Kudos: Atwater to have endowed scholarship named in her honor; faculty members serve as roundtable panelists

Atwater to have endowed scholarship named in her honor at Methodist University

Mary M. Atwater, professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Education, was informed by R. Gregory Swanson, vice president for advancement and senior counsel at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, that the university would be honored to create the Dr. Mary M. Atwater ’69 Endowed Scholarship.

The Black Alumni Chapter chose as its first effort to pursue an endowed scholarship in her name for funding students’ education at Methodist University. Atwater was the first Black student to graduate from the institution. The Black Alumni Chapter Scholarship Brunch was held during Methodist University’s Homecoming weekend last fall to raise the funds for the scholarship. Atwater was unable to attend, but she did send a video, which was shown at the event.

“Most people do not live long enough to discover that an endowed scholarship is named in their honor. I am one of the fortunate ones,” Atwater said.

Faculty members serve as roundtable panelists

Tisha Lewis Ellison, associate professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, and Sherell McArthur, associate professor in the Department of Educational Theory and Practice, were invited as panelists for the Black Girls’ Literacies and Social Media in Education Roundtable Series on September 15, 2022.

The virtual series, sponsored by the New America Project, explored Black girls’ literacies and whether social media platforms may provide opportunities for equitable digital learning spaces in education.

New America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and civic think tank that functions as a research institute, technology lab, solutions network, media hub, and public forum. New America is comprised of a community of innovative problem-solvers, combining expertise in research, policy development, and data analysis.