From Dr. Alfred Bryant, dean of the School of Education & Human Sciences:
His work with Campbell University began teaching as an adjunct not long after graduating with his master’s degree in 1986. Having two years earlier earned his bachelor’s degree at Campbell University, Dr. Godwin became a coveted Two-Hump Camel.
After concluding his initial career in the public schools in 2012, he joined the School of Education as a full-time faculty member. Since that time, he has worked tirelessly in his role as Director of Teacher Education. His diligence required of all who accept the challenge to serve as a director in teacher education program warrants much gratitude as the list and range of responsibilities is long. Coordinating the many teacher education placements beginning when most are first-year students is a huge task fraught with never ending challenges.
A luxury, I have noted over the years, is seeing Chris have more than five minutes to focus on one problem area before being thrown into yet another situation needing his expertise and his patience. Exhibiting strong emotional intelligence traits is necessary and he has successfully navigated this work across the many (and growing) differing Local Education Associations (LEA or local county school system) for decade now. Dr. Godwin has taught the bulk of the courses offered across both undergraduate and graduate programs in professional education and has developed many of them as on line offerings. He is currently working to re-write and teach a current course (EDUC 628 The Whole Child) he envisions aligning better with the constantly changing needs of our Residency Program students.
He is an early riser and stays late into the day until the work is done. He has done his share of working both day and night when he taught evening graduate program courses at night for the many years he served as an adjunct. He has directed the School of Education’s program changes that go before the University Curriculum Council. This is a constantly moving target that requires expertise in curriculum as he presents all School of Education program changes across all areas (psychology, social work, and professional education). He is first in line to volunteer for any needed task. Tireless dedication to the well-being of thousands of Campbell University undergraduate and graduate students over the past thirty-six years is the most significant testament I can give to ask that Dr. Chris Godwin be considered for the Dean’s Excellence Award for 2022.
Chris Godwin has been a member of the Campbell University family for 39 years. In 1984 Chris earned his Bachelor of Science Degree as a Summa Cum Laude recipient majoring in Intermediate Education with a concentration in Math and Science.
In his journey to become the Director of Professional Education at Campbell University, Dr. Godwin has served in many capacities in educational leadership. He coordinated the development of Harnett County’s Gifted Education Program which became one of the nine model sites for improvement in Gifted Education under North Carolina’s statute for Gifted Education, Article 98. His tenure in Johnston County Schools from 2000-2011 included Middle School Coordinator, Secondary Curriculum Coordinator, Director of Middle Grades, and Executive Director for Academic Programs. He currently serves as the president of North Carolina Association of College and Teacher Educators. He is an advisory board member for Harnett County Business Education Partnership and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction /21st Century Learning Communities. He is a charter member of the Master of School of Administrator Advisory Committee as well as a member and past president of the Friends of Education at Campbell University.
Dr. Godwin has applied a combination of practical and academic experiences to a variety of consultancies that span across the State. His consultations include “Differentiation in the Regular Classroom for All Learners,” “Engagement with the College Classroom,” and “Reading Differentiation in the Content Areas,” to name a few. Additionally, under Professional Presentations he has provided advice on numerous topics that include, “Responsiveness to Instruction and Gifted Education: “A Natural Fit,” “Getting to Know Your Students to Teach Them” and “When Students Cannot Learn the Way We Teach Them, We Must Teach Them The Way They Learn! Learning My Own Way!”
For those who know Dr. Godwin and have experienced his passion, kindness and true commitment, faith and family are the core of all that he represents. He always makes it known that his family is everything. He would say, “My Family has shaped me into who I am today. My family and faith are the foundation that has given me all these opportunities.”
He is being recognized because of the passion and dedication he has brought to the classroom. This journey has brought him to this recognition today as we know this journey will continue.