DURHAM -- Duke Chapel will honor three Durham residents who have transitioned from homelessness to permanent residences, in a ceremony Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The program at the chapel, co-sponsored by the nonprofit Housing for New Hope, will include remarks from Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells and testimonials from the honorees. The event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow.
The honorees are William Hawkins Jr., Brian McLendon and Trico Newton.
Each person being recognized in the ceremony has "accomplished the difficult transition from homelessness to independent and healthy lives through the completion of their year-long residencies at Dove House and Phoenix House," said Eric Breit, development director for Housing for New Hope.
Housing for New Hope offers transitional housing to homeless men and women in conjunction with a continuum of programs for specific problems faced by those who are homeless, or whose lives are continuously at the edge of crisis or complicated by disabling conditions.
Durham Tech adds 3 to Board
DURHAM -- Three new members have been named to Durham Technical Community College's Board of Trustees. Joining the board are MaryAnn Black, John Burness and Terri Rowland.
Black, associate vice president of Duke University Health System, is a well-known health and human services advocate. She is a former National Association of Social Workers "Social Worker of the Year." Black was appointed to the Durham Tech board by Durham Public Schools Board of Education.
Burness is visiting professor of the practice of public policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke. He worked for 17 years as senior vice president for public affairs and government relations at the university. He also was appointed to the board by the DPS school board.
Rowland is the owner of Terri Rowland Realty International. She has served as a continuing education consultant and has taught at N.C. Central University, St. Augustine's College and N.C. State University. Rowland was appointed to the board by Gov. Beverly Purdue.
The new members will serve four-year terms.
NCCU, 90.7 FM collecting food
DURHAM -- North Carolina Central University's Staff Senate, Sodexo, the NCCU Academic Community Service Learning Program and WNCU 90.7 FM are collaborating to collect food donations to benefit the Durham Rescue Mission.
They're seeking help to feed hungry families during the holidays. On Friday, WNCU will broadcast live from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the McLean Parking Lot to fill NCCU vans with food. The lot is located on the corner of Nelson and Fayetteville Streets near the Alfonso Elder Student Union.
For additional information or how you can help, call Rebie Coleman at 530-5369.
NCCU presents Artists Series
DURHAM -- As part of North Carolina Central University's Centennial Celebration, the Department of Music will present the 10th Annual Fall Guest Artists Series featuring the NCCU Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Ensemble with special guest saxophonist Steve Wilson.
The concert is scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m., in the B.N. Duke Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for the general public and they may be reserved by calling the NCCU ticket office at 530-5170.
Before the evening concert, Wilson will offer a master class and lecture at noon in the Jazz Band Room of the auditorium, which is free and open to the public.
Wilson has played with the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Dave Holland Sextet, Chick Corea's Origin and Blue Note 7. Friday night, he will be playing with NCCU's big band.
For more information, call the Department of Music at 530-6319.
Environmental Policy to Duke
DURHAM -- The Duke University Board of Trustees Executive Committee has given final approval to the creation of a doctoral program in environmental policy.
The program, which had been endorsed by faculty review committees, "will educate the people who will be shaping the next generation of environmental policy," said professor Randall Kramer of Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.
The degree is expected to attract top students, Kramer said, noting that 17 Nicholas students interested in environmental policy are currently pursuing a Ph.D.
The time to earn the degree is expected to take five years. Kramer said the program can get started quickly because the courses and faculty are already in place.
NCCU establishes scholarship
DURHAM -- North Carolina Central University has established the LeRoi H. Moore Scholarship Fund that will provide $5,000 scholarships annually for four students ($20,000 per year) in perpetuity.
As one of the founding members of the Dave Matthews Band, Moore played bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones as well as the flute, bass clarinet, wooden penny whistle and oboe.
During the summer of 2008, Moore died from injuries suffered in an ATV accident.
The scholarships will begin in 2010 with a $5,000 gift and will increase annually by $5,000 until reaching a total annual $20,000 pay-out in 2013. When fully funded, scholarships will be awarded to one student in each of the first, second, third and fourth-year classes.
Eligible for selection will be students with a financial need who study business, education or music. Consideration also will be given to the student's community service involvement.
Williams named president
DURHAM -- Sanders "Sandy" Williams, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at Duke University, has been named the new president of The J. David Gladstone Institutes, an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco.
Williams leaves Duke after having served for six years as dean of the Duke University School of Medicine and, most recently, two years as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Williams will assume his new role with The Gladstone Institutes in March 2010.
Williams became dean of the Duke University School of Medicine in 2001 and was named senior vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2007. In addition, Williams is credited with playing one of the key roles in creating the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore in 2006.
N.C. Central law honored
CHARLOTTE -- North Carolina Central University School of Law was honored recently at the Sixth Annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund Awards of Excellence Dinner in recognition of its 70th anniversary.
School of Law alumni and students who attended this event included attorney Anthony Fox '82, and the Honorable Wanda Bryant '82, both members of the school's Board of Visitors, and third year students Clinton Hicks and Kahlida Lloyd.
An inscribed plaque was presented to Assistant Dean Ronald "Steve" Douglas '82 in recognition of the anniversary.
The Awards of Excellence Dinner recognized leaders nationwide who exemplify professional and civic excellence and those who share the late Justice Thurgood Marshall's concern for civil rights and his passion for justice and education.
Collins named directory
DURHAM -- Lauren Collins has been named the director of the law library at North Carolina Central University.
Collins previously was head of reference services at the Goodson Law Library at Duke University. She has held positions as a reference librarian at Duke, Wayne State University and the University of Miami.
Collins serves on the Publications Committee of the North Carolina State Bar and is active in the American Association of Law Libraries, having served on national committees and as an officer at the local and national levels.
-- Compiled by Neil Offen
