Antja Dionne Caldwell

Dionne is the Director of Summer Bridge Programs at the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T). During those 8 years, she has focused on the success of first-year students through her work as an Academic Advisor, Academic Coach, College Success Instructor, Student Success Program Coordinator, and Female Mentoring Program Coordinator of S.I.S.T.E.R.S (Students Inspiring Success Through Education Retention & Service). She also developed an Academic Advising evaluation tool for the department, which gives students the ability to share their advising experiences and needs to improve the services provided.

In 2023, Dionne coordinated the Math Scholars Institute (MSI), a summer program for Continuing Students. That program was designed to improve student performance in general education math courses. The MSI was also a University Innovation Alliance (UIA) Academic Recovery and Black Student Success Initiative. Throughout her 10-year career as a higher education professional, she has led and supported student success retention initiatives and programs that have directly impacted the first-year experience by empowering students to learn, thrive, and graduate. Her efforts focus on effective mentorship and academic coaching. In addition to her work at the CAE, Dionne is also one-half of the “Higher Learning Minute”, a Student Success radio segment, that airs on WNAA 90.1 FM. As a result of her incomparable work performance, she was awarded the 2020 Professional Academic Advising Excellence Award. Over the years, she has also presented at conferences hosted by NACADA and NC A&T State University. Dionne has displayed an unwavering commitment to the academic excellence and success of students; her work has been described as empowering and inspirational.