WSSU Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson to be installed during Homecoming week
Chronicle Staff Report
Winston-Salem State University continues to celebrate its Homecoming this week.
The festivities include the installation of Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson at 3:30 p.m. at the Intramural Lawn on campus Friday.
Classes after noon on Friday are cancelled in order for everyone to attend.
The installation ceremony is derived from centuries-old academic customs that formally recognize a change in leadership at the school’s highest level. It is designed to introduce the new chancellor to the community, and to provide an opportunity to communicate his vision for the institution. It serves as the formal transference of the responsibilities.
The Board of Governors of the 17-campus University of North Carolina elected Robinson in September 2014. Before becoming chancellor, he was provost and vice president of Cambridge College. A native of Ivanhoe, he graduated from North Carolina Central University in 1978 with a degree in psychology. In 1980 he received his master’s degree in psychology from Fisk University in Tennessee. From 1993 to 1996, Robinson served as a chair of NCCU’s Psychology Department. In 2006 he became Dean of the NCCU College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
Today (Oct. 29), Homecoming festivities will turn to the Alumni Day Hometown Huddle, which will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Thompson Center, room 207.
The Gospel Edition of Community Stage, hosted by Joseph Level at the Clock Tower, will be on campus 4 until 9 p.m. Several acts will be performing, such as The Napper Singers, Greater Cleveland Mass Choir, Kevin Scott and The Inspirational Voices.
There will be a Nurses’ Banquet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Anderson Center-McNeil Ballroom on campus. The Class of 1965’s 50th anniversary banquet will be at the Embassy Suites, Gaines Ballroom on North Cherry Street in downtown Winston-Salem. A Red and Black Affair Masquerade party will take place from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Millennium Center, 101 W. Fifth St. downtown.
On Friday, Oct. 30, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at 10:45 a.m. at the S.G. Atkins Statue on campus, and an Alumni registration from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 207 Thompson Center. From 1p.m. to 2:30 p.m., there will be a “Ram Rave” that will consist of a mini parade, pep rally and a day party.
A block party will be held at the main campus at 4:15 p.m.
Vendors’ Fairs will be held during Homecoming week as other activities take place.
The Homecoming concert will be from 8p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 2825 University Parkway. Acts will include Charlie Wilson, Raheem Devaughn and Leela James. There will also be a homecoming step-show from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at the K.R. Williams Auditorium on campus. Doors will open at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, there will be an anniversary Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. in downtown Winston-Salem, which will begin at Fourth and Poplar streets. Then, at 2 p.m. the Homecoming football game will kick off with the WSSU Rams going against the Shaw University Bears at the Bowman Gray Stadium.
The WSSU Alumni Gospel Choir will perform at 6 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church; 1301 C. E. Gray Drive. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. will be the masquerade gala at the Anderson Center-McNeil Ballroom.
For more information, visit www.wssu.edu/cam-life/homecoming/default.aspx.
