WSSU named one of four HBCUs to participate in $1.4M Thurgood Marshall College Fund Gallup Initiative to advance student success
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has been selected to participate in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Gallup Strengths-Based Campus Initiative, a prestigious, two-year investment valued at $1.4 million that will enhance student success, faculty development and campus engagement through evidence-based, strengths-focused practices.
Delivered in partnership with Gallup, the initiative will support WSSU faculty, staff and students in integrating CliftonStrengths®, Gallup’s globally recognized strengths-development framework, across academic, co-curricular and leadership experiences. The initiative is designed to foster a campus culture rooted in engagement, belonging and purpose while equipping students with tools to better understand and apply their natural talents.
WSSU is one of only four HBCUs nationwide selected to participate in this collaborative initiative, positioning the university as a leader in innovative, student-centered education within the HBCU community.
Students who take the CliftonStrengths assessment and participate in strengths-based activities, advising and interventions are more likely to continue college past the first year. The assessment is an online tool by Gallup that helps individuals identify their top five strengths and talents to improve their performance.
Over the next two years, Gallup will provide faculty and staff certification, student leadership development, ongoing coaching, workshops, and engagement measurement tools to ensure long-term sustainability and institutional impact.
Through this partnership, WSSU will integrate strengths-based learning into coursework, mentoring, leadership development and campus engagement, creating measurable and lasting improvements in the student experience. The initiative aligns with the university’s broader mission to advance student success, equity and innovation while preparing graduates to excel in a rapidly changing world.
Chancellor Bonita J. Brown emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative for WSSU students and the broader campus community.
“This investment affirms Winston-Salem State University’s commitment to meeting students where they are and empowering them to thrive,” Brown said. “By embedding strengths-based learning across our campus, we are not only enhancing academic success, but also preparing our students with the confidence, clarity and sense of purpose needed to lead meaningful lives beyond graduation.”
Dr. Harry L. Williams, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, noted that the initiative reflects WSSU’s leadership within the HBCU community and TMCF’s belief that when HBCUs thrive, the nation thrives.
