The Decree
since 1960 “of, by, andfor the Wesleyan community. ”
October 16, 2019
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
Evan Duff To Serve as Interim President for Two Years
Evan Duff, the college’s Provost,
was named Interim President over the
summer following the resignation of
Dewey Clark, a Wesleyan alum who
served as president during a five-year
period that saw a significant enrollment
increase in the traditional program.
Dr. Duff signed a two-year contract to
serve as the interim successor to Clark,
who was one of 15 employees to leave
the college in June. Among the others
were Edward Naylor, Dean of Students,
and Judy Rollins, Vice President of
Enrollment Management and Marketing.
Dr. Molly Wyatt. Associate Provost,
was appointed to a dual role as Interim
Vice President of Academic Affairs
and Dean of Students. Michael Drew,
a veteran administrator in the adult-
degree program, was named Dean of
Admissions and Adult Studies.
The Decree interviewed President
Duff over email in mid-September.
Q. In interviews some students wondered
whether the college will share details on the
sudden departures of President Clark and
Dean Naylor, as well as other staff. Will the
college ever provide explanations?
A. During the transition, I was as trans
parent as I could be about what was hap
pening. Faculty, staff, students and alumni
received specific details about the transition
and how Wesleyan was moving forward.
I’m unable to share additional details.
Q. What’s the timetable for hiring a new
Dean of Students? Will the college seek replace
ments for other positions that were vacated?
A. For the next 12-24 months, the college
will operate with the current organizational
stracture. I suspect we’ll hire individuals that
have a direct impact on student support. but
they won’t be upper administrative positions. If
we search for a new Dean of Students, I’ 11 make
sure the student body is involved in the process.
Q. It’s our understanding that the college’s
trustees awarded you a two-year contract as
Interim President. Can you give more de
tails— why was it a two-year contract? When
will the college begin a search for a permanent
successor? At this point, do you hope the col
lege will consider you for the position?
A. I’m honored and humbled the Board of
Tnistees appointed me to serve the college in
this capacity. The two-year contract was to give
the new organizational stracture a chance to
implement important changes that will benefit
the students and the community. The adminis
tration hopes that faculty, staff, students and the
community are already starting to see positive
changes. The Board of Trustees will detemiine
when a search will be conducted.
Q. On a more personal level, what attracted
you to the interim position? What factors did
you weigh? What were your reservations ?
A. As the president (interim or not), I have
the opportunity to work with our gifted faculty
and staff to make an impact on the students
Robin Pietryk, Wesleyan's Coordinator
of Disability Services and an instructor
in the School of Business, is among the
new inductees to the college's Athletic
Hall of Fame. In a 15-year coaching
career, Pietryk led the Bishops volleyball
team to seven 20-win seasons and
247 total victories. In 2013, Pietryk, a
three-sport athlete in college, entered
the HOF at her alma mater, Bethany
College (W.Va.). For more sports
coverage, turn to page 3. si Photo
Interim President Evan Duff talks at a recent Rotary Club meeting at Rocky Mount Mills. Ncwc photo
who attend Wesleyan. For almost nine years.
I’ve worked with my colleagues at different
levels as Vice President of Adult Studies,
Provost and now Interim President. The only
factors I considered were my passion for
Wesleyan and my family. I knew I could help
make a difference in this role, but because of
how quickly events evolved this summer, I
wasn’t ready to uproot my family. I have four
kids who are active in their school and busy
with activities local to Clayton. That was my
only real reservation. The Board of Trustees
has been understanding with us becoming
a "dual" community family. When we’re in
Rocky Mount, we’ll live in the president's
house; we’ll also continue to live in Clayton.
Q. How was your summer? What was your
focus prior to the beginning of the fall semester?
A. The summer reminded me of the
title of the movie franchise ‘ The Fast and tire
Furious.” The administration acted quickly to
make sure all aspects of the college were settled
before the fall semester. We also worked hard
to assure the community and our donors
that Wesleyan, more than ever, is committed
to providing an excellent education to our
students. Students will start to see many new
initiatives that will align their education to
Three New Professors
Join Full-Time Faculty
Wesleyan’s newest faculty members—
Melanie Townsend. Macon Hammond
and Danielle Braxton— prorovided the
following capsule biographies.
Dr. Melanie Townsend
JOB TITLE: Visiting Professor, Logistics
and Supply Chain Management.
HOMETOWN: Memphis.
DEGREES EARNED: B.S.,Management
& Organizational Development, Bethel College;
M.S., Operations Management with a certifica
tion in Business Management, University of
Arkansas; and Ph.D. in Human Services,
specialization in Nonprofit Management &
Leadership, Capella University.
PREVIOUS JOB EXPERIENCE: I have
more than eight years of experience in tire logis
tics industry, working with FedEx Freight, DDN
Pharmaceutical Logistics, Dupre Logistics, and
Kenco Memphis Logistics.
PREVIOUSTEACHING EXPERIENCE:
For five years I provided corporate training—
from frontline employees to management stall—at
DDN Pharmaceutical Logistics, Dupre Logis
tics, and Kenco Memphis Logistics.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION: Business,
Logistics, and Operations Management.
COURSES YOU EXPECTTOTEACH AT
WESLEYAN: All management-related courses.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO WES ¬
LEYAN: I enjoyed attending a small liberal arts
college as an undergraduate, and I wanted to
participate in creating the same kind of meaning
ful experience for others.
YOURTEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
Research has shown that passive lectures provide
the lowest knowledge retention rate. For this rea
son, I favor active-learning strategies. My typical
class involves group discussion and activities that
construct knowledge and understanding. I also
like to recreate authentic situations and assign
hands-on activities to further reinforce the lesson
and allow for individual discovery.
YOUR HOBBIES: I love to travel.cook,
and volunteer. I'm active with the Junior
League of Raleigh, founding their Women
the expectations that will be required of them
when they attain their first full-time position
or (for adult-degree students) when they get
that next promotion or new position. We want
every student to have multiple experiences
(job shadowing, unpaid internships, paid
internships. service learning and active learn
ing) to build their resume and equip them to
be productive citizens.
Q. What initiatives will occupy most
of your time this fall?
A. I have three right now:
1. Establishing relationships with individuals
and organizations that want to help Wesleyan
attain its mission and vision.
2. Collaborating with faculty to revise,
improve, and develop curriculum to be
innovative and dynamic to meet the needs
of organizations that hire our graduates. We
want students to be effective communica
tors, to understand and solve complex prob
lems, and to become a life-long learners.
3. Working with all constituents to
develop a vision statement and a set of
values for the college.
Q. Identify three objectives you hope
to accomplish or, at least, initiate in your
two years as Interim President.
of Color Affinity Group and serving as the
Operations Chair for SPREE! (their annual
weekend-long shopping event that hosts over
11,000 attendees at the Raleigh Convention
Center). I also serve as the Chair for the Nash
Health Care Foundation’s Young Ambassador’s
Council, and I’m a board member for S A.F.E.
Rocky Mount (a human trafficking prevention
and service organization).
FAVORITE TV SHOWS: "The Marvelous
Mrs. Maisel,” “Stranger Things,” “Bachelor in
Paradise,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” and
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
MOVIES: Recent—"Crazy Rich Asians”
and “Tag." All-Time—“About Time" and
“Shaun of the Dead.”
FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTISTS: Be
yonce. Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Jill Scott, El
DeBarge, Britney Spears, and Lizzo.
FAVORITE CUISINE: Italian.
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: I’m not into
sports, but I’ll root for the hometown basket-
ball teams: the University of Memphis and the
Memphis Grizzlies.
SOMETHING INTERESTING/SURPRIS-
ING ABOUTYOU: I have a passion for
evening gowns and keep a closet full of them
in nearly every size in my guest room. I loan
them like books for black-tie affairs.
See NEW PROFESSORS pg 4
A. 1. Establisha
Bachelor of Science
in nursing program
for licensed nurses
who have an associ
ate’s degree. With
the success of our
exercise science pro
gram and new health
promotion program,
this RN-to-BSN
degree will enhance
our health science
programs.
2. Through research,
surveys, and
feedback from all
constituents, I hope
that within two years
we will have one
or two additional
graduate programs, giving us a total of
three or four.
3. Build more indoor and outdoor space
to enhance the students' academic and
social experiences.
Q. You ’re living in the president’s
house, part-time. Tell us what you see as
the purpose of the president’s house.
A. It will be used for myself and my
family to host multiple events a year
for the students, faculty, staff. Board of
Trustees, and the community.
Q. Some interviewees have expressed con
cern about the college’s financial situation and
long-term viability. It’s been reported that the
college ran a $2 million deficit last fiscal year.
What’s the current state of the college’s finances?
A. This summer part of the transition involved
developing realistic budgets based on economic
conditions and enrollment trends. We’re working
with a break-even budget, which is the typical
goal of a non-profit organization. But we’re
striving to create a surplus so we can reinvest that
money into the college to enhance infiastructure,
programs, and the welfare of our hard-working
faculty and staff. While we faced challenges in
2018-2019, we have a strong relationship with
our bank, our accrediting agency maintains a
high level of confidence in Wesleyan, and we’re
set to have a break-even budget for 2019-20.
Q. Besides personnel moves, what
specific changes has the college made to
restore financial stability?
A. 1. We’ve established a more realistic
budget based on data analytics.
2. We’re assessing all financial initiatives
and renegotiating contracts with vendors.
3. We have refinanced our debt with First
Carolina Bank.
4. We're creating new relationships with
donors and organizations that want to in
vest in the mission and vision of Wesleyan.
Q. In previous interviews, you indicated
that the ASPIRE program—now Adult and
Professional Studies—has seen a sharp de
cline in enrollment, part of a national trend
in adult education. What can you say about
the current state of APS. which is integral
to the college's bottom line?
A. We're starting to see a plateau in this
decline and there’s a lot of interest in our
MBA program. To date, we have received
almost 100 applications for our first term.
Q. Still on budgetary issues, can you
update us on the following:
• The Entrepreneurial Center/Business
classroom building:
A. We’re still several million dollars away
from our goal. Some money is tied up in a land
trust and we need about $1.5 million more in
donated funds. We’re working on this as well
as funding for other academic buildings.
• The Wesleyan Bed and Breakfast:
A. The Bellemonte House is no longer
a bed and breakfast, but the downstairs will
remain space that can be rented by the com
munity for a number of events (meetings,
receptions, parties, etc.). The upstairs will
become the office space for our Advance
ment Office. The downstairs can also be re
served and used at no cost for meetings and
other events by students, faculty, and staff.
• The Career Services and Internships
Department:
A. This is now led by Dr. Gena Messer-
Knode, who runs the Entrepreneurship and
Business Center. She has excellent connec
tions with small and large organizations and
she’s equipped to assist students with all their
career service and internship needs. Her new
office will be known as the Office of Career
Development and Business Innovation.
Q. Can you detail the way the college
will select speakers for graduation and
other major events?
A. Almost all college speakers will be filtered
through the Executive Leadership Team and
we'll work on ways to include SGA in that deci
sion. The December commencement speaker,
to be announced soon, was reviewed by the
Executive Leadership Team, which includes
representatives from the faculty and staff.
Q. Some science majors worry that the
recent departure of two tenure-track biology
professors, Drs. Erica Kosal and Dan Stovall,
will impede their progress to graduation. Can
you put their minds at ease?
A. We’ll make sure the majors can access
the classes they need to graduate on time,
based on our current rotation of courses. The
School of Mathematics and Sciences is now
accepting resumes for a new biologist.
Q. President Clark brought more of a reli
gious emphasis to the college, whether it was
in the school’s messaging, ceremonies like
Founders Day and commencement, or the cre
ation of the youth ministry program. Describe
the way the college will maintain its focus on
providing a Christian education. What changes
might we see in your administration?
Q. We’ll continue to offer programs and
activities to help students explore or enhance
their faith development. Dr. Wyatt and I have
been working with Rev. (Barry) Drum and
Mikah Brondyke to enhance our programs
and church relations. My goal is to make
sure that every student, regardless of their
background or belief system, feels welcomed
and accepted at our college. Because of our
dynamic and diversified student body, we
also want to make sure students of other
faiths (Jewish, Muslim. Hindu, etc.) are con
nected with leaders of their religions to give
them access to a local mentor.
Q. One of President Clark’s major initia
tives was to grow enrollment by 100 students
each year in the traditional program until the
college reached a total of 2,000. Will you
continue to lead the college in that direction?
A. The Board of Trustees and the college
administration are focused on growth based on the
current conditions in higher education, research,
and best practices. This may mean 25 or200 stu
dents a year, depending on such factors. We need
to make sure our growth is measured and well
thought out. Without taking on additional debt,
we want to make sure that we can financially
support the growth in terms of new academic
buildings, residence halls, and other social spaces.
See DUFF pg 2
Enrollment Sees
Slight Decline
NC Wesleyan reported total enrollment
of 1,107 in the traditional program as of
mid-September, a decrease of eight stu
dents compared to the same period in 2018.
Here’s a breakdown of the first-year
students, based on data supplied by
Dean of Admissions Michael Drew:
The total freshmen were 264, com
pared to 415 in 2018. The 264 figure
includes 141 males and 123 females, a
53 to 47 percent ratio. Last year the ratio
was 60-40 and in 2017 it was 62-38.
Wesleyan welcomed 65 transfer
students, an increase of 17 over 2018.
There was a sharp decline in the num
ber of new internationals—from 62 last
fall to 33 in 2019 (25 males, 8 females).
According to college data, the aver
age SAT score dipped from 988 in 2018
to 962 (it was 909 in 2017); the median
SAT score was 980. Average ACT was
18. while the median was 17.
When it comes to high school GPAs of
incoming freshmen, the average was 3.25
(3 27 in 2018), while the median was 3 22.
The new students—freshmen and
transfers—include a total of 182 athletes
(126 male. 56 female).
In Wesleyan's adult-degree program,
now known as APS, the fall census
indicated 733 students. Fourteen new
students have joined the program as
freshmen, while 96 enrolled as transfers.