CAMPUS FAREWELL
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Dr. Li-An Yeh Retires from Position at BRITE
JASON DORSETTE LEAVES NORTH CAROLINA FOR NEW JOB IN OREGON
Dr. Li-An Yeh retired as founding director of the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) in April. The NCCU Board of Trustees honored Yeh with a resolution, expressing appreciation for her contributions to the university’s development and wishing her happiness in her retirement. During her nine-year tenure, Yeh developed curricula for the institute and established several degree programs, including a doctoral program in Integrated Biosciences. She also shepherded plans for the $20.1 million project from conception to reality and won external research funding of $2 million per year. Five patent applications were also submitted under her supervision.
JASON DORSETTE, founding director of the Centennial Scholars Program at NCCU, left Durham in January to become director of the Black Cultural Center at Oregon State University. Dorsette, a High Point native, earned his bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in public administration at NCCU and became a member of the staff in 2007. He said he plans to work toward a doctoral degree while directing the center at OSU.
The university community was saddened by the unexpected death in December 2013 of RICHARD BANKS, director of choral activities and associate professor of music at NCCU. Students, faculty, staff, family and friends of Banks attended a celebration of life service in his honor on Jan. 18 in B.N. Duke Auditorium. Banks, 60, had served on the music faculty for more than 10 years. His wife, Deborah Banks, is a member of NCCU’s Central Receiving staff. The celebration for Banks included performances by music faculty members, the NCCU University Choir, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the NCCU Alumni Choir, which he founded in 2010.