A&T Announces 2023-24 Hall Fellowship Cohort

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Nov. 22, 2023) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has announced its newest cohort of Woodland Ellroy Hall Fellows – 11 master’s and doctoral students who are committed to excellence in scholarship, professional capabilities, and leadership in research university setting.

“The Graduate College continues to be impressed by the caliber of students who apply each year for the Woodland Hall Fellowship,” said Clay Gloster, Ph.D., vice provost of Graduate Research and dean of The Graduate College. “The pool of candidates for the 2022-23 cohort was equally completive making the selection process difficult, which is a great problem to have. This year’s recipients rose to the top and will represent the program and North Carolina A&T State University well.”

The fellowship is named for Hall (1909-2004), the first student to earn a graduate degree from North Carolina A&T in 1941. Hall, a native Virginian, earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a master’s degree in agricultural education at A&T – where his thesis was “A Study of the Needs In Vocational Agricultural Education of Negroes In Gates County, North Carolina” – and a second master’s degree at Columbia University. He also did doctoral work at Pennsylvania State University.

Hall went on to serve as a principal in cities of Manteo, Burlington and Dunn, North Carolina. The state honors his legacy of exemplary service and leadership through this scholarship program.

Fellows are selected on the basis of merit and academic potential, not financial need. Both doctoral and master’s recipients receive a one-year award that provides full tuition, fees and health insurance. Doctoral students receive a $20,000 stipend and master’s students receive a $16,000 stipend.

• Pippin Bucholtz, of St. Louis, attended Guilford College in Greensboro where he earned bachelor’s degrees in sustainable food systems and environmental studies. After graduating from A&T with a master’s in agriculture and environmental sciences, Bucholtz would like to pursue careers in soil science and permaculture design.
• Aaronde Seckou Creighton, of Atlanta, and is enrolled in A&T’s doctoral leadership studies program. His interests lie in researching how the lived experiences of Black executives shape their leadership styles. He holds a B.S. in sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a M.S. in positive organization development and change from Case Western Reserve University.
• Kianna Hendricks, of Ahoskie, North Carolina, earned her B.S. in economics from A&T and holds an Associate of Arts from the College of Albemarle. After graduating from A&T with a master’s in data science and engineering, she plans on pursuing a Ph.D. and continuing bioinformatics research.
• Madison Lawson, of Charlotte, North Carolina, earned her B.A. in English with a technical writing concentration and a public relations minor. She is a first-year English and African American Literature master’s student who plans on pursuing a Ph.D. and becoming an archivist of African-American literature and history. 
• Toinje’ Maxson of New Orleans recently graduated with a B.S. in computer science from A&T. She is a first-year master’s student majoring in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity, whose career aspiration is to become a cybersecurity analyst.
• Maya Mitchell, of Bowie, Maryland, earned her B.S. in civil engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is pursuing an M.S. in industrial and systems engineering at A&T. She aspires to earn a Ph.D. in engineering after accumulating meaningful experience in the workplace. Her ultimate goal is to become a professor and contribute to academia.
• Kiyana Roberts, a first-generation graduate of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 2021, is pursuing her MBA at A&T. A Jersey City, New Jersey native, her enthusiasm lies in providing deserving young leaders with the opportunities they need to succeed. She regularly shares her historically Black university experience to inspire the next generation. Her goal is to serve as a pillar of resources in her community and bridge the gap for underrepresented future professionals, highlighting the value they bring to the table.
• Saqib Shahzad, of Greensboro, North Carolina, earned B.S. in criminal justice from A&T and master’s degree in criminal justice from Fayetteville State University. He is enrolled in A&T’s doctoral leadership studies program and looks forward to becoming a double alumnus. After graduation, he hopes to contribute to a broader conversation about criminal justice matters through research, practical expertise and policy making.
• Marisha Williams, an artist and educator from Danville, Virginia, earned her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2020. Soon afterward, she became the first Black orchestra director at Penn Griffin School for the Arts in High Point, North Carolina and served her community for three years. During this time, she also became a director for the nonprofit A Collective of Excellence INC. in Greensboro, where she handles all academic affairs. Williams is pursuing an M.S. in adult education at A&T, where she serves as a graduate assistant and bassist for the university’s jazz ensemble. Her goal is to continue to inspire and spark positive change within the education system as a whole through her interdisciplinary creative art and research.
• Micah Wyatt is a licensed marriage and family therapist residing in Moore County, North Carolina. He holds master’s degrees in mental and behavioral health from the University of Phoenix and marriage and family therapy from Cappella University and is pursuing his doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision from A&T. He has a wealth of experience working with marginalized community members in both rural and inner-city areas focusing on evidenced-based practices within communities of color. His research interests include the effectiveness of evidence-based practices within marginalized communities, the development of existential treatment approaches within the Black lived experience, and the success rates of marriages within African-American communities. After graduating, he plans to pursue tenure at an R1 institution and continue his research efforts. Additionally, he plans to open a small private practice focusing on Individual, marital and couples counseling and providing supervision to new clinicians.
• Abigail Yohannes, of San Jose, California, earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a post baccalaureate certificate in data analytics from A&T. She is working toward her master’s degree in data science and engineering from A&T. Upon graduation, she plans to enter the tech industry and use her experience to empower young Black women to pursue careers in STEM and engineering fields.