N.C. A&T Dean Receives Presidential Award for Excellence in STEM Mentoring

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 17, 2025) – Clay Gloster Jr., Ph.D., dean of The Graduate College at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). The White House recently announced Gloster’s selection among 35 individual and organizational mentors to receive the nation’s highest award in this category.

Gloster is responsible for establishing a partnership between the university and the Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) program in 2015, making it possible for local middle school students to receive mentorship and opportunities for holistic learning through various workshops ranging from personal and professional development to STEM-related programming. The program at N.C. A&T is consistently recognized by the company as the model for participating universities.

“Becoming a recipient of this presidential award is an extraordinary honor and dream come true,” said Gloster. “Mentoring is an opportunity for us to potentially transform lives of minorities, their families, the greater community and future generations.

“Because of this tremendous opportunity to give back to others, for decades I have been committed to mentoring individuals pursuing careers in engineering and technology. I hope this recognition encourages others to join in this critically important work.”

In 2023, ABET, an accrediting body for STEM disciplines, recognized Gloster’s mentorship focus as one who “is looking out for the underdog.”

“Dean Gloster has always prioritized mentorship as an integral and crucial element to successful graduate teaching and research experiences, especially in STEM fields,” said Tonya Smith-Jackson, Ph.D., provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “His unwavering commitment and leadership in opening doors of opportunity, particularly for graduate and professional students who continue contributing to research expansion and the economy, even during their matriculation, are inspiring. He is most deserving of this recognition and his work continues to fulfill A&T's mission to advance the human condition.”

When submitting his materials for PAESMEM Award consideration, Gloster wrote his mentor philosophy is based on the statement, “To see is to be inspired.”

“The mentee must see themselves in a new light as successful engineers who have overcome all obstacles in their pathways through college and a successful career,” he wrote. “It also keeps the mentor focused on building the confidence of the mentee. The emphasis is on clarity, which encompasses all aspects of the mentor and mentee engagement, including defining expectations, rules of engagement, confidentiality, integrity and accountability.”

Gloster joined A&T in 2010 as professor and chair of the Department of Computer Systems and Technology in what is now known as the College of Science and Technology (CoST). After serving as CoST’s associate dean for six years, he became interim dean of The Graduate College in 2018, and began serving in the role permanently in 2020.

Gloster has been at the helm of enhancing the university’s graduate-level studies, ensuring A&T’s established degree and certificate programs remain competitive. He has also supported campus-wide efforts to offer additional graduate programs, which has led to the UNC System recently approving three Ph.D. programs at A&T — the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Applied Psychology and Criminal Justice ­— the most the university has had approved in an academic year.

A proud graduate of two historically Black universities, Gloster earned his B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering at A&T, an M.Div. from Howard University and a Ph.D. in computer engineering from North Carolina State University.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) administers PAESMEM on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. According to NSF, the awards “recognize those who have made significant contributions to mentor and thereby support the future productivity of the U.S. STEM workforce.”