News Argus, December 2001
I -STUDENT
’eatures
Johnson named vice chancellor of academic affairs
By Nicole Ferguson
Argus Reporter
It's official. Winston-Salem State
University welcomed a new Vice-
Chancellor of Academic Affairs,
Dr. Melvin N. Johnson.
Johnson, a Savannah, Ga.,
native, is a graduate of North
Carolina A&T State University
where he earned a B.S. in
Economics and a title of
Distinguished Military Graduate
in 1968.
From there, Johnson entered the
U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant
and served for 22 years. Johnson
received a M.A. in Economics from
Ball State University, and contin
ued to earn an M.B.A. and D.B.A
in Business Economics at Indiana
University, Bloomington, where he
earned a fellowship. The accom
plished scholar and leader was
also selected to teach at the Air
Force Academy.
Johnson retired from the Air
Force in 1990 and chose to contin
ue teaching, this time at the
University of Colorado. Then came
an offer to become a professor at
his alma mater. North Carolina
A&T State University.
"I figured it (the job) was some
thing I needed to give back," said
Johnson of his decision to return to
A&T. "The challenge brought me
there."
Johnson spent six years at A&T
as the department chair of
Business Administration. He
moved on to become the graduate
school dean and soon after, the
associate vice chancellor for acade
mic affairs.
Harold L. Martin,WSSU's inter
im chancellor at the time, had
recently made a move from A&T
to WSSU, and he had an offer for
Johnson.
"[Then] Dr. Martin challenged
me to join him at WSSU in July of
2000," said Johnson.
From that point on, Johnson
took on the position of interim vice
chancellor of academic affairs.
"Before a permanent appoint
ment is made to the job, you're
asked to stand in an acting posi
tion," explained Johnson. "You're
still a candidate for the permanent
position."
Johnson went through a number
of stages that were included in the
selection process for the perma
nent position of Vice Chancellor of
Academic Affairs.
"First, a search committee com
prised of faculty, students and staff
make a recommendation and the
position is advertised in a national
magazine," said Johnson. "Then
there's an interview session and
the chancellor makes a decision
and a recommendation of a candi
date."
Once the recommendation is
made, Johnson explained, it con
tinued on to the Board of Trustees
and the Board of Governors of the
University System.
Johnson’s Vision
Nil sine magno labore.
"Nothing without great effort,"
Johnson translated the latin term
he lives by. "Anything you per
ceive as a challenge is something
you must make every effort to see
results in."
As Johnson takes on a new role
at WSSU, he explains its impor
tance.
"This role is historic for the
institution. It is the first time there
will be a provost at WSSU."
In the absence of Chancellor
Martin, the day-to-day operations
of the university will fall into
Johnson's hands. As provost, he
will preside over the other vice-
chancellors. As vice chancellor of
academic affairs, Johnson will
oversee enrollment management
operations to include admissions,
recruitment, information technolo
gy, the registrar, Lifelong Learning
and Professional Development,
Graduate Studies, and all deans.
Johnson's visions include struc
turing divisions of planning, poli-
Alt About The Cut
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des/procedures, communications,
incentives for faculty and staff,
and other key components that
shape the university
"It'll be a different type of insti
tution," said Johnson of WSSU.
"We are moving from a primari
ly baccalaureate university to one
of graduate studies."
Johnson plans to see this vision
come into shape by attracting out
standing faculty and staff and
graduates with honors, broadening
research opportunities, and con
ducting critical reviews of pro
grams, leadership and facilities to
name a few.
"In the next five years, $60 mil
lion-plus will be spent in build
ing," said Johnson of the universi
ty's five-year plan. "It'll be spent
on F.L. Atkins addition and reno
vation, a computer-science facility,
a new physical and life sciences
complex, the Anderson Center
addition and renovation, a new
health center."
Johnson added that the new res
idence halls slated for an August
2002 opening were a part of the
plan, but with financing outside of
the state system.
When posed with questioning
of whether or not all these build
ings and renovations would really
come through in the five-year time
period, Johnson responded confi
dently.
"Hold us to our fire."
Just as Johnson would like stu
dent to hold him to his fire, he
envisions and expects students to
hold to their fire.
"You as a student need to
encourage others to think of WSSU
as a serious place to enter to learn
and depart to serve," said Johnson
of students' roles in enhancing
WSSU.
According to Johnson the same
holds true to faculty.
"They need to push you," said
Johnson. "1 don't apologize for
academic rigor. We owe our stu
dents much more."
Outside of Johnson's passion for
education and Winston-Salem
State University, he explains
another aspect of his life.
"Family is what I'm most proud
of," beamed Johnson.
Johnson is married to his child
hood sweetheart. They have three
adult children, all of whom
attended North Carolina A&T
State University, and two grand
children.
One of his twin daughters went
to law school at Indiana
University, and the other works for
Bank of America. His son is a soft
ware engineer.
As Johnson prepares to carry
out his vision at WSSU, he carries
with him a favorite quote spoken
by Eric Hoffner.
"In times of change, the learners
will prosper, whereas the learned
will be dealing with a world that
no longer exists."
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