On October 16, Dr. Annette Wilson, coordinator of the Student Teaching/Field Placement and assistant professor of elementary education in the School of Liberal Arts and Education, presented a four-year longitudinal research project proposal at the HBCU Faculty Development Network.

Wilson’s topic was “Early college first generation student becomes first generation school teacher: Connectedness in school teaching and learning,” which was the result of conversations with college students for more than 20 years on what and how they see student retention and success for becoming an effective teacher.

“Many of those conversations speak to the nature of connecting and belonging,” Wilson said.

Founded in 1994 on the campus of Tougaloo College, the HBCU Faculty Development Network began when the college received a faculty development grant from the Bush Foundation of St. Paul, Minn.

At points in her academic career, Wilson has been a member, proposal reviewer, presenter, moderator, participant, and/or local event planner for the HBCU Faculty Development Network.

Currently, Wilson is working closely with the Wake County Men’s Leadership Academy and Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy in aligned with the Cooperative Innovative High Schools funded grant for the next five years, 2014-2019.