SC State awards emeritus status to seven former faculty members

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State University on Tuesday, April 30, bestowed emeritus status to seven former faculty members who served students in social work, English, education, and health sciences.

The honorees are:

• Marie Artis, assistant professor emerita.
• Dr. Bessie Cooke, associate professor emerita.
• Dr. Ghussan Greene, professor emerita.
• Dr. Albert Hayward, professor emeritus.
• Dr. Bernice Moore-Green, professor emerita.
• Dr. Kenneth Mosely professor emeritus.
• Dr. Charlie Spell, associate professor emeritus.

The following are abbreviated biographies of the honorees. Click here to read the full letters of recommendation.

Marie Hamberg Artis

Artis retired from South Carolina State University in 2016 after 30-plus years of service, which included the following positions:

• Director of the Career Development Center.
• Director of Alumni Affairs.
• Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
• Assistant professor and academic program coordinator of the Social Work Program for 12 years.

Additionally, Artis faithfully served on a variety of committees at the departmental, college, and university-wide levels. As a survivor of the Orangeburg Massacre and loyal daughter of South Carolina State University, she has served in many roles at her beloved alma mater.

Dr. Bessie Davis Cooke

In 1995, Cooke joined the faculty at South Carolina State University as an assistant professor in the Early Childhood Program, Cooke supervised early childhood candidates and taught several courses during her tenure. Cooke coordinated the early childhood program and aligned key assessments for the program. She served as coordinator of the Early Childhood Program from 2000 until her retirement in December 2012. In 2003, she was promoted to associate professor.

Throughout her tenure at SC State, she maintained her certification by the South Carolina State Board of Education in nine areas: early childhood education, elementary education, social studies, elementary principal, elementary supervisor, middle school mathematics, middle school science, middle school social studies, and middle school language arts. She taught 10 different courses.

Cooke was recognized as Professor of the Year in the School of Education in 1998.

In 1994, Cooke received her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in curriculum and instruction, with a specialization in early childhood education. She received her Master of Education degree from Howard University in 1975 in elementary curriculum and instruction and her Bachelor of Arts from Claflin University in social science in 1971.

Dr. Ghussan Greene

Greene, who was not present for the ceremony,  retired as a tenured professor of English in 2015 after 30 years of outstanding and inspirational service as mentor, teacher, scholar and coordinator of English teacher education.

Her service to the university began in 1985 as an assistant professor in the Department of English and Modern Languages. She founded the university's peer tutorial writing center, which she maintained and oversaw through writing Title Ill grants, and was instrumental in the university establishing the Writing Across the Curriculum Policy,

She served as chair of the Department of English and Modern Language from 2006 to 2015, and she proved an effective shepherd during a time of much change and growth. Among her numerous accomplishments as chair, she oversaw the development of the journalism minor which quickly grew to become a communications program.

Dr. Albert Hayward

Hayward joined the SC State faculty as coordinator of chemistry and biology education and assistant professor of science education in 2001.

He served in many capacities at SC State University to include assistant professor of science education, associate professor of science education, director of The University Summer School, executive director of Felton Laboratory School, Professor of science education, university student teacher supervisor, coordinator of science education, sponsor director for SC State charter schools and dean of the College of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

He was named Professor of the Year in the Department of Teacher Education on three occasions and Professor of the Year for the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences for two separate academic years.

Hayward received his Ph.D. from Atlanta University in biology/mycology in 1982, his Education Specialist in educational administration from The Citadel in 1987, a Master of Science in science education from Atlanta University in 1976, and a Bachelor of Science in biology/science education from Voorhees College in 1974.

Dr. Bernice Moore-Green

Moore-Green joined South Carolina State University in 1979. She held South Carolina certification as a secondary school teacher and certification as a secondary school principal. In her first seven years at South Carolina State, she was a research fellow and served as an adjunct faculty with the departments of education and social sciences.

In 1986 she joined the School of Education as an associate professor in a tenure track position. In 1987 she was promoted to chair of the Department of Secondary Education. In 1988, it was determined that she could better serve the Institution in the role of associate dean of education.

She was Professor of the Year for the Department of Teacher Education in 1999. In 2001, she was Professor of the Year for the School of Education.

She received her doctorate from Kansas State University in 1978 in curriculum and instruction, her Master of Education from South Carolina State College in 1973 in social studies education, and the Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in teacher education in 1967 from Barber-Scotia College.

Dr. Kenneth Don Mosely

Mosely served the university as a teacher, researcher, and administrator in the Health and Physical Education Department from 1978-2004 and retired in 2005..He taught several physical education courses and advised majors in the department of over 400 students including nighttime tutoring.

Mosely's administrative role was the department chair. Under his leadership, the department developed and implemented two graduate-level options and three undergraduate professional options in physical education which are both still in the program today.

For 17 years, Mosely ran the swimming program, and intramural program, and administered several Youth Programs. He even volunteered to teach swimming to ROTC cadets, and he certified lifeguards. He developed the first Special Olympics track meet at South Carolina State College that ran for 15 consecutive years.

Mosely was not a student at SC State, but he has been a lifetime member of the National Alumni Association here since 2015. Mosely has given a monetary award since 1978 to one student in the Health Sciences Department with the highest GPA.

Dr. Charlie Spell

In 2000, Spell worked as an Assistant Superintendent in Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five. During this time, he worked closely with the SC State Department of Education in placing student teachers for clinical experiences. He joined the university faculty as an assistant professor in educational leadership in 2005.

He served as interim chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and chair of the Department of Education. 

Spell received his Bachelor of Science Degree in instrumental music in 1971, his master's degree in education counseling in 1973, and his Doctor of Education in education administration in 1994 from SC State.