Deese College to Host First Women in Business Leaders New Student Orientation

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Aug. 19, 2024) – The Women in Business Leaders student organization in the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will launch its first new student orientation.

This orientation will take place Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in General Classroom Building Room A218.

“The mission of the program is to include, inspire, and ignite the women of the the next generation of leaders,” said program organizer Sheila I. Benton, Ph.D., director for Student Success and Programming and faculty advisor for the Deese College Women Business Leaders.

This event, which is a part of the university’s Welcome Week programming, is designed to introduce prospective first-year, transfer and selected sophomore female  students of the Deese College to the services, programs, faculty and staff members, and expectations of the college.

Benton expects this program to equip students for their future in the college and establish relationships within the university community.

One of the most integral connections to be made by the students is with Willie A. Deese ‘77, the namesake of the college and a distinguished alumnus, who will be the keynote speaker at the event.

“The goal is to provide a sound academic foundation for our first-time students so that they do have a connecting point. That connecting point is me and the Deese College Women in Business Leaders,” said Benton. “They chose to study in the Deese College, so I am laying a foundation for them to be prepared by the time they get into the college.”

The students will receive academic advising, tutoring, professional development, résumé writing and interview coaching, and professional dining and etiquette lessons.

Shirley E. Faulkner-Springfield, Ph.D., director of the University Writing Center, and Nadia Clark Brown of University Career Services will give presentations along with current students and alumni of the college.

“It’s an exciting program that is part of the university’s student success mission and we genuinely do care about the students,” said Benton. ““It's about relationship building and building trust and preparing them for the major in which they chose to study, so we’re continuing to build the bridge.”