Wims Recognizes Faculty and Staff Accomplishments
Alabama A&M University faculty and staff returned to campus for a brief annual mid-year meeting in the Student Health and Wellness Center on Wednesday, January 4, at 8:30 a.m. Presided by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Jones, the 90-minute session featured several informational presentations, primarily from the Cabinet and AAMU President Daniel K. Wims.
Dr. Jeanette Jones, president of AAMU's Faculty Senate, stated that the body will focus on the completion of the faculty handbook and review the organization's mentoring program, along with its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and procedures.
Information Technology Services (ITS), headed by Dr. Kylie Nash, will enter a customer-focused 2023 by honing in on security; making updates to the Internet infrastructure (i.e., broad band, wi-fi, residence halls, etc.); supporting its full-time walk-up help desk; initiating an awareness and security testing program targeting faculty and staff; and rolling out new comprehensive-use identification cards between the summer and fall sessions.
Jamal Ali, vice president for marketing, communication and advancement, stressed his area's push for brand consistency and expanding the licensed use of University images. Fundraising for the Marching Maroon and White Band's participation in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be a key initiative for 2023, Ali said. Additional emphasis will be placed on the University's mammoth "Reimagine Campaign," utilizing a consulting firm to set parameters and acquire data via extensive campus interviews this month. The information also will be instrumental in launching a major media blitz as the University plans to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2025.
AAMU's Business and Finance component will welcome new leadership in mid January with the arrival of Carlton Spellman, who will join the Cabinet as interim vice president for business and finance/CFO. He has served in key senior fiscal affairs positions at several universities over a 30-year span. Acting CFO Gregory Jackson welcomed seven new employees in the comptroller and transportation units.
The three-legged stool attributed to 1890 land-grant institutions like AAMU (i.e., education, research and extension) will be transformed with the addition of a leg for "innovation," according to Dr. Majed El-Dweik, vice president for research and economic development. El-Dweik's new division includes such service units as the AAMU RISE Foundation; the Office of Institutional Planning, Research and Effectiveness; the Office of Government Affairs, Relations and Communications; the Office of Sponsored Programs; and the Office of Research Compliance. The VP said 2023 should bring the division a step closer toward its aim to make AAMU a research two (R2) university and the establishment of centers of excellence.
Dr. Braque Talley, vice president for student affairs, noted an ambitious student enrollment goal for fall 2023, but he charged the audience to join the important retention effort. He welcomed nearly 40 new staff members to his division and AAMU.
General Counsel Rochelle A. Conley explained her area's responsibilities in terms of agreements, contracts and MOUs, and provided information on how to interact with the office. She went on to remind faculty and staff that the AAMU campus is a "gun-free" zone.
Athletic Director Paul Bryant expressed his commitment to achieving "excellence in all areas." He added that Athletics will boost academic monitoring to the extent that the study hall will become a "tutor hall." Bryant said Athletics will take on a "student-centered" approach to its decision making processes and will request from faculty "meaningful feedback" on student athletes.
Provost John Jones emphasized the importance of the First-Year Experience, university-wide retention efforts, and persistance. He welcomed new employees for Academic Affairs (12) and the four colleges: Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences (29 new faculty and staff); Business and Public Affairs (15); Education, Humanities and Behavioral Sciences (25) and Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences (11).
To close out the session, AAMU President Daniel K. Wims acknowledged the contributions of the faculty, staff and supporters of the Bulldog Players and Professors Jill Coon and Shonda Devine leading up to the performance of "The Wiz." Other faculty and staff recognized by President Wims for various accomplishments at the conference included (alphabetically):
AAMU RISE
Dr. Mohan Aggarwal
Dr. Stephen Babalola
Diane Banks
Dr. Nathan Blom
Dr. Satilmis Budak
Dr. Duncan Chembezi
Yvette ClaytonKim Davis
Dr. Tonya Davis
Dr. Matthew Edwards
Dr. Vernessa Edwards
Dr. Karnita Garner
Aleshia Grant
Dwayne Green
Dr. Padjama Guggilla
Dr. Kaveh Heidary
Elvin Jenkins
Dr. Jonathan Lassiter
Dr. Dawn Lemke
Karla Miller
Terri Miller
Dr. Andrea Morris
Dr. Elica Moss
Dr. Kozma Naka
Dr. Bobwealth Omontese
Wesley Ortiz
Dr. Xiaoqing "Cathy" Qian
Dr. Shannon Reeves
Dr. Paul RuffinJerome Saintjones
Dr. Andrew Scott
Dr. Allyson Shabel
Scott Smith
Tanisha Smith
Taurus Smith
Dr. Samantha Strachan
Sandra Stubbs
Dr. Wubishet Tadesse
Dr. Charlotte Teague
Melody Tiemann
Dr. Lloyd Walker
Dr. Lena Walton
Dr. Angela Williams
Brenda Williams
Dr. Zhigang Xiao
Original source can be found here.
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