N.C. A&T Welcomes Second Cohort of Defense Civilian Training Corps, Adds Faculty Fellows

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sep. 27, 2024) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has selected 13 Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC) Scholars for its Class of 2026 cohort. Combined with the inaugural cohort of 19, N.C. A&T has 32 scholars entering the program’s second year.

A&T has also named three DCTC faculty fellows for Fall 2024:

Laquanda Johnson, Ph.D., is an associate professor of supply chain management in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management in A&T’s Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics (Deese COBE). Her research interests include exploring strategies to optimize healthcare access, transportation equity, and drone technology. She has secured approximately $1 million in research grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Boeing, Medtronic and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

DeJarvis Oliver, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Business Information Systems and Analytics in Deese COBE. He has over 12 years of experience in business analytics, project management and process improvement. He is passionate about preparing the next generation of data-driven business leaders.

Laurie Zack, Ph.D., is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in A&T’s College of Science and Technology. Over her 17-year career, she has excelled in teaching various courses and has been deeply invested in fostering undergraduate research. She has guided over a dozen students through independent research projects and helped countless students prepare for future academic and professional endeavors through advising and mentorship.

DCTC is a program of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that prepares the next generation of civilian national security leaders. A highly selective talent development program, DCTC provides a multidisciplinary, active-learning curriculum with summer internship projects at DoD organizations.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment leads the DCTC, partnering with other government offices and military departments to guide the program. A&T is the only historically Black university piloting the program, along with Purdue University, the University of Arizona and Virginia Tech.

“The DCTC Scholars Program gives our students a direct pathway to challenging and rewarding careers where they can combine their academic goals with public service of the highest order,” said Rosalind Dale, Ed.D., vice provost for engagement and outreach. “We are preparing tomorrow’s leaders for high-impact careers in a global marketplace and significantly reducing their financial burden in the process. We are thrilled to see A&T’s academic excellence recognized in such a tangible way and honored to be a part of this vital initiative.”

A&T is accepting applications for the DCTC Class of 2027. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

About North Carolina A&T State University 

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically Black university, as well one of the top 25 “Most Innovative” universities in America (U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2024). North Carolina A&T is a land-grant, doctoral research university and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System. A&T is widely recognized for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was established in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

By Hope Baptiste, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs