WCC faculty members honored
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 4, 2015 1:50 AM
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WCC recognized two instructors with Distinguished Chair awards recently. from left, Bill Hunter of the college's Foundation Board of Directors; recipients Katina Davis, mathematics instructor, and Glenn Royster, department chair of information systems department; and Dr. Kay Albertson, WCC president.
Two outstanding instructors at Wayne Community College were presented with Distinguished Chair awards during the WCC Foundation annual campus fund drive kick-off.
Each fall the assembly is an opportunity for faculty and staff to gather and spark interest in contributing to the effort to raise money for student scholarships.
The goal this year is $750,000, which includes all funds generated from the community and campus drives as well as the scholarship invitational golf tournament, held Thursday. The kickoff also recognizes two full-time faculty members with at least five years of service at the college.
President Kay Albertson announced this year's recipients, Katina Davis and Glenn Royster.
Ms. Davis, a math instructor, is a graduate of East Carolina University who joined the WCC faculty in 2000 after having taught for years in the public schools.
She was instrumental in guiding the college's "journey of assessment" and been a strong advocate for appropriate accountability on the campus and the importance of data in making decisions, Mrs. Albertson said.
Co-chairman of the Wayne County Math Contest at the college for 10 years, she promoted the subject as something to be celebrated, not feared.
Student nominations praised Ms. Davis as a strong teacher who makes sure they know all the material, describing her as a "very strong instructor but also fair," Mrs. Albertson said.
Royster, chairman of the information systems department, was hired in January 2011, first as a networking instructor in the business and computer technologies division, then promoted to his current position in June 2013.
He holds a bachelor's degree in computer information systems and business administration and a master's degree in administration, along with numerous IT certifications, the president said.
Royster was credited with being the first instructor on campus to implement the use of iPads in the classroom and two years ago, collaborated with administrative services and the IT department to convert two storage closets in the Spruce Building into a network data center, furnishing it with state-of-the-art equipment comparable to what students will encounter in the workplace, Mrs. Albertson said.
Citing one student nomination, she said, "Mr. Royster enables his students to become the best version of themselves."
Each recipient receives a travel stipend for $5,500 and the opportunity to share a presentation on the experience with faculty, staff and students afterwards.