Secretary Foxx to Speak at Spring Commencement
United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx is slated to deliver the commencement address at North Carolina A&T State University’s spring ceremonies on Saturday, May 14, at the Greensboro Coliseum.
SAMPSON COUNTY COUPLE NAMED
TOP SMALL FARMERS IN THE STATE
The Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University named Sampson County growers Donnie and Alease Williams the 2016 North Carolina Small Farmers of the Year during ceremonies on campus during Small Farms Week. Pictured (L-R): James Hartsfield, Cooperative Extension agent, Sampson County; 2016 Small Farmers of the Year Alease and Donnie Williams, D&A Farms, Autryville; and Eilene Coite, Sampson County Cooperative Extension director. Photo courtesy of Ag Communications/SAES.
E. GWYNN DANCERS TO PRESENT “INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATIONS: THE REVIVAL”
The E. Gwynn Dancers of North Carolina A&T State University will present its spring dance concert, “International Inspirations: The Revival,” featuring dances from Jamaica, South Africa, and West Africa, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in Harrison Auditorium.
QUIET SPACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR
STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES
Two meditation/prayer rooms have been created to support the diverse meditation, prayer and reflection needs of students, faculty and staff.
THEATRE ARTS PROGRAM TO PRESENT CHILDREN’S PLAY, “AMAZING GRACE”
The Theatre Arts Program will present “Amazing Grace,” a play based on a children’s book by Mary Hoffman, April 14–17 and April 21–24, at the Paul Robeson Theatre on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.
The Chronicle 2016 Great Colleges to Work For ®
Did you receive an email from surveys@modernthink.com? If so, your input is welcome and you are encouraged to participate. A high response rate helps to ensure accurate results and demonstrates the commitment of North Carolina A&T State University’s workforce. Let’s tell the world N.C. A&T is a great college to work for!
XSEDE Big Data Workshop
The Division of Research and Economic Development will host an Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) Workshop, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, in the Fort IRC Building, room 410. XSEDE, along with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois, will present a one-day Big Data Workshop. Due to demand, the workshop will be telecast to several satellite sites (including Fort IRC, room 410) but will not be available via a webcast.
The hands-on accounts will be limited to 200 registrants, available across all sites and awarded by order of registration. Register online and select the class on April 5, at N.C. A&T. Contact Tom Maiden at tmaiden@psc.edu or XSEDE campus champion, Dr. Dukka KC at dbkc@ncat.edu for additional information.
NSF HBCU-UP Outreach Day
Join the Division of Research and Economic Development (DORED) on Tuesday, April 5, for the NSF HBCU-UP Outreach Day at North Carolina A&T State University. The National Science Foundation and North Carolina A&T State University will host a day-long workshop to highlight grant opportunities offered under the NSF Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (NSF HBCU-UP).
Take advantage of this special opportunity to speak with NSF representatives here on campus about what proposals are fundable by NSF. No expensive travel costs, no multi-day trips away from the office; instead, 12 NSF representatives will be at A&T to teach you how to better compete for research dollars. This is an event that you will want to attend. Click here to register today.
Lynda.com training
The university’s new on-demand training portal, Lynda.com, offers training in the latest software through high-quality, online instructional videos. A representative from the system will conduct a customized information session on Thursday, April 7, in the Alumni-Foundation Events Center at the following times: 9–10 a.m., information technology services and academic consultants; 10:30–11:30 a.m., human resource managers and administrators; noon–1 p.m., faculty; and 1:30–2:30 p.m., staff. Refreshments and door prizes will be available. Seating is limited, so register online or contact Sara Nevedal at 336-285-4493 or sjneveda@ncat.edu.
Book discussion
Come and join the students and faculty of the English department at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7, in Carver Hall, room 104, for a presentation by associate professor and author, Dr. Jason Miller, on his nationally recognized book, “Origins of the Dream: Hughes’s Poetry and King’s Rhetoric.” The book focuses on the genesis of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” phrase.
Staff Senate nominations
Nominations for the Staff Senate are ongoing through Friday, April 8. To nominate your choice for the Staff Senate, visit www.ncat.edu, visit the Human Resources page, view the left navigation column and click on Staff Senate for details. Elections will be held Monday, April 18, through Monday, May 9. Both nominations and elections will only be conducted online.
Spring open house
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will host its Spring Open House 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in Corbett Sports Center. Onsite registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Registration is also available online for individual students or groups.
The open house is an all-inclusive day that provides prospective and admitted students the opportunity to tour campus, interact with students, administrators, faculty and staff, and learn more about N.C. A&T’s extensive academic offerings and the process of becoming an Aggie. For more information, call 800-443-8964 or 336-334-7946, or email uadmit@ncat.edu.
Spring 2016 Undergraduate Research Symposium
As part of the Office of Undergraduate Research’s observance of Undergraduate Research Week, April 11–15, faculty and staff are invited to the Spring 2016 Undergraduate Research Symposium that will be held 12:30–2:30 p.m., Friday, April 15, at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN). Participants will have the opportunity to tour the JSNN facility. For more information, contact Dr. Tonya R. Hargett at 336-285-3184.
Property Management Workshop
The Property Management Department will host a workshop from 2–4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, in the Academic Classroom Building, room 101. The workshop will cover property management policy and procedures that include surplus property and annual inventory.
The workshop is open to all employees and not just inventory representatives. Complete and submit the registration form that’s located on the Property Management website and fax it to 336-334-7214 by Friday, April 8.
Africana film showing
The Ubuntu Africana Community of the English department will show a film, “February One (2004),” at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, in the General Classroom Building, room A-218. The film continues the department’s initiatives to promote awareness of the historical challenges and galvanizing forces of the Civil Rights Movement. The film is also in honor of the university’s 125th anniversary. Contact Dr. Pauline Uwakweh at 336-285-2343 or pauwakwe@ncat.edu for more information.
2016 North Carolina Science Festival
The College of Engineering (COE) will host the 2016 North Carolina Science Festival, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in the Alumni-Foundation Events Center. This “Maker Faire” will engage middle and high school students in hands-on and project-based activities designed to educate them about the integration of engineering and science. Expo demonstrations will be facilitated by COE faculty researchers and include projects that expose students to 3-D printers, robots, solar energy applications and ground water research. For more information or questions, contact Dr. Marcia F. Williams, Marcia@ncat.edu.
GALA awards
On Wednesday, April 20, the Office of Student Activities and the Division of Student Affairs will host the annual GALA Awards program to recognize student leaders, organizations and campus faculty and staff who have made significant strides to better the university. The event will be held in Harrison Auditorium beginning at 6 p.m.
Restricted data policy
Social Security numbers (SSNs) are classified as restricted data in the university’s Data Classification Policy. Users who have been granted access to SSNs and other restricted personally identifiable information (PII) by data stewards must safeguard the information at all times to prevent the unauthorized transmission and misuse of such information for identity theft purposes. Before transmitting restricted data, think IT. “I” for inspect the document for PII data before transmittal. If there isn’t a business need to include PII data within a document, remove it. And “T” for transmit PII data securely.
PII data must be encrypted and password protected prior to being transmitted. Use the secure file transfer method to transmit a file. Avoid placing PII data within an email because email can be accidently forwarded to others without proper authorization to the data. Deleting an email with PII data doesn’t remove the email from the email archiver, which retains incoming and outgoing email for three and one-half years. Consult with IT Security Services at itsecure@ncat.edu if asked to transmit PII data via email.
Aggie Enrichment Camp
Registration is open for the 2016 Aggie Enrichment Camps. N.C. A&T employees may take advantage of paying for camps with payroll deduction. For camp descriptions and to register, visit the summer camp website, or call Carolyn Strachan or Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email cstrach@ncat.edu or whitep@ncat.edufor more information.
Pictorial history book
Copies of “Mens et Manus: A Pictorial History of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University” are still available at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at N.C. A&T. This limited-edition hardcover book is the collector’s item you will be proud to own! Books may be purchased in-store or online by visiting ncat.bncollege.com. Individuals who are unable to purchase in-store or online may call 336-334-7593 and ask for the mail orders department. Phone orders will be processed using a secure form for credit cards. For check purchases, payment must be received by the store before the product will ship out. The address for the bookstore is Barnes & Noble at NC A&T State University, Attn.: General Merchandise, 1601 E. Market St., Brown Hall, Greensboro, NC 27411.
125 service projects
As a land-grant university, N.C. A&T has a special responsibility to strategically partner with groups and individuals locally, nationally and globally to make a lasting, positive impact on social and environmental challenges that proactively respond to the needs of others. As an extension of the university’s commitment, and as part of the university’s 125th anniversary observance, a challenge has been issued to all students, alumni, faculty and staff to actively participate in a service project in their respective communities. Get approval and register projects online. For information on how to have your service project designated as part of the celebration, visit www.ncat.edu/125/service-projects.html.
Dr. Zerihun Assefa, professor and interim chair of chemistry has published a peer-reviewed article, “An Open-Ended Inquiry Based Synthesis Project in Upper Undergraduate Inorganic Chemistry Teaching Laboratory Course.” The paper was published in The Chemical Educator (2016, Vol. 21, pp. 23-27). The study was conducted in a teaching laboratory set up with funding support from the Innovation Grant provided by the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Towards a Supply Chain Network Competitive Advantage,” a paper co-authored by Dr. Linda Silver Coley, associate professor in the Department of Marketing, Transportation and Supply Chain, and Dr. Stephan Wagner from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich, Switzerland), has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Production Planning and Control.
Dr. Salil S. Desai, associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and director of the Integrated Nano and Bio Manufacturing Laboratory, is one of 17 faculty members from across the University of North Carolina system chosen for the UNC Board of Governors 2016 Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Desai was nominated by an N.C. A&T special committee and selected by the Board of Governor’s Committee on Personnel and Tenure. He has been a faculty member at A&T since 2004.
Desai’s expertise covers the areas of multiscale-multiphysics modeling, direct-write technologies, nanoimprint lithography, and combinatorial additive manufacturing with applications in biomedical implants, semiconductor electronics and energy devices. His work and research has netted more than $5 million from various public and private agencies including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to develop innovative courses and programs in advanced manufacturing.
Each of this year’s winners will receive a commemorative bronze medallion and a $12,500 cash prize. A Board of Governors member will present the award to Desai during the spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14.
Dr. Loury Ollison Floyd, associate professor and associate dean in the School of Education, has been appointed to the Professional Standards and Practice Committee Working Group. The committee is charged with developing a framing document to guide future standards work at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). This work will be completed during a two-year time period. Floyd will work with Dr. Linda Blanton (University of New Orleans) and Dr. Virginia McLaughlin (College of William & Mary).
During spring break, Dr. Cathy Kea, professor of special education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Project CREED scholars traveled to Belize to participate in several opportunities that offered a rich service learning experience. Kea conducted three workshops with general educators on ways to ensure inclusive education for all diverse learners—Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Learners, Accessing the General Curriculum: Instructional Strategies for Students with Learning Disabilities, and Learning Disabilities and Classroom Strategies for general education teachers in the Belmopan and Belize City school districts.
Dr. Margaret I. Kanipes, associate professor of chemistry and director of the STEM Center of Excellence for Activve Learning, has been appointed to the 2017 Biochemistry Examination Committee of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Chemical Education’s Examination Institute. The ACS Exams Institute produces nationally normed exams for most chemistry courses, ranging from high school through the entire undergraduate chemistry curriculum in the United States. In addition, the ACS exams are used across the United States (states and territories) and Canada as a benchmark for content knowledge for students in the first year of their graduate program. The ACS is one of the largest professional societies in the world serving over 150,000 members globally.
Dr. Jerono P. Rotich, professor and interim chair of the Department of Human Performance and Leisure Studies, along with colleague K. Byron, authored a chapter, “Kenyan Women; Milestones and Challenges,” in the book, “Kenya After 50: Reconfiguring Education, Gender, and Policy.” The book is co-edited by Mickie M. Koster, Michael M. Kithinji and Rotich, and is published by Palgrave Macmillan.
APR 1
North Carolina Associations of
Historians Annual Conference
Contacts: Dr. Conchita Ndege and
Arwin Smallwood
APR 1 | 3–3:30 p.m.
Testing, Evaluation and Control of
Heterogeneous Large-Scale Systems
of Autonomous Vehicles (TECHLAV) Seminar
Speaker: Myrielle Allen-Prince (master’s student)
Subject: Control Systems,
Mechanical Engineering
Location: Fort IRC Building, Room 410
Contact: Shahrzad Seyedin,
336-285-3271
APR 1 | 3:30–4 p.m.
Testing, Evaluation and Control of
Heterogeneous Large-Scale Systems
of Autonomous Vehicles (TECHLAV) Seminar
Speaker: Alejandro White (doctoral student)
Subject: Fault Diagnosis
Location: Fort IRC Building, Room 410
Contact: Shahrzad Seyedin,
336-285-3271
APR 1 | 5 p.m.
Deadline to submit nomination forms
for the 2016 Governor’s Awards
for Excellence
Location: Office of Employee Relations/
AAO/Title IX, 1020 East Wendover
Avenue, Suite 101
Contact: Linda Mangum,336-285-3769
APR 1 | 6:45 p.m.
Gibbs Lecture II
Speaker: Dr. Kenneth Campbell
Topic: The Sit-in Student
Movement and Present
Movements and News/Social Media
Contact: Dr. Conchita Ndege
APR 4–25
Registration period for fall 2016
APR 5 | 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
National Science Foundation
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Undergraduate
Program (NSF HBCU-UP)
Outreach Day Workshop
Location: Alumni-Foundation
Event Center
Contact: Division of Research
and Economic Development,
336-334-7995
(by March 28)
APR 5 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
XSEDE Big Data Workshop
Location: Fort IRC Building,
room 410
Information: Tom Maiden or
Dr. Dukka KC
APR 7| 9–10 a.m.
Lynda.com Training for ITS and
Academic Consultants
Location: Alumni-Foundation
Event Center
Contact: Sara Nevedal,
336-285-4493
APR 7 | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Lynda.com Training for HR
Managers and Administrators
Location: Alumni-Foundation
Event Center
Contact: Sara Nevedal,
336-285-4493
APR 7 | Noon–1 p.m.
Lynda.com Training for Faculty
Location: Alumni-Foundation
Event Center
Contact: Sara Nevedal,
336-285-4493
APR 7| 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Lynda.com Training for HR
Managers and Administrators
Location: Alumni-Foundation
Event Center
Contact: Sara Nevedal,
336-285-4493
APR 8 | 5 p.m.
Deadline to nominate individuals for
N.C. A&T Staff Senate positions
APR 9 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Undergraduate Admissions’
Spring Open House
Location: Corbett Sports Center
Contact: Office of Admissions,
336-334-7946, 800-443-8964 or
uadmit@ncat.edu
Individual Student Registration
Group Registration
APR 11–15
Undergraduate Research Week
APR 13 | 10 a.m.–noon
Student Honors Convocation
Location: Harrison Auditorium
APR 15 | 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Spring 2016 Undergraduate
Research Symposium
Location: Joint School of
Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
Contact: Dr. Tonya R. Hargett,
336-285-3184
APR 15 | 5 p.m.
Deadline to submit nominations
for the 2016 University Employee
Recognition and Awards Program
Contact: Linda Mangum,
336-285-3769
APR 18–MAY 9
Staff Senate Elections
(online only)
APR 20 | 6 p.m.
GALA Awards
Location: Harrison Auditorium
APR 23 | 6–11 p.m.
N.C. A&T 125th Anniversary
Scholarship Gala
Location: Grandover Resort and
Conference Center
Contact: N.C. A&T University
Foundation, 336-433-5560
APR 27 | Noon–1 p.m.
Lunch and Learn: Data Management and Public Access Update
Presenter: Nina Exner (associate professor, researcher and grant support services librarian)
Location: Fort IRC Building, Room 410
APR 29
Deadline to submit nominations
for the 2016 Governor’s Award
for Excellence
Contact: Linda Mangum,
336-285-3769
APR 30 | 8 a.m.
Aggie/Phoenix Golf Challenge to
Benefit Special Olympics of
North Carolina
Location: Crooked Tree Golf
Course (Browns Summit)
Contacts: Daniel Hogbin,
828-994-1681, or Joel Thomas,
336-278-5897
APR 30
9 a.m. (registration)
10 a.m. (walk begins)
Join the Center for Academic
Excellence at the Walk to
Defeat ALS
Location: Center City Park
(Greensboro)
Contacts: Latoya Harris,
336-285-4097; Lorraine Cook,
336-285-4241
MAY 14–17
No steam (hot water) available
throughout the campus due
to maintenance
Contact: Ricky Richmond,
336-285-4583
MONDAYS
5:30 p.m.
Triad Perspectives TV Show
TWC Channel 69
Information: Kenneth DeVanney,
336-285-2066
TUESDAYS
5:45–6:45 p.m.
Progressive Toastmasters Meeting
Location: General Classroom
Building, Room A116
Information: Willene Rucker,
336-285-4746
CHANCELLOR
Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Nicole Pride
ASSOCIATE VICE CHANCELLOR
FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
Nanyamka A. Farrelly
EDITOR
Sandra M. Brown
PRODUCTION
Yvonne L. Halley
PHOTOGRAPHY
Charles E. Watkins
iStockphoto.com
STAFF WRITERS
Tonya D. Dixon
Tiffany S. Jones
CONTRIBUTORS
Donna Bradby
Nicole Cassis
Dr. Cathy Cornelius
Sarah Falkener
Dr. Tonya Hargett
Cathy Gant Hill
Dr. Dukka KC
Linda Mangum
Calana Smith
Dr. Pauline
Uwakweh
Dave Weaver