SOCIAL WORK PROFESSOR SHARES HER PASSION WITH STUDENTS ,
Robin L. Reese
Shopping404@hotmail.com
A dedicated and passionate
professor of Social Work, Ms. Brenda
J. Norman is a woman of many
experiences and achievements.
Norman is a resident of Virginia
Beach, Virginia and is an alumna of
Norfolk State University, were she
currently attends graduate school.
Norman hopes to receive a Ph.D
in Social Work in May of 2002.
Norman’s reason for becoming a
social worker was because she loves
people and loves to help them solve
problems. She obviously loves her
field of study and it shows by her
mass involvement within the social
work field. She has been a clinical
Social Worker for over 25 years and
has worked with the Sickle Cell
Agency in Norfolk, Virginia for 15
years. She was a Family Therapist -
Home Base Program for five years,
an Emergency Duty Caseworker at
American Red Cross for 10 years,
and a counselor at Tidewater Com
munity College for two years. She
has been teaching for eight years. At
Norfolk State University, she was an
adjunct professor for three years.
Though Norman has experienced
various career expansions while in
Virginia, she wanted to teach in a
different area and environment. She
wanted a closer knit setting thus she
came to Elizabeth City State Univer
sity Norman’s goal and aspiration is
to educate students in the area of
Social Work.
Norman has been the recipient
of many awards and achievements.
To name a few, she has won third
place prize for the Ronald McNair
Scholarship Program poster contest
(2001) and Lady of Excellence Award
(2000).
Her hobbies include traveling,
meeting new people, praise dancing,
theatrical arts, reading the bible, and
listening to spiritual music.
Senior Amandha Moore best
describes Ms. Norman as “honest and
willing to help you learn.”
Norman is an advisor for the
Social Work Club here at ECSU. She
would like to see more students
involved, more exposure on campus
and more interaction in the commu
nity.
Most of Norman’s students know
that if you sign up to take one of her
classes, you should be willing to work
hard and not just learning for memo
rizing but to learn something and be
able to retrieve it.
Norman also loves for her stu
dents to give her feedback. She
believes students should have the
freedom to participate in class regard
less of subject area. She loves for
students to debate issues and utilize
their critical thinking process. She
also believes that students just do not
learn from the professor but the pro
fessor can learn from the students as
well.
Asked to name three people she
would invite to dinner dead or alive,
she said her mother (who is de
ceased), Bishop C.V. Russell Jr. of Mt.
Carmel Baptist Church and family,
and Donald McClurkin (gospel
singer).
Ms. Norman’s motto is “Place
God first in your life.”
Ms. Brenda Norman
-photo by Inger Parker
MEDIA PROFESSIONAL TEACHES HIS EXPERIENCES
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Mr. Elvin Jenkins
-photo by Inger Parker
Danielle McCain
contributor
A well-accomplished profes
sional, Mr. Elvin Jenkins, General
Manager for Broadcast Services, is a
professor at Elizabeth City State
University. Jenkins works tirelessly to
enhance his students’ knowledge in
his career field. Jenkins believes that
a teacher should have a tremendous
impact on student’s lives. “You mold
minds as a teacher,” Jenkins says.
Jenkins’ foundation in media
began at an early age in his home
town Port Gibson, Mississippi. In
junior high school, he was given the
opportunity to meet Patty Crosby, the
woman who played an influential role
in developing his career. “Patty was
interested in Mississippi folklore, and
her company helped many students,”
he says. Mississippi Crossroads, the
name of Crosby’s company, allowed
Jenkins to learn how to interview,
transcribe tapes, and much more.
Jenkins worked with Crosby through
high school, after school and summer
work programs. This experience
allowed him to determine his major
for college. “I always knew I wanted
to work in some form of media, and
this early exposure helped me decide
my major,” he says. Right before
graduation from Jackson State Uni
versity, his connection with Mrs.
Crosby helped him get a job at Alcorn
State University, where her husband
was the Chair of Communications
Department. He was hired as a staff
announcer. He was also one the
persons who played a major role in
the .station’s earlv rifivfilnnmpnt
Before coming to Elizabeth City,
Jenkins attended the University of
Northern Iowa, where he did gradu
ate study in communications. After
completing his graduate degree he
took a job as a reporter. Here he was
given the honor to meet former presi
dent Bill Clinton, when stumped in
the state prior to serving his first term.
Jenkins’ love for travel helped with
his decision to come to ECSU. “I
always liked traveling and visiting
new places, that is one of the reasons
I came here,” he said.
Jenkins’ extensive background in
media did not stop him from exploring
his other love; teaching. “Where I
grew up, the only professionals you
saw were teachers,” Jenkins said.
“From a young age, 1 always knew I
wanted to teach.” He offers advice to
students looking to go into the field of
media. He says to take advantage of
all activities, internships, and volun
teer work, anything that will get some
expehence in the field. “Here at the
university you can volunteer for the
radio and television stations, work on
the Compass, this all gives you
experience in media.”
In addition to teaching and
meeting new and important peoplSi
Jenkins has also won several awards
for his work. His modest attitude
causes him not to talk about the many
awards that are slightly hidden
around his office. “Anyone who does
satisfactory can win an award,”
Jenkins said when asked what he
considers his greatest accomplish
ments. “But if I must respond, my
greatest achievements would be my
two sons, Joshua and Zachary.”