North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host its fourth annual Rehabilitation of Racial and Ethnic Minorities with Behavioral Addictions (REMBA) conference, April 15-16, at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro.

Among the keynote speakers will be Clifton Davis, minister, actor, singer, composer and producer. Davis is best known for starring in the television series "Amen" and "That's My Mama." As the recipient of more than 120 awards and citations for his social, civic and spiritual service, he is listed in Who's Who in America, and he has been honored by organizations such as SCLC, World Vision, UNCF, NAACP and the American Heart Association.

The conference is being sponsored by a REMBA grant from N.C. A&T's Master of Science Rehabilitation Counseling Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration Capacity Building Grant.

This year's theme is "People, Innovation and Progress: Enhancing Addiction Services in Underrepresented Communities."  The itinerary includes 16 breakout sessions related to addictions in minority communities including but not limited to criminal offense, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual addictions, addictions in K-12 populations and ethics in addictions treatment. These sessions will feature guest speakers of varying degrees of expertise in the rehabilitation field.

Among the other noted speakers is Lula Beatty, chief of the Special Population's Office, Office of the Director, at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Her responsibilities include developing racial/ethnic minority research and health disparities programs, and developing initiatives to encourage the increased participation of underrepresented scholars in drug abuse and addiction research. Before joining NIDA, Beatty served as director of research at the Institute for Urban Affairs and Research at Howard University.

Rehabilitation counselors, community/agency counselors, counselor educators and supervisors, human resource professionals, administrators, students and those interested in learning more about addictions in underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to attend. Additionally, Continuing Education Units (CEU) and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credits are available.  

The registration fee is $60 for professionals and $35 for students. The deadline to register is Friday, April 2. Registration forms can be downloaded from the School of Education website at http://www.ncat.edu/~schofed/.

For additional information, contact Brandy Baldwin, REMBA coordinator, at (336) 285-4383 or bbaldwin@ncat.edu.

Thirty-six former employees of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State were paid tribute at the annual retirement celebration.

The event was held in the Alumni-Foundation Event Center last month. Faculty and staff members being honored had a total of 732 combined years of service.

Celebrating 30 or more years of service were Wilbur L. Smith, chair/professor of mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences, 40 years; Sheilda B. Sutton, executive director, Cooperative Extension, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 38; Linwood Blanchard, network specialist, Division of Information Technology, 35; Thelma J. Feaster, director of personal and organizational development, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 35; James F. Chew, associate professor of mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, 32; Robert C. Mers, associate professor of mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, 32; Thomas G. Clarke, assistant professor of mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, 31; and Robert T. Levine, professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences, 30.

Celebrating 20-29 years of service were Kay M. Harris (deceased), assistant director of counseling services, Division of Student Affairs, 29; Linda McAdoo, administrative support specialist, Division of Academic Affairs, 29; Bettina L. Odom, 4-H agent/Cooperative Extension, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 28; Janice G. Brewington, provost and vice chancellor, Division of Academic Affairs, 26; Carolyn S. Turner, associate dean, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 26; Robert J. Alston, property management, Division of Business and Finance, 25; Alonzo J. Rucker, ROTC property management, Division of Academic Affairs, 25; Shirley Witherspoon, building and environmental technology facilities, Division of Business and Finance, 24; Joseph L. Monroe, dean, College of Engineering, 21; Pearlie Sanders, executive assistant, School of Education, 21; Glenda L. Durant, administrative support specialist, Division of Information Technology, 20; and Mary D. Mason, administrative support associate, Division of Information Technology, 20.

Celebrating 5-18 years of service were Emmanuel Nzewi, professor/director of civil engineering, College of Engineering, 18; Ednita W. Bullock, librarian/assistant professor, Division of Academic Affairs, 17; Claude W. Barnes Jr., associate professor of political science and criminal justice, College of Arts and Sciences, 15; Mary L. Wall, clinical assistant professor, School of Nursing, 15; Linda Bailey, support services supervisor, Division of Business and Finance, 12; Margaret Scales, student services specialist, Division of Academic Affairs, 12; David M. Fisher, university engineer of facilities, Division of Business and Finance, 10; Webster McRae, building and environmental technology facilities, Division of Business and Finance, 10; Paul Bajari, research associate of computer science, College of Engineering, 8; Millicent Brown, associate professor of history, College of Arts and Sciences, 8; Charles G. Dixon, university engineer of facilities, Division of Business and Finance, 8; Sylvia M. Walker, technology support analyst, Division of Information Technology, 8; Carol J. Lundrigan, associate professor, School of Nursing, 7; Leonard McCumber Jr., university program specialist, School of Business and Economics, 6; Mary P. Williams, associate professor of human development services, School of Education, 6; and Rita M. Lauria, associate professor of journalism and mass communication, College of Arts and Sciences, 5.