Dr. Valeria Fleming’s 50th Year Celebration
by Brensha Williams
photo by Francine Dunbar
“Believing Before
Seeing the Light at the
End of the Tunnel,"
was the monumental
theme throughout the
day on Friday, April
9th. Fayetteville State
University and the
University of North
Carolina system proudly
recognized Dr. Valeria
Fleming for 50 years of
educational excellence
and service. As one
of the most influential
leaders in higher
education, Dr. Fleming
was the first female
Provost in The University
of North Carolina
System, Additionally,
the biology professor
was one of the first
participants and first
to complete the UNC
Board of Governor’s
Faculty Doctoral Study
Assignment Program.
Dr. Fleming said she felt
“Exhilaratingly Special’
during the celebration.
Hosted by the
Department of Natural
Sciences, this historic
day began with a
professional round
up, which showcased
a panel of 14 former
FSU students, who
are currently working
in professional fields
such as researchers,
physicians, dentists, and
optometrists. Current
students were given the
opportunity to discuss
and ask questions about
the experiences of the
alumni, immediately
following the professional
round-up, a science
colloquium in honor
of Dr. Fleming took
place in Seabrook
Auditorium. “Biology/
Biotechnology: Linking
the Past to the Future of
our Students,” was the
theme of the program.
The panel of experts
included Dr Antonio
Baines, Dr. Goldie
Byrd, Dr. Melvin Echols,
and Dr. Leslie Lerea.
The panel answered
various questions led by
moderator. Dr. Joseph
Johnson. The discussion
consisted of how the
field of biology and
biotechnology research
has evolved and its
influence on students
and the society. “The
technology of the last two
decades has significantly
increased how we see
the worid around us. It
allows us to focus on the
minute aspects of our
complicated worid, and
to realize that what we
know only touches the
surface. Technology has
significantly increas^
the communication
between students and
faculty, regarding a
variety of opportunities
and information-in both
face to face and in
electronic venues,” said
Fleming.
During the science
colloquium, one of
the panel experts. Dr.
Baines, remembered Dr.
Fleming as his teaching
mentor. Baines, giving
honor to Dr. Fleming,
spoke of how she
infiuenced his decision
to go into teaching.
“She was an awesome
mentor,” Baines said.
Dr. Goldie Byrd, giving
praise to Dr. Fleming’s
wori( and service said, “I
want to be just like you
when I grow upl” The
colloquium ended with an
award presentation to Dr.
Fleming from the science
colloquium committee.
Hosted by FSU, and
friends and family of
Dr. Fleming, a dinner
banquet was heki
later that evening to
celebrate the golden
milestone of Dr.
Fleming’s commitment
to education. Fleming
was presented with a
variety of prestigious
awards including the
Cumtieriand County
Proclamation Award,
City of Fayetteville
Proclamation Award,
Rowan County
Proclamation Award,
The Fayetteville State
University Service
Award, The Chancellor’s
Medallion, The Richard
Caswell Award, and the
Order of the
Long Leaf Pine Award,
the highest award a
North Carolinian can
receive.
“The great delight that
I got from the day and
the many expressions
and without knowing
it, the institution has
beconne an extension
of my family. It has
been a pleasure and an
honor to work directly
or indirectly with so
many students and to
look with pride through
“The great delight that
I got from the day and
the many expressions
of love and appreciation
were overwhelming . .
of love and appreciation
were overwhelming,”
Fleming said, “I am
grateful to Chancellor
Anderson and the faculty,
staff, and students for
planning and executing
such a magnificent day.
My fifty years at FSU
have passed swiftly
the years at our FSU
alumni and students.
With pride, I recognize a
great potential that FSU
and the students who
graduate from it now
have.”