
believe are in a place you Women's Law Center titled,
On March 21, a panel want to be.” “#ThatsHarrassment.” continued, page 22
discussion on “The Power of
Men” was the focus of the With over 50 years’
Chancellor’s Town Hall Series, combined experience in
MeaSure Tate, Joseph Sikora and the actors have collectively
featuring actors Larenz
the entertainment industry,
Michael Rainey Jr. Former
explored a wide range of
A&T Student Government
male roles. They’ve also
used their visibility to focus
Association President
Rasheed Ali Cromwell ’97
moderated. attention on social and
health challenges.
Men acclaimed Starz! network fourth season of the show
of
Tate was introduced to
Tate, Sikora and Rainey
co-star in the critically
“Power” audiences in the
television show, “Power.”
as Councilman Rashad Tate.
Then in its fifth season, the
His film career includes roles
show has become a fan
in “Menace II Society,” “Dead
Presidents,” “Love Jones,”
favorite, garnering three
NAACP Image Awards this
“The Inkwell,” “Why Do Fools
year. Their discussion looked
Fall in Love,” “Ray” and,
most recently, “Girl’s Trip.” In
at the development of men
and expectations of male
he works with The Tate Bros.
identity, as well as ways
Foundation, a nonprofit that
men discover and define
raises awareness of children
individual purpose. Manhood, addition to his acting career,
By Tonya D. Dixon ’04 respect and what they living with sickle cell anemia.
mean for men proved
20 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 21
greaTness Prior to the public event,
he met with select male
Emmy, Golden Globe, students (members of Aggie
Academy Award and three- Prep, Men on the Move and
time Grammy-winning artist, fraternal organizations).
Common took the stage for
the Chancellor’s Speaker Known for his politically
Series on April 26. and socially conscious
perspective and introspective
Common discussed rhymes, Common has
“Greatness,” which drew successfully navigated the
upon his own hard work and music industry and made a
path to success, as well as splash on the small and silver
his deep interest in helping screens by taking strategic
others strive for and achieve risks and an innovative
greatness by making a approach to his craft. His
commitment to a greater underground and mainstream
cause. appeal has crossed musical
genres and generational
“How do you achieve boundaries.
greatness?” he asked the
crowd. “Find your path, “The King of Conscious
believe in your path and live Hip Hop” has produced
in your path … to greatness.” multiple acclaimed studio
“The beautiful thing about albums, including his latest,
working in your path and “Black America Again,” that
purpose is that it’s really not push the boundaries with
work.” raw, yet thoughtful social
commentary.
During his talk, Common
performed impromptu and Common’s philanthropic
well-known raps, shared efforts are consistent with
lessons learned from personal his political and social
experiences and fielded work, much of it conducted
questions from the audience. through his Common Ground MeaSure
Foundation, which focuses award-winning artist Common
Perhaps one of his most on nutrition, healthy living, with male n.C. a&t students of
thought-provoking financial literacy, character
comments of the evening development and creative Men
was “What are you willing to expression.
die for? Then live for that.”
22 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 23
greaTness Prior to the public event,
he met with select male
Emmy, Golden Globe, students (members of Aggie
Academy Award and three- Prep, Men on the Move and
time Grammy-winning artist, fraternal organizations).
Common took the stage for
the Chancellor’s Speaker Known for his politically
Series on April 26. and socially conscious
perspective and introspective
Common discussed rhymes, Common has
“Greatness,” which drew successfully navigated the
upon his own hard work and music industry and made a
path to success, as well as splash on the small and silver
his deep interest in helping screens by taking strategic
others strive for and achieve risks and an innovative
greatness by making a approach to his craft. His
commitment to a greater underground and mainstream
cause. appeal has crossed musical
genres and generational
“How do you achieve boundaries.
greatness?” he asked the
crowd. “Find your path, “The King of Conscious
believe in your path and live Hip Hop” has produced
in your path … to greatness.” multiple acclaimed studio
“The beautiful thing about albums, including his latest,
working in your path and “Black America Again,” that
purpose is that it’s really not push the boundaries with
work.” raw, yet thoughtful social
commentary.
During his talk, Common
performed impromptu and Common’s philanthropic
well-known raps, shared efforts are consistent with
lessons learned from personal his political and social
experiences and fielded work, much of it conducted
questions from the audience. through his Common Ground MeaSure
Foundation, which focuses award-winning artist Common
Perhaps one of his most on nutrition, healthy living, with male n.C. a&t students of
thought-provoking financial literacy, character
comments of the evening development and creative Men
was “What are you willing to expression.
die for? Then live for that.”
22 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 23
self-
exPreSSion
and SPortS
By Tonya D. Dixon ’04
“What we don’t talk about enough is how you can parlay
your former time as an athlete into a professional career.
Student-athletes, communications
students and others from the think, ‘Who am I outside of this sport?’”
university and local communities
welcomed veteran sports journalist — JeMele HIll, sports journalist and correspondent
and correspondent Jemele Hill to
North Carolina A&T as the first
speaker of the Chancellor’s Speaker
Series for the 2018-19 academic year. “People think that just because he Personal opinions aside, Hill continued
(Kaepernick) is woke he needs to to bring the conversation back to
Focusing on self-expression and sports, be broke. It doesn’t work like that,” the students and encouraged them
the conversation was perfectly suited said Hill. to “get the full college experience.”
for Hill to lead. From her days as a For journalists, they should use their
student journalist at Michigan State “The two most respected athletes reporting as a form of activism and
University until her recent departure today are Colin Kaepernick and LeBron come to grips with the fact that social
from ESPN, Hill’s career has extensively James. Athletes feel more encouraged media won’t make you famous.
focused on sports. to have a voice.”
“Do the work,” she said. “What we don’t
Topics from the hour-long event ranged When moderator and N.C. A&T alumnus talk about enough is how you can parlay
from the lighthearted—knowing your and Hall of Famer Darryl Klugh ’00 your former time as an athlete into a
significant other’s Chipotle order read a few of Hill’s recent tweets, professional career. Think, ‘Who am I
(by memory)—to the controversial— she extended the conversation and outside of this sport?’”
the conscious role of athletes, the elaborated on her views. Regarding
boundaries or lack thereof of social her tweet “heard around the world,” The overarching theme for the evening
media and life after sports. accusing the president of the United encouraged students to examine
States of being a bigot, Hill explained themselves, learn the best avenue for
True to her “tell it like it is” personality, her rationale and regret. personal expression and use it to the
Hill tactfully touched on the recent best of their abilities.
narrative surrounding Nike’s partnership “I never thought the tweets about
with NFL activist Colin Kaepernick. In Donald Trump would become a news
summation, she considers it just as much story.” However, she added, “If you’re
a business move as a moral one for both serving in the role of a journalist, you
parties. She also said more athletes have to watch it. I’ll be the first to say
are understanding and leveraging the it’s not what I should have done as a
influence they have for positive impact. journalist.”
24 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 25
self-
exPreSSion
and SPortS
By Tonya D. Dixon ’04
“What we don’t talk about enough is how you can parlay
your former time as an athlete into a professional career.
Student-athletes, communications
students and others from the think, ‘Who am I outside of this sport?’”
university and local communities
welcomed veteran sports journalist — JeMele HIll, sports journalist and correspondent
and correspondent Jemele Hill to
North Carolina A&T as the first
speaker of the Chancellor’s Speaker
Series for the 2018-19 academic year. “People think that just because he Personal opinions aside, Hill continued
(Kaepernick) is woke he needs to to bring the conversation back to
Focusing on self-expression and sports, be broke. It doesn’t work like that,” the students and encouraged them
the conversation was perfectly suited said Hill. to “get the full college experience.”
for Hill to lead. From her days as a For journalists, they should use their
student journalist at Michigan State “The two most respected athletes reporting as a form of activism and
University until her recent departure today are Colin Kaepernick and LeBron come to grips with the fact that social
from ESPN, Hill’s career has extensively James. Athletes feel more encouraged media won’t make you famous.
focused on sports. to have a voice.”
“Do the work,” she said. “What we don’t
Topics from the hour-long event ranged When moderator and N.C. A&T alumnus talk about enough is how you can parlay
from the lighthearted—knowing your and Hall of Famer Darryl Klugh ’00 your former time as an athlete into a
significant other’s Chipotle order read a few of Hill’s recent tweets, professional career. Think, ‘Who am I
(by memory)—to the controversial— she extended the conversation and outside of this sport?’”
the conscious role of athletes, the elaborated on her views. Regarding
boundaries or lack thereof of social her tweet “heard around the world,” The overarching theme for the evening
media and life after sports. accusing the president of the United encouraged students to examine
States of being a bigot, Hill explained themselves, learn the best avenue for
True to her “tell it like it is” personality, her rationale and regret. personal expression and use it to the
Hill tactfully touched on the recent best of their abilities.
narrative surrounding Nike’s partnership “I never thought the tweets about
with NFL activist Colin Kaepernick. In Donald Trump would become a news
summation, she considers it just as much story.” However, she added, “If you’re
a business move as a moral one for both serving in the role of a journalist, you
parties. She also said more athletes have to watch it. I’ll be the first to say
are understanding and leveraging the it’s not what I should have done as a
influence they have for positive impact. journalist.”
24 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 25
athletics
Former n.C. a&t athletes
get physical as pit crewmen
NASCAR AggieS
Keiston France ’17 Joshua Patrick ’18 Whitney Martin ’17
By Scott W. Pastorick Creating a multicultural drivers, owners, sponsors, Horton’s clientele expanded In May, France and Patrick France says he is a longtime “My experience so far has the Diversity Internship
environment allows people crew members and to include pit crewmen, as endured a four-hour skills NASCAR fan and has always been very eye-opening to Program to work at
from different ethnic groups, corporate workers with well as eight other NASCAR competition to test their wanted to work on a pit see the different possibilities NASCAR’s corporate office
religions and races to share intent to create a more drivers and 12 racing teams fitness and agility. They crew. After finding out about for African Americans in in Daytona Beach, Florida.
their various experiences diverse audience. over the span of seven were among a group of 10 the program from his father, the sport of NASCAR,” said Martin met an array of
and ideas to accomplish years. In 2016, he was hired competitors who started he contacted Horton to get Patrick. “I never really thought people who helped her
a common goal within Coach Phil horTon by Rev Racing to be the pit the day with warm-up drills more information. France I would be in this position, throughout the internship.
an organization. It also ’83 heads the Pit Crew crew coach for the Drive before taking a physical was eventually informed of but I am enjoying myself and After graduating, Martin in
gives groups of people Development Program, for Diversity Crew Member assessment test that his selection to the combine. hopefully in the near future 2017 interned at Integrated
opportunities they normally NASCAR’s newest diversity Development program included 100 single-under I can make some big things Marketing Communications
would be unaware of. program that is now in its during its inaugural year. jump ropes, 25 lateral-cone “I was elated when I received happen in the sport.” before landing a job with
third year. high knees, five speed-ladder the call inviting me to the the company as senior
This is the case for Two of Horton’s fellow drills, 25 push-ups, 25 ab-mat combine,” said France, who is Edmonds and Martin did coordinator in racing
NASCAR’s minority career Horton received his master’s Aggies—recent graduates rollouts and 100 medicine- training to be a tire changer. not go through the Pit Crew communications.
opportunities. degree from Michigan State keisTon franCe ’17 and ball sit-ups. They were then “Working for a pit crew has Combine or development
before becoming an athletics Joshua PaTriCk ’18—did put in a live pit-stop situation been a dream of mine since program but were hired by “At the time, I was searching
North Carolina A&T trainer at Florida A&M and well at the Pit Crew Combine where they changed and middle school.” Richard Childress Racing’s for an internship and as an
graduates and former the University of Memphis. that was held earlier this year carried tires in a mock pit- Diversity Development athlete, I knew I wanted to
student-athletes are playing He also worked for the NBA’s at the NASCAR Research stop set up. Patrick learned of the Program in Welcome, be involved with sports,” said
a major role in NASCAR’s Milwaukee Bucks an athletics and Development Center program through friend North Carolina. Edmonds Martin. “I didn’t know what to
diversity programs such as trainer and strength and in Concord, North Carolina. France crushed the and former teammate is looking to get into the expect because this was my
Drive for Diversity Driver, conditioning coach. In 1989, France, a former men’s tennis competition with the fastest CourTney edmonds, 2019 Pit Crew Combine and first NASCAR experience, but
Pit Crew Development Horton established Athletic player at A&T, and Patrick, a physical-assessment test time who learned about the hopes to be selected for the I could not have asked for a
Program, NASCAR Diversity Training Concept Inc. He former football standout for (4:17) followed by Patrick program from another development program. better internship.”
Internship Program, Opinion left the Bucks in 1996 and the Aggies, were selected for in third (5:07). The Aggie former Aggie football player,
Leader Initiative and started working at ATC Inc., the Pit Crew Development pair started the six-month CorBin marTin. Patrick Another Aggie, former And she could not
NASCAR Scholarships. These which led him to become the Program. program in September 2018 also contacted Horton and women’s basketball player have asked for a better
programs are designed personal trainer for former and will then receive a pit received a call two weeks WhiTney marTin 17, also opportunity thanks to the
to attract minorities and NASCAR driver Ernie Irvin. crew job with the NASCAR later that he had been has worked with NASCAR. willingness of a company to
females to the sport as Xfinity Series. selected to train as a In the summer of her promote diversity.
tire carrier. junior year, Martin used
26 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 27
athletics
Former n.C. a&t athletes
get physical as pit crewmen
NASCAR AggieS
Keiston France ’17 Joshua Patrick ’18 Whitney Martin ’17
By Scott W. Pastorick Creating a multicultural drivers, owners, sponsors, Horton’s clientele expanded In May, France and Patrick France says he is a longtime “My experience so far has the Diversity Internship
environment allows people crew members and to include pit crewmen, as endured a four-hour skills NASCAR fan and has always been very eye-opening to Program to work at
from different ethnic groups, corporate workers with well as eight other NASCAR competition to test their wanted to work on a pit see the different possibilities NASCAR’s corporate office
religions and races to share intent to create a more drivers and 12 racing teams fitness and agility. They crew. After finding out about for African Americans in in Daytona Beach, Florida.
their various experiences diverse audience. over the span of seven were among a group of 10 the program from his father, the sport of NASCAR,” said Martin met an array of
and ideas to accomplish years. In 2016, he was hired competitors who started he contacted Horton to get Patrick. “I never really thought people who helped her
a common goal within Coach Phil horTon by Rev Racing to be the pit the day with warm-up drills more information. France I would be in this position, throughout the internship.
an organization. It also ’83 heads the Pit Crew crew coach for the Drive before taking a physical was eventually informed of but I am enjoying myself and After graduating, Martin in
gives groups of people Development Program, for Diversity Crew Member assessment test that his selection to the combine. hopefully in the near future 2017 interned at Integrated
opportunities they normally NASCAR’s newest diversity Development program included 100 single-under I can make some big things Marketing Communications
would be unaware of. program that is now in its during its inaugural year. jump ropes, 25 lateral-cone “I was elated when I received happen in the sport.” before landing a job with
third year. high knees, five speed-ladder the call inviting me to the the company as senior
This is the case for Two of Horton’s fellow drills, 25 push-ups, 25 ab-mat combine,” said France, who is Edmonds and Martin did coordinator in racing
NASCAR’s minority career Horton received his master’s Aggies—recent graduates rollouts and 100 medicine- training to be a tire changer. not go through the Pit Crew communications.
opportunities. degree from Michigan State keisTon franCe ’17 and ball sit-ups. They were then “Working for a pit crew has Combine or development
before becoming an athletics Joshua PaTriCk ’18—did put in a live pit-stop situation been a dream of mine since program but were hired by “At the time, I was searching
North Carolina A&T trainer at Florida A&M and well at the Pit Crew Combine where they changed and middle school.” Richard Childress Racing’s for an internship and as an
graduates and former the University of Memphis. that was held earlier this year carried tires in a mock pit- Diversity Development athlete, I knew I wanted to
student-athletes are playing He also worked for the NBA’s at the NASCAR Research stop set up. Patrick learned of the Program in Welcome, be involved with sports,” said
a major role in NASCAR’s Milwaukee Bucks an athletics and Development Center program through friend North Carolina. Edmonds Martin. “I didn’t know what to
diversity programs such as trainer and strength and in Concord, North Carolina. France crushed the and former teammate is looking to get into the expect because this was my
Drive for Diversity Driver, conditioning coach. In 1989, France, a former men’s tennis competition with the fastest CourTney edmonds, 2019 Pit Crew Combine and first NASCAR experience, but
Pit Crew Development Horton established Athletic player at A&T, and Patrick, a physical-assessment test time who learned about the hopes to be selected for the I could not have asked for a
Program, NASCAR Diversity Training Concept Inc. He former football standout for (4:17) followed by Patrick program from another development program. better internship.”
Internship Program, Opinion left the Bucks in 1996 and the Aggies, were selected for in third (5:07). The Aggie former Aggie football player,
Leader Initiative and started working at ATC Inc., the Pit Crew Development pair started the six-month CorBin marTin. Patrick Another Aggie, former And she could not
NASCAR Scholarships. These which led him to become the Program. program in September 2018 also contacted Horton and women’s basketball player have asked for a better
programs are designed personal trainer for former and will then receive a pit received a call two weeks WhiTney marTin 17, also opportunity thanks to the
to attract minorities and NASCAR driver Ernie Irvin. crew job with the NASCAR later that he had been has worked with NASCAR. willingness of a company to
females to the sport as Xfinity Series. selected to train as a In the summer of her promote diversity.
tire carrier. junior year, Martin used
26 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 27
athletics
changing of the guard
Football’s Broadway retires, Washington named Head Coach
By Brian M. Holloway ’97
North Carolina A&T head “I am grateful to this great to the highest standards of The Aggies have had the
football coach rod and historic university, North accountable. Rod’s work No. 1 total defense in the
BroadWay announced his Carolina A&T State, for the ethic is unmatched. I will conference three straight
retirement from coaching opportunity to be its head miss him as a colleague but seasons. A&T has also had
January, after completing the football coach for seven will always consider him a the No. 1 rush defense in the
Aggies’ best season ever. years,” said Broadway. “I am friend and a confidant.” conference six times in seven
grateful to two men I hold years. Nationally, the team’s
Broadway retired after seven in high esteem, Chancellor Aggie Athletics held a defense has never ranked
seasons with the Aggies. Martin and Athletics Director press conference Jan. 9, to lower than 20th under
He then served as a special Earl Hilton, for believing announce the appointment Washington, including a No.
assistant to the athletics in me and the direction I of sam WashingTon 4 ranking in 2017. The Aggies
director for six months. wanted to take this program. as the 19th head coach in had the nation’s best run
I am grateful to the players, A&T history. Washington defense in 2012.
During the 2017 season, they have made this a previously served as
Broadway led N.C. A&T wonderful experience for me assistant head coach, “It has been an honor and
to a 12-0 finish with and my family. defensive coordinator and privilege to serve under
accolades that included secondary coach. Coach Broadway both
Aggies Win MEAC Baseball Championship winning the Mid-Eastern “I am grateful to what I at Grambling State and
Athletic Conference title, consider a great coaching “Coach Washington North Carolina A&T,” said
the Celebration Bowl game staff. They have conducted holds many of the same Washington. “I could not
In the summer of 2014, the On May 20, 2018, the senior “First off, those young men
baseball program hired an group of Sowell, Ordonez, are quality people,” said and the HBCU national themselves with the upmost characteristics as Coach ask for a better friend and
assistant coach named Ben Rivera, Hunt and McAlister Hall, who won the title in his championship. In the integrity and professionalism. Broadway. We have believed mentor than Rod Broadway.
Hall. Two months later he along with Hall and the hometown of Daytona Beach, process, the Aggies broke And I am grateful to the for some time that coach What I saw him accomplish
was N.C. A&T’s interim head rest of the Aggies baseball Florida, after leading the school and conference very hardworking support Washington has the skills, at North Carolina A&T is
coach. His team included a program won the 2018 MEAC Aggies to a school-record 16 records for wins and became staff we have here at North temperament and leadership nothing less than remarkable.
few freshmen he recently championship with a 12-9 win conference wins. the first MEAC and HBCU Carolina A&T.” qualities to be a collegiate
met named myles soWell, over their longtime nemesis in Division I-AA team ever to head coach,” said Hilton. “We “Following a legend is never
adan ordoneZ, milTon the tournament, the Bethune- “They trusted we would put finish undefeated and untied. Hilton said, “I love the man are confident the trajectory easy, but coach Broadway
riVera, a.J. hunT and k.J. Cookman Wildcats. good players around them. not only for what he has of the football program will taught me so much over
mCalisTer. Leadership is important. Senior In 15 seasons as a head accomplished during his time remain on a winning path the years, I am poised to
Four years removed from leadership is imperative,” coach, Broadway amassed as our head football coach at with coach Washington at continue having success in
Hall and those players that 10-win season, the Hall continued. “Those a 127-45 (.738) record with North Carolina A&T, but also the helm. We are eager to Aggieland. I thank Chancellor
experienced a 10-win season 2018 Aggies broke the guys getting tournament four HBCU titles and six for who he is as a person.” see him do well in a position Martin and Mr. Hilton
in 2015 and did not qualify school record for wins (32- experience last year for the conference championships. he richly deserves.” for what is an awesome
for the Mid-Eastern Athletic 23) and won the program’s first was important because In January (2018), his .737 “… He got to go out on his opportunity ….”
Conference Championship fourth MEAC title and the we learned from it and grew winning percentage was the own terms, a luxury not Under Washington’s
(MEAC) Baseball Tournament. first since 2005. Sophomore from it. So, what happened best winning percentage afforded to most coaches. leadership as the Aggies In September, Aggie football
They won 13 games in 2016 ZaCh mClean was named is we returned a team full of among active FCS coaches. He took our football program defensive coordinator for earned its highest national
and did not qualify for the the tournament’s Most hungry kids who wanted to In the history of FCS play, from being the laughing seven seasons, the Aggies ranking in the school’s
tournament. In 2017, they Outstanding Player and do nothing but win. They had he also has the third- stock of the (Football have consistently produced history—No. 4 in the country
reached the tournament and McLean, junior daWnoVen one purpose and that’s not to highest winning percentage. Championship Subdivision) one of the best defenses according to STATS FCS’s
were one win shy of making smiTh, Rivera, and Sowell leave Daytona Beach without a Broadway spent four seasons to being the envy of black in the nation. The Aggies media poll.
the championship game. were named to the all- championship.” apiece at North Carolina college football and one of have been the MEAC’s No.
tournament team. Central (2003-06) and the premier programs on the 1 total defense and scoring
Grambling State (2007-10). FCS level. He did it with class defense four times in the
and intelligence. He held past seven years.
everyone within his program
28 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 29
athletics
changing of the guard
Football’s Broadway retires, Washington named Head Coach
By Brian M. Holloway ’97
North Carolina A&T head “I am grateful to this great to the highest standards of The Aggies have had the
football coach rod and historic university, North accountable. Rod’s work No. 1 total defense in the
BroadWay announced his Carolina A&T State, for the ethic is unmatched. I will conference three straight
retirement from coaching opportunity to be its head miss him as a colleague but seasons. A&T has also had
January, after completing the football coach for seven will always consider him a the No. 1 rush defense in the
Aggies’ best season ever. years,” said Broadway. “I am friend and a confidant.” conference six times in seven
grateful to two men I hold years. Nationally, the team’s
Broadway retired after seven in high esteem, Chancellor Aggie Athletics held a defense has never ranked
seasons with the Aggies. Martin and Athletics Director press conference Jan. 9, to lower than 20th under
He then served as a special Earl Hilton, for believing announce the appointment Washington, including a No.
assistant to the athletics in me and the direction I of sam WashingTon 4 ranking in 2017. The Aggies
director for six months. wanted to take this program. as the 19th head coach in had the nation’s best run
I am grateful to the players, A&T history. Washington defense in 2012.
During the 2017 season, they have made this a previously served as
Broadway led N.C. A&T wonderful experience for me assistant head coach, “It has been an honor and
to a 12-0 finish with and my family. defensive coordinator and privilege to serve under
accolades that included secondary coach. Coach Broadway both
Aggies Win MEAC Baseball Championship winning the Mid-Eastern “I am grateful to what I at Grambling State and
Athletic Conference title, consider a great coaching “Coach Washington North Carolina A&T,” said
the Celebration Bowl game staff. They have conducted holds many of the same Washington. “I could not
In the summer of 2014, the On May 20, 2018, the senior “First off, those young men
baseball program hired an group of Sowell, Ordonez, are quality people,” said and the HBCU national themselves with the upmost characteristics as Coach ask for a better friend and
assistant coach named Ben Rivera, Hunt and McAlister Hall, who won the title in his championship. In the integrity and professionalism. Broadway. We have believed mentor than Rod Broadway.
Hall. Two months later he along with Hall and the hometown of Daytona Beach, process, the Aggies broke And I am grateful to the for some time that coach What I saw him accomplish
was N.C. A&T’s interim head rest of the Aggies baseball Florida, after leading the school and conference very hardworking support Washington has the skills, at North Carolina A&T is
coach. His team included a program won the 2018 MEAC Aggies to a school-record 16 records for wins and became staff we have here at North temperament and leadership nothing less than remarkable.
few freshmen he recently championship with a 12-9 win conference wins. the first MEAC and HBCU Carolina A&T.” qualities to be a collegiate
met named myles soWell, over their longtime nemesis in Division I-AA team ever to head coach,” said Hilton. “We “Following a legend is never
adan ordoneZ, milTon the tournament, the Bethune- “They trusted we would put finish undefeated and untied. Hilton said, “I love the man are confident the trajectory easy, but coach Broadway
riVera, a.J. hunT and k.J. Cookman Wildcats. good players around them. not only for what he has of the football program will taught me so much over
mCalisTer. Leadership is important. Senior In 15 seasons as a head accomplished during his time remain on a winning path the years, I am poised to
Four years removed from leadership is imperative,” coach, Broadway amassed as our head football coach at with coach Washington at continue having success in
Hall and those players that 10-win season, the Hall continued. “Those a 127-45 (.738) record with North Carolina A&T, but also the helm. We are eager to Aggieland. I thank Chancellor
experienced a 10-win season 2018 Aggies broke the guys getting tournament four HBCU titles and six for who he is as a person.” see him do well in a position Martin and Mr. Hilton
in 2015 and did not qualify school record for wins (32- experience last year for the conference championships. he richly deserves.” for what is an awesome
for the Mid-Eastern Athletic 23) and won the program’s first was important because In January (2018), his .737 “… He got to go out on his opportunity ….”
Conference Championship fourth MEAC title and the we learned from it and grew winning percentage was the own terms, a luxury not Under Washington’s
(MEAC) Baseball Tournament. first since 2005. Sophomore from it. So, what happened best winning percentage afforded to most coaches. leadership as the Aggies In September, Aggie football
They won 13 games in 2016 ZaCh mClean was named is we returned a team full of among active FCS coaches. He took our football program defensive coordinator for earned its highest national
and did not qualify for the the tournament’s Most hungry kids who wanted to In the history of FCS play, from being the laughing seven seasons, the Aggies ranking in the school’s
tournament. In 2017, they Outstanding Player and do nothing but win. They had he also has the third- stock of the (Football have consistently produced history—No. 4 in the country
reached the tournament and McLean, junior daWnoVen one purpose and that’s not to highest winning percentage. Championship Subdivision) one of the best defenses according to STATS FCS’s
were one win shy of making smiTh, Rivera, and Sowell leave Daytona Beach without a Broadway spent four seasons to being the envy of black in the nation. The Aggies media poll.
the championship game. were named to the all- championship.” apiece at North Carolina college football and one of have been the MEAC’s No.
tournament team. Central (2003-06) and the premier programs on the 1 total defense and scoring
Grambling State (2007-10). FCS level. He did it with class defense four times in the
and intelligence. He held past seven years.
everyone within his program
28 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 29
athletics
aggieS baSKetball
2018–19
Men’S Schedule WoMen’S Schedule
daTe oPPonenT loCaTion Time (eT) daTe oPPonenT loCaTion Time (eT)
Nov. 6 UNC-Greensboro Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 Morehead State Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Nov. 13 Akron Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 Maryland College Park, Md. 7 p.m. Nov. 16 Winston-Salem State Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 14 Hofstra Hempstead, N.Y. 7 p.m. Nov. 20 Virginia Charlottesville, Va. 11 a.m.
Nov. 19 Marshall Huntington, W.Va. TBA Nov. 24 Maine ^ Annapolis, Md. 3:15 p.m.
Nov. 21 Mount St. Mary's - MD Emmitsburg, Md. TBA Nov. 25 Navy ^ Annapolis, Md. 1 p.m.
Nov. 29 Central Connecticut State Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 Western Carolina Cullowhee, N.C. TBD
Dec. 1 Presbyterian Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Dec. 10 Johnson C. Smith Corbett Sports Center Noon
Dec. 8 Greensboro College Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Dec. 13 East Tennessee State Corbett Sports Center 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn. 4 p.m. Dec. 18 Elon Elon, N.C. 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 7 p.m. Dec. 21 VCU Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Dec. 21 Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. 7 p.m. Dec. 28 Florida Atlantic + Boca Raton, Fla. Noon
Dec. 28 ECU Greenville, N.C. TBA Dec. 29 Yale or St. Louis + Boca Raton, Fla. Noon or 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 South Carolina State * Orangeburg, S.C. 4 p.m. Jan. 5 S.C. State * Orangeburg, S.C. 2 p.m.
Jan. 8 Mid-Atlantic Christian University Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Delaware State * Dover, Del. 2 p.m.
Jan. 12 Delaware State * Dover, Del. 4 p.m. Jan. 14 Maryland Eastern Shore * Princess Anne, Md. 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 Maryland Eastern Shore * Princess Anne, Md. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 Morgan State * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Jan. 19 Morgan State * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Jan. 21 Coppin State * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 Coppin State * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 N.C. Central * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Jan. 26 North Carolina Central * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Feb. 2 Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 4 p.m.
Feb. 2 Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 6 p.m. Feb. 4 Bethune-Cookman * Daytona Beach, Fla. 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 Bethune-Cookman * Daytona Beach, Fla. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Delaware State * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Feb. 9 Delaware State * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Feb. 11 Maryland Eastern Shore * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 11 Maryland Eastern Shore * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 Howard * Washington, D.C. 2 p.m.
Feb. 16 Howard * Washington, D.C. 4 p.m. Feb. 18 Norfolk State * Norfolk, Va. 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 18 Norfolk State * Norfolk, Va. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 S.C. State * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
feb. 23 south Carolina state * Corbett sports Center 4 p.m. Feb. 25 Savannah State * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 Savannah State * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. March 2 Florida A&M * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
March 2 Florida A&M * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. March 7 N.C. Central * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
March 7 North Carolina Central * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m.
* Conference Games
* Conference Games ^ Navy Thanksgiving Tournament
+ FAU Post-Christmas Tournament
Meac chaMPionShiP tournaMent
March 11–16 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Norfolk, Va.
30 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 31
athletics
aggieS baSKetball
2018–19
Men’S Schedule WoMen’S Schedule
daTe oPPonenT loCaTion Time (eT) daTe oPPonenT loCaTion Time (eT)
Nov. 6 UNC-Greensboro Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 Morehead State Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Nov. 13 Akron Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 Maryland College Park, Md. 7 p.m. Nov. 16 Winston-Salem State Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 14 Hofstra Hempstead, N.Y. 7 p.m. Nov. 20 Virginia Charlottesville, Va. 11 a.m.
Nov. 19 Marshall Huntington, W.Va. TBA Nov. 24 Maine ^ Annapolis, Md. 3:15 p.m.
Nov. 21 Mount St. Mary's - MD Emmitsburg, Md. TBA Nov. 25 Navy ^ Annapolis, Md. 1 p.m.
Nov. 29 Central Connecticut State Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 Western Carolina Cullowhee, N.C. TBD
Dec. 1 Presbyterian Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Dec. 10 Johnson C. Smith Corbett Sports Center Noon
Dec. 8 Greensboro College Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Dec. 13 East Tennessee State Corbett Sports Center 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn. 4 p.m. Dec. 18 Elon Elon, N.C. 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 7 p.m. Dec. 21 VCU Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Dec. 21 Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. 7 p.m. Dec. 28 Florida Atlantic + Boca Raton, Fla. Noon
Dec. 28 ECU Greenville, N.C. TBA Dec. 29 Yale or St. Louis + Boca Raton, Fla. Noon or 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 South Carolina State * Orangeburg, S.C. 4 p.m. Jan. 5 S.C. State * Orangeburg, S.C. 2 p.m.
Jan. 8 Mid-Atlantic Christian University Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Delaware State * Dover, Del. 2 p.m.
Jan. 12 Delaware State * Dover, Del. 4 p.m. Jan. 14 Maryland Eastern Shore * Princess Anne, Md. 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 Maryland Eastern Shore * Princess Anne, Md. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 Morgan State * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Jan. 19 Morgan State * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Jan. 21 Coppin State * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 Coppin State * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 N.C. Central * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Jan. 26 North Carolina Central * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Feb. 2 Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 4 p.m.
Feb. 2 Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 6 p.m. Feb. 4 Bethune-Cookman * Daytona Beach, Fla. 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 Bethune-Cookman * Daytona Beach, Fla. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Delaware State * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
Feb. 9 Delaware State * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. Feb. 11 Maryland Eastern Shore * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 11 Maryland Eastern Shore * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 Howard * Washington, D.C. 2 p.m.
Feb. 16 Howard * Washington, D.C. 4 p.m. Feb. 18 Norfolk State * Norfolk, Va. 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 18 Norfolk State * Norfolk, Va. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 S.C. State * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
feb. 23 south Carolina state * Corbett sports Center 4 p.m. Feb. 25 Savannah State * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 Savannah State * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m. March 2 Florida A&M * Corbett Sports Center 2 p.m.
March 2 Florida A&M * Corbett Sports Center 4 p.m. March 7 N.C. Central * Corbett Sports Center 5:30 p.m.
March 7 North Carolina Central * Corbett Sports Center 7:30 p.m.
* Conference Games
* Conference Games ^ Navy Thanksgiving Tournament
+ FAU Post-Christmas Tournament
Meac chaMPionShiP tournaMent
March 11–16 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Norfolk, Va.
30 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 31
Marching on
bAnd celebrAtes 100-yeAr legAcy
By Jordan M. Howse
The Blue and Gold Marching Machine (BGMM) is the
heartbeat of North Carolina A&T, and Aggie Pride runs
deep through the veins of every musician who graced the
field at BB&T Stadium in the illustrious uniforms and shined
white spats.
Kenneth Ruff ’90 has led the BGMM since 2003. He leaves
a lasting impression on his students but insists that his
students leave a lasting impression on the band.
“Dr. Ruff always tells us that we set the standard and that
we’re ambassadors of the university,” said Chalay Horne,
a junior clarinet section leader from Delaware. “People are
looking at us, so we have to always be our best.”
Being a part of the marching band isn’t just an
extracurricular activity, Horne said. Some students come to
A&T just to be a part of it like sousaphone section leader
Darius Smith, a senior music education major from Georgia.
“After watching the band and doing some research on the
program, I knew I wanted to be a part of the Blue and Gold
Marching Machine,” he said.
For some alumni, the love for the university and the band
is bred in them. Terrell Morton ’11 was born into A&T’s band,
literally.
“My mother and father met at A&T in the band, and many
of the students in A&T’s band during that time (1988-
1990) helped raise me, including my uncle Nian Avery, who
marched in the band; Dr. Ruff, who was a drum major at the
time; and the then-band director, Dr. Johnny Hodge.”
continued, page 34
32 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 33
Marching on
bAnd celebrAtes 100-yeAr legAcy
By Jordan M. Howse
The Blue and Gold Marching Machine (BGMM) is the
heartbeat of North Carolina A&T, and Aggie Pride runs
deep through the veins of every musician who graced the
field at BB&T Stadium in the illustrious uniforms and shined
white spats.
Kenneth Ruff ’90 has led the BGMM since 2003. He leaves
a lasting impression on his students but insists that his
students leave a lasting impression on the band.
“Dr. Ruff always tells us that we set the standard and that
we’re ambassadors of the university,” said Chalay Horne,
a junior clarinet section leader from Delaware. “People are
looking at us, so we have to always be our best.”
Being a part of the marching band isn’t just an
extracurricular activity, Horne said. Some students come to
A&T just to be a part of it like sousaphone section leader
Darius Smith, a senior music education major from Georgia.
“After watching the band and doing some research on the
program, I knew I wanted to be a part of the Blue and Gold
Marching Machine,” he said.
For some alumni, the love for the university and the band
is bred in them. Terrell Morton ’11 was born into A&T’s band,
literally.
“My mother and father met at A&T in the band, and many
of the students in A&T’s band during that time (1988-
1990) helped raise me, including my uncle Nian Avery, who
marched in the band; Dr. Ruff, who was a drum major at the
time; and the then-band director, Dr. Johnny Hodge.”
continued, page 34
32 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 33
Morton said he always knew that he “I worked with Dr. Hodge when I was In addition to a new home, an
wanted to march in A&T’s band after a student and just always helped endowed scholarship is being
growing up around the band, listening where I could,” Winstead said. “Now established by the children of the
to his uncle’s stories about marching I’m a gold coat staff member and was late Johnny Hodge Sr., who directed
in the band and watching old band voted president of the alumni band. the band for nearly 20 years.
tapes. Marching in A&T’s band is a My love for the band is because I’ve
family legacy for Morton. In addition worked with every part of it. I’ve never The band continues its centennial
to his mother and father, maternal really left.” celebration by calling on former
and fraternal uncles and two younger members to help collect needed
sisters marched in blue and gold. Past and present BGMM members scholarship dollars to guarantee the
say that being a part of the band directors can recruit the finest
Andre Winstead ’93, president of the changes you and helps you become musical talent.
Alumni Band Association, said that who you want to be.
seeing people like Morton is one of “BGMM is an integral part of Aggie
the beauties of marching in A&T’s Jonasha Green, a junior piccolo Pride,” Morton said. “(It) is an
band as a student and as an alumnus. player, said band changed her from excellent recruitment tool for the
the shy girl to a confident woman. university, showcasing the talent of
“When we march down the street students from all backgrounds and
in the homecoming parade, year “The BGMM has most definitely experiences on multiple platforms
after year you see families grow and helped me in the area of confidence and stages. I am truly grateful
appreciate the band,” he said. “You in my academics, future career, for band and I wish the Marching
see toddlers grow to adults and see and personal life. I have used that Machine 100 x 100 more years.”
alumni band members have kids who confidence to be my best self at all
then become alumni band members. times.” she said.
It really is a beautiful thing about
our band.” In its 100th year, A&T’s marching
band will embark on renovations for
Winstead said he had no intention of their new facility. The building will be
marching when he came to A&T 30 next door to the current facility on
years ago. But when he started, he East Lindsey Street.
never stopped.
BlUe and gold Marching Machine:
select tiMeline
A&T’s band program starts with a 50-piece band Band grows to 210 members Majorettes and flag girls added Debut performance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Directors Jimmy Williams and Johnny Hodge Jr. name the band Blue and Gold Marching Machine Symphonic band established BGMM wins Atlanta Battle of the Bands; named a Top 10 Band by “Sports Illustrated” Wins first place at Defeat the Beat Battle of the Bands Plays Circle City Football Classic (Indianapoli
1918 1960 1964 1970s 1986 1980s 1993 2003 2005 2007 2012 2015 2016 2018 Centennial year;
34 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 35
Morton said he always knew that he “I worked with Dr. Hodge when I was In addition to a new home, an
wanted to march in A&T’s band after a student and just always helped endowed scholarship is being
growing up around the band, listening where I could,” Winstead said. “Now established by the children of the
to his uncle’s stories about marching I’m a gold coat staff member and was late Johnny Hodge Sr., who directed
in the band and watching old band voted president of the alumni band. the band for nearly 20 years.
tapes. Marching in A&T’s band is a My love for the band is because I’ve
family legacy for Morton. In addition worked with every part of it. I’ve never The band continues its centennial
to his mother and father, maternal really left.” celebration by calling on former
and fraternal uncles and two younger members to help collect needed
sisters marched in blue and gold. Past and present BGMM members scholarship dollars to guarantee the
say that being a part of the band directors can recruit the finest
Andre Winstead ’93, president of the changes you and helps you become musical talent.
Alumni Band Association, said that who you want to be.
seeing people like Morton is one of “BGMM is an integral part of Aggie
the beauties of marching in A&T’s Jonasha Green, a junior piccolo Pride,” Morton said. “(It) is an
band as a student and as an alumnus. player, said band changed her from excellent recruitment tool for the
the shy girl to a confident woman. university, showcasing the talent of
“When we march down the street students from all backgrounds and
in the homecoming parade, year “The BGMM has most definitely experiences on multiple platforms
after year you see families grow and helped me in the area of confidence and stages. I am truly grateful
appreciate the band,” he said. “You in my academics, future career, for band and I wish the Marching
see toddlers grow to adults and see and personal life. I have used that Machine 100 x 100 more years.”
alumni band members have kids who confidence to be my best self at all
then become alumni band members. times.” she said.
It really is a beautiful thing about
our band.” In its 100th year, A&T’s marching
band will embark on renovations for
Winstead said he had no intention of their new facility. The building will be
marching when he came to A&T 30 next door to the current facility on
years ago. But when he started, he East Lindsey Street.
never stopped.
BlUe and gold Marching Machine:
select tiMeline
A&T’s band program starts with a 50-piece band Band grows to 210 members Majorettes and flag girls added Debut performance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Directors Jimmy Williams and Johnny Hodge Jr. name the band Blue and Gold Marching Machine Symphonic band established BGMM wins Atlanta Battle of the Bands; named a Top 10 Band by “Sports Illustrated” Wins first place at Defeat the Beat Battle of the Bands Plays Circle City Football Classic (Indianapolis, Indiana) Plays Angel City Footba
1918 1960 1964 1970s 1986 1980s 1993 2003 2005 2007 2012 2015 2016 2018 Centennial year;
34 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 35
Handling theatre design, scenic design, aspects of stage class—the one thing he despises—it’s only because he wants
management and more for the theatre program, his days them to be the best they can be. Because according to him,
are busy alternating and balancing classes, committees punctuality is an important facet of excellence.
and other academic obligations with his responsibilities
for play productions. Even when students think they are having “light work” days
in class, Tidwell is still teaching. He and his wife developed
He teaches everything from scene and stage design to card games that directly relate to the themes that anyone
drafting and computer aided design. Even regarding the many working in the theatre profession should have a firm grasp
aspects he doesn’t teach, Tidwell is intricately involved in the and knowledge.
development and production.
“We created the games to help teach students theatre and
“Part of the process of designing is not just creating a pretty about the theatre house,” he said. “One is a series of tasks,
picture. It requires a great deal of literal background research, and players have to review everything related to theatre,
an analysis of the show at hand and speaking with the including the front of the house, stagers, props, actors and
director because it is a collaborative process. There are many everything else and make sure everything and everybody
the art heads involved,” said Tidwell. works properly and together to make sure the theatre is run
correctly. It’s called ‘Break A Leg.’”
of teaching “I spend time reading the script. I try to understand the He adds, “It is very interactive, but at the same time the
characters and the world in which they live, including the
students are subliminally learning. Most universities don’t
historical setting, society and even the architecture of the
time. By putting those bits and pieces together, I can bring a realize and recognize that this is a great way to teach
By Tonya D. Dixon ’04 total package (of images, renderings, sketches and drawings) students. It’s a whole different level and layer of applied
to the director and we will determine if it’s the right direction.” research for students.”
It’s not always cut and dry in the theatre business, and while Tidwell also developed the game Inch by Inch, which teaches
directors and production personnel often have differing students to better understand fractions, a skill they can use in
viewpoints regarding the direction of a play, Tidwell says it’s great detail, particularly for building sets.
like production magic when everyone is on the same page.
There are more games on the way and an app is in beta
“The last production we did was ‘Detroit 67.’” The director and testing.
I both agreed and understood it should look like a bunker or
underground world. Basically, it was a basement,” he said. “We “It’s trying to find other ways to teach. You can slip that in on
talked about the approach. Eventually, we came up with the them and teach them stuff without them recognizing it, and
floorplan and everything else.” it’s fun,” says Tidwell.
One of the interesting aspects of theatre is that it can be The work and research required for the game designs are
interpreted differently. That facet is one of the parts of theatre quite tedious, but there’s just as much work and study
that interests Tidwell the most. required on the students’ part to win the game.
“Something like ‘The Lion King,’ which has been done quite Tidwell isn’t only interested in preparing his current students;
Set designer David Tidwell Ranked nationally by Black Broadway as one of the top five beautifully on Broadway, is something that influences me he’s also interested in piquing the interest of potential
students. He and members of the university theatre program
design-wise, but at the same time it may not be the statement
learns as much as he teaches. theatre arts programs for African-American students, the North that the director wants viewers to leave with,” said Tidwell. are looking to institute a program called Backstage Pass. High
Carolina A&T Theatre Arts Program is one of the best in the
country, and David Tidwell is proud to contribute to its success. school and community college students will be invited to
A member of the USA 829 Professional Designer Union, view a university technical theatre rehearsal, giving them the
In the four years he has been on campus, Tidwell, an assistant Tidwell says that while delivering audience satisfaction is opportunity to ask questions and provide insight about the
professor, has enjoyed seeing the growth in students and the important, his primary motivation is to provide a good high- university’s program.
comradery throughout the department, but says the real story quality piece for the students to learn their craft as they
lies in the totality of education that’s given and received. operate in their craft. It is, in fact, educational theatre. “It’s a recruitment tool, obviously, but at the same time it gets
the community interested and aware of our program, what we
“Theatre is accepting of everybody, regardless. I’m learning this When it comes to teaching students theatre production, are doing and the quality of work that we do,” says Tidwell.
more and more. This school has such a rich history that I was Tidwell is hard-hitting. He says it’s a tough profession and
unaware of. It’s been an educational experience. I think if more students should get that tough love from him—someone who Self-described as having an “eclectic artistic style,” Tidwell
people had this experience they would understand better. I cares—so they can handle it when it comes from others in the says, he begins every design project on the basis of realism
teach my students and my students teach me,” said Tidwell. professional world. When he scolds students for being late to and expands from there.
36 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 37
Handling theatre design, scenic design, aspects of stage class—the one thing he despises—it’s only because he wants
management and more for the theatre program, his days them to be the best they can be. Because according to him,
are busy alternating and balancing classes, committees punctuality is an important facet of excellence.
and other academic obligations with his responsibilities
for play productions. Even when students think they are having “light work” days
in class, Tidwell is still teaching. He and his wife developed
He teaches everything from scene and stage design to card games that directly relate to the themes that anyone
drafting and computer aided design. Even regarding the many working in the theatre profession should have a firm grasp
aspects he doesn’t teach, Tidwell is intricately involved in the and knowledge.
development and production.
“We created the games to help teach students theatre and
“Part of the process of designing is not just creating a pretty about the theatre house,” he said. “One is a series of tasks,
picture. It requires a great deal of literal background research, and players have to review everything related to theatre,
an analysis of the show at hand and speaking with the including the front of the house, stagers, props, actors and
director because it is a collaborative process. There are many everything else and make sure everything and everybody
the art heads involved,” said Tidwell. works properly and together to make sure the theatre is run
correctly. It’s called ‘Break A Leg.’”
of teaching “I spend time reading the script. I try to understand the He adds, “It is very interactive, but at the same time the
characters and the world in which they live, including the
students are subliminally learning. Most universities don’t
historical setting, society and even the architecture of the
time. By putting those bits and pieces together, I can bring a realize and recognize that this is a great way to teach
By Tonya D. Dixon ’04 total package (of images, renderings, sketches and drawings) students. It’s a whole different level and layer of applied
to the director and we will determine if it’s the right direction.” research for students.”
It’s not always cut and dry in the theatre business, and while Tidwell also developed the game Inch by Inch, which teaches
directors and production personnel often have differing students to better understand fractions, a skill they can use in
viewpoints regarding the direction of a play, Tidwell says it’s great detail, particularly for building sets.
like production magic when everyone is on the same page.
There are more games on the way and an app is in beta
“The last production we did was ‘Detroit 67.’” The director and testing.
I both agreed and understood it should look like a bunker or
underground world. Basically, it was a basement,” he said. “We “It’s trying to find other ways to teach. You can slip that in on
talked about the approach. Eventually, we came up with the them and teach them stuff without them recognizing it, and
floorplan and everything else.” it’s fun,” says Tidwell.
One of the interesting aspects of theatre is that it can be The work and research required for the game designs are
interpreted differently. That facet is one of the parts of theatre quite tedious, but there’s just as much work and study
that interests Tidwell the most. required on the students’ part to win the game.
“Something like ‘The Lion King,’ which has been done quite Tidwell isn’t only interested in preparing his current students;
Set designer David Tidwell Ranked nationally by Black Broadway as one of the top five beautifully on Broadway, is something that influences me he’s also interested in piquing the interest of potential
students. He and members of the university theatre program
design-wise, but at the same time it may not be the statement
learns as much as he teaches. theatre arts programs for African-American students, the North that the director wants viewers to leave with,” said Tidwell. are looking to institute a program called Backstage Pass. High
Carolina A&T Theatre Arts Program is one of the best in the
country, and David Tidwell is proud to contribute to its success. school and community college students will be invited to
A member of the USA 829 Professional Designer Union, view a university technical theatre rehearsal, giving them the
In the four years he has been on campus, Tidwell, an assistant Tidwell says that while delivering audience satisfaction is opportunity to ask questions and provide insight about the
professor, has enjoyed seeing the growth in students and the important, his primary motivation is to provide a good high- university’s program.
comradery throughout the department, but says the real story quality piece for the students to learn their craft as they
lies in the totality of education that’s given and received. operate in their craft. It is, in fact, educational theatre. “It’s a recruitment tool, obviously, but at the same time it gets
the community interested and aware of our program, what we
“Theatre is accepting of everybody, regardless. I’m learning this When it comes to teaching students theatre production, are doing and the quality of work that we do,” says Tidwell.
more and more. This school has such a rich history that I was Tidwell is hard-hitting. He says it’s a tough profession and
unaware of. It’s been an educational experience. I think if more students should get that tough love from him—someone who Self-described as having an “eclectic artistic style,” Tidwell
people had this experience they would understand better. I cares—so they can handle it when it comes from others in the says, he begins every design project on the basis of realism
teach my students and my students teach me,” said Tidwell. professional world. When he scolds students for being late to and expands from there.
36 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 37
folloW your art
Gregory Horton’s colorful journey
By Jordan M. Howse
Gregory J. Horton has attended the “She said the students had told her all Derrick Batten, a junior theater arts
National Black Theater Festival every about me and the position was finally student, said Horton made him feel
year since its inception, so it took him open,” he said. “We scheduled an accepted at a time when he was
by surprise in 2017 when he was chosen interview around Mother’s Day and I experiencing some tension about
as a guest of honor for his outstanding was here the next fall.” his sexuality.
work in costume design.
And he’s been here for 14 years, leading “He brings comfortability to all of us,”
“I never thought that in my lifetime students in costume design and Batten said. “He’s accepting of us and
I’d win an award there,” said Horton, construction, makeup and set design, makes us feel comfortable enough with
interim chairman of North Carolina and working tirelessly for the success of ourselves to keep moving forward even
A&T’s Department of Visual and the program. when it’s hard to.”
Performing Arts. “You never (know
when) people are watching you, so you “It’s not easy work,” he said. “It’s crazy Horton’s understanding has been a huge
have to make sure you’re doing the and it doesn’t end.” asset to the team, said Donna Bradby,
work and doing it right.” who has worked with Horton in the “We used to have makeup either in the
Horton has always known who he was theatre department for several years. fall or spring,” Horton said. “It’s gotten
It was a long road back to North and what he wanted to do. He has so popular that now we offer it both
Carolina for the Durham native. He an intense process of researching, “He’d never say it about himself, but semesters. Students love that it’s a
graduated from Hillside High School, designing and constructing costumes he is a voice for our LGBT students,” working class.”
then North Carolina Central University that will do each character in each Bradby said. “He’s equipped for that
with a degree in clothing and textiles, show justice. in a way that the rest of us aren’t. He’s Mashawna Peterson, a theatre arts
then Michigan State University with his helped us through … the bathroom bill performance major from Baltimore,
master’s in costume design. After some “It’s about the integrity of the work,” and equal rights.” Maryland, has had Horton as an adviser
teaching gigs, he landed at St. Louis Horton said. “Knowing your character, since she transferred to A&T last fall.
University. their motivations and purposes help you About five years ago, Horton began an
know the nuanced things like the kind assignment for students in his acting for “He’s so supportive of us,” she said. “I
“I was very happy at St. Louis,” he said. of cufflinks a character would wear.” non-majors class that requires them to was having a hard time getting used to
“I was tenured, and I was next in line to write a personal monologue. North Carolina and he would check up
become the chair of the department.” He also connects with his students. on me to make sure I was doing well
“These monologues have provided real academically as well as my mental state.
But one summer, Horton ran into Horton said that many of his insight into what our students are going He goes above and beyond and really
students from N.C. A&T at a trade experiences as a gay man in the arts through and dealing with,” he said. “It believes in his students.”
conference. They mentioned how and as a costume designer helped him can be intense sometimes, but it’s often
much they would love to have him as relate to and mentor students with the things they needed to share.” Horton displays his students’ work of
a costume design and construction similar situations. aging makeup, scars and wounds, and
professor. Horton’s stage makeup class has prosthetics on the “makeup wall of
“In the arts, we accept people for who made him popular across campus. It is fame” in the common area of the VPA
Horton didn’t think anything about it for they are,” he said. “It’s about having always a high-enrollment elective. His department.
years and one day he got a phone call the talent to do the work. We’ve had professional experience and the hands-
from the late Frankie Day, then-director students come through who were on work make it a fun and educational “It gives the students a sense of
of the theatre arts program. transitioning and because I am a elective for non-majors as well. accomplishment that they can see their
costume designer and the interim chair, progress and other students can see
I have to work with those privacy and the work they do,” Horton said.
respect issues while still abiding by
university policies.”
38 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 39
folloW your art
Gregory Horton’s colorful journey
By Jordan M. Howse
Gregory J. Horton has attended the “She said the students had told her all Derrick Batten, a junior theater arts
National Black Theater Festival every about me and the position was finally student, said Horton made him feel
year since its inception, so it took him open,” he said. “We scheduled an accepted at a time when he was
by surprise in 2017 when he was chosen interview around Mother’s Day and I experiencing some tension about
as a guest of honor for his outstanding was here the next fall.” his sexuality.
work in costume design.
And he’s been here for 14 years, leading “He brings comfortability to all of us,”
“I never thought that in my lifetime students in costume design and Batten said. “He’s accepting of us and
I’d win an award there,” said Horton, construction, makeup and set design, makes us feel comfortable enough with
interim chairman of North Carolina and working tirelessly for the success of ourselves to keep moving forward even
A&T’s Department of Visual and the program. when it’s hard to.”
Performing Arts. “You never (know
when) people are watching you, so you “It’s not easy work,” he said. “It’s crazy Horton’s understanding has been a huge
have to make sure you’re doing the and it doesn’t end.” asset to the team, said Donna Bradby,
work and doing it right.” who has worked with Horton in the “We used to have makeup either in the
Horton has always known who he was theatre department for several years. fall or spring,” Horton said. “It’s gotten
It was a long road back to North and what he wanted to do. He has so popular that now we offer it both
Carolina for the Durham native. He an intense process of researching, “He’d never say it about himself, but semesters. Students love that it’s a
graduated from Hillside High School, designing and constructing costumes he is a voice for our LGBT students,” working class.”
then North Carolina Central University that will do each character in each Bradby said. “He’s equipped for that
with a degree in clothing and textiles, show justice. in a way that the rest of us aren’t. He’s Mashawna Peterson, a theatre arts
then Michigan State University with his helped us through … the bathroom bill performance major from Baltimore,
master’s in costume design. After some “It’s about the integrity of the work,” and equal rights.” Maryland, has had Horton as an adviser
teaching gigs, he landed at St. Louis Horton said. “Knowing your character, since she transferred to A&T last fall.
University. their motivations and purposes help you About five years ago, Horton began an
know the nuanced things like the kind assignment for students in his acting for “He’s so supportive of us,” she said. “I
“I was very happy at St. Louis,” he said. of cufflinks a character would wear.” non-majors class that requires them to was having a hard time getting used to
“I was tenured, and I was next in line to write a personal monologue. North Carolina and he would check up
become the chair of the department.” He also connects with his students. on me to make sure I was doing well
“These monologues have provided real academically as well as my mental state.
But one summer, Horton ran into Horton said that many of his insight into what our students are going He goes above and beyond and really
students from N.C. A&T at a trade experiences as a gay man in the arts through and dealing with,” he said. “It believes in his students.”
conference. They mentioned how and as a costume designer helped him can be intense sometimes, but it’s often
much they would love to have him as relate to and mentor students with the things they needed to share.” Horton displays his students’ work of
a costume design and construction similar situations. aging makeup, scars and wounds, and
professor. Horton’s stage makeup class has prosthetics on the “makeup wall of
“In the arts, we accept people for who made him popular across campus. It is fame” in the common area of the VPA
Horton didn’t think anything about it for they are,” he said. “It’s about having always a high-enrollment elective. His department.
years and one day he got a phone call the talent to do the work. We’ve had professional experience and the hands-
from the late Frankie Day, then-director students come through who were on work make it a fun and educational “It gives the students a sense of
of the theatre arts program. transitioning and because I am a elective for non-majors as well. accomplishment that they can see their
costume designer and the interim chair, progress and other students can see
I have to work with those privacy and the work they do,” Horton said.
respect issues while still abiding by
university policies.”
38 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 39
N.C. A&T art
professor, Willie
Hooker (right), and
Wiley Elementary
principal, Tavy
Fields ‘03 (second
left), with Wiley
fourth and fifth
graders Dexter
Kouame, Elijah
Jones, Alison
Mendoza, Jessica
Villafane-Nieto,
Le’Ayja Raleigh,
Nahomi Sanchez-
Guadalupe and
Jah-mez Wilson
ConneCTing To The CommuniTy is one
of The main PurPoses of Visual arT.
making The VieWer feel someThing is
imPorTanT To arTisTs.
Involving the community is fulfilling an even
greater importance. North Carolina A&T art
professors Willie Hooker, Jim Barnhill and Amy
Schwartzott use their respective mediums artful
of paint, sculpture and recycled materials in
different ways to connect to the community.
connectionS
ValuaBle eXPosure
In spring 2018, Hooker connected
with Wiley Elementary School three art professors connect their craft, students to community.
principal Tavy Fields ’03, and
the school’s former art teacher
Brittany Jones ’12, to paint two By Jordan M. Howse
murals to educate the students
through art. The students painted
one in the cafeteria that speaks
to nutrition and one in the
breezeway that illustrates STEM
(science, technology, engineering
and mathematics).
continued, page 42
40 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 41
N.C. A&T art
professor, Willie
Hooker (right), and
Wiley Elementary
principal, Tavy
Fields ‘03 (second
left), with Wiley
fourth and fifth
graders Dexter
Kouame, Elijah
Jones, Alison
Mendoza, Jessica
Villafane-Nieto,
Le’Ayja Raleigh,
Nahomi Sanchez-
Guadalupe and
Jah-mez Wilson
ConneCTing To The CommuniTy is one
of The main PurPoses of Visual arT.
making The VieWer feel someThing is
imPorTanT To arTisTs.
Involving the community is fulfilling an even
greater importance. North Carolina A&T art
professors Willie Hooker, Jim Barnhill and Amy
Schwartzott use their respective mediums artful
of paint, sculpture and recycled materials in
different ways to connect to the community.
connectionS
ValuaBle eXPosure
In spring 2018, Hooker connected
with Wiley Elementary School three art professors connect their craft, students to community.
principal Tavy Fields ’03, and
the school’s former art teacher
Brittany Jones ’12, to paint two By Jordan M. Howse
murals to educate the students
through art. The students painted
one in the cafeteria that speaks
to nutrition and one in the
breezeway that illustrates STEM
(science, technology, engineering
and mathematics).
continued, page 42
40 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 41
Hooker, Fields and Jones He is the sculptor who
sat down early in the 2017- created the famed “February
18 school year to map out One” monument in front of
what they could do together the Dudley Building on A&T’s
in the arts. In the spring, campus as well as “Minerva”
Hooker brought some of at University of North
his university students to Carolina at Greensboro and
Wiley to help the elementary “General Nathaniel Greene” in
students complete the murals. downtown Greensboro.
Hooker said, “It speaks Currently, Barnhill is working
volumes to A&T’s reach and with his classes to integrate
reputation to develop these sculpting and engineering. He
relationships with Guilford sculpted a model of Martin
County Schools.” Luther King Jr.’s head using
clay and then cast it in plaster.
Both the university and The model will be scanned
elementary school students by engineers to create the
get valuable experience when template for a larger version
they work together, Jones of the bust.
said.
“A lot of times our students
aren’t exposed to college,”
Jones said. “It’s very beneficial
to my students to see artists
of color doing what they love
and making an honest living
from it. It opens their minds
to something different.”
Fields said that the project
has boosted confidence and
pride among students who
worked on the mural project.
“One of my students said to
me that when he leaves Wiley,
there will always be a piece
of him here,” she said. “Every
time they walk past this
section of the wall they get to
see a little of themselves and
that’s such a strong impact.”
engineered PerfeCTion
The scans will help Barnhill artful
Barnhill’s interaction with and his students create a grid
the community begins in the to build a metal frame for the connectionS
studio but the results can be 10- to 12-foot bust. The final
seen throughout the city and bust will be made of fortified CONTINuEd
country. mortar, using polymer and
concrete.
continued, page 44
42 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 43
Hooker, Fields and Jones He is the sculptor who
sat down early in the 2017- created the famed “February
18 school year to map out One” monument in front of
what they could do together the Dudley Building on A&T’s
in the arts. In the spring, campus as well as “Minerva”
Hooker brought some of at University of North
his university students to Carolina at Greensboro and
Wiley to help the elementary “General Nathaniel Greene” in
students complete the murals. downtown Greensboro.
Hooker said, “It speaks Currently, Barnhill is working
volumes to A&T’s reach and with his classes to integrate
reputation to develop these sculpting and engineering. He
relationships with Guilford sculpted a model of Martin
County Schools.” Luther King Jr.’s head using
clay and then cast it in plaster.
Both the university and The model will be scanned
elementary school students by engineers to create the
get valuable experience when template for a larger version
they work together, Jones of the bust.
said.
“A lot of times our students
aren’t exposed to college,”
Jones said. “It’s very beneficial
to my students to see artists
of color doing what they love
and making an honest living
from it. It opens their minds
to something different.”
Fields said that the project
has boosted confidence and
pride among students who
worked on the mural project.
“One of my students said to
me that when he leaves Wiley,
there will always be a piece
of him here,” she said. “Every
time they walk past this
section of the wall they get to
see a little of themselves and
that’s such a strong impact.”
engineered PerfeCTion
The scans will help Barnhill artful
Barnhill’s interaction with and his students create a grid
the community begins in the to build a metal frame for the connectionS
studio but the results can be 10- to 12-foot bust. The final
seen throughout the city and bust will be made of fortified CONTINuEd
country. mortar, using polymer and
concrete.
continued, page 44
42 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 43
Kyla Hemmans, a junior The idea of using recycled
media design major, said that materials to make art stuck
Barnhill always appreciates with her. Schwartzott’s
student input and their research looks at the
thoughts on visual art. biography of an object and
the use of recycled materials.
“He likes to hear younger Mozambican artists use
opinions from us because he discarded materials as media
knows how much we mean like an old pair of jeans used
to the art world,” she said. as canvas or a broken record
“Visual art is really important to make a mosaic.
to the art world, too, because
it can represent a community “They improvise to keep them
and is really worth more than creating art,” Schwartzott
words.” said. “They’re giving these
objects a new life and that
ConsTanT constant reincarnation is
reinCarnaTion really interesting.”
Schwartzott, art professor
and curator of University
Galleries, has expanded her
artistic reach to the global
community. She has spent
10 summers in Mozambique,
a country in southeastern
Africa, working with artists
who pursue their art
regardless of circumstances.
Mozambique continued to
be war-torn even 43 years
after gaining independence
from Portugal and the
internal conflict between
the Marxist government and
anticommunists.
When Schwartzott first
traveled there, she was
sparked by an effort to
recycle war machines into
something beautiful and When she returns to campus,
dedicated to peace. Schwartzott teaches her
students about the value of
“After the conflicted formally recycling as well as being
ended, weapons literally appreciative of the access to artful
started piling up,” she art supplies.
said. “Bishop Dom Dinis
Sengulane challenged artists “It’s a valuable lesson,” she connectionS
to use the weapons to create said. “If you have the passion,
monuments of peace by you can create with CONTINuEd
collecting and destroying left anything.”
over artillery.”
44 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 45
Kyla Hemmans, a junior The idea of using recycled
media design major, said that materials to make art stuck
Barnhill always appreciates with her. Schwartzott’s
student input and their research looks at the
thoughts on visual art. biography of an object and
the use of recycled materials.
“He likes to hear younger Mozambican artists use
opinions from us because he discarded materials as media
knows how much we mean like an old pair of jeans used
to the art world,” she said. as canvas or a broken record
“Visual art is really important to make a mosaic.
to the art world, too, because
it can represent a community “They improvise to keep them
and is really worth more than creating art,” Schwartzott
words.” said. “They’re giving these
objects a new life and that
ConsTanT constant reincarnation is
reinCarnaTion really interesting.”
Schwartzott, art professor
and curator of University
Galleries, has expanded her
artistic reach to the global
community. She has spent
10 summers in Mozambique,
a country in southeastern
Africa, working with artists
who pursue their art
regardless of circumstances.
Mozambique continued to
be war-torn even 43 years
after gaining independence
from Portugal and the
internal conflict between
the Marxist government and
anticommunists.
When Schwartzott first
traveled there, she was
sparked by an effort to
recycle war machines into
something beautiful and When she returns to campus,
dedicated to peace. Schwartzott teaches her
students about the value of
“After the conflicted formally recycling as well as being
ended, weapons literally appreciative of the access to artful
started piling up,” she art supplies.
said. “Bishop Dom Dinis
Sengulane challenged artists “It’s a valuable lesson,” she connectionS
to use the weapons to create said. “If you have the passion,
monuments of peace by you can create with CONTINuEd
collecting and destroying left anything.”
over artillery.”
44 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 45
“ she saw something in me that made her think I
would be a good stage manager and now I’m one of
Donna Bradby is Aggie born
Full and Aggie bred. She grew up in four african-american men in the business. ”
Greensboro and came to North
’08
— stanley ralpH
Carolina A&T in 1980, for the same
“STeAM” theatre arts program in which she “Dance helped me with math and Monet Marshall ’11 said that once
now works.
Bradby, director of marketing and
publication for the theatre arts acting helped me with physics,” she she graduated, she finally knew why
AheAd department, is a multitalented concepts in my body made more aspects of theater in addition to
said. “I was a smart kid but those
Bradby put so much emphasis on
force. She is an adjunct professor,
sense to me than learning it at a
performance.
choreographer and researcher, as
well as the executive director of desk. I took those math and science
Touring Theatre of North Carolina. concepts and helped children learn “She helped me understand that
donna BradBy ’84 Uses Passion, steaM how they are connected to artistry.” we have to know all sides of this
She’s always been an artist and business to be successful,” Marshall
and exPeriences to cUltivate new
now uses her talents to help others Bradby has an undeniable influence said. “The more information you
artists, leaders in theater. on her students. have, the better off you’ll be in this
develop theirs.
business.”
By Jordan M. Howse “The arts world was very different Stanley Ralph ’08, graduated with
when I was a kid, especially being a theatre performance degree Marshall’s degree is in theater
an African-American woman in but found his passion for stage performance. but she said because
the South,” she said. “It was tough management in Bradby’s classes. of Bradby and A&T’s preparation,
finding your way and I was often the He stage-manages Broadway she was prepared and is now
only African-American girl in drama Tours, including “Motown” and “The the founding artistic director of
club. I make sure our students know Bodyguard.” MOJOAA Performing Arts Company,
what it’s like out there, know their founder and lead consulting artist
stuff and do great work.” “Ironically, I was failing my stage for BaD Arts Consulting as well as a
management class,” he laughed. director at VAE Raleigh, a non-profit
Bradby’s experiences as a child “Ms. Donna had me stage manage visual arts organization.
fueled her passions as an adult. a show, so I could pass the class,
After graduating from A&T, she and putting that classwork into “Ms. Donna taught me that you
worked with kids to understand practice was the exciting part. have to form relationships in your
the effect the arts can have on She saw something in me that community and with other artists,”
core curriculum, a conversation made her think I would be a good Marshall said. “You can’t just think
continued today in the STEM vs. stage manager and now I’m one of about theatre and performance. You
STEAM debate. STEAM is the four African-American men in the have to expand your scope to be a
acronym for science, technology, business.” success.”
engineering, arts and music.
Bradby also makes sure she gives a
In her research, Bradby studied realistic, blunt outlook of the theater
children in her arts programs when world to her African-American
she worked at Touring Theatre in the female students.
80s and led Caldcleugh Multicultural
Arts Center in the late 90s.
46 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 47
“ she saw something in me that made her think I
would be a good stage manager and now I’m one of
Donna Bradby is Aggie born
Full and Aggie bred. She grew up in four african-american men in the business. ”
Greensboro and came to North
’08
— stanley ralpH
Carolina A&T in 1980, for the same
“STeAM” theatre arts program in which she “Dance helped me with math and Monet Marshall ’11 said that once
now works.
Bradby, director of marketing and
publication for the theatre arts acting helped me with physics,” she she graduated, she finally knew why
AheAd department, is a multitalented concepts in my body made more aspects of theater in addition to
said. “I was a smart kid but those
Bradby put so much emphasis on
force. She is an adjunct professor,
sense to me than learning it at a
performance.
choreographer and researcher, as
well as the executive director of desk. I took those math and science
Touring Theatre of North Carolina. concepts and helped children learn “She helped me understand that
donna BradBy ’84 Uses Passion, steaM how they are connected to artistry.” we have to know all sides of this
She’s always been an artist and business to be successful,” Marshall
and exPeriences to cUltivate new
now uses her talents to help others Bradby has an undeniable influence said. “The more information you
artists, leaders in theater. on her students. have, the better off you’ll be in this
develop theirs.
business.”
By Jordan M. Howse “The arts world was very different Stanley Ralph ’08, graduated with
when I was a kid, especially being a theatre performance degree Marshall’s degree is in theater
an African-American woman in but found his passion for stage performance. but she said because
the South,” she said. “It was tough management in Bradby’s classes. of Bradby and A&T’s preparation,
finding your way and I was often the He stage-manages Broadway she was prepared and is now
only African-American girl in drama Tours, including “Motown” and “The the founding artistic director of
club. I make sure our students know Bodyguard.” MOJOAA Performing Arts Company,
what it’s like out there, know their founder and lead consulting artist
stuff and do great work.” “Ironically, I was failing my stage for BaD Arts Consulting as well as a
management class,” he laughed. director at VAE Raleigh, a non-profit
Bradby’s experiences as a child “Ms. Donna had me stage manage visual arts organization.
fueled her passions as an adult. a show, so I could pass the class,
After graduating from A&T, she and putting that classwork into “Ms. Donna taught me that you
worked with kids to understand practice was the exciting part. have to form relationships in your
the effect the arts can have on She saw something in me that community and with other artists,”
core curriculum, a conversation made her think I would be a good Marshall said. “You can’t just think
continued today in the STEM vs. stage manager and now I’m one of about theatre and performance. You
STEAM debate. STEAM is the four African-American men in the have to expand your scope to be a
acronym for science, technology, business.” success.”
engineering, arts and music.
Bradby also makes sure she gives a
In her research, Bradby studied realistic, blunt outlook of the theater
children in her arts programs when world to her African-American
she worked at Touring Theatre in the female students.
80s and led Caldcleugh Multicultural
Arts Center in the late 90s.
46 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 47
Support for N.C. A&T and theater arts students take part in several national and
its students comes from all international programs supported by subscribers.
around the world, but the
Theatre Arts Program gets
angel audiences right here in Clemente McWilliams ’88 has “I was employed at Salem A&T’s theatre arts program
most of its support from
wins national awards and
College in Winston-Salem,
been a season subscriber for
the Triad.
was recognized as the top
but I lived in Greensboro and
nearly 15 years.
have loved theater all my
undergraduate theater
Each year, students in
inveStorS the program participate “I wanted to expose my kids life,” she said. “Our program’s program for African
shows cover many issues
Americans.
to the performing arts and
in several exhibitions and
and topics that are relevant
what better way than to
shows that would be next
The investment the season
and timely. It helps one to
start at A&T,” he said. “(The
to impossible to produce
without the support of
not go unnoticed by theater
utilize the concepts from on
season subscribers. Theatre Arts Program) puts reflect and think of how to subscribers are making does
out top-notch performances
By Jordan M. Howse and at the end of the day, stage in the classroom.” peers or the program’s
season “Our season subscribers are it’s about the support and students.
like family,” said Tina Liggins, impact it has on these “It helps our students grow
subscribers are theatre manager in the students. It gives them emotionally and socially and “It’s uplifting and
the mainstay Department of Visual and confidence and inspires gives them the lifelong tools encouraging to know that no
Performing Arts. “They’re them to do what others to collaborate with others,” matter what show on what
of n.c. a&t’s like mothers, grandfathers, thought they couldn’t.” she said. “We should certainly day, somebody is going to
brothers all here to support continue to support that.” be there,” said Alexander
successful
our students and watch Liggins works hard to Albritton, a senior in the
theatre arts them flourish and grow.” ensure audiences—new and Kea also supports the program. “As students we
old—feel welcome at Paul program by requiring her don’t always acknowledge
program Season subscribers can Robeson Theatre. own students to see at least it, but we definitely know
purchase one to eight one show. how important season
tickets for each show “Art is a feeling, an emotion, subscribers are to us and the
of the season and get a love, especially for our Theater arts students take program. It’s them saying,
advance ticket reservations, season subscribers,” Liggins part in several national and ‘We believe in you.’”
preferred seating and their said. “Some have been international programs
names printed in each of around since I was a kid and supported by subscribers.
the season’s playbills. They we sometimes capture new Students and faculty have
are also honored as special subscribers through them. worked with Guilford
guests at events, receptions There are many people out County Schools and Triad
and the campus version there who love the arts.” Stage to participate in the
of the Tony Awards, August Wilson Monologue
the Robeys. Competition in New York
One of those people is City, study abroad in Britain
“A lot of our subscribers Cathy Kea, professor of to learn some of the classics
want to feed into these special education at A&T. like Shakespeare, as well
students’ lives,” Liggins said. She has been a patron of as travel for workshops
“They aren’t necessarily Paul Robeson Theatre since and intensives.
buying into our season but 1986, before she worked at
into our students. They come the university.
to the black box theater and
see the student-directed
performances. They’re so
supportive of them at every
level, not just the main
stage.”
48 • N.C. a&t MagaziNe NCat.edu • 49
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