. Dessie Mae Sanders Author, Educator, Philanthropist, and Scholar July 11, 2016 Dr. Daniel D. Reneau, Jr., Interim President University of Louisiana System 1201 North Third Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 RE: LETTER OF APPLICATION GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH Dear Dr. Reneau, Jr., and the Presiding Board: Personal and organizational effectiveness is proportionate to the strength of leadership. -John C. Maxwell Leadership is the issue for Grambling State University. According to the Law of Navigation, anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. Without a doubt, Grambling State University is a comprehensive, historically black, public institution that already has a stellar reputation. Please accept this communiqué as my official application for the position of presidency. I am a proud Alumni of this prestigious university, Where everybody is somebody. If selected for this position, my strategic plan is to make emphatically sure that the institution continues to improve and strengthen its undergraduate major courses of study, which are undergirded by its liberal arts program, and graduate school. As a two-time graduate of Grambling State University, receiving a Masters of Liberal Studies, FA and Bachelor of Arts in Theater, I understand the importance of the university s advancement and preservation of African American history, art, and culture. When it comes to leadership, it s not the position that makes the leader; it s the leader that makes the position. And no good leader plans a course of action without looking closely at the problem. Unequivocally, Grambling has experienced several presidents in the past twenty-five years. I know that a good leader considers the cost of making commitments to themselves and others. If selected as president, I will not only examine measurable factors such as finances and resources, but I will also examine intangibles such as faculty and student moral, and so on (I ll discuss these issues and more, as I share how I plan to navigate my strategic plan for Grambling State University). I do believe my professional experiences in Higher Education has sharpened my skills in the delegation of budget planning, fundraising, public relations, and marketing. These diverse experiences have also developed my reputation as a trusted team builder and mentor who can improve program efficiencies by implementing comprehensive training in curriculum development and instructional practices. This year, I have increased, set............................
July 18, 2016 Page 2 goals, and assisted in Uplift Summit International Preparatory s 2016 Exemplary rank, as 4th within the state of Texas, according to Best High schools in US News. Also, I was highly instrumental in Uplift Summit s state-wide passing rate in Freshman English with a National College Readiness score of 97.9. I have had the esteemed honor to serve as Regional Chair in leading an $82,000 capital campaign structuring, set-up for scholarships in English & World Languages Student Literacy Contest; and served as Regional Coordinator for Dallas County Community Colleges faculty membership in the Bridging the Gap Conference utilizing and approved budget of $80,000. I contribute a great deal of my professional accomplishments and academic career to Grambling State University. I've collaborated or assisted in writing educational or artistic grants totaling $133,400. I have been instrumental in organizing a $21,000 capital campaign structuring, set-ups of scholarships for the Grambling State University Choir and students majoring in the fine and performing arts. As English faculty during the 2008-09 term, I had the opportunity serve on the Common Examination Committee, Rising Junior Exam Committee, and Reaffirmation of Accreditation Organization of Teams-QEP. Also, I attribute much my undergraduate and graduate experience in assisting sound leaders such as Mildred Moss, Fidelia O. Adams-Johnson, and Teresa Adams-Garner in public, community, and alumni relations for the Miss Bayou Classic Pageant, and Miss GSU Pageant. Last year, I harnessed these skills by collaborating with officials of the Miss. America Pageant. I was able to encourage and mentor a diversity of young ladies in securing scholarships as they continue to pursue their collegiate careers. I conclude by saying, Navigators listen to what others have to say. I know that significant barriers to successful planning are fear of change, ignorance, uncertainty, about the future, and lack of imagination. If selected as president, I will do everything I can to prevent those factors from hindering Grambling State University s growth. I look forward to interviewing with you and the Board soon. Respectfully, Dessie M. Sanders, ABD Great Niece of Charles P. Adams, Founder of Grambling State University MALS, Humanities, Grambling State University (LA) Candidate, Ph.D., University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
Dessie M. Sanders 1 Dessie M. Sanders 6924 Dart, Dallas, TX 75217/ H: 214-391-2393/ C: 972-670-7353 Objective: Chief Executive of Grambling State University. Education Doctoral Candidate (ABD): (2005-present), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America, Arts & Humanities, Ph.D. Grambling State University, 1995, Grambling, LA, United States of America, Arts & Humanities, Master of Arts Grambling State University, 1993, Grambling, LA, United States of America, Humanities, Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts Dissertation Dissertation research: THE CHURCH, THE BIBLE, AND THE METAPHOR OF THE BLACK FEMALE BONDSERVANT IN AMERICAN LITERATURE Professional Experience Uplift Education, Summit International Preparatory High School, 1305 N Center Street, Arlington, TX. Rank-4, (Gold Medal for College Readiness), Best High schools, US News 2016 (Fall 2015 present) IB Faculty, 9 th grade English and Literature Assignments: English and Literature, ESL, and Speech and Debate Coach Lone Star College-Greenspoint & LSC-Victory Centers, 250 North Sam Houston Pkwy. E., Houston, Texas 77060 (Spring 2013 Fall 2015) Adjunct-Faculty, English and Literature Assignments: English 1301 and 1302 Dillard University, Office of Academic Affairs, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70122, September 2013 to December 2013 (Fall 2013 contract only) Visiting Adjunct English Professor (Dissertation Research):
Dessie M. Sanders 2 Courses assigned to teach: Expository writing 111 Wiley College, 711 Wiley Avenue, Marshall, Texas 75670 September 2010 to May 2012 Instructor of English - Assisted in adding structure to the full lifecycle of measuring, analyzing, planning, acting, and re-measuring of student progress and achievement. Facilitated in discussions in assigned teaching area with other Instructors and the Directors in Humanities and Social Sciences to coordinate instructional efforts. Prepared lesson outlines and plans for Fundamental English, First Year Writing, Seminar, and Rhetoric, and submitted outline for Administrative review. Planned, prepared, and developed various teaching aids such as bibliographies, charts, and graphs. Presented subject matter to students taking Fundamental writing Levels I or II, and students enrolled in First Year Writing, utilizing a variety of methods and techniques, such as AVID writing strategies. Courses Assigned to teach: Developmental English Levels I & II and 3301 African American Literature. Held office hours to support students in mastering material in English- Division of Social Sciences and Humanities. Grambling State University, Grambling, LA. English, Lecturer I: August 2008- May 2009, 401 Main Street, Grambling, LA 71245 Visiting Scholar: English Lecturer I- Common Examination Committee: Rising Junior Exam, Reaffirmation of Accreditation Organization of Teams (Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Courses Assigned to teach: English Composition 101and 102; World Literature 200; and Advanced English Composition 213 Dallas County Community Colleges, 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch/Dallas, TX, 75244 Adjunct- September 2005 May 2007; Visiting Instructor: July 2007- May 2008 - Served as faculty representative (QEP) for the Richland College Assessment Plan- Spring 2006- Spring 2007: Assisted in improving and strengthening educational objectives for students Academic disciplines determined their means of assessment, their criteria for success, and the assessment of at least 3-5 student-learning outcomes, which were identified during the prior year. Implemented changes recommended from prior year s assessment. Goal was to compare and analyze studentlearning outcomes and Exemplary Educational Objectives. Courses Assigned to teach: English Composition 1301-1302, and American Literature 2328. Director of Development Student Literary Competition, 2007-08 Regional Chair in $82,000 capital campaign structuring, set-up for scholarships in English & World Languages
Dessie M. Sanders 3 Regional Coordinator for Dallas County Community Colleges faculty membership for Bridging the Gap Conference - $80,000 Served as Coordinator for the Annual Performing Arts Spring Festival. Writing, designing, and coordination for the production of publications; composed mass media communications and instituted a new newsletter; increased annual fund by 100%. Recruited, designed sponsor proposal, and implemented sponsorship benefits for the English Department, resulting in generation of $2,000 for student recruitment. Assisted with booths, digital program, information, and event fees Cultivated and maintained relationships with administration, community, and faculty via phone, mail, and direct association. Criswell College, 4010 Gaston Avenue Dallas, TX 75246, August 2006-2007 (Visiting fulltime Instructor for Professor on Sabbatical) Adjunct English Instructor Courses assigned to teach: Advanced English Instructor: Adult Basic Education Dallas Independent School District and Dallas County Community Colleges, Dallas, TX Title I: (IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DISADVANTAGED) Reading Teacher 1997-2000 Lead ESL Instructor: Summary of 2000-01: Reading for Texas Improvement/Tutorial: $2,270,748 o Innovatively developed reading and language arts short benchmark assessments using required software as recommended by college campus or school district. Served as an administrator and facilitator for LPAC, a reading intervention program designed to increase reading comprehension and fluency through auditory processing and as a facilitator of the Dallas ISD School Building Level Team, District Level Team and Local Professional Development Committee. Collaborated with teachers on differentiated instruction for students not on an IEP but below grade level for reading. Completed professional development training to be a teacher mentor for the Dallas Independent School District Educator program and delivered professional development on Texas Teacher Evaluation System Pilot. TAAS (1997 1998) and (TAKS, 2003). Awards/ Achievements, Fellowships, Grants and Internships 2016, Critics acclaim, (2000) play, Dessie M. Sanders. Fatbacks and Collard greens, Sandra M. Mayo and Elvin Holt. Stages of Struggle and Celebration: A Production History of Black Theater in Theater, 2016. 2012-13, Big Thought/ Thriving Minds, Teaching Artist Fellow, $3170 2010, Write For Literacy Grant Texas Instruments, $11,000
Dessie M. Sanders 4 2012-13, National Association of African American Studies- Research Scholar, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 2011, Fulbright Scholar 2007-09, International Society of Poets 2009, NASC Honor Society, University of Texas at Dallas 2009, The National Scholars Honor Society 2005; 07, Editor's Choice Award for Original Poetry 2007, International Scholar Laureate Program Award 1996, Who s Who American Students 1994-95, Internship, Assistant Costume Director, Speech and Theater, Grambling State University, John Rutelo 1995, Charles P. Adams Foundation Grant, $6,000 1993; 94 President s List 1992; 93 Dean s List Publications 2016, Book/ play (gospel musical satire-), Dating Jesus, Single Black Women in Search of Romantic Love in the Absence of Black Men, in progress 2015, Book, Bitter Black Female, is an Over Exaggerated Sub Category, June 7. 2012-13, National Association of African American Studies- Research Scholar, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 2012, "Dating Jesus: A Womanist Approach to Single Black Women in Search of Romantic Love in the Absence of Black Men" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the 97th Annual Convention, Westin Hotel and Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Sep 26, 2012 2012, Book, Specifying: This is a True Womanist Story 2011, Fulbright Scholar 2007-09, International Society of Poets, 2004-2008 2009, NASC Honor Society, University of Texas at Dallas 2009, The National Scholars Honor Society 2005; 07, Editor's Choice Award for Original Poetry 2007, International Scholar Laureate Program Award 2000, gospel play, (Video) Fatback and Collard greens, Black Academy of Arts & Letters, GRIOT Productions, Papers and Lectures Speaker, Favored House Sa International Women s Conference, Lecture: Breaking the Silence of Depression, Lagos, Nigeria, May 27 31, 2015. Presenter, James Baldwin: Transatlantic Commuter Conference, Universite Paul-Valery, Chair, June 2014. Researcher and Presenter, South Africa: May 19-30, 2013, Dating Jesus: a Womanist Approach to Single Black Women in Search of Romantic Love and the Absence of Black Men, RAW Presenter, Graduate Symposium. March 22-23, 2013, University of Texas at Dallas.
Dessie M. Sanders 5 Presenter, Black Women and Subjectivity, The National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates Conference, Scarborough, ME, February 11-16, 2013. Presenter, Black Women and Subjectivity, Arizona State University: 18th Annual Southwest English Symposium (SWES), Arizona State University, February 15-16, 2013. Presenter, The Hawaii International Conference on Education: presenter. January 5-8, 2012. Honolulu, Hawaii. Dating Jesus, a Womanist Approach to Single Black Women in Search of Romantic Love in the Absence of Black Men. Presenter, 10th Annual Hawaii Conference, Arts & Humanities, January 10-13, 2012. Honolulu, Hawaii. Dating Jesus, a Womanist Approach to Single Black Women in Search of Romantic Love in the Absence of Black Men. Presenter, African American Identity and Womanism, One Voice International Conference and Forum Atlanta, presenter. December 3, 2011 Atlanta, GA. Memberships and Affiliations 2013 16, Honor Society.org 2012-16, The National Association for African American Studies 2012 16, Association for the Study of African American Life and History 2011, The National Academic Networking Association 2011, Fulbright Scholar 2008, The Hawaii International Society on Arts & Humanities 2006-15, The Black Academy of Arts and Letters