ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University continues to build upon its already robust Admissions Team by welcoming new Admissions Counselor, Ashley Anderson. Ashley began on June 1 and will represent the College in the local territories of Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Franklin and Halifax counties, as well as Wake county private schools, starting in August 2020.
Ashley is from Wilson, North Carolina and an alumna of NC Wesleyan. She graduated magna cum laude in 2018 with degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice. As a student, she gained invaluable experience in the Admissions Office as a Tour Guide and Student Ambassador. Upon graduation, she went to work for Truist (formerly BB&T) as a Retirement & Institutional Services Support Specialist. In this role, she was cross-trained in multiple positions allowing her to obtain various skills in customer service through interacting with a variety of clients daily.
“We are excited to welcome Ashley back to NC Wesleyan! During the interview process, there were many worthy and qualified applicants; however, her experiences and passion for the College add great value to our office, as she will be a significant resource for prospective students,” stated Paige Price Wells, Assistant Director of Admissions-Recruitment. NC Wesleyan looks forward to welcoming students back to campus this fall and having the Class of 2024 join the Bishop Family.
Wesleyan Senior To Nationally Represent Eastern NC Democrats
Catherine Leake, a senior political science major, has been selected to represent North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District as a delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention! This is a great honor, as there are only about 4,000 delegates selected nationwide.
A Message from President Evan D. Duff
Dear Wesleyan Family,
Our country continues to struggle with equality, race relations, treating others with decency, respecting opinions different from our own and showing no regard for human life. We are mourning, grieving, and fighting for justice all at the same time. North Carolina Wesleyan University strives to provide an environment that is tolerant, inclusive and open to educating all students to make positive changes in the world. Let’s move full force with demonstrating our core values of: knowledge, understanding, integrity, accountability, patience, respect, empathy and kindness to create those positive changes.
We all have a voice, we all can take action and we all have the opportunity to make a difference. Let’s do our part at Wesleyan to create an atmosphere that is reflective of the society we should aspire to be.
To our African American friends and family, we are listening to you, we care deeply about you, and you can count on your Wesleyan peers and colleagues to stand with you.
Additional details will be shared soon with students about educational and support programs the College will be implementing for our students, faculty and staff to meet their needs as we navigate through this time together. I pray through these tragedies, states of unrest and pain, we learn to take better care of each other.
Live well. Stay strong. Be wise.
Dr. Evan D. Duff
Interim President
NC Wesleyan Offers RN to BSN Conditional Acceptance Policy
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is working through the COVID-19 pandemic and meeting the needs of May 2020 graduates with an Associate Degree in Nursing who apply for Wesleyan’s new RN to BSN Program. The College recently received approval for a conditional acceptance policy, allowing graduates to be able to enter into the program in the fall without delay.
Due to COVID-19, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has made changes to protect the safety of those taking the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), as well as the staff working in testing centers. Therefore, students may be unable to obtain an NCLEX-RN test date prior to the August 2020 enrollment into Wesleyan’s RN to BSN Program.
NC Wesleyan recently received approval for a conditional acceptance policy for May 2020 RN graduates due to these changes. Graduates from a regionally accredited ADN program will receive conditional acceptance to NC Wesleyan’s RN to BSN Program. The conditional acceptance will only be given to those students who graduated in May 2020 and have applied for the fall 2020 start date. Applicants will be required to submit all other admissions criteria, including their transcripts, documenting the RN degree conferral.
Applicants who receive conditional acceptance will be required to submit RN verification and successfully complete the NCLEX-RN exam prior to starting NUR 330. Students who do not pass the NCLEX-RN exam will not be able to register for NUR 330 and may be required to reapply to the program.
Wesleyan’s 100% online RN to BSN program is designed to help registered nurses achieve the education necessary to broaden their skill set and advance their careers in nursing. This curriculum integrates new and innovative knowledge into daily nursing practices and includes 34 credit hours. In this program, professional baccalaureate nursing practice will focus on population health, nursing leadership and management, informatics, healthcare policy and evidence based research opportunities that will facilitate professional growth. RN to BSN students will be required to complete clinical practice experiences that will allow them to implement new knowledge into their nursing practice. The program features multiple start dates so students can begin when they are ready and finish in as little as 12 months.
NC Wesleyan Planning for Fall Reopening
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University announced on March 23 that the College would not resume face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic and transitioned to online classes. On April 9, the College went into lockdown to protect its faculty, staff and remaining students, which meant that traffic in and out of the main campus would be closed except for essential employees. Now, the College is making plans to reopen for face-to-face instruction this fall.
“Although our spring semester abruptly moved to remote instruction, Wesleyan stood tall against a global pandemic and emerged stronger,” stated President Evan D. Duff. “As we transition our focus to the fall, we will implement what will be known as ‘Wesleyan Wise,’ adding “Together we are strong, together we are wise and together we will rise.”
Wesleyan Wise means that the College will:
- Intend to welcome returning and new students back to campus this fall, while being wise in its decisions, practices and procedures.
- Start the semester on August 19, forgo a fall break, finish the semester just before Thanksgiving holiday and hold Winter Commencement on December 5 at the Rocky Mount Event Center.
- Implement enhanced cleaning practices, utilize smaller class sizes, practice social distance between the students and faculty/staff, offer more hybrid and online options, create effective guidelines for students, and provide available face masks and hand sanitizer for all students, faculty and staff.
New procedures will be implemented within almost every office on campus, dining facilities, and office hours with faculty; however, the level of care and commitment for Wesleyan’s students will never change. More comprehensive details will be shared in the coming weeks about how the College will be Wesleyan Wise this fall.
Wesleyan Adds New Academic Programs
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The faculty at North Carolina Wesleyan University recently passed the following new curriculum programs: a B.S. in Healthcare Administration, a B.S. in Sports Administration and three certificate programs in Human Resources, Executive Leadership and Healthcare Administration. These new programs will add to the exceptional array of academic offerings already at Wesleyan, giving students the ability to choose from over 45 undergraduate degree options, 32 minors and two graduate degree programs.
The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration degree will prepare graduates to work in the business operations side of medical facilities. Students will learn the financial, human resources, legal and ethical aspects, as well as quality control within a healthcare setting. This degree will prepare students for careers in medical and health services management, healthcare administration and medical office management.
The Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration degree will prepare graduates to work at all levels within sports, facilities and recreation management. Students will learn about the administration of sports programs, sport facility and event management, sport communication and coaching theory among other topics. Graduates will be prepared to work as a coach, facilities manager, athletic director, sports coordinator or be prepared for graduate school. “We are excited to offer programs that will lead students to careers in growing industries such as sports and healthcare administration. Exciting features of these new programs will allow students to study and gain valuable experience during their program. The new certificates will help those looking to add specific skills in leadership, business, and healthcare administration,” stated Molly Wyatt, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Students.
Honor Students Receive Awards
NC Wesleyan University recently held the 2020 Honors Convocation Award Ceremony. These Awardees and Honor Society Members have displayed outstanding contributions inside and outside of the classroom. When you see these students, please take a moment to congratulate them.
Recipients of the 2020 NCWC Honors Convocation Awards
| STUDENT SUPPORT | |
| Supplemental Instruction Leader of the Year Award | Catelyn Cink |
| Peer Tutor of the Year | Gordon “Mitch” Layton |
| Internship Award | Kenneth Snyder |
| SCIENCE AND MATH | |
| Biology Award | Gordon “Mitch” Layton |
| Environmental Science Award | Jackson Doyle |
| Exercise Science Award | Alissa Avery & Jessica Diane Wall |
| Mathematics Award | Abigail Susannah Wooten |
| HUMANITIES | |
| Religious Studies | Savannah Jane Flanagan |
| Senior English Award | Mary Elizabeth Reynolds |
| EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | |
| John Paul Jones History Award | Joshua Wayne Strausser |
| History Major Outstanding Student Award | Savannah Jane Flanagan |
| Political Science Award | Courtney Grace Parker |
| SNCAE Award | Jadejah Robinson |
| Susan B. Taylor Excellence in Educational Practice Award | Cali Green |
| Psychology Outstanding Student Award | Jessica Diane Wall |
| Excellence in Sociological Studies Award | Jasmine Harrison |
| BUSINESS | |
| Business Administration Outstanding Student Award | Kevin Michael Berry |
| Marketing Outstanding Student Award | Nicole Halabi Rosillo |
| Organizational Administration Outstanding Student Award | Nicholaus Beaver |
| Computer Information Systems Outstanding Student Award | Kevin De Jesus Abarca-Mendoza |
Wesleyan Welcomes Two New Admission Counselors
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is pleased to welcome two new Counselors to its Admissions Team— Jason Letchworth and Stephanie Stallings.
Jason Letchworth received his Associate of Applied Science in Biotechnology from Pitt Community College in 2012. In 2016, he finished his BS in Business Administration at North Carolina Wesleyan, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Jason is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a North Carolina certified Firefighter and EMT. In his new role, he will be responsible for working with incoming transfer students.
Stephanie Stallings is from Nashville, NC and is a 2018 alumna of North Carolina Wesleyan University. She was a member of the Women’s Soccer Team for four years and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. This April, Stallings also received her Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Wesleyan. In her new role as Admissions Counselor, her recruitment territories include Dare and Currituck Counties, western North Carolina, Virginia and southern states, Tennessee to Texas.
“NC Wesleyan continuously strives to help better serve the needs of students and our community. Adding to our Admissions staff is one of the many ways of showing these efforts. We are pleased to have Stephanie and Jason join our team, as both have the education and experience to thrive in their new role and help propel admissions,” stated Paige Wells, Assistant Director of Admissions-Recruitment. North Carolina Wesleyan University is excited to welcome these two new, but familiar faces to the Bishop family and is enthusiastic about the skillsets and energy that each will bring to the team as they work to recruit future Bishops.
Admissions Counselor- Transfer Students
Admissions Counselor
Wesleyan Holds Virtual Spring Commencement Celebration
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – On Saturday, April 25, North Carolina Wesleyan University held a virtual spring commencement celebration to honor the Class of 2020. The College announced on March 23 that the spring commencement ceremony would be postponed until December 5, 2020. In lieu of a physical ceremony, the College wanted to do something special to honor its 222 seniors who graduated.
The virtual celebration included a welcome message from President Duff, baccalaureate address by Rev. Dr. Barry Drum and photos that the graduates submitted, along with their hometowns and majors. In addition, the graduates were treated to a surprise video from award-winning actress, Sharon Lawrence, who was originally scheduled to speak at the April ceremony. Lawrence has played in roles on NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy and the CBS comedy, “Me, Myself and I.”
In her video, Lawrence addressed the graduates, stating “I’d like to talk to you today about sacrifice — something that we’ve heard of, but I think we all know a little more about now.” She went on to mention all of the sacrifices that are made in order to obtain a college degree, many of which she experienced herself. She specifically addressed the challenges and sacrifices that are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “But I never had to sacrifice my graduation service…the Class of 2020 did something unique.” She left the graduates with the hope that maybe they would all be able to celebrate together at the December ceremony.
This was the College’s 79th graduation, with the first occurring in 1960. There were 10 international graduates from six countries: Argentina, Cambodia, Venezuela, England, Nepal and Italy. This commencement also included the third cohort of Wesleyan’s new Master’s in Criminal Justice program.
NC Wesleyan to Celebrate Graduating Seniors with Virtual Celebration
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University’s spring commencement ceremony was originally scheduled for April 25. With ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College announced on March 23 that the ceremony would be postponed until December 5, 2020. Graduate candidates for April, August, and December will be able to participate in the December 2020 ceremony. In lieu of a ceremony on April 25, Wesleyan has created a virtual celebration which will be published on the College’s website and social media that day.
Award-winning actress, Sharon Lawrence, was originally scheduled to speak at the April ceremony. Wesleyan is excited to announce that she will still be addressing the Class of 2020 at the December commencement ceremony. Lawrence has played in roles on NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy and the CBS comedy, “Me, Myself and I.” A native of North Carolina, she was born in Charlotte and later moved to Raleigh where she graduated from Broughton High School. Lawrence attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is also the daughter of Tom Lawrence, former news reporter for WRAL News in Raleigh.
“As our graduating seniors entered their final semester, the world changed before their eyes. However, in this moment, they became fearless, bold, and emerged stronger as productive and informed citizens. The education they attained at North Carolina Wesleyan University has prepared them for this very moment,” stated Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of North Carolina Wesleyan University.
The virtual celebration on April 25 will include a welcome by President, Dr. Evan D. Duff, baccalaureate address by College Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Barry Drum and recognize each graduate. The virtual celebration can be viewed on April 25 at ncwu.edu, as well as the College’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts.
