Newspapers / Winston-Salem State University Student … / Nov. 1, 1996, edition 1 / Page 9
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The News Argus November 1996 Page 9 FEATURES Science Is "A Labor of Love" For Sharma Dr. Deva Sharma and the Eisenhower Scholarship Winners BY DOUGLAS B. CLARK Managing Editor The Study of science as an academic discipline has always been a “labor of love” for a Winston-Salem State University physics professor and his family. Dr. Deva Sharma has been teaching physics at WSSU for 17 years. One reason why he enjoys teaching here is that he has students who have the same drive and desire for science that he had when he was a student. “Dr. Sharma has been very helpful to me with my research projects. I appreciate his efforts and involvement in helping me receive my Department of Transportation (DOT) Fellowship,” said Maisha Kelly, a senior chemistry major. She is also a physics tutor. Sharma began studying science as an undergraduate at Agara University near New Delhi, India. While attending the university, he lived with his older brother. Dr. Keshav D. Sharma, who helped him study demanding subjects such as: physics, biology and mathematics. In his physics classes, Sharma’s professor would always call on him to answer any questions that were asked in class and to conduct all lab experiments during classes. Ironically, the professor who demanded and expected a high level of academic excellence from Sharma was his older brother. “My brother provided me with the support that I needed,” said Sharma. “I had nothing but love and great respect for my brother, my mentor. I speak to him all of the lime. He wanted me to do my best at all limes, regardless of the subject.” After graduating from Agara University, Sharma earned a five year Teaching Feliov/ship from the University of Nevada. “I felt my calling as a teacher during my undergraduate vacation breaks at Agara,” he said. “1 would do some studeni-ieaching in the local high school at home. 1 really enjoyed iL” Besides enjoying teaching physics, Sharma also enjoys writing proposals. He began writing proposals while he was a graduate student at the University of Nevada at Reno. He has written nine proposals that were approved by several funding agencies with generous cash awards. “Writing proposals is very important when for applying for any federal, corporate and foundation grants because you have to provide detailed, pertinent information for approval,” he said. Dr. Mae L. Rodney, director of the O’Kelly Library, was very excited when Sharma was writing the proposal for ihe Interactive Mullimedia Project that is being funded by the US Department of Education for S131,000. According to Rodney, the projcci will provide students and faculty members additional u-aining and ihe opportunity to learn on a higher level. “Dr. Sharma was very helpful in assisting us in drafting this proposal. He is very talented in that area and he was very generous with his proposal because he could have used the money for his department. Instead, he wanted it lo benefit the entire university, including the library,” said Rodney. Before pursuing a college-level leaching career, Sharma worked for Duke Power in Charlotte as a health physicist for one year. “I really enjoyed the experiences and opportunities that 1 had at Duke Power; but I missed teaching and being around bright, creative students on a daily basis,” he said. With working with students on his mind, Sharma next held a teaching position at Barber Scotia College in Concord, for six years. “1 enjoyed teaching at a small college; but I wanted more opportunities available at larger universities,” explained Sharma. The rest is history. He is here at WSSU and loves being here. “Dr. Sharma has always been helpful to me by makmg suggestions about chemistry and siudeni research,” said Dr. Lillian Garcia, a.ssistant professor of chemistry ai WSSU. “He is also very active in the local high schools by writing a propo.sals that would provide the schcxils with very inexpensive labs to conduct experiments with low- cost envir(X)nmenlal materials.” Sharma is married and has two adult daughters. While in graduate school, he met his wife the “old fashioned way,” which is still still practiced in India today. Their family’s arranged the marriage. Sharma’s wile, Vimla, also works here at WSSU. She has been working in O’Kelly Library since 19X1. They have two daughter, Venita, who IS a pharmacist in Raleigh; and Anita, who is a demist in Knoxville, Mann Elected Forest Park's PTA President BY PRESLYN YOUNG t-'calurc Writer She begins to speak in a warm tone that shows that she welcomes you into her environment. As she talks about her desires and goals, Mrs. Linda Mann, secretary in the Department of English and Foreign Languages at Winston Salem State University, makes certain that she is well understood by detailing every subject. Not oncc did she look at her watch. All of her atteniion was directed to the fact that people are interested in her latest accomplishments. Mann was recently elected president of Forest Park Elementary School’s Parent/Teacher Association (PTA). “I told my husband that this is something that I really wanted to do,” Mann .says. For the past four years she has been involved in the PTA program. It began at Bolton Elementary where her daughter, Chasity, was attending school. Chasity then transferred to Forest Park, and Mann became active in the PTA program there. “1 really wanted to make a difference,” she said. “It .seems as though in the past, the PTA leaders were f(Kused on making us, the members, better parents.” Mann feels that the parents that have the lime, and dedicate it to the PTA, are some of the better parents. The PTA is supposed to be the liaison between the parent and the teachcr. “Parents as a whole need to be more involved in iheir children’s education, “ slates Miinn. Mann’s ultimate goal is to incre;isc the PTA’s membership by 15 percent, the school’s enrollment is 780 students, and only iwo percent of the parents are involved. She also Iccls that more teacher involvement is needed. Although PTA stands for parent teacher association, anyone with an interest can join. Although, WSSU's Mass Communications Department is involved with Forest Park Elementary, but Mann encourages siudenLs of all majors lo volunteer time with the children. “If students could come for 30 minutes, a couple of times a week and read a bK)k, play game, or help with homework, the See Mann, pa^e 12
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