In the spirit of compassion, generosity, and belief in second chances, North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is proud to share the profound impact of a new Angel Donor Initiative supporting adult learners through the University’s Adult Professional Studies (APS) Scholarship Fund.
Over the past two weeks, the initiative, sparked by the generosity of NCWU supporters, has helped 13 adult students overcome financial barriers that threatened to derail their education. These timely gifts allowed students to pay current or future balances, register for upcoming courses, and remain on track toward graduation.
Over the past two weeks, the initiative, sparked by the generosity of NCWU supporters, has helped 13 adult students overcome financial barriers that threatened to derail their education. These timely gifts allowed students to pay current or future balances, register for upcoming courses, and remain on track toward graduation.
For many recipients, this support arrived at a critical moment. More than 75% of the students who were assisted had exhausted their federal financial aid eligibility due to life interruptions, prior enrollment attempts, or unforeseen hardships. Others were navigating deeply personal crises, including homelessness, the loss of a parent, recovery from a massive stroke, or job loss tied to a government shutdown.
“These gifts were not just scholarships; they were lifelines,” said Katie Farrell, Dean of Adult and Professional Studies. “They met students where they were and provided exactly what was needed at exactly the right time.”
Turning Deferred Dreams into Degrees
The immediate outcomes of the Angel Donor initiative are powerful and measurable:
- A Healthcare Administration student described the support as “Heaven-sent,” allowing her to complete the final course needed to graduate in May 2026.
- Multiple Educational Studies and Leadership students were able to overcome financial barriers. This funding not only prevented delays but also accelerated degree completion and career trajectories, allowing future educators to enter the classroom sooner, helping address critical workforce gaps in education across the region.
Stability During Life’s Hardest Moments
Some stories speak not only to academic persistence, but to human resilience:
- A Leadership student, also a retired grandmother, unexpectedly assumed custody of three grandchildren and experienced temporary homelessness. She used the funds to secure housing, cover tuition, meet basic needs, and create a modest holiday for her family.
- A Criminal Justice student experiencing homelessness was able to remain enrolled and complete her final credits.
- A police officer finishing a Criminal Justice degree received support during the loss of his father.
- A Leadership student, a recently elected Town Commissioner recovering from a massive stroke, was able to continue his education while focusing on recovery and community service.
While this summary highlights selected stories shared with permission, additional funds continue to be distributed to other deserving students whose privacy is being respectfully protected.
A Season of Hope
The Angel Donor initiative affirms NC Wesleyan’s unwavering commitment to adult learners, students who balance education with work, family, and life’s unexpected challenges. Through strategic, compassionate support, the University is proving that persistence paired with opportunity can change lives.
As the holiday season approaches, these gifts stand as a reminder that generosity can be transformational, not someday, but today.
NC Wesleyan extends its deepest gratitude to the Angel Donors whose belief in students made these life-altering moments possible.
NCWU is Host Institution for American Council on Education Fellows Program
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Starting this month, North Carolina Wesleyan University will welcome Dr. Timothy Channell as part of the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program. ACE offers a prestigious Fellows Program for those aspiring to administrative level positions. Dr. Channell serves as the Assistant Provost of Budget and Academic Operations and Professor of Music Business at Radford University in Virginia and is a class of 2022-23 ACE Fellow.
Dr. Channell’s current role at Radford includes overseeing all academic budgets, along with serving as the university liaison to the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia and overseeing the Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement Office. In addition, he is the liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and oversees academic human resources and two regional higher education center sites.
“The administration and I look forward to working with Dr. Tim Channell on his leadership journey. This ACE Fellowship will allow him to bring value back to Radford University, while also enhancing the operations of Wesleyan through a selected project based on his years of higher education experience,” stated President Dr. Evan D. Duff.
During his time at NC Wesleyan, Dr. Channell will work alongside President Duff and other members of the administration intermittently through April 2023. Since 1965, nearly 2,000 vice presidents, deans, department chairs, faculty and other emerging leaders have participated in the ACE Fellows Program. The Program offers Fellows a learning experience that enables them to immerse themselves in the study and practice of leadership, while experiencing the culture, policies and decision-making processes of another institution.
Dr. Channell received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Marshall University, a Master of Business Administration from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration/Curriculum and Instruction from Marshall University.
About North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a small, private Methodist-affiliated institution with a liberal arts-based core curriculum that prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NCWU offers liberal arts, professional and graduate degree programs for traditional, transfer and working-adult students. The skills cultivated by faculty and built into the curriculum include critical thinking and reflection, communication, collaboration, and information technology. North Carolina Wesleyan University delivers education that is personal, practical and purpose-driven. Personal…through mentoring and the connections that are provided. Practical…by helping students develop lifelong skills. Purpose-driven…by helping them fulfill their purpose in life. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, the University has immense cultural diversity. To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.
