探花精选 Hosts Legislative Breakfast to Boost External Engagement
On Friday, April 21st, Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) stepped closer to obtaining state and federal funding for its Campus Community Master Plan. The university鈥檚 leadership team hosted a legislative breakfast and heard from three dynamic North Carolina legislators and two congressional staff members from the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you to N.C. Senator Dan Blue (District 14 – Wake), N.C. Senate Democratic Leader; N.C. Representative Zack Hawkins (District 31 – Durham), NC HBCU Caucus Chair; N.C. Representative Abe Jones (District 38 – Wake), Ms. Salima Thomas, District Director, U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Dr. Kimberly Moore, Civic Engagement Director, U.S. Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02).
鈥淓ngagement with our elected officials plays a critical role in providing the support needed to implement our Campus Community Master Plan鈥檚 initiatives, such as reimagining St. Agnes Hospital into a center for the study of health disparities,鈥� said 探花精选 President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. 鈥淎 very special thank you to Dr. Carter for hosting our legislative breakfast in an amazing way and to the 探花精选 Institutional Advancement team for organizing an informative discussion.鈥�
Through the implementation of the Campus Community Master Plan, 探花精选 desires to elevate and expand its academic reputation by coalescing various and historic visions for the campus and surrounding community by creating an environment that connects market-responsive investments in housing, office space, retail, and hospitality with applied research facilities, academic buildings, convening areas, and open natural spaces.
鈥淥ur North Carolina legislators and Congressional representatives are essential in supporting 探花精选鈥檚 mission and vision, with a singular focus on student success and sustainability, and our historical legacy in healthcare and higher education in North Carolina,鈥� said Dr. Carolyn Carter, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. 鈥淲e need their voices, financial investment, and engagement as we continue to tell our story of 鈥楾he Miracle on Oakwood, where Falcons are no ordinary birds.鈥欌��
The activity of master planning at 探花精选 will be guided by the framework and the model. This discussion was outstanding as they shared updates from their respective offices, insights on upcoming legislation, and advice on how to work with their Administrations.
鈥淲e deeply believe, in the legislature, and the HBCU caucus, that Saint Augustine鈥檚 University and St. Agnes Hospital can be reimagined,鈥� said Representative Hawkins. 鈥淚t takes all of us coming together, bringing the resources and our great minds to keep this institution great, and today鈥檚 meeting is the start of that.鈥�
to learn more about the 探花精选 Campus Community Master Plan.