August 26, 2022
The World Needs Visionaries
Claflin University Unveils Veteran Women Monument Saluting Brigadier General (Retired) Twanda E. Young and the Leal and Loyal Veteran Daughters
From left: Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, Brigadier General (Ret.) Twanda E. Young, State of South Carolina Secretary of Veterans Affairs Will Grimsley, and South Carolina State University President Col. (Ret.) Alexander Conyers after the unveiling of Claflin's Veteran Women Monument. The monument is the only tribute to women military veterans at an HBCU.
Today, Ret. Brigadier General Twanda E.Young was honored for her historic accomplishments and her outstanding leadership and service to her country as an officer and woman in the United States Army at the unveiling of the Veteran Women Monument on the campus of Claflin University.

Young is a 1989 graduate of Claflin University. She was the first woman commissioned from the ROTC cross-enrollment program at South Carolina State’s Bulldog Battalion to earn the rank of Brigadier General. Young's stellar military career led to her being a Class of 2018 inductee into the Claflin University Hall of Fame.

The Veteran Women Monument is the first at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). The monument is a tribute to the Leal and Loyal Claflin alumnae who served in the U.S military. It is erected near the James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel and shares an area with Claflin’s Veterans Monument, which includes the names of military veterans who attended or were employees at Claflin University. The Veterans Monument was dedicated in 2017. 

Young has served in command and staff positions in the continental United States and Hawaii with First Army, Joint Forces Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command, and in Afghanistan with NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (NTM-A/CSTC-A). Among her other key assignments were G1, U.S. Army Reserve Command; Commander, Theater Support Group-Pacific; Army Reserve Warrior Transition Liaison Program Manager; CJ1, Chief Strategic Initiatives (Kabul, Afghanistan); and Executive Training Officer, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Division. 

Young presently serves in the Executive-in-Residence program at Bowie State University. The program encourages exceptional leaders to support students and the mission of the university.

The cross-enrollment program at S.C. State was initiated in 1968 to permit students from other local institutions, without an ROTC program, to receive training at South Carolina State University and remain at the institution of their choice.

During academic year 1972-1973, the Department of the Army initiated, on a trial basis, a five-year program of enrolling women in ROTC. South Carolina State University was one of ten institutions selected nationwide to participate in this program. The first women graduated in 1976.

Click here to view the ceremony and here to view unveiling of the monument. Click here to view pictures of the event.
New Faces and New Places
Please welcome our new members of the Claflin University Family as well as those who have received promotions/title changes:

Dr. Luis Almeida, Interim Chair and Associate Professor of Mass Communications
Dr. Astrid Beckers, Visiting Assistant Professor of English
Ms. Crystal Brailey, Student Success Coach
Mr. Reynolda Brown, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Dr. Marcus Burgess, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Ms. Denise Chung, Associate Administrative Assistant
Ms. Veronica Cohen, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Ms. Brittny Cokley, Multimedia Graphic Designer
Dr. Eric Crawford, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology 
Dr. Arthur Doctor, Dean of Students
Mr. Brion Dunlap, Head Men's Basketball Coach
Dr. Gabrielle Edwards, Assistant Professor of Biology
Mrs. MaLinda Gonzalez, Senior Associate Director of Human Resources
Dr. Monica Green, Assistant Vice President for Honors and College Experience
Mrs. April Gyamfi-Geddis, Associate Director of Financial Aid
Dr. Zia Hasan, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness
Mr. Thurman Hollins, Instructor of Instrumental Music/Director of Bands
Dr. Muhammad Hossain, Director of Instructional Technology
Dr. Candice Idlebird, Chair, Dept of Social Sciences/Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Annette Jackson, Director of Global Programs and Associate Professor of Marketing
Ms. Naysha Jamison Parking Coordinator/Adminisrtative Assistant
Mr.  Terrance Jenkins Head Women's Basketball Coach
Dr. Uruthira Kalapathy, Chair, Department of Chemistry
Dr. Denver Key, Assistant Vice President for Student Development
Dr.  Daniel Koenemann, Assistant Professor of Biology
Mr. William Kropff, Director of Auxiliary Services
Dr. Karina Liles, Chair/Assoc. Prof. of Computer Science
Dr. Johnny  Lowery, Interim Chair and Assistant Professor of Management
Mrs. Teresa Mack, Assistant Vice President for Title III Programs and Special Initiatives
Mrs. Cheryl Mack, Student Success Coach
Dr. Kuhanandha Mahalingam, Director of Application Development
Mr. Matthew Martin, Visiting Instructor of Criminal Justice
Ms. Nadine McMillian, Student Success Coach
Ms. Rosalyn Mitchell, Security Officer
Mr. Kevin Murray, Police Officer
Mr. Scott Nestor, Head Baseball Coach
Mr. Edward Newton, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Ms. Kristine Overman, Visiting Instructor of Music
Mrs. Paula Payton, Assistant Director of Admissions
Dr. Md Mamdudur Rahman, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Mr. Thomas Ralph, Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator
Mrs. Jakan Richardson, Student Success Coach
Ms. Amanda Roberts, Associate Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper
Dr. Pandora Ryant, Assistant Professor of Nursing & MSN Leadership Program Director
Mrs. Samantha Scott, Senior Major Gifts Officer
Dr. Kumkum Singh, Associate Director/Learning Management Systems
Dr. Shannon Smith, Associate Dean of Nursing & Director of TITAN (Nursing Component)
Ms. Anglea Stukes, Security Officer
Ms. Makayla Turner, Student Success Coach
Mr. Brandon Yarbrough, Organic Lab Instructor
In Case You Missed It - Move-in Days, Orientation Week, and Arch of Confidence Ceremony
Click below to see pictures from:

Click below to see video from:
Arch of Confidence Ceremony (inside and outside)
PantherCam - Book Bag and School Supplies Giveaway
Elevation and Transformation: President Warmack learned of the new clear book bag policy in Orangeburg and wanted to assist Claflin University faculty and staff with clear book bags and school supplies for their children. What a wonderful way to show support of the faculty and staff which included a cookout on Saturday, August 13! Click here to see pictures of the event.
Claflin Students Receive Disaster Response and Health Disparities Training Through Center for Disease Control and Prevention Grant
As a senior biochemistry major and biology minor, MiLana Wiltshire spends much of her time in one of Claflin University's labs working with various organisms. This work requires that she be impersonal, detached, and objective. However, after participating in an emergency preparedness program, Wiltshire sees things differently.

"In STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), we think clinically," she said. "But now I know how to be flexible and remember that when you are working during a disaster, you realize you are working with people. They want to be safe, but you have to consider their feelings and emotions, as well."

Wiltshire and 49 other Claflin students underwent training for the South Carolina Public Health Reserve Corps through the SC Public Health Preparedness Student Corps (SCPHPSC). The program prepares medical, behavioral health, and non-medical volunteers to assist communities during disasters, public health emergencies, and health disparities.    

Claflin, Benedict College, Coastal Carolina University, and Francis Marion University are part of a $2.7 million grant that Clemson University received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The grant, in collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), is designed to prepare a diverse group of students prepared to volunteer and assist communities during various emergencies. Although they are training on a college campus, the goal is that this network of students will expand across the state and be ready to assist when necessary.

Each university will train at least 100 students during the two years of the grant. Claflin's Department of Biology received more than $500,000 to implement the program. Dr. Gloria McCutcheon, a professor, and chair of the department is the principal investigator. Ms. Taylor Goodwin is the program coordinator. Other biology department faculty supporting the grant are Dr. Samina Assanie-Shivji, Dr. Tantiana Burns, Dr. Ross Johnson, and Dr. Randall Harris.

Dr. McCutcheon and Ms. Goodwin are encouraging students from various majors to take an active role in the program since it launched in April. At least 20 majors are represented in the SCPHPSC at Claflin. 

"Public health spans the gamut," McCutcheon said. "We are examining natural and man-made disasters. And because there are workforce shortages in this area, we want to do our part to expand resources that communities can utilize when there is a disaster. This program covers a wide range of issues related to public health.”

COVID-19 helped illustrate the gaps and disparities in the nation's health care system. It also emphasized how critical having connections with and inside various communities are when it comes to the nation's health.

"There are so many health equity issues, and this program allows us to work in the communities where our students reside," she said.

The program prepares students to assist with behavioral health self-care, mental health, health equity, emergency management, and emerging infectious diseases. They also learn how to respond to natural disasters and global/transcultural health issues. Claflin students also participated in an active school shooter demonstration. 

"With everything happening around the country, we all need to be more aware and prepared," McCutcheon said. "We helped the students see how school shootings are related to public health. We need to be ready to mobilize against these various threats."

Participants receive a stipend and after they complete the training sessions through modules and evening activities led by experts in the field, they can qualify for certification in contact tracing. The students are also encouraged to sign up for the Medical Reserve Corps through the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

"These are valuable experiences the students can add to their resumes," McCutcheon said. "They will leave the program equipped with knowledge and skills that will allow them to contribute to improving health outcomes in their respective communities. This program will promote Workforce Development.”   

McCutcheon and Goodwin said they received favorable responses from the 50 students who began the first session last spring. The students are part of Claflin's Public Health Student Alliance.

"They use this training as part of their community service requirement," McCutcheon said. “The students want to give back to their communities, and this program provides them an opportunity to do that."

Wiltshire is president of the Claflin’s Public Health Student Alliance. She hails from Jacksonville, Fla. She knows the importance of being prepared for natural disasters.

"No matter where I live, I will be better prepared to help myself, my family, and my community," Wiltshire said. "I can share what I have learned and offer the care and assistance they will need – in any emergency."
Alumni News
Congratulations to Dr. Kershena A. Dickey, '95, the new assistant superintendent of academics and accountability for the Rock Hill (S.C.) School District. The Rock Hill School District serves 24 schools (one pre-school, 14 elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools, and one career/technology center). These schools have a total population of 16,700. During Dickey’s 27-year career in education, she has served in Sumter School District Two, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and the Clover School District. In her most recent role as a principal in the Clover School District. Dickey focused on creating customized learning experiences for teacher leaders and aspiring administrators as a principal in the Clover School District. She spent six years improving the school's instructional leadership and student achievement in both math and reading.
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@Claflin is published by the Office of Communications & Marketing 
President: Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack
Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Dr. Marcus H. Burgess, '96
Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing: George Johnson Jr.
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