Maynor leads 2011 Rams into history.

Winston-Salem State University has captured the 2011 SBN Sports Black College National Football Championship. The Rams posted a 13-1 record on the way to winning their first-ever SBN Jake Gaither National Championship Trophy.

South Carolina State was the preseason favorite to win this season’s championship, while Winston-Salem State was an honorable mention receiving just 17 points. Head Coach Connell Maynor and his team won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) title with a perfect 10-0 regular season followed by a win in the conference championship game and two victories in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. They advanced to the national semi-finals before losing to Wayne State.

In final SBN Poll voting, Winston-Salem State received twenty-six first place votes and 281 points. Bethune- Cookman University was second with three first-place votes and 252 points. The Wildcats also finished second in 2010. Jackson State University finished in third place with 196 points, Norfolk State was fourth with one first-place vote and 181 points and South Carolina State was fifth with 137 points. Grambling State University, Alabama State University, Alabama A&M University, Florida A&M University and Hampton University rounded out the top ten.

Winston-Salem State will be honored during the SBN Black College All-American (BCAA) and Black College Football Hall of Fame Awards Weekend, February 17-18, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia. American Urban Radio Networks and the Black College Football Hall of Fame will also honor the SBN Coach of the Year and the SBN Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. The awards weekend will feature the Third Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. A who’s who list of college and professional football greats are scheduled to attend, including Doug Williams, James “Shack” Harris, Mel Blount, Harry Carson, Rayfield Wright, L.C. Greenwood and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson.

The SBN Sports Network is a division of American Urban Radio Networks, the largest Black-owned radio network company in the country, with offices and bureaus in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit and Pittsburgh.

About American Urban Radio Networks

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is the only African-American owned radio network company in the United States.  It is the largest network reaching Urban America. Through three programming networks and its marketing division, AURN reaches more African Americans than any other medium in America and produces more programming than all other broadcasting companies combined.   AURN broadcasts 200 weekly news, entertainment, sports and information programming to more than 300 radio stations nationwide. It is the only Black broadcaster with a bureau in The White House. AURN has offices and bureaus in New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

Oh, and by the way, did you know…

The tally for awards/honors as of today (Wednesday, December 14, 2011) include:
•  2011 CIAA Southern Division Champion
•  2011 CIAA Champions
•  2011 Super Region One Champions
•  2011 NCAA DII National Semi Finalist
•  2011 Sheridan Broadcasting Black College National Champions
•  2011 Boxtorow.com HBCU National Champions
• 2011 NBTC Black College National Champions
•  1st Team All-CIAA – WSSU’s All-CIAA Football First and Second team selections:
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alton Keaton (5′10, 190, Business Administration, Fayetteville, NC)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR : Dominique Fitzgerald (SR, 5′11, 195, Physical Education, Danville, VA)
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:
Markus Lawrence, Jr (JR, 6′4, 280, Business Administration, Charlotte, NC)
Darrell Billiot (SR, 6′3, 340, Business Administration, Texas City, TX)
QUARTERBACK: Kameron Smith (JR, 6′0, 180, Business Administration, Garner, NC)
RUNNING BACK: Nicholas Cooper (SR, 5′11, 245, Interdisciplinary Studies, Clinton, NC)
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY: Alton Keaton (SR, 5′10, 190, Business Administration, Fayetteville, NC)
PUNT RETURNER: Dominique Fitzgerald (SR, 5′11, 195, Physical Education, Danville, VA)

•  2011 All-CIAA 2nd Team
TIGHT END: Michael Byrd (SR, 6′4, 270, Rehabilitation Studies, Thomasville, NC)
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Daven Gray (SO, 6′3, 310, Art, Kernersville, NC)
PLACE KICKER: Alejandro Suarez (FR, 5′6, 145, Undeclared, Liberty, NC)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Akeem Ward (SR, 6′4, 265, Criminal Justice, Holly Springs, NC)
LINE BACKER:  Carlos Fields (SO, 6′2, 225, Math Education, Henderson, NC)
•  2011 CIAA All-Rookie Team
PLACE KICKER: Alejandro Suarez (FR, 5-6, 145, Undecided, Liberty, NC)
• AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) All-American – Dominique Fitzgerald
•  Boxtorow.com Black College All-America – Nicholas Cooper, Alton Keaton, Dominique Fitzgerald; Honorable Mention: Kameron Smith, Markus Lawrence
•  Connell Maynor – CIAA Coach of the Year
•  Connell Maynor – Boxtorow Coach of the Year (will be announced on Friday, Dec. 16)

Dr. Peggy Valentine

Winston-Salem State University’s (WSSU) efforts to expand international partnerships to provide opportunities for the school and its students are included in a newly published book as the results of a collaboration by Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of the School of Health Sciences, Dr. Jessica Bailey, dean of the School of Business and Economics, and Dr. Joti Sekhon, director of International Programs.

The chapter is included in Developing Strategic International Partnerships: Models for Initiating and Sustaining Innovative Institutional Linkages, a book written by experts and practitioners from various institutions around the world to help colleges and universities expand beyond their campuses.  It features recommendations, models and strategies for initiating, managing and sustaining a range of international partnerships that have become more important as colleges and universities understand that learning, research and institution-building are now taking place in a more global environment.

“Our chapter is a case study of activities Winston-Salem State has undertaken,” said Valentine.  “It addresses the unique perspective of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the challenges that we face in entering the international arena, especially given the limited resources available.  Yet, we understand that our students must be prepared to serve and to compete in a global society. While there are certainly barriers, there are also opportunities for HBCUs to increase involvement in international education through diversity initiatives, particularly those that encourage partnership and collaboration with minority-serving institutions.”

“In addition to opportunities for study abroad, HBCUs need to recognize the importance of internationalization in the curricula of a university and in the lives of students,” Bailey added.  “We must support efforts to increase student interest in international studies and increase exposure to knowledge and cultures from around the world.  Our students must be prepared to work in a global economy and compete on a global level for the best professional opportunities.”

Dr. Jessica Bailey

It is estimated that fewer than 100 WSSU students participated in study abroad programs during the university’s 119-year history.  Many of those students, however, have taken advantage of international opportunities during the past decade when the university expanded its international education effort.  A key factor in that expansion was the establishment of an Office of International Programs in 2000 which has led to a significant increase in WSSU students studying abroad in the past two years.

“The office has focused on international education which includes study abroad and curriculum infusion, as well as faculty and student exchanges,” explained Sekhon.  “For example, we are involved in a comprehensive partnership with the University of Cape Coast in Ghana that exposes our students to the political, economic, social and cultural realities of contemporary Africa.  The faculty-led summer program in Ghana focuses on the historical legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the British and French colonialism in Africa.”

Other WSSU examples in the book include:

• Students in health sciences serving on research teams in Europe and Africa through a partnership with Johns Hopkins University;
• An international fieldwork practices that develops culturally competitive skills for occupational therapy students working in partnership with Santa Paula University in Costa Rica; and
• The development of international courses, including instructors from France teaching business classes to provide cross-cultural interaction among students.

Dr. Joti Sekhon

“Significant challenges still remain, particularly with regard to resources for internationalization in the midst of sharp cuts in the university’s budget,” added Sekhon.  “We continue, however, to focus efforts on providing our students with opportunities to have a more global approach in their education, whether it through study abroad or study on our campus. It also is exciting to work with faculty in the various schools on campus and the College of Arts & Sciences to develop programs in various parts of the world. In fact, the effort to develop a strategic plan for engagement with India is the impetus behind the collaboration between Dean Valentine, Dean Bailey and myself to contribute to this volume.”

Developing Strategic International Partnerships is the sixth book in a global education research report series published through a partnership between the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS).  In addition to information based on U.S. experiences, the book also includes entries from the United Kingdom, France, India and Ethiopia.   The IIE and AIFS have anticipated that the book will gain attention with institutions within and outside of the United States that are seeking to develop international partnerships.

The 12-0 Rams football left it all on the field after a thrilling 35-28 victory over California University of Pennsylvania. The Rams are battered but trying to recover in preparation for their next opponent. Learn more here.

A beautiful Saturday fall day was made even more beautiful to the Ram faithful, who watched as the Rams football team capped a perfect 11-0 season with a 38-18 win over Elizabeth City State University to capture the 2011 CIAA Championship. Learn more here.

Chancellor Donald J. Reaves

The Board of Trustees of Winston-Salem State University initiated a resolution and has unanimously approved naming the new student center on campus the “Donald Julian Reaves Student Activities Center.”

“Chancellor Reaves has provided the vision, leadership and support necessary to take Winston-Salem State to the next level,” said Debra Miller, chair of the board.  “He has created a renewed focus on what is necessary for our students to be successful in the 21st century.  His commitment to changing the curriculum to provide our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy has become the foundation for the student success efforts throughout the campus.”

In the resolution adopted by the board, Reaves also was lauded for his efforts to lead the development of a Strategic Plan to provide direction for the university and offer a framework for setting priorities, particularly with the reduction in state funding.  It also mentioned his efforts to increase enrollment standards and develop a Dual Admissions Program with Forsyth Technical Community College.

“The work that Chancellor Reaves has done at Winston-Salem State will have a positive, long-term effect on the local community, the State of North Carolina and any community where our graduates will work and live,” said Dr. Vivian Burke, a trustee of the university.  “He has made sure that programs are in place to carry out the mission of the university to graduate students who are leaders in their professions and in their communities.”

The university broke ground for the new three-story, 96,000 square foot Student Activities Center in March and it is anticipated that the center will be completed in May 2013.  It will include a campus hall, dining area, fitness area, meeting room, office space for Student Affairs, and space for student-related organizations and activities.

UNC Pembroke Coach Pete Shinnick had to give credit where it was due. Recently he shared his views on what impressed him about the undefeated Rams football team. Learn more here.

The Dual Admissions Program (DAP) at WSSU is showing signs of great promise and the idea is catching on. Learn more here.

The Department of Physical Therapy (PT) at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) recently received the Cultural Pluralism Award at the annual conference of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professionals which included national and international representatives from over 100 member schools.
The award was based on the department’s demonstrated leadership in promoting cultural pluralism through the [...]

The Winston-Salem State University Rams football team has plowed through the competition this season raking up an impressive 8-0 record going into their finale home game of the regular season against the Shaw University Bears at Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 1:30 p.m. The Rams have already clinched the CIAA Southern Division [...]

Donna E. Oldham ‘83, APR has been named head of North American Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for the Clariant Corporation, a global chemical company based in Muttenz, Switzerland. Learn more here.