Oakwood University Constituency Meets for Quinquennial Session;

Elects Board and President for 2016-2021

by George Johnson Jr.


	Constituency members vote changes to the constitution and bylaws.

Members of the Oakwood University Constituency met on April 17, 2016, for its quinquennial constituency session. The meeting was held on the campus of Oakwood University in its McKee Business & Technology Complex. Themed "120 Years of Delivering on the Promise of Mission," the members of the constituency met to receive reports, elect the Board of Trustees for 2016-2021, and approve amendments to the Articles and Bylaws of the Corporation.

During an executive session of the new Board of Trustees, Dr. Leslie N. Pollard was unanimously reelected as the president of Oakwood University. Pollard was initially elected as President in 2010. Election on April 17 commences Pollard's second term as president. "I am deeply humbled by the invitation to serve our University, because no individual is sufficient for these responsibilities. At a time when faith-based education is challenged by turbulent crosswinds, Oakwood continues to stand as a tower of spiritual commitment, academic excellence, and social consciousness. My deepest thanks are extended to our talented administrators, our dedicated faculty, our committed staff, and our inspiring students. Across the next five years, we will build our students a health and wellness center. We will launch cutting-edge academic programs. We will continue our moves toward reducing institutional dependency on tuition as a means of primary revenue. And I personally plan to use the leadership lessons learned during the last five years to improve our institutional performance even more in the next five years," said Dr. Pollard.

"The reelection of Dr. Pollard as president of Oakwood moves the University forward in its positive trajectory. He is a visionary, proactive, and energetic. I am deeply grateful that he continues to be at the helm," said Dan Jackson, president of the North American Division and also chair of the Oakwood University Board of Trustees.

The following administrators were also unanimously reelected for the 2016-2021 term:

Sabrina Cotton, Vice President for Financial Administration

David Knight, Vice President for Student Services

Kisha Norris, Executive Director for Advancement & Development

Kirk Nugent, Chief Information Officer

Prudence Pollard, Vice President for Research & Faculty Development

Howard Weems, Assistant to the President for Spiritual Life and Senior Chaplain

Tricia Penniecook, MD, MPH, current Vice President for Academic Administration announced her intent to return to Costa Rica by May 31, 2016. Special appreciation was expressed for her year of service to Oakwood. The new Vice President for Academic Administration is Karen Benn Marshall, Ed.D., who was elected to fill the vacancy created by Dr. Penniecook's departure.

New members were also brought onto the board, with considerable discussion being given to adding younger members in an effort to ensure that Oakwood remains connected to the voice and vision of younger alumni and current students.

President Pollard also expressed his appreciation to several individuals who helped to prepare for the meeting including Timothy McDonald, Ed.D., recently retired provost and senior vice president.

A copy of the printed Constituency Report may be found by clicking here.

Oakwood Student Dietitians Present "Eat The Rainbow"

by Leighann Rice, dietetics student

Students from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics were recently given the opportunity to educate four and five-year-old children from Oakwood's Child Development Lab (CDL) about healthy fruits and vegetables in a class called "Eat the Rainbow."

The children listened to a story about how food travels from the farm to the dinner table, and were asked to name different fruits and vegetables from each color of the rainbow. The children were so eager to share their knowledge that every hand in the room shot up into the air when asked to name healthy foods. After the 15-minute lesson, a variety of fruits and vegetables in bite-sized servings were given as a snack. There were zero leftovers, and the dietitians-in-the-making were proud to see the children asking for more to eat.

Not only was this an exciting learning experience for the children, but the dietetic students learned to practice the basic principles of planning a community nutrition project, which included conducting a needs assessment, writing a lesson plan, and then implementing and evaluating the lesson.

The children left with more knowledge and big smiles, as did the students of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department. Gratitude was expressed to Elaine Isaac, director of the Child Development Lab, for assisting and volunteering her time and her CDL students for this project.

Day of Compassion and Hope in Columbus

This past weekend, the Aeolians of Oakwood University performed at the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Columbus, Ohio. Pastor John T. Boston didn't want to keep their ministry confined to the four walls of the church so he took them into the community to share some compassion and hope. The church intended for the choir to minister in a local women's prison, but plans didn't pan out as expected. Instead of taking a break before their evening concert, the Aeolians and director Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand agreed to do some "impromptu ministry."

These young people walked to a homeless shelter to minister to individuals who need hope during this difficult time in their lives. Afterward, Pastor Boston (also a Columbus Police Chaplain) led them across the street to show compassion to some local police officers. They sang the National Anthem in honor of fallen SWAT Officer Steven Smith who had been fatally shot. The officers were brought to tears by this beautiful gesture. As soon as the song was finished, they immediately surrounded the officers and began hugging them and thanking them for their service.

Please continue to keep SWAT Officer Steven Smith's family in your prayers.

Four More Days to Vote - RYS16

With your help, for the past three years, Oakwood has won top prizes in Home Depot's Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant Program.Vote for Oakwood by clicking here and vote daily on all of your devices including desktop, laptop, tablet, smart phone. Oakwood will also be judged on social media activity. Help us acquire votes by using #Oakwood_RYS16 in all of your social media communication. The winners will be announced on May 18.

Employee Notes

On April 17, Oakwood University hosted its Retirees & Honorees Banquet. This event is one way that Oakwood shows its employees how much they, and their service, are appreciated.

The Millet Activity Center was decorated with a red carpet, which invited in the recent retirees: Collins and Virginia Alexander, Edna Dailey, Kaven Ible, Freida LaPaugh, Henrietta Lathon, George Lee, Carl Massey, Timothy McDonald, Wilson Miles, Janis Newborn, Belita Newby, Eurydice Osterman, Sylvia Rochester, Marie Samson, Marilyn Schenck, Moses and Genet Selassie, Cheryl Sullivan, and Monica Wilson.

Collectively, they represented more than 550 years of service to Oakwood University and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. James Roddy was recognized for having served Oakwood for 50 years.

Alumni News

Ruth Ralph Rideout, '13, has recently released a new book entitled "Inspiration." She and her husband Jessie are the founders of Ruth Rideout Ministries. Her writings have been featured on the "With You Always" radio program on WFSD LP 107.9 in Tallahassee, Florida. Sharing the love of Christ is her passion.

A message from the Oakwood University Alumni Association President...

The Oakwood University Alumni Association Board of Directors would like to thank everyone for showing such tremendous support during this past Alumni Weekend. We also would like to thank the many Conference officials, Union Presidents, Regional Directors, Honor Classes, and all of the Oakwoodite family and friends in helping us to surpass our goal of $90,000 in pledges and donations to support our efforts in providing scholarships and capital funding for the University. This was only done through the grace of God and your involvement. The OUAA Scholarship Committee has received more than 50 applications from students since alumni weekend that will be reviewed and granted funding once approved. With continual prayers and support, we know God will bless our April 13-16, 2017, Alumni Weekend. We look forward to hearing from you regarding Alumni Weekend. Please take this quick survey to give us feedback from the most recent Alumni Weekend.

- Cynthia Powell-Hicks, '76, Ph.D.

Would you like to share Alumni news with us? Please send to pr@oakwood.edu.

Pollard's Places

This coming Sabbath, I will be preaching at Grace Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, for an Oakwood Awareness Day. If you are in the area, come and bring a friend as I share the new and exciting things happening at Oakwood University.

Picture of the Week

Every year at this time, you can catch our seniors happily preparing for graduation. Many of them will find the most picturesque places on campus to take photographs for their creative invitations. Our Spring Graduation Exercises are May 5-7, 2016. Click here for a complete schedule. Photo by Gloria Brooks.

About Oakwood

The mission of Oakwood University, a historically black, Seventh-day Adventist institution, is to transform students through biblically-based education for service to God and humanity.