BHM365 Special Interview: Cynthia Salley Nicholson, PhD, Program Coordinator for Norfolk State University (NSU)

10/10/20 • 20 min

Cynthia Salley Nicholson, PhD
Educator/Program Coordinator at NSU
Dr. Cynthia Salley Nicholson has spent over 25 years of her career as an educator in secondary and post-secondary English. Currently, she serves as a program coordinator at Norfolk State University (NSU) in Virginia. She chose to continue her career at an historically black college and university (HBCU), because Dr. Nicholson credits this type of institution for giving her a chance many years ago.
Working in the School of Education at NSU, Dr. Nicholson continues her research with issues of access and equity among teacher education students. She is committed to reimagining ways that teacher education practitioners best prepare students to serve in public schools. Objectively, Dr. Nicholson finds in necessary to address hiring and retention practices that will sustain teachers of color, especially when it comes to promoting acceptance and tolerance for Black female identity. Her most recent research and publications have included works that share stories from the Black female experience in school and higher education.
Prior to joining the NSU family, Dr. Nicholson served as the Dean for the School of Arts and Sciences at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina (2014 – 2020). She was the first Black woman to hold that position in the school’s history. Fostering academic excellence, Dr. Nicholson managed and collaborated activities for the university’s largest school housing eight academic departments. Much of her work included efforts to expand curriculum to meet the needs of underserved students. From adding grammar labs for composition classes to creating African American literature classes for non-majors, Dr. Nicholson worked to diversify curriculum by adding more inclusive course offerings. As an administrator, she was noted for her collaborative leadership style. Student learning and student success were at the core of her passion as a leader.
Dr. Nicholson spent 11 years as a high school English teacher. Holding multiple positions from mentor teacher to district literacy coach, she has obtained secondary English teaching certifications and taught in the states of South Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, and Georgia. She earned a BA degree in English from Newberry College (1992). Her teacher certification was earned at South Carolina State University, an HBCU (1993). Both her MS in Secondary Education (2003) and MA in English (2007) were earned from Old Dominion University. As a doctoral student, Dr. Nicholson was awarded the Underrepresented Graduate Enrichment Match Fellowship to complete her studies at Arizona State University where she earned a PhD in English Education (2011).
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Episodes Edited by: Juels N. Evans, Tech Engineer Editor
Podcast music: Soundstrips.com, Title-Bitz
*This is apart of BH365 Education posted for the public.

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BHM365 Special Interview: Willie E. Jones, President of Virginia Black History Month Association (Part 2)

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William E. Jones
President of Virginia Black History Month Association
Mr. William E. Jones, USMC (retired) was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in Baltimore, Maryland where he enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1981. During his 21-year tenure as a Marine, he fulfilled various assignments to include supporting the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon and participating in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
As a government civilian, Mr. Jones has worked with the U.S. Navy as the Deputy Assistant Program Manager for Systems Engineering as well as with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) as Deputy Program Manager for the Biological Combat Assessment System. He later held the position of Program Manager for DTRA’s Transformational Medical Technologies Program. Today, Mr. Jones is a Senior Management Analyst at Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia. Several years ago, Mr. Jones was selected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Gladys P. Todd Academy, which tutored and mentored young high school students which provided college scholarships that allow them to graduate from community college before graduating from high school. Last year, Mr. Jones was elected as the Vice-Chairman and Board of Directors of the Marine Corps Systems Command’s Diversity Awareness Program. The program manages and oversees the celebrations for the eight Special Emphasis Programs recognized by the Department of Defense.
Mr. Jones’ impressive and extensive educational background includes graduating from the U.S. Army Chemical School and Parachute School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Behavioral Science from the University of Maryland. He is also a graduate of the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, with a Master of Science in Systems Engineering. In 2016, Mr. Jones furthered his graduate studies at the University of Maryland, graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
His decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal 2nd award, the Marine Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the U.S. Army Parachute Wings.
Mr. Jones hobbies include volunteering as a Sabbath School Teacher and Assistant Head Elder at the Fredericksburg Seven-Day Adventist Church where he worships, as well as serving as Founder/President of the Virginia Black History Month Association. He was also appointed to the Spotsylvania County Board of Directors for Minority Affairs Committee, which ensures fair and equal hiring for local county positions. In 2004, he was selected for the Department of Defense “2005 Today’s Military” ad campaign, which published his picture and personal story in magazines like Ebony, Money, The Smithsonian, Sports Illustrated, and many more.
Mr. Jones currently resides in Spotsylvania, Virginia with his wife of 32 years, Wanda, and their five children, Jessica (35) a Clinical Pharmacist, Danielle (33) a Chemist with the EPA, Joshua (29), AV Technician employed with the University of Mary Washington, Matthew (27) a college Junior, and Benjamin (20), a Music Major and recent graduate from the University of Mary Washington.
To pre-purchase a copy of the BH365 curriculum visit at:
www.blackhistory365edcation.com.
Follow Us weekly, every Friday at www.BHM365.com
Email us at [email protected]
Episodes Edited by: Juels N. Evans, Tech Engineer Editor
Podcast music: Soundstrips.com, Title-Bitz
*This is apart of BH365 Ed

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BH365: An Inclusive Account of American History Book is Here!!

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Black History 365 is a U. S. History textbook or eBook documenting the unique stories of Black persons, groups, and cultures in North America, beginning in Ancient Africa continuing to modern events and movements. This interactive history/social science textbook can be used independently or as text and includes interactive instructor resources that will engage all learners. The gateway to connecting history to daily life, this transcendent approach to American history allows students of all ethnicities to engage in meaningful conversations with teachers, peers, and their families...through the lens of Black History.

Full of rarely told history lessons, the BH365 curriculum has exclusive access to more than 3,000 original artifacts that take students and educators on a colorful journey to embracing an inclusive account of American history.
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