Editor’s Note: This is part one of an ongoing series to introduce new faculty and staff to the Aggie community. 

For the fall semester of 2014, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University hired 109 employees, ranging from chairpersons of specific departments to Equipment Operator’s for parking services. 

On Aug. 15 and Aug. 18 new and returning faculty gathered to go over procedures for the new school year. The training on Aug.18 was geared towards helping new faculty become acquainted with the system and setting them up with parking passes, Aggie one cards and reviewing benefit information. 

Amongst the new hires, was Dr. Yahya Kamalipour, the new chairman for the journalism and mass communication department. 

Dr. Kamalipour, originally from Iran, recently left Purdue University in which he spent a total of 28 years as a professor. Fourteen of those years were spent as the head of the department of communication and creative arts and director of the center for global studies. 

Intrigued by the current standings of the journalism department, Dr. Kamalipour wanted to make a difference. “This department is in an ideal position. What attracted me was what lies ahead,” said Kamalipour. “My goal is to transform this department and move it to the next level in academic excellence with the help of students, faculty and administration.” 

Dr. Kamalipour, who is highly educated within the communication field, left Iran for America for the sole purpose of education. 

In 1975, he obtained his A.A. in communication at Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, Iowa. In 1977 he received his B.A. in mass communication with a focus in public relations at Minnesota State University. In1978, he obtained his M.A. in mass media with a concentration in radio and film from the University of Wisconsin. In 1986 he completed his doctoral program in communication with a concentration in radio and film at the University of Misouri. 

He has also taught at many universities across the Midwest. Dr. Kamalipour, who has a general interest in global communication, has come right on time to assist with N.C. A&T’s transformation to diversity following the Preeminence 2020 plan. 

“Creating a diverse, inclusive and high productivity work culture,” said Linda McAbee, vice chancellor for human resources when explaining the objective of hiring N.C. A&T faculty. According to McAbee, diversity in thinking provides diversity in recruitment strategies, and promotion. 

As the university moves ahead with plans of diversifying the campus, faculty is expected to contribute to giving students the extra push to move ahead. “Ensure applicant pools are diverse and meet the defined qualifications of the jobs,” said McAbee. 

With diversity being one of the main focuses, students are worried about the legacy of N.C. A&T. 

“North Carolina A&T State University’s goal to expand our classrooms to include a diverse population in no way means that we will decrease the number of African American students at this institution. It simply means that the university will grow to include a diverse population,” said Joe B. Whitehead Jr., provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. 

“If an organization is to grow, it must provide different perspectives in the classroom. We believe that this will enhance the quality of education that our students need. We are charged with preparing our students to become global citizens and experience the diversity of the world in an environment that is conducive to learning. We expose our students to a variety of cultures and schools of thought through a more diverse student body. This is key to giving graduates a competitive edge in the workforce and in their careers. We will always be a predominantly African American institution. That will not change,” said Whitehead. 

Dr. Kamalipour is excited for change. “It’s an exciting time. I am very excited, I look forward to accomplishing a lot.”

 —Email Meagan at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @itsme_agannn

• Meagan Jordan Editor in Chief