Ms Mindy (Melinda) B Sopher

Picture of Ms Mindy (Melinda) B Sopher

Lecturer

Biography

Mindy (Melinda B.) Sopher, Academic Advisor, Exploratory Studies & Academic Advising Services

            –and--  Lecturer, Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences,

 

BA, Wittenberg University (Ohio)                                           212 University College Commons, Box 7925

MA, Bowling Green State University  (Ohio)                        Raleigh, NC     27695-7925

Doctorate in progress, NC State University                           mindy_sopher@ncsu.edu    @MindyBKD

Other Coursework:  Indiana, Memphis, NC State                 www.CAMPUSPEAK.org    

 

 

Mindy Sopher advises new freshmen and upper-class students who are undecided about their majors, while teaching Transition to Higher Education and a Communication course in Nonprofit Leadership and Development at NC State University.  She also facilitates numerous workshops for the CSLEPS Leadership Development Series, the 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, and as a doctoral student. Her nonprofit leadership work includes leadership and training roles for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Raleigh, several professional trade associations, American Cancer Society, Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, SE and MidAmerican Greek Leaders Associations, American Red Cross, Komen for the Cure, Girl Scouts, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Camp, LEADERSHAPE, student-athletes, and faith-based groups. Her first job in higher education was as a Women’s Residence Hall Director at her alma mater and advisor of their Greek Council Leadership Team there.  Awarded nationally as a speaker, facilitator and advisor, Mindy was named Outstanding Communication Department Faculty Member 3 times, College of Humanities & Social Sciences Academic Advisor of the Year, and the Barbara Solomon Awards winner as top academic advisor on campus.  Her research and writing focuses on nonprofit leadership and leader transitions. She was honored by the naming of the Outstanding Panhellenic Sorority Award as “the SOPHER CUP,” the Sopher Graduate Fellowship by her sorority, November 20 as “MINDY SOPHER DAY” in the City of Raleigh by the Mayor, and also by receiving “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine” from the Governor of NC for her service to others in 2010.  She is humbled by these accolades, but is most proud of surviving cancer four times, losing over 100 pounds, AND having the privilege to teach and learn from great students every day!  Her Nonprofit Leadership and Development class at NC State has placed nearly 275 students with over 50 local Community Partner agencies to help raise over $600,000 and give at least 12,000 hours in service learning for our community. She recently competed in “Dancing Like the Stars” fund-raiser for the National Inclusion Project, a nonprofit established to help include kids with disabilities in everyday play.

Teaching and Research Interests

Students in Transition

Indicators of Academic and Personal Satisfaction and Success during Major Selection

Nonprofit Leadership & Sustainability

Nonprofit Agencies:  Volunteer recruitment, training, engagement, apprecaition and retention

Student Leadership Development

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

 - 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

 - assessment of staff or student satisfaction at Community Colleges

 - helped complete 12 reports

Extension and Community Engagement

Board Member:

 - Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors

 - Hampton Roads Chamber of Comerce Leadership HR

 - United Cerebral Palsy of SE Virginia

 - Southeastern Panhellenci Conference

 - Southerastern Interfraternity Conference

 - National Kappa Delta Sorority Centennial Convention (Local Arrangements Chair)

Fund Development Projects:

 - Chair for Great Hampton Roads Duck Race - raised $68K

 - Dancing "Guest Star" in "Dancing Like the Stars" Competition for the National Inclusion Project

 - Participant:  Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (9 times) 

Volunteer:

 - Kappa Delta Sorority (Girl Scouts, Prevent Child Abuse, VA Children's Home, etc.)

 - National Inclusion Project

 - Activate Good

 - Habitat for Humanity

 - American Red Cross and Blood Drives (2 Gallon Donor) 

 - Susan G. Komen for the Cure

 - Norfolk Public Library

 - Norfolk LGBT Center

 - STOP Hunger New and other Hunger Relief Efforts (Central Soup Kitchen) 

 - Rainbow for Girls and Order of the Eastern Star and church afiliated events

Publications

Atkin et al., (2013) Transition to Higher Education Workbook. Raleigh, NC: CopyTron, Editorial Team.

 

Sowell, Craig S., (2009). Revealing the Non-Secrets. Indianapolis, IN: Createspace.  Editorial Peer 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.  Quoted 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  

  Gateway Technical College, Racine, WI.  Raleigh, NC:  North Carolina 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:  North Carolina

  State University, National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness.

 

Hughes, K., (2015, October 23).  Academic Advisor, cancer survivor shares her reality. TECHNICIAN, p.6.

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