Ms Melinda B Sopher

Lecturer

Biography

Mindy Sopher (Melinda B.), Lecturer and Academic Advisor                                              Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences                                 BA, Wittenberg University (Ohio) - Political Science                                                                     MA, Bowling Green State University  (Ohio) - College Student Development                                     EdD Classes, NC State University - Ag. Education and Leadership                                     Additional Coursework:  Slippery Rock PA, Indiana University, Memphis TN                 

Professional Speaker for www.ForCollegeForLife.org    

Mindy Sopher teaches Nonprofit Leadership and Development (COM466) and Public Speaking (COM110) at NC State University.  She also facilitates numerous workshops for the Leadership Development Series, Wolfpack Athletic Department, Student Government, and Fraternity/Sorority groups both on and off-campus.  At NC State, she served students as the first Director of Greek Life (now Fraternity and Sorority Life), as a researcher for the National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness (NILIE). and an Academic Advisor & Lecturer in Exploratory Studies. She served Sigma Nu Fraternity for 5 years as their Faculty in Residence/HouseMother. 

Teaching and Research Interests

Students in Transition                                                                                                                      Indicators of Academic and Personal Satisfaction and Success during Major Selection                Nonprofit Leadership, Sustainability, and Capacity Building                                                            Nonprofit Volunteer recruitment, training, engagement, appreciation, and retention                    Student Leadership Development and Officer / Leadership Transition                                          Fraternity / Sorority Life

Projects

Impact of COM 466 Nonprofit Leadership and Development Students on the local Community  Living-Learning Environments for Fraternity Men                                                                          New Directions in Student Leadership in an Agriculture Based Economy / Community 

Funded Research

Raleigh STARS (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) under Dr. Jose Picart, PI (NC State CoEd)          - assessment of causes and propensity of local students to apply for and enroll in local colleges GRIT (Psychology Research Grant from the Science Foundation) under Dr. Raymond Ting, PI            - assessment of resolve to stay in school and be successful                                                     PACE and SACE  Under Dr. George Baker, PI (NC State College of Education)                                    - assessment of staff or student satisfaction at Community Colleges; 12 co-authored reports

Extension and Community Engagement

Board Membership:                                                                                                                            - Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors (Regional VP)                                                          - Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hampton Roads (Curriculum Chair)              - United Cerebral Palsy of SE Virginia (President, Development Chair)                                               - Southeastern Panhellenic Conference                                                                                              - Southeastern Interfraternity Conference                                                                                           - National Kappa Delta Sorority Centennial Convention (Local Arrangements Chair)                     Fund Development Projects:                                                                                                              - Chair: Inaugural Great Hampton Roads Duck Race, net raised $ 68K                                              - Dancing "Guest Star" in "Dancing Like the Stars" Competition for the National Inclusion Project     - Participant:  Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (10 times)                                                 Volunteer Activities and Engagement:                                                                                             - A Place at the Table; Passage Home; Youth Tutoring                                                                       - Kappa Delta Sorority (Girl Scouts, Prevent Child Abuse, VA Children's Home, Christmas Seals)    - National Inclusion Project; Activate Good; Habitat for Humanity; Chrysler Museum                       - American Red Cross and Blood Drives (2 Gallon Donor); Susan G. Komen for the Cure                  - Norfolk Public Library; Norfolk LGBT Center; First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry                       - Meals on Wheels; STOP Hunger Now; Food Bank of South and Central NC                                   -  Order of the Eastern Star; Rainbow for Girls; church affiliated projects and mission trips

Publications

Atkin et al., (2013) Transition to Higher Education Workbook. Raleigh, NC: CopyTron, Ed. Team. Sowell, Craig S., (2009). Revealing the Non-Secrets. Indianapolis, IN: Createspace.  Ed. Reviewer. Dannels, Deanna, Editor (2002). Public Speaking Student Handbook, Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt.      Publishing.  A class exercise “Ethics and Actions:  An Exercise for Impromptu Speeches”. Sopher, M.B. (2006) Helicopter Parents. In Thorne, J.  The Angelos of Kappa Delta, Fall 2006. Sopher, M.B. (2002). Living with breast cancer, fighting it with Xeloda. Oncology Today, 2(2), 1 Sopher, M.B. (1980). Building Traditions. In Raymond, J. Orientation: Just the beginning. Campus    Life, 12(4), 32.                                                                                                                              Over one dozen technical research publications for the NILIE Research Consortium.  Selected list: Sopher, M.B. (2002). Personal Assessment of the College Environment (PACE).  A report for the     Gateway Technical College, Racine, WI.  Raleigh, NC:  NC State University, National Initiative for   Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness.Caison, A, Ed.D. Reno, D.L., and Sopher, M.B. (2001). Student Assessment of the College Environment (SACE).  A report for Northwest Vista   Community College, San Antonio, TX.  Raleigh, NC: NC State University, National Initiative for   Leadership & Institutional Effectiveness.

Education

• BA in Political Science from Wittenberg University (OH), 1979MA
• MA in Higher Education Administration (Student Personnel) from Bowling Green State University ( OH), 1983
• Ed D in Ag. Education and Extension from NC State University, in progress