2015 Homecoming News Letter

In The CORE
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 • FALL 2015
NC A&T STATE UNIVERSITY • THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present, Looking to the Future
As NC A&T reaches its historical 125th year as an institution of higher education, the College of Arts and
Sciences remembers and celebrates its more than 16,000 alumni and more than 3,000 current students. We
are so proud to have you as part of our immediate family, just as NC A&T is proud to have you as part of
its extended family.
In addition to delivering high quality programming in the College of Arts and Sciences, one of our most
important goals is to keep our immediate family connected. Visit with us this homecoming celebration on
Friday, October 24, from 2-4 p.m. in the General Classroom Building. Come meet, greet, eat and celebrate
one another and this great university.
Building relationships with our current students and maintaining relationships with our alumni is vitally
important. If you are not available to visit with us this homecoming, please stay connected by providing us
with your contact information. Please call (336)334-7806 and ensure that you are linked in our network.
We hope to see you soon and wish you a safe and exciting 2015 Homecoming Celebrations!
university!
Dr. Goldie S. Byrd
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Sincerely,
In this issue
• CAS In the News
• Triad Perspectives
• New Alzheimer’s Center
• National Radio Show
• Marching Blue & Gold
• Homecoming Events
• White House Honor
• Student Spotlight
• Development
Contact Us
College of Arts & Sciences
1601 E. Market St.
Greensboro, NC 27411
336.334.7806
http://cas.ncat.edu

College of Arts & Sciences
In the News 2014 - 15
Delfeayo Marsalis, A&T jazz players play magnificently
Along with the rain, a little bit of New Orleans blew into town Thursday night
when jazz trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis joined the N.C. A&T Jazz Ensemble
for its Jazz Jubilee Concert.
*Click the box to view the full article
Pursuing a dream, escaping a nightmare
As he talks about the corruption he saw in his home country, the Democratic
Republic of Congo, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He brings back
memories of 16 years ago: the killing, the fighting, the knowing that he needs
to leave his homeland and his job as a school principal to save his life and his
family.
*Click the box to view the full article
NC A&T Program aids women, minorities in science
According to the most recent National Science Board report, women make
up only 28 percent of those who hold science or engineering jobs in the
United States. Blacks and Latinos make up only 10 percent of the science and
engineering workforce, although they’re about a quarter of the nation’s adult
population.
*Click the box to view the full article
‘No Dwelling Homeless in America’ confronts a tough subject
The show effectively tackles the modern American issue of homelessness
in a manner intended to educate and entertain the audience, as well as to
challenge the audience to find compassion and take action on a personal
level. That is a difficult task, but one that Lucky and his cast of both students
and local performers successfully accomplish.
*Click the box to view the full article

Triad Perspectives, the new television show produced by
North Carolina A&T State University, debuts
Triad Perspectives, the new television show
produced by North Carolina A&T State University,
hosted by veteran news anchor, Sandra Hughes, is
a weekly, half-hour show that will air at 5:30 p.m.
Mondays on TWC channel 69.
The show features the “good news” taking place in
the Greensboro community and on the N.C. A&T
campus.
“This program will engage members of the
campus and Triad communities, while enhancing
our student’s practical learning experience in
a highly professional, organized and consistent
manner,” said Dr. Yahya Kamalipour, chairman
of the department of journalism and mass
communication (JOMC), which produces the
show at its high-definition television studio.
Sandra Hughes, Lecturer JOMC
For more information
North Carolina A&T State University
1601 E. Market St. (Crosby Hall 220)
Greensboro, N.C. 27411
Phone:
336•334•7900
The first show includes guests from the College
of Engineering and the Guilford County Animal
Shelter. Next week’s guests will be Dr. Arwin
Smallwood, chair of the department of history and
Kevin Baker, general manager of Piedmont Triad
International airport.
In addition to TWC channel 69, the show will also
be available on UNC-TV, the university’s closedcircuit
system, the JOMC YouTube channel and
website. The audio portion of the show will air on
the university’s radio station, 90.1 WNAA-FM.
Watch the seasons at their website:
http://blogs.ncat.edu/tvstudio/
Connect with JOMC

*click to watch video
NC A&T Opens the new
Center for Outreach in Alzheimers, Aging & Community Health
North Carolina A&T in Greensboro is the birthplace and home to vital
initiatives in Alzheimer's Research in African Americans and Outreach,
thanks to the passion, leadership, and tireless work of researcher Dr. Goldie
Byrd. Learn about their annual caregivers conference and new state-of-theart
facility COAACH for research, outreach, and caregiver support.

North Carolina A&T State University
along with 90.1 WNAA-FM & The College of Arts & Sciences
Launches 3 New Shows on
HBCU Channel 142 on SiriusXM
The CORE
Hosted By Dr. Sharon Warren Cook
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
It’s a Matter of Your Health
Hosted By Dr. Veita Bland
Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m.
Head to Toe Radio Show
Hosted By Ezinma Murphy
Fridays at 4:00 p.m.
For more information check us out on Facebook
http://cas.ncat.edu/wnaa
http://cas.ncat.edu
www.siriusxm.com/hbcu
Call 336.334.7936

Marching Excellence!
History of the Blue & Gold Marching Machine
1918 The Director of Music, Mr. W. E. Lew, started the N.C. A&T band program as a 50 Piece ensemble. The band
program was offered as an extracurricular activity in the College of Arts and Sciences. During this time N.C.
A&T had the distinction of being the only HBCU in the state of North Carolina with a marching band.
1950s
The director of bands, Mr. Walter F. Carlson, brought in the idea of dancing during a field show performance.
In 1955, the marching band reached 135 members which included 66 freshmen. At the time this was the
largest marching band in the history of the university.
1960s The band introduced the concept of majorettes and later incorporated flag twirlers into the ranks.
1970s
1980s
Saw the A&T Marching Band gain national attention with several major performances including the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
The band underwent a change in leadership. Jimmy Williams and Dr. Johnny B. Hodge became the directors
of the band. It was during this time the marching band was renamed the “Blue & Gold Marching Machine.”
2003 Dr. Hodge retired as Director of Bands and Dr. Kenneth G. Ruff assumed the leadership position. Under the
leadership of Dr. Ruff the marching band program continued to flourish.
2009 The Blue & Gold Marching Machine received their first invitation to appear at the Honda Battle of the Bands
in Atlanta, Georgia. The band was the First Official Winners of the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational
Showcase.
2012 The band led the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
2015 The band achieved first place at the Tom Joyner HBCU Battle for the Crown in Greensville, South Carolina. The
same day the band achieved first place at the Queen City Battle of the Bands in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This powerhouse of music excellence has been an integral part of the College of Arts and Sciences for more
than 95 years. Student, faculty and staff dedication to artistic preeminence is what makes Aggie Pride pulse
because that’s what proud AGGIES DO!

College of Arts and Sciences
HOMECOMING EVENTS
The College of Arts and Sciences
125th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration
Time: 2 – 4 p.m.
Location: Paul Robeson Theatre (near General
Classroom Building)
Join the College of Arts & Sciences in celebration
of 13 fantastic departments and amazing Alumni.
There will be great food, fun, lots of giveaways, and
live entertainment. You do not want to miss it.
Bring your Aggie Pride because that’s what AGGIES
DO!
Aggies Rising
“Our Pride, Our Future!”
Presented by: JOMC
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Marteena Hall 103, Auditorium
Feature JOMC Alumni:
• Shalon Nikea Bell
• Rev. Gregory B. Drumwright
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Sociology and Social Work
History
Featuring: A&T students performing Hip Hop, R&B
and spoken word
Time: 5 – 10 p.m.
Location: War Memorial Stadium, 501 Yanceyville
Street
Aggie Pride!

Faculty Feature
Biology Professor Honored by White House
Dr. Gregory Goins, associate professor of biology at
North Carolina A&T State University, has been named
a White House Champion of Change.
He is one of 11 faculty and staff members from
historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
who will be honored in Washington on Tuesday, Feb.
24, for effectively promoting college completion and
student success at HBCUs.
Goins organized the Integrative Biomathematical
Learning and Empowerment Network for Diversity
(iBLEND) program at N.C. A&T. iBLEND represents a
partnership between faculty mentors from various
science, mathematics, and engineering disciplines
working together to retain undergraduates in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
In addition, iBLEND mentors help students prepare
for future post-graduate opportunities and careers
primarily at the interface between biology and
mathematics. Since 2010, over 100 undergraduates
from North Carolina A&T State University have
completed research internships collaborating with
iBLEND.
the number of biology and computational science
students who gain early biomathematical research
experiences, participate in summer internships in
national laboratories, and later enter competitive
graduate programs,” said Dr. Mary Smith, chair of the
biology department.
“He is a transformational leader in our department.”
In developing the iBLEND program, Goins collaborated
with Dr. Smith, Dr. Vinaya Kelkar, and Dr. Catherine
White, all of the biology department, and three faculty
members from the math department: Dr. Mingxiang
Chen, Dr. Dominic Clemence, and Dr. Thomas Redd.
The Champions of Change program was created as an
opportunity for the White House to feature individuals
doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire
members of their communities.
To learn more about the White House Champions of
Change program, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/
champions. Follow the conversation at #HBCUchamps.
“Dr. Goins has been at the forefront in increasing

Student Feature
SAVAGE SELECTED FOR NABJ PROJECT
Ziris Savage is a senior multimedia journalism major with aspirations
of being a multi-faceted news reporter. In August, she
gets to take the skills she honed at North Carolina A&T State
University to Minneapolis, Minn. to participate on the broadcast
team in the student project for the 40th Annual National
Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention and Career
Fair.
“I’m excited to be with other students who want to do news.
You can’t be the best unless you work with the best and I’ll get
to do that on a wider framework,” Savage said.
NABJ offers an expenses-paid fellowship to outstanding journalism
students to cover its annual convention and career fair
as well as local stories in the convention host city. For one week,
students work with professional journalists and educators to
produce daily television newscasts and newspapers, as well as
create and manage a full convention website and social media
content.
Initially, Savage had no intention of applying for the competitive
project but over winter break, Savage buckled down and
applied.
“I applied for a reporting position but I got a phone call asking if
I’d be willing to change to producing. Of course, I said ‘yes’,” she
said enthusiastically.
Given the competitive nature of the student projects, Savage
admits that she is a bit nervous but realizes that she is in great
company.
“They are amazing,” she said of her fellow students.
Set to graduate in December, Savage, a member of the Honors
Program, is looking to apply for the Fulbright Scholar Program
while trying to secure post-graduation employment in the journalism
field.
“I’m applying for jobs all over the country and I know it’s better
if you widen your search to more than your preferred area,” said
the Memphis-born, Havelock, N.C.-raised Savage.
In the meantime, she will learn all she can from her fellow project
members and the professionals who will serve as their mentors.
Savage is also a member of the student organizations Bombshells
in Business, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Golden
Key Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and the student
chapter of NABJ as well as the Triad Association of Black
Journalists.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AGGIE
Being an Aggie is a special honor. We are a rare breed who shares camaraderie like none other. The name alone
garners recognition and pride globally. That’s because Aggies share a proud and rich history that continuously
feeds and nourishes our Aggie Pride!
To differentiate AGGIE PRIDE from what AGGIES DO, understand that proud Aggies reach back and provide
support to current A&T students journeying down the path of higher education. Proud Aggies also support the
faculty that is leading and instructing those students. That is what proud Aggies do.
Record levels of minority students drop out of college nationwide because of the lack of finances. Other students
who persist and graduate do so with massive amounts of debt. One of the primary goals of the College of Arts
and Sciences is to motivate student persistence, retaining and graduating more students. It is also our strong
desire to graduate students with zero debt.
By investing in faculty development the college helps to enhance the quality of student instruction. By providing
student scholarships the college retains and graduates more students. With student scholarships our aim is to
significantly reduce, possibly even eliminate, student debt.
The College of Arts and Sciences launched a $1M endowment campaign in 2013. The campaign’s purpose is to
support the college’s Student Scholarship and Faculty Development Endowment Fund. This dual endowment will
help foster the success of students and faculty. In order to achieve our goal, we need your help. We need you to
do what proud Aggies DO!
When you make a contribution to the fund, you are not only investing in our students and faculty, you are investing
in the growth of the college and the university. Your contribution will help to strengthen the college and the
university in the following ways…
• Providing scholarships for A&T students, thus enhancing student success and retention and reducing/
eliminating student debt.
• Supporting development opportunities for faculty to become better teachers and student mentors.
• Strengthening the long-term financial infrastructure of the college and the university.
Please join me and Dr. Goldie S. Byrd, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, by doing what Aggies Do! Make
an investment in the college’s Student Scholarship and Faculty Development Endowment Fund. Leave a lasting
legacy by making a commitment to give a one-time gift, annual gift, establishing an endowment, and/or including
the college in your estate planning.
We thank you in advance for doing what proud Aggies Do!
Sincerely,
Ann McCabe Beamon
Director of Development
College of Arts and Sciences