The school of education search for a new dean is underway. Three candidates, Brian K. Perkins, Wynetta Y. Lee, and Brenda Joyce Stallworth are vying to become the next dean of N.C. Central University's school of education.
The next dean will replace the retiring Cecelia Steppe Jones. The incoming dean will be responsible for management of strategic planning, program development, faculty/staff and student development, research promotion, and fundraising among other tasks.
"We would like to have a dean that can collaborate and communicate effectively with the faculty and students help us move forward," said Dorothy M. Singleton professor and chair of the Curriculum, Instruction & Professional studies department.
Singleton hopes whoever is selected will continue to foster the growth of aspiring educators.
"I would like for the [next] dean to look at the success that we have now and have a vision for our undergraduate and graduate programs."
The candidates have varying backgrounds in the education field and all hold doctorates in education. The trio visited campus last week to talk with administration, faculty, staff, and students.
A look at the candidates
Brian K. Perkins, director of the Urban Education Leadership Program at Teachers College of Columbia University in New York, NY visited campus Monday.
Perkins is an alumnus of Teachers College and is a former President of the New Haven (Connecticut) Board of Education.
Wynetta Y. Lee is currently the dean of education at Grambling State University in Grambling, LA. In addition to her duties as dean, Lee is the superintendent of Grambling State Laboratory Schools, a system of three K-12 schools that have a collaborative partnership with the university.
"My vision for NCCU is to be on the top, to be easily recognizable when it comes down to being educators," said Lee.
Brenda Joyce Stallworth is the associate dean in the college of education at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Her research interests include multicultural teaching and learning. If appointed Stallworth hopes to find ways to combat dwindling budgets to fund student groups.
"We have to look at student involvement for student organizations and look at creative student funding opportunities," said Stallworth.
Moving forward
Steppe-Jones, has been at NCCU for 31 years and held the dean position for the past ten years.
She will maintain the position until the new dean is selected.
During her tenure, Steppe-Jones helped create the Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School and made NCCU the first UNC System institution to be an Apple iTunes U school.
Students want the incoming dean to be dedicated and have the same enthusiasm they do.
"I want to know that they have a good background in education, are passionate about educating students, faculty, and staff, and lead by example and have an open mind so that our program will continue to be successful," said education senior Bianca Brodie.
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