WSSU will welcome 140 alumni to ‘Return to Serve’ students during Homecoming
Winston-Salem State University’s motto is “Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve.” During Homecoming this year, 140 alumni will return to the campus they love to put that motto into action.
Through Alumni Return to Serve, one of WSSU’s most cherished Homecoming traditions, alumni will step into classrooms to share career insights, professional experiences and advice on preparing to enter the workforce.
The enthusiasm to participate has been overwhelming. All 140 slots were filled within four days of registration opening, and another 75 alumni – and counting – are on the waiting list.
“People are still calling about it and asking for their names to get placed on the waitlist, but, unfortunately, we’ve reached capacity,” said Dr. Bradley Merritt, director of Career Development Services, which organizes Alumni Return to Serve in conjunction with the Office of Alumni Engagement.
“Whether they’ve done this for 20 years or this is their first time, the alumni are all very excited to return to serve and participate in an open dialogue with students about the world of work,” Merritt said.
Merritt and Ned Moultrie, employer relations coordinator in Career Development Services, have conducted multiple virtual training sessions for participating alumni.
Dr. Dexter Howard, a 1993 graduate with a degree in business administration and a concentration in marketing, will be among the WSSU alumni returning to classrooms Nov. 5 to engage with students. Howard is a ThinkPad product manager at Lenovo, where he’s worked 26 years.
“Alumni Return to Serve is something that I’ve always heard about, but it wasn’t until four years ago that I actually said I was going to participate,” Howard said. “I wanted to get in the classrooms and connect with the students, to give back just like those alumni did when I was a student.”
Howard’s commitment to WSSU extends beyond Alumni Return to Serve. He has represented Lenovo at the university’s Career and Graduate School Expo and helped WSSU students secure internships and jobs.
During Alumni Return to Serve, Howard said he stresses the importance of studying, learning, asking pertinent questions and being prepared. He advises students to build relationships with faculty, staff, alumni and people in their hometowns. Finally, he encourages them to be open to new experiences.
Cierra Bentley, who earned her master’s degree in health administration from WSSU in 2022, looks forward to partaking in Alumni Return to Serve for the first time. She is a care navigator for AuthoraCare Collective, a North Carolina-based nonprofit healthcare organization that provides hospice care, palliative care, grief counseling and other supportive services.
Bentley learned about Alumni Return to Serve through a Facebook post by Women of Winston, a local women’s networking and community group, and shares Howard’s desire to give back to WSSU.
“I know it can be a little daunting for students as they start looking for jobs,” Bentley said. “So, I think it’s great that WSSU provides an opportunity for alumni to talk to them about what to expect when they join the workforce. I know everyone likes to have fun during Homecoming, but I’m proud of my institution for ensuring students get to engage with alumni in a very meaningful way.”
Alumni will speak to students from 9:30-10:45 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. before attending a luncheon featuring speaker Chandra Southern, president of the Atlanta chapter of the WSSU National Alumni Association.
WSSU Chancellor Bonita J. Brown will kick off Alumni Return to Serve by bringing greetings to participating alumni during breakfast.
Bentley can’t wait for the chance to interact with WSSU students.
“With Alumni Return to Serve, WSSU is making sure everybody gets a chance to come back and give after they graduate, in their own way,” Bentley said. “I’m proud of my university for standing true to its motto.”
