A "STUDENT-FIRST" EDUCATIONAL LEADER
As a formally prepared licensed K-12 teacher, Dr. Graham's philosophy on student success is grounded in a student-centric approach. Working collaboratively with administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, students, community, and external stakeholders, Dr. Graham relies heavily on student performance outcome data to assess where gaps and opportunities exist to improve institutional operations inside and outside the classroom. While Dr. Graham leverages quantitative data to evaluate outcomes, he spends a great deal of time with students, engaging them in conversation and discussing with them areas where they see challenges, barriers, and weaknesses in the campus operation. Most importantly, Dr. Graham encourages campus leadership, faculty, and staff to include students in planning, executing, and evaluating programs and events, and he engages students in various types of conversations such as Student Town Halls, student focus group sessions, student advisory councils, mentoring programs, student lunches and student dinners.
An Emphasis on Four-Year Graduation
Dr. Graham emphasizes creating a culturally responsive campus environment that ensures that all students irrespective of background will graduate in four years or less.
A Focus on Communal Engagement
Dr. Graham uses an inclusive, transparent, and communal approach to education that brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, community, and other stakeholders to support student growth, development, and preparation.
Visionary, Inclusive Leadership
As an inclusive leader, Dr. Graham spends a great deal of his time engaging the campus community, the broader community, elected officials within the state and at the federal level, and colleagues in professional organizations.
Approachable, Accessible Leadership
While the role of a senior administrator is demanding, Dr. Graham ensures that he is accessible not only to students and their families but also to campus employees and the larger community.
Real-World Engagement with Students
Dr. Graham emphasizes the importance of connecting the academic curriculum with real-world application; thus, he is a staunch proponent of paid internships, co-op experiences, clinical practice, practicums, and other experiential learning opportunities that require students to apply what they learn in the classroom. Additionally, he believes in bringing CEOs and other leaders to campus to engage students in honest, interactive dialogue.
Visible, Engaged Leadership
Dr. Graham strives to ensure that he does not lead from his office, but he is visible and engaged with the campus community. Whether attending campus programs and campus athletics, participating in community events, or facilitating keynote addresses, Dr. Graham believes in working alongside people from diverse backgrounds "shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow."
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for supporting our community project today. It truly meant a lot to our class, and we were thrilled to have you view our work.”
Xavier Millner, Senior, Winston-Salem State University