Cherry Crayton

May 6, 2025

In the Spotlight: Emily Thrasher, Research Scholar with the Friday Institute

For the In the Spotlight series, we feature one staff member on a regular basis. In this edition, we spotlight Emily Thrasher, a research scholar at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and part of the…

May 1, 2025

David Ayers ’99EDD Joining College of Education as Associate Professor of Community College Leadership

David Ayers ’99EDD will join NC State’s College of Education as an associate professor of community college leadership, beginning Aug. 15, 2025. Currently, Ayers is an associate professor of community college leadership and higher education at Old Dominion University, where he has been on the faculty since 2017.

Dec 19, 2024

2024: A Year of Impact

Oct 1, 2024

WUNC: New program for students with disabilities at NC State

North Carolina State University is now accepting applications for an inclusive post-secondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like autism or Down syndrome. "Elevate" is a four-year, non-degree program.

May 17, 2024

Literacy and Community Initiative’s 5th Annual Reading Celebration Highlights Refugee Stories Through Art, Writing

With the support of a Catalyst Grant from the Friday Institute and the College of Education, the Literacy and Community Initiative (LCI) led a yearlong trauma-informed writing and art program for RHP refugee students that culminated April 29 during LCI’s fifth annual reading celebration and art show. It was RHP’s first art show with LCI, held at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA).

May 17, 2024

Axios Raleigh: North Carolina schools are segregated while the state’s become more diverse

Jenn Ayscue, an assistant professor of education and one of the co-authors of a new report, notes three major causes of re-segregation of public schools in North Carolina.

Apr 10, 2024

Friday Institute for Educational Innovation Celebrates 20 Years on NC State’s Centennial Campus

When the NC State College of Education was raising funds to support a new institute for research-to-practice innovation, Ann and Jim Goodnight came forward and said they wanted to name the building after Bill Friday, the former president of the University of North Carolina System and an education adviser to Presidents Johnson and Carter. The College of Education approached Friday with the idea, and he said he would only agree if Ida, his wife’s name, was on it too. This was the start of the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation.

Apr 4, 2024

Diverse Issues in Higher Education: Report: Black Female Student-Athletes Face Lack of Diverse Support

Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor Joy Gaston Gayles, who researches intercollegiate athletics, talks with Diverse Issues in Higher Education about a new report released by researchers at the University of Southern California's Race and Equity Center.

Mar 18, 2024

The N&O: More students are applying to NC’s HBCUs. What’s driving the trend?

Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor Joy Gaston Gayles talks with The News & Observer about the increase in applications from prospective students that several of North Carolina’s historically Black universities are seeing.

Oct 20, 2023

Auburn Magazine: The Teacher’s Coach

Sometimes even college professors have questions. As the new head of the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development at North Carolina State University, Joy Gaston Gayles ’98 leads the faculty and staff to create an impactful education program for the department’s students. A career educator, as well as a researcher on intercollegiate athletics in higher education and women and people of color in STEM, Gayles is focused on making positive changes for both faculty and students.