by Scott Hinshaw

For the year 2020, the UNCG Institutional Memory Collection interviewed two African American pioneers on UNCG’s campus. In 1967, Dr. Ernestine Small became the first African American professor hired by UNCG. She was instrumental in the creation of the School of Nursing and its new BSN program, having been one of the first faculty members hired. Highlights of her interview include: her decision to join UNCG’s inaugural School of Nursing faculty rather than going to NC A&T State University; what it was like to work at UNCG as the first African American faculty member at a predominately white campus; her work in helping to create the first BSN and later, MSN, Nursing program and curricula at UNCG; and her impressive work in the Nursing field which continues today. Dr. Small is currently the Nursing Education Coordinator for the Shelby County Health Department in Memphis Tennessee.

It was through my conversation with Dr. Small that I was introduced to her friend, Dr. Aurelia Mazyck, another early African American professional at UNCG. Like Dr. Small, Dr. Mazyck began her career at UNCG in 1967, when she was hired as Assistant Director of the Demonstration Nursery Center and Infant Care Center. Dr. Mazyck was also working toward her doctoral degree in Child Development at UNCG at this time. She was later promoted to Director of the Training Center in 1972. Dr. Small and Dr. Mazyck became friends as Dr. Small also worked with the children at the Demonstration Nursery.

In 2020, the UNCG Institutional Memory Collection interviewed several staff members, whose jobs were deeply connected with UNCG’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We discussed their normal (pre-pandemic) job duties as well as how their duties changed during the pandemic. Many staff members are also alumni or current students and we explored their experiences as students in these interviews as well.

Anita Warfford, Instructional Technology Consultant for the College of Arts and Sciences, discussed the work she performed in helping to prepare and assist professors who had to switch from an in-person to a remote learning environment in a matter of weeks when the university closed campus due to the pandemic. Ms. Warfford holds the MA degree in History from UNCG.

Maggie Capone-Chrismon, Assistant Director of Space Utilization and Planning, talked about her strategies and planning for the partial return to in-person classes which took place in the Fall of 2020. This involved careful planning as social distancing and other precautions severely impacted classroom capacity. Ms. Capone-Chrismon is a UNCG alumna, who holds the BS degree in Interior Architecture.

Megan Karbley, Assistant Dean of Students, was faced with the challenge of finding ways to help students stressed by the pressures of attending school during the pandemic and discusses the work of her office in supporting student well-being and success. Ms. Karbley holds BA and MA degrees from UNCG and is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations at UNCG.

Dwayne Hines, Assistant Director for Building and Environmental Services, who is responsible for overseeing the work of facilities and housekeeping for Housing and Residence Life, which includes about 54 people working in 27 buildings (over 2 million square feet) across campus. Mr. Hines discussed the challenges of working during the pandemic to keep buildings cleaned to ever-evolving standards made necessary by the pandemic. At the time of the interview, Mr. Hines was currently pursing his undergraduate degree at UNCG and shares a wonderful story about taking a class with his daughter, who also attends UNCG!

The UNCG Institutional Memory Collection was especially fortunate to capture interviews with six students in the spring and summer of 2020, who shared the student perspective of attending UNCG during the pandemic.

Hunter Martin, Class of 2020, SGA President

Grant Fuller, Class of 2020, SGA At-Large Senator

Mohammed Hossain, Class of 2020, SGA Commuter Senator

Magnolia Long, Class of 2020, SGA Attorney General

Arianna Mendez, Class of 2020, SGA Senior Senator

Elizabeth (Peyton) Upchurch, Class of 2022, SGA Attorney General (after spring 2020)