By Justice Miller
VUU faculty and staff members play a critical role in the success of bringing new external funding to the University and in the lives of our students and community. The grant awards event recognized the efforts of those who participated in the grantsmanship process over the past three years and their awards. Awards were presented in the Claude G. Perkins Living & Learning Center Monday, May 8, 2023.
“It is a pleasure to see how the attendees were recognized and honored for their work — applying, writing, overseeing, and directing grants,” said Dr. Nathaniel West, Chair of Formation Division School of Theology at VUU. “It is a blessing not only for the University but the students who lack resources. That is why I will continue to write these grants,” he added.
Dr. Darius Beechaum, Director of Sponsored Programs, presided over the ceremony with Dr. Linda Jackson, VP of Sponsored Research and Innovation (SRI). At the event’s start, Dr. Jackson acknowledged the hard work of the grant participants and thanked them for their dedication to the grantsmanship process. She then introduced Dr. Beechaum, who provided an overview of the grants program and its members. The participants of the grants program then went on to receive their awards.
Awards included:
- Appreciation Awards
- Funded Awards
- Special Award
- Presidential Award
Nine faculty and staff aided in the process of received grants totaling $30M over the 2020-2023 academic years.
- Mrs. Christina Jackson, TRIO Director
- Dr. Cleve Tinsley, Assistant Professor & Executive Director CAAHC
- Dr. Darius Beechaum, Director of Student Support
- Dr. Robin Davis, Dean, Sydney Lewis School of Business
- Dr. Nikita Garris-Watson, Director of Upward Bound Title lll
- Mr. Kofi Jack, Chief Information Officer
- Dr. Franklin Patterson, Vice President of Administrative Services and Infrastructure Management
- Dr. Denise Jansen, Associate Professor, Christian Education
- Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, President & CEO
The award ceremony concluded with an empowering message from Dr. Jackson. She challenged the award recipients to continue striving to excel in their selected fields and to keep taking risks that could bring forth new opportunities for change and innovation at VUU.