WSSU Chancellor Emeritus Cleon F. Thompson
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Chancellor Donald J. Reaves has announced the establishment of the Cleon F. Thompson, Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Nursing. The endowed chair was made possible by a gift of $250,000 from the C. D. Spangler Foundation and a matching grant from the State.
“Our program continues to be a major provider of nurses, particularly in the State of North Carolina,” said Reaves. “An endowed professorship is crucial to our ability to recruit distinguished professors who will promote excellence in teaching, research and service. With the impact of the healthcare field on our area and state’s economic development efforts, the emphasis on quality nursing education becomes even more important.”
The chair is named in honor of Dr. Thompson, who served as Chancellor at WSSU from 1985 until 1995. During Thompson’s tenure, the goals of the university included recruitment of quality faculty and surpassing accreditation standards. The Student Services Center on the campus is named for Thompson. After leaving WSSU, he continued work within the University of North Carolina system and at Shaw University. Thompson is also a director emeritus for the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development.
“Cleon had a tremendous impact during his 10 years at Winston-Salem State,” added Reaves. “The $25 million ‘Centennial Campaign’ was launched under his leadership and that led to expansion of the university’s program and its campus. It was also during this time that the nursing program was revitalized and the university saw an increase in both the student body and the size of the faculty.”
The C. D. Spangler Foundation is named after C. D. Spangler, Jr. A successful Charlotte businessman and advocate for public education at all levels, Spangler served as president of the University of North Carolina from 1986 to 1997. The Foundation supports a challenge-grant program created by UNC to increase the number of distinguished professorships in high-need academic fields.
