WSSU Provost announces new and acting appointments
As Winston-Salem State University launches into the 2024-2025 academic year, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Anthony Graham, announced the following new and acting appointments in the Divisions of Academic and Student Affairs.
Dr. Clarissa Jackson
Dr. Clarissa Jackson is the new the director of Institutional Assessment and Research (IAR) effective June 1, 2024. As director of IAR, Jackson will conduct research that supports the university’s strategic planning process; assist deans, department chairs and faculty with conducting research for accreditation, academic degree program review and assessment processes; and carry out responsibilities related to reporting institutional data tothe UNC system as well as local, state and federal agencies.
The director is also responsible for managing a team that links technical knowledge with business, research and instructional functions of clients, program assessment, assistance with research and assessment methodology, data visualization, and data analytics to provide usable, actionable information.
Before serving in this role, Jackson was executive director of Institutional Research, Effectiveness and Planning at St. Mary’s College of California. In this role, she managed state and federal reporting, reaffirmation efforts, and conducted all administrative and academic assessment needs for strategic planning and QEP. She has served as a grant writer and has obtained funding for MAPs, which has enhanced access to STEM education for underrepresented groups.
Dr. LaVie Leasure
Dr. LaVie Leasure, currently associate dean in the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education, has assumed the role of acting associate provost of Undergraduate Education and dean of the University College effective August 23, 2024. In this role, Leasure will be responsible for the oversight of university-level undergraduate education initiatives that support and enhance the undergraduate experience including the Office of Undergraduate Research, Study Abroad and International Programs, and the Simon Green Atkins Honor Society.
The associate provost also provides direction to university-wide programs that serve undergraduate students and provides oversight to the development and implementation of academic policies and procedures related to undergraduate education.
Additionally, the associate provost works closely with university constituents in areas related to undergraduate admissions and transfer policies, undergraduate curriculum, orientation programming, instructor systems and the implementation of technologies designed specifically to improve the quality of services and information available to staff and students with the specific intent of enhancing student success.
As the dean of the University College, Leasure will oversee academic advising for undergraduate pre-major candidates including new freshmen, new transfer students and readmit students not in their upper division majors. She will also work collaboratively with University College staff, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and other pertinent campus offices to execute and evaluate an academic enhancement model that provides academic support services to students in special populations as identified by university priorities.
Additionally, she will provide oversight of academic student support services such as the institution’s Writing Center, tutorial support and testing services that promote undergraduate academic success.
Leasure has more than 25 years of experience in higher education. She came to WSSU in 2006 and has served as director and inaugural department chairperson for Interdisciplinary Studies. She has also served as the distance learning coordinator in the department of liberal studies, interim dean of students and nontraditional student services, and interim dean of first, second, and transfer year experiences and engagement in the University College.
Dr. Georgette Crawford-Crooks
Dr. Georgette Crawford-Crooks has been appointed director of the Office of the Student Success Collaborative. The director of the Student Success Collaborative oversees the implementation, maintenance and development of EAB Navigate and related student success resources, while regularly communicating its impact on student success to university staff, faculty and administrators with the goal of improving retention, progression, completion and degree efficiency rates of WSSU students.
The director will work with all constituencies to create usable reports and intervention strategies to improve student success. This position reports to the associate provost for Academic Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness.
Before serving in this role, Crawford-Crooks was the assistant dean for Student Intervention, Retention, and Engagement. In this capacity, she utilized data, conducted research and leveraged high-impact practices to improve the overall operations of the areas she supervised to develop mid-range and long-range plans in collaboration with direct reports alongside the associate provost for Undergraduate Education and dean of the University College.
She has provided leadership to ASPIRE, which has improved success outcomes for students in special populations including athletics, band, choir and post-traditional students. Her work with the resilience grant has resulted in professional development for faculty and staff related to the improvement of student mental health in their respective spaces and improving student resilience to drive retention, engagement and graduation.
Monica Elliott
Monica Elliott has been appointed the new director of admissions. A proud alumna, Elliott brings more than 15 years of strategic admissions experience and a profound commitment to the university. She earned her baccalaureate degree from WSSU and a master’s degree in adult education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Throughout her tenure at WSSU, she has demonstrated sound leadership and a steadfast dedication to enhancing the university’s admissions processes and profile for both graduate and undergraduate students.
In her most recent role as the associate director of graduate admissions, Elliott managed the admissions process for graduate and professional students. Partnering with stakeholders from across the enterprise, she worked successfully to meet graduate enrollment goals, which has led to historic enrollments in the university’s graduate programs.
Prior to her role as associate director, Elliott served as the assistant director of graduate admissions and faculty affairs, where she oversaw faculty employment activities, directed recruitment efforts, and fostered strong relationships with secondary school partners. Her extensive experience, strategic vision and unwavering dedication to WSSU positions her as an invaluable leader for the Office of Admissions.
Dr. Rachelle “Shelly” Barnes
Dr. Rachelle “Shelly” Barnes will serve as the acting associate dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. Barnes served in this capacity during the 2023-2024 academic year and has returned to serve in this role effective immediately.
Barnes has 20 years of experience in higher education, having worked in both academic affairs and student affairs. She has served as the chairperson of the Department of Psychological Sciences since January 2020.
During her time in this role, the department saw a steady increase in the enrollment of psychology majors and minors. Additionally, she spearheaded revisions to the curriculum that were data-driven and centered the needs of today’s students.
Barnes has served on a variety of university committees including the Strategic Planning Committee, Enrollment Management Steering Committee and Retention Committee. She is also a member of the university’s Threat Assessment Team.
Prior to her arrival at WSSU, she served as an assistant director in the UNC Greensboro Office of Disability Services and was a visiting lecturer in the psychology department at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Dr. Breonte Guy
Dr. Breonte Guy is the new acting chair of the department of psychological sciences. Guy, associate professor of psychological sciences, who joined WSSU in fall 2014, served in this capacity during the 2023-2024 academic year and has returned to serve in this role effective immediately.
A recent recipient of the Willie Burke Master Teacher Award, Guy has proven an effective educator and collaborative scholar with numerous impactful publications supported by several federally funded research grants with other WSSU STEM faculty.
Guy serves as the faculty senator representing psychological sciences and is also a faculty Welfare and Salary Committee member. He has navigated complex leadership roles in education and community service and has consistently been recognized for his efforts. He served as the inaugural chair of WSSU’s LGBTQI Taskforce and is a former president of Winston-Salem’s West End Association.
His research centers on factors promoting STEM identity and career awareness among underserved populations. Guy and his collaborators design, implement and test technology-rich STEM interventions to increase STEM interest and engagement, and buttress motivational structures that support learning. He works with WSSU students whenever possible to provide transformative, immersive research learning experiences.
Dr. Muztaba Fuad
Dr. Muztaba Fuad is the acting chairperson of the department of computer science. A professor of computer science in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Fuad joined WSSU in 2007. His research interests include mobile computing, software engineering and computer science education. His research activities have resulted in several National Science Foundation-funded works and numerous publications in prestigious journals and proceedings.
Under his supervision, graduate and undergraduate students have presented their peer-reviewed publications at research conferences across the nation. He is a senior member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education. He is a commissioner for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. and promotes evidence-based approaches in assessing, evaluating and continuously improving computer science programs.
Fuad is active in student success initiatives and is an active proponent of using evidence-based tools such as EAB Navigate to improve students’ academic life at the university. He is a fellow of the Center for Advancement of STEM Leadership and an inaugural Provost’s Fellow at the university, where he investigated ways to improve STEM recruitment. He is a recipient of the Wachovia Excellence in Teaching Award and Wilveria B. Atkinson Distinguished Research Award at WSSU.
Shagail Reed
Shagail Reed now serves as the office manager in the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Prior to this role, Reed served as the senior administrative assistant. She has been a valuable member of the WSSU community for 14 years. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated a passion for student success, event planning, and stellar customer service skills by assisting faculty, staff, students, alumni, members of the university’s Board of Trustees, and third-party vendors.
Before coming to WSSU, Reed retired in September 2014 from her role as senior accountant of property management with the Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem, where she served for 29 years. Afterward, she transitioned to WSSU as an administrative assistant in the O’Kelly Library before transitioning to the University College as the senior administrative assistant, where she collaborated with other support staff to plan events, coordinated special projects, served as building coordinator, supervised student workers, and facilitated the hiring process for vacant positions. Reed earned her baccalaureate degree in business administration from High Point University.
Dionne Evans
Dionne Evans now serves as the executive assistant in the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Prior to this role, Evans served as the university program associate in University Events, where she managed the department’s budget, oversaw work study students, and assisted in implementing logistics for university sanctioned events as well as contract administration.
Evans also worked previously in University Advancement as an administrative support associate, where she was the assistant to the vice chancellor. Additionally, she worked with the UNC System in state registrations, renewals and reimbursements on behalf of the university.
Prior to working for WSSU, Evans served as an administrative assistant at a consulting engineering firm, where she provided customer service, managed travel, processed W-9s and certificate of insurance requests, and assisted the accounting department. She earned her degree from Brookstone College of Business.
