STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY

THE EAGLE PROMISE IN ACTION

School of Business Develops Real Estate and Cybersecurity Thought Leaders

The first real estate course at NCCU was taught in Spring 2021, and now NCCU School of Business Master of Business Administration (MBA) students can add real estate as a formal concentration during their time at the university.

NCCU was the first HBCU to introduce a real estate specialization into its MBA program in the Fall of 2021. A who’s who of corporate real estate heavyweights, including JLL and McDonald’s, contributed nearly $2 million to the NCCU School of Business to support the cultivation of the next generation of industry professionals. The funds supported a robust, industry-validated curriculum constructed by a team of scholars including Emil Malizia, research professor emeritus with the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Ibrahim Salama, chair of the Department of Decision Sciences at NCCU. In addition, the financial support furthers efforts by the School of Business to build a pipeline of diverse talent in the real estate industry through scholarships, fellowships and assistantships expected to attract students from all over the country. In just its first year, enrollment in the concentration is outstripping initial forecasts.

Supported by a $300,000 grant from an anonymous donor and a $150,000 award from Cisco, the NCCU School of Business opened a Cybersecurity Lab on October 20, 2020. In direct response to the global need for increased cyber protection, particularly during a time when more and more interaction and transactions are happening digitally, this program has been developed to grant students hands-on preparation to combat these issues. One of the first of its kind within the UNC System, this lab complements a new program for students interested in pursuing a degree in Information Technology with a concentration in cybersecurity. As strengthening the cybersecurity workforce becomes a greater priority, the nation is increasingly looking to universities to produce skilled and qualified cybersecurity professionals able to defend national networks and infrastructure. Business leaders acknowledge the need to protect networks, systems, devices and data from cybercriminals, cyberthreats and cyberattacks, on behalf of companies and society as a whole.

Strengthening Our Community

Facilitate the development of innovative strategies with Durham County, the City of Durham and the Research Triangle to create economic opportunity and revitalization in areas surrounding NCCU.

NCCU is an influential member of Durham and the Triangle region—and the university’s impact dates back nearly 112 years to its founding in the historic Hayti neighborhood near prosperous Black Wall Street. Today, with a growing community of nearly 8,082 students, 1,500 faculty and staff and 37,000 alumni, NCCU remains a trusted community partner. The university’s advocates—from the NCCU Board of Trustees to the Chancellor’s Board of Visitors, which was established in 2019, to the advisory boards for the colleges, schools and research institutes and alumni—include a healthy and influential crosssection of leaders and key stakeholders representing industries from business, education, and healthcare to city, county, state and federal government who are all equally invested in the success of NCCU.

Partnerships with the Downtown Durham, Inc., the City of Durham and Discover Durham have helped develop marketing strategies to maximize NCCU’s Homecoming activities, which generate millions annually for the city and county, boosting economic activity for downtown businesses.

Additionally, NCCU’s core of “Truth and Service” is a hallmark of the institution and demonstrated in its community engagement and outreach activities. This service extends into careers for NCCU students. In 2022, NCCU joined the Volcker Alliance Next Generation Service Corps (NextGen Service), a groundbreaking initiative that draws diverse, talented young people into government careers. Through NextGen Service, Schools of Public Service across the country are introducing college students to public service values and building practical, collaborative leadership skills, regardless of their chosen major.