Forging Bright Futures at Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University

Bonita Brown, the newly appointed and first female chancellor of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), began her career as a lawyer, having earned her law degree at nearby Wake Forest University. 

A stint as an assistant to the president of Livingstone College cemented her desire to pursue a career in higher education – a career that has included tenures as vice president and chief strategy officer for Northern Kentucky University, director of higher education practice with the Education Trust in Washington, D.C., and vice chancellor and chief of staff of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Brown’s current role brings her back to her hometown of Winston-Salem, where she became WSSU’s 14th chancellor on July 1, 2024.

She shares her goals for one of the nation’s top historically Black colleges and universities and her feelings on being a role model for female leaders in academia. 

What does being the first female chancellor of Winston-Salem State University mean to you? And what does it mean for other women in academia? 
It’s surreal to be back home again. I’ve served at schools across the country, but I talked to my family and decided it was time to come home. I was just waiting for that right opportunity. My parents are Winston-Salem State alumni, so they were overjoyed. 

My mother says, ‘Who would have ever thought my child would grow up to be chancellor of my alma mater?’ Being the first female is powerful. I want to be successful. I want to show people that it can be done and that females can do it, so it’s an honor, and it’s heavy all at the same time, but I’m ready for it. 

As the new chancellor, what are your immediate goals for the university? 
One of my short-term goals is to provide a little bit more stability. I want to set the university up for success by making sure we’re fiscally sound and making sure we’re focusing on our enrollment and graduation rates so that we can better serve our students. 

Looking ahead, what are some long-term initiatives or projects you hope to implement during your tenure? 
I want to provide even more opportunities for those who want to get a degree. We have former students who want to return, and I want to make it easy for them to come back and graduate with the degree that they want. Another example is working more directly with Forsyth Technical Community College to make it easier for students to seamlessly transfer from that institution to ours to continue their education. 

How do you plan to engage with the Greater Winston-Salem community to enhance the university’s impact and presence? 
Our partnerships in the community will continue to be key. Winston- Salem State has great assets and resources, and I think we need to partner with more of our regional partners to elevate those assets even further. For example, we have a great partnership with the biomanufacturing industry, which allows our students to earn a certification for free. When it comes to workforce development, I want to be at the table as the region is recruiting different businesses so that we can talk about what WSSU has to offer and what we can develop to better support those companies. 

Winston-Salem State University

What advantages does Winston-Salem State University offer students? 
One of the advantages that we offer students is a quality education close to home. You don’t have to move away from home to get the degree you want. We’re known for nursing and education, but we also have business programs and programs in humanities, and we even have a race car management program.

We have amazing, talented faculty who are not only teaching, but also doing important research that allows students to get hands-on experience. I would tell students to explore home before you look elsewhere because chances are, we have what you need and want in an institution.