Three faculty members have gone beyond their written job objectives to make meaningful contributions to the community and have been recognized as the “Top 40 under 40” in the Piedmont Triad by The Business Journal.

Chairperson for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and tenured professor, Anthony Graham, was pleased to be recognized with the honor. “It’s a great reward, but there’s still so much more to be done here on the campus and in this community,” Graham said humbly.

Graham was recognized for his great contribution to the Greensboro community in regards to his research which focuses on African American adolescent males and how education promotes or hinders the construction of their academic and cultural identities. Thus far in his research, he has studied the micro aggressions students feel when walking into environments that are already racially discouraging.  For Graham, the goal is to figure out a way for teachers to engage their students, where they are represented and their voices are heard and validated in the classroom.

In order to help address these problems, Graham, along with others, have created programs such as the Charles Hamilton Houston Summer Residential Leadership Institute for adolescent black males, the Brother-2-Brother mentoring program and Lunch with the Kings program. A central component of these programs is to teach young individuals about code switching, or knowing how to behave and change behaviors based on their audience and surroundings. “We try to make sure that our students really become more cognizant of their environment,” said Graham.

The other crucial piece Graham and his team try to focus on is building social capital. They want to make sure their students are aware of the people in the community who are ready to help them and make sure they internalize the age-old phrase, ‘sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’

Louis Judge III, Director of Technology Transfer, is another faculty member recognized in The Business Journal. Judge was honored and excited to make the list, but knew he had to continue to be motivated in all of his endeavors.

As director of Technology Transfer, Judge is in charge of negotiating license for

university-owned intellectual property, developing business models for A&T’s startup companies, constructing the University’s intellectual properties and procedures and seeking commercial partners who can contribute to A&T’s research efforts. In order to be successful in his profession, Judge builds a strong network with strong relationships and has a team of expertise. “We build those relationships and whenever we need something, call on those relationships,” said Judge.  

One of Judge’s accomplished ventures was starting a local chapter of the National Black MBA Association.  The NBMBAA is an organization that helps African American undergraduate business students or MBA students to network with one another and helps each other with things varying from financial literacy, to helping one another complete college application and the association even has a high school mentor program. “I just saw a need for that and it motivated me,” said Judge.

    Another program Judge started is the Innovation Challenge which takes place on A&T’s campus. This challenge is designed to excite students about innovation, research and entrepreneurship. According to Judge, the Innovation Challenge has grown and since the creation of it, the division of research has developed a program called Undergraduate Research Opportunities. The challenge started as a freshman-only event and now is open to all undergraduate students. The next Innovation Challenge takes place Thursday, Mar. 20.

    Samuel “Chip” Cook IV, lecturer of speech and computer systems technology classes, is another recipient of The Business Journal’s “Top 40 under 40.” Although Cook is honored by the award and recognition he has received, he is even more proud to be an Aggie and represent N.C. A&T. “I don’t feel A&T gets the recognition it should get,” said Cook.

One of Cook’s accomplishments is founding and building The North Carolina Leadership Academy, also known as The NCLA. The NCLA is a charter school and is located in Kernersville, N.C. According to Cook, the mission and goal of the NCLA is to provide students with the components to do well in college and train students as leaders using civil air patrol.

    In addition to educating, Cook encourages students to take their skills and try to better themselves, their organizations and their communities.  

    At the core of these faculty members is passion. Graham’s passion for education stems from knowing and seeing the importance having an education can make because his parents and grandparents were not able to attain an education as he was able to. “I look at the sacrifice they made for me and the difference that it has made in my life,” said Graham.

Judge’s passion comes from wanting to help and enjoying others.  Judge encourages students to follow their dreams and passions while in college. “Start on your passion now because you never know, you might be able to start a business while you’re in college,” said Judge.

Cook considers himself to be an educator and his passion for education comes from teaching and learning. “I think they go hand-in-hand,” said Cook. He looks at teaching as an art because the field is not precise and new challenges always occur. “It’s something you have to work with and adapt to,” said Cook.

• Uniqua Quillins, Register Reporter