The Office of Research Development (ORD), housed in the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs, is thrilled to share exciting news from the Research Advancement Pilot Program (RAPP). This announcement features an introduction to our first RAPP cohort (1), upcoming RAPP activities (2), opportunities to support RAPP implementation (3), and information about ORD (4).
1. Congratulations to the Inaugural RAPP Cohort
We received 25 applications from a broad range of disciplines across 15 departments and institutes at NCCU, reflecting the research ambition here on campus.
After a competitive review, we are proud to announce that ten projects were selected: five full awards and five supplemental awards.
| Photo | Name, Title and Project |
|---|---|
 | Agnes Pearcy, Associate Dean, Library and Information Sciences Preparing K-12 School Libraries to Utilize Evidence-Based Approaches to Improve Youth AI Literacy |
 | Andrae Banks, Director of the MSW Program, Associate Professor, Social Work Strengthening the MSW Workforce Pipeline at an HBCU: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of BSW and MSW Student Decision-Making and Instrument Development |
 | Elizabeth Williams, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback to Improve Stress Regulation and Cardiovascular Health Among African American Young Adults |
 | Erezi Ogbo-Gebhardt, Assistant Professor, Library and Information Sciences Developing and Pilot Testing a Framework for Measuring AI Impact in Public Libraries |
 | Mariam Abdekaziz, Assistant Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders EAGLE-BRIDGE: Engaging and Advancing Graduate Learning in Evidence-Based Practice through Bilingual Research, Instruction, and Dissemination for Graduate Education |
  | Mia Kennedy and Kelsey Hargrove, Assistant Professors, Counselor Education Program, Counseling and Higher Education Enhancing Clinical Mental Health Counselor Preparation: A School‑Embedded Training Framework for Trauma‑Informed Service Delivery in K-12 Settings |
  | Shanika Wilson, Associate Professor, and Dionne Moore, Director of Field Education and Clinical Lecturer, Social Work The Social Work Oncology Pipeline Initiative (SWOPI): An Exploratory Study of Field Education and Breast Cancer Disparities in North Carolina |
  | Theophraste Noussi, Assistant Professor, and Zhiming Yang, Associate Professor, Environmental, Earth, and Geospatial Sciences Assessment of Traffic-Related Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Areas Surrounding the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Campus |
   | Jason O'Briant, Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics/Assistant Professor, Nutrition Sciences; Karen Webb, Assistant Professor, Nursing; and Cherise Harrington, Associate Professor/Senior Researcher, Public Health Education Digital Engagement to Strengthen Community Food Access and Healthy Eating in Durham’s Hayti Community |
  | Nathan Dixon, Assistant Professor, Language and Literature, and Brian Gonzalez, Assistant Professor, Art and Design Ex Umbra: NCCU Literary Magazine |
These 16 researchers will spend the next 18 months generating preliminary research data, building grant-writing skills, and preparing competitive proposals for external funding.
Congratulations to our inaugural cohort. We cannot wait to see what they discover.
2. Upcoming RAPP Programming
RAPP provides seed funding, training, and mentoring to NCCU faculty and students to help them grow their research portfolio and strengthen their research skills. RAPP’s 18-month program includes:
- Monthly training sessions that cover various research topics from grant writing, student mentoring, to introduction to OSRP pre- and post-award processes. Sessions are held on the second Friday of every month at 1 p.m. Sessions are approximately 60 minutes and are offered in a hybrid format.
- The Monthly Writing Club is a structured space for dedicated time and space for writing. Whether you are drafting a grant proposal, revising a manuscript, or working through reviewer feedback, bring your work and write alongside your peers. Writing Club is held every fourth Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. These 60-minute sessions are available in a hybrid format.
- Quarterly social gatherings held in person at a local Durham venue to foster community and reduce professional isolation.
Upcoming Events
| Date | Event |
| August 14 | Monthly Training: Getting Started with NCCU's Office of Sponsored Research and Programs |
| August 25 | Writing Club |
| September 11 | Monthly Training: Navigating NCCU Research Operations: Purchasing, Travel, and HR Essentials for Grant-Funded Projects |
| September 22 | Writing Club |
| October 8 | Social Gathering, Location TBD |
Activities are open to the broader NCCU research community. Watch for myEOL announcements and email invitations with registration details.
If you are interested in receiving updates directly from RAPP, please email the program manager, Crystal Lee Pow Jackson, at [email protected].
3. The RAPP Evaluation Study Launched in July 2026
RAPP is not just a funding program! ORD is conducting a mixed-methods evaluation to assess the impact of RAPP. We are inviting all faculty, including those who are not RAPP awardees, to participate. The results will help us improve RAPP, share what we learn with other universities, and inform research capacity-building efforts at NCCU.
Note: For information about the RAPP Program and the RAPP Evaluation Study, contact the study principal investigator (PI), Dr. Crystal Lee Pow Jackson, at [email protected]. This study has been reviewed and approved by the North Carolina Central University Institutional Review Board (IRB Protocol No. 1201921; Date Approved: June 17, 2026).
4. The Office of Research Development Is Here to Support
During pre-proposal, connect for one-on-one support on proposal strategies, project design and evaluation, funding opportunity guidance, and project management insights. Stay connected and informed through the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs Newsletter, which features faculty highlights and funding opportunities. Highlight your achievements on the NC Research social media accounts (LinkedIn and Instagram).
Note: For more information about the Office of Research Development, please get in touch with Dr. Jacqueline Brown, Interim Director, at [email protected].
The Office of Research Development (ORD) and RAPP efforts are funded by a grant from the NC Collaboratory to Dr. Deepak Kumar to build research capacity at NCCU.
