Charlotte, N.C./April 24, 2023 – JCSU’s O’Herron Distinguished Professor of Psychology Dr. Ruth Greene recently became the first HBCU faculty member to win the Southeastern Psychological Association Mentor Award.
According to the website, SEPA recognizes the importance of mentoring relationships as vital to the development of psychology graduates and students at all levels. The first award was given in 2004.
“As soon as I came up on stage, they talked about the extraordinary letters written by students and faculty which had spanned four decades,” said Greene. “No matter if I won or not, I was grateful for those letters.”
Greene has been working at JCSU since the 1970s. She’s spent her time at JCSU dedicated to grantsmanship, research and mentorship.
She was blessed to grow up with a number of mentors in her family and community, and decided early in her career she wanted to focus on building up confidence and career-readiness in Black students who aspire toward a career in psychology.
Dr. Horane Holgate ’14 was one of those students. He moved from Jamaica with dreams of becoming a professor and psychologist.
“Today, the dreams and aspirations I had when I was 14 years old have come true,” he said. “I’m living the reality because Dr. Ruth Greene took time and patience and invested resources and support in me to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to gain admission into graduate school. Her approach to mentorship is holistic in that she focuses on developing students’ academic competence as well as sustaining their social and psychological well-being.”
Greene said her approach to mentorship focuses on placing students in a position of leadership so they can develop holistically and become the best professional versions of themselves.
She has also been a mentor to fellow faculty and staff, hosting programs to share leadership principals that can assist JCSU employees in highlighting the best and brightest sides of students at the University.
Greene will retire from her more than 40-year career at JCSU in May.
