newsday-040126

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N.C. A&T Student Earns 2026 Gracie Award for Radio Excellence
By Markita C. Rowe, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences public communications specialist EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 24, 2026) – Chyna Black, a junior mass media production student in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has been named a 2026 Gracie Award Radio student recipient for her WNAA-FM Black History Month segment highlighting the legacy of the A&T Four. “Being recognized as an award recipient for my talents gives me the extra push that I need,” said Black. “It shows me that I’m worthy of the spaces I’ve worked so hard to be in.” Black’s segment explored the historical impact and continued relevance of the A&T Four, whose 1960 sit-in at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro helped ignite a national student-led movement for civil rights. Her reporting connected history to the present-day student experience at North Carolina A&T. She aimed to show listeners that this legacy continues through each generation of Aggie storytellers, passing knowledge and stories forward – just as she did in her segment. Black is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been part of the WNAA-FM radio talk shows since February 2025. WNAA-FM serves the Piedmont Triad area and is housed in JOMC’s Crosby Hall. Black’s work on the station has helped her develop her voice in media and refine her reporting skills. Presented by the Alliance for Women in Media, the Gracie Awards recognize excellence in programming created by, for and about women in media. The organization connects, recognizes, and inspires women across the media industry while expanding professional networks and celebrating achievement. The Gracie Awards honor emerging and established voices across broadcast and digital media. Past recipients include influential journalists, hosts and producers such as Oprah Winfrey, Phylicia Rashad, Michelle Obama and Keke Palmer, whose work has expanded opportunities for women in the industry. Black joins that national network of student and professional honorees recognized for excellence in storytelling. Black credits the mentorship of Ezinma Leak-Murphy, WNAA-FM program director, for guidance and submitting her nomination for the award, and the support of JOMC faculty and staff who helped her gain confidence and strengthen her voice in radio. Black will be recognized this summer at the 51st Annual Gracie Awards Luncheon in New York, where student honorees from across the country will be celebrated. Listeners and supporters can tune into the Aggie Pride Show with Black every Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. on WNAA-FM. For more information about the Gracie Awards, visit https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/.

N.C. A&T Doubles Down on Academic Advising Enhancements as Gateway to Student Success

By Devon Smith, Division of Academic Affairs communications director, dtsmith1@ncat.edu

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 30, 2026) – With a strategic commitment to enhancing academic advising, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has doubled its professional advising staff resulting in a nearly 8% increase in retention rate.

The growth within N.C. A&T’s Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), a critical student success unit on campus, allows for about 6,000 freshmen and sophomores to receive professional guidance from trained advisors for two years, and transfer students for at least their first semester. This shift helped boost retention from 73.1% for the fall 2022 cohort to 81% for the fall 2024 cohort, positioning students for stronger academic outcomes and timely graduation.

“Increasing retention rates affirms investing in professional advising – particularly during students’ first and second years – was not only necessary, but essential to advancing student success, improving time to degree, and ensuring our students remain on a clear path to graduation,” said Dawn Nail, Ed.D., interim associate vice provost for Enrollment Management who most recently served as CAE executive director.

While A&T continues to offer robust academic support resources such as the Writing Center, tutoring labs and math remediation, the most transformative change has been the redesigned advising model.

In 2023, CAE began providing professional advising for all first-time freshmen – previously a service reserved for undecided students, while those with declared majors were advised by faculty.

Ahead of the fall 2024 semester, the center extended its reach to sophomores and hiring more advising staff, signaling that advising is not just a support service but a cornerstone of student achievement.

The expansion from eight to 16 professional advisors means CAE now serves almost half of A&T’s undergraduate students. These students benefit from comprehensive advising that includes:

New student support: Registration, pre-advisement, and orientation information sessions.
Academic planning and guidance: Year-round course planning, major exploration and transition advising.
Student success services: Academic recovery for probation students and referrals to campus resources.
Targeted coaching: Proactive, intrusive advising for designated student populations.

The new model frees more faculty of advising duties, reducing administrative tasks outside of teaching, research and service. It also improves communication and consistency – an upgrade students themselves identified as a priority during feedback sessions.

“The decision to expand professional academic advising was driven by clear institutional evidence and national research showing that early, consistent advising is one of the strongest predictors of student persistence and degree completion,” said Nail.

N.C. A&T Vice Provost Selected for Fulbright U.S. International Education Administrators Award

By Devon Smith, Division of Academic Affairs communications director, dtsmith1@ncat.edu

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 25, 2026) – A catalyst for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s recent partnerships in South Africa, Rosalind Dale, Ed.D., vice provost for Engagement and Outreach, has received the Fulbright U.S. International Education Administrators Award (IEA) for the 2026-27 academic year.

The prestigious IEA, granted by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, recognizes her leadership and commitment to advancing global education and cross-cultural collaboration. As an awardee, she will participate in a multi-country seminar in France and Senegal, designed to strengthen international partnerships and expand opportunities for student and faculty mobility.

“This award spotlights Dr. Dale’s leadership in setting the foundation for stronger global engagement at N.C. A&T,” said Catherine Edmonds, Ed.D, interim provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Her efforts are beginning to develop transformational partnerships that create high-impact opportunities for students and faculty to learn, teach and research aboard, and advancing our institutional priorities.”

Dale provides executive leadership for the Office of International Affairs, leading initiatives that promote the university’s global engagement. In partnership with the Office of Transformation Initiatives and many university colleagues, she played an integral role in major international collaborations, including formal agreements with five South African universities and a community-based organization, and participated in institutional and engagement opportunities in Brazil, Costa Rica and Vietnam.

Additionally, Dale chairs the A&T Global Advisory Group, focusing on fostering international research collaborations, increasing student and faculty mobility, expanding international graduate enrollment, strengthening alumni and corporate engagement and strengthening the university's global brand, directly supports N.C. A&T’s strategic plan, Preeminence 2030: North Carolina A&T Blueprint.

“My goal is to expand who has access to international experiences by building pathways that make global engagement part of everyday academic life, especially for students and faculty who may not traditionally see themselves in those spaces,” said Dale.

Dale, who was named to her current role in 2021, also has administrative responsibility for the Office of Career Services and Extended Campus. Previously, she served as associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and Cooperative Extension administrator.

Fulbright IEA awards fund a two-week seminar for U.S. higher education administrators to learn about participating countries’ higher education systems, exchange information on best practices, explore the potential for partnerships with institutions of higher education in the host country, and raise the profile of the home institution in the host country and the U.S. participant cohort. The seminar helps build institutional capacity for international education, foster a cross-cultural perspective, and open doors to collaboration with colleagues and students throughout the world.

A&T has been recognized as a Fulbright Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Institutional Leader four times. The university was a part of the inaugural cohort announced in 2019, and most recently named a leader in 2024 and 2025.

About North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically Black university, as well one of the top 25 “Most Innovative” universities in America (U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2024). North Carolina A&T is a land-grant, doctoral research university and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System. An exponential university, A&T is recognized widely for its national leadership in graduating African American students in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was established in 1891 as only the second land-grant college created under the second Morrill Act and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Graves Selected as University Registrar at N.C. A&T

By Devon Smith, Division of Academic Affairs communications director, dtsmith1@ncat.edu

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 24, 2026) — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has named Marquita J. Graves, a senior higher education administrator with more than 20 years of experience, as university registrar. She will assume the role April 6.

As registrar, Graves will oversee the integrity of academic records and student information, including final degree audits and the coordination of graduation and commencement activities. She reports to the provost and provides leadership and strategic oversight for a comprehensive portfolio of academic responsibilities supporting undergraduate and graduate students.

“Our academic community will greatly benefit from welcoming a leader who has demonstrated expertise in strengthening registrar operations,” said Catherine Edmonds, Ed.D., interim provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “This role is vital to the success of any academic enterprise, and Ms. Graves brings the vision, capability and dedication needed to advance the university’s mission and support student success.”

Graves most recently served as university registrar at Winston‑Salem State University, where she led the institution’s academic records enterprise and oversaw registration services, course scheduling, degree audit and graduation clearance, transcript services and academic records compliance. Appointed to the role in 2020, she led initiatives to modernize registrar operations, strengthen institutional data integrity, and implement systems that support efficient registration, academic progress monitoring and degree completion. She joined Winston‑Salem State as associate registrar in 2016.

Prior to joining the University of North Carolina System, Graves worked more than 11 years in Averett University’s Office of the Registrar, including service as associate registrar.

“I am honored to join North Carolina A&T State University and become part of a community deeply committed to student success,” said Graves. “I look forward to partnering across the Aggie community to strengthen the systems and services that support student progress and help more Aggies reach graduation.”

Graves earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Averett University and holds an associate degree in business from Danville Community College.

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