By: Savannah Phillips
Editor
Dr. Daina Nathaniel began her journey at Wingate in 2022 as an adjunct after leaving Queens University of Charlotte, where she had been teaching for 17 years. While it was not an easy decision to leave Queens, Nathaniel says “there hasn’t been one day that I’ve regretted it. I love being here.”
“When I saw the [Wingate] website, it explained so clearly that this was a place that was recruiting low-income students,” Nathaniel said. “There was all kinds of diversity here and I knew it was the place that I wanted to be to carry that legacy through.”
Her office is a representation of her Caribbean heritage, with everything having a story behind it. Above her door is a picture of Jesus that she bought in Trinidad when she was 16. “Christ always goes up first,” Nathaniel said with a smile. “People who walk in and out of my office will always be a blessing.”
Looking at her family photos displayed on her bookshelf, she said “in the midst of the worst day, I know there is somewhere that I belong.”
Nathaniel first came to the United States in 1996 to attend Queens, leaving her family behind in Trinidad and Tobago. Independently paving her own way, she was determined to achieve her educational endeavors.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Queens in 2000 and, three years later, completed her Master’s in Communication at Wake Forest University. By 2006, Nathaniel had received her Doctorate in Communication from Florida State University.
Because of her accomplishments and experience in the academic field, she was a great candidate for the Chair of the Communication Department. After the retirement of former department chair Barbara Pann, Nathaniel officially took over the role in January.
Nathaniel has fully immersed herself in the Wingate community and, implemented a Snack Station in the Communication suite of offices on the first floor of the Neu building for students who routinely go to class hungry.
Getting the idea from the Collaborative for the Common Good (CCG) and believing deeply in the impact that service can have on the community, Nathaniel took matters into her own hands.
“I couldn’t live with the thought of students going to class hungry,” Nathaniel said. “I was maybe a little bold, but I moved the table and brought food from home.”
Because of her efforts, others have pitched in. Her friends have bought food or offered money to buy the provisions to supply the station. Since the CCG Paw Provisions Store has such a steady flow of supplies, they also provide her with snacks whenever possible.
While Nathaniel admits that some students have been a bit too greedy with the snacks, she says that she has to do it for that “one person” who really needs it.
Nathaniel has also recently become the Drama Club advisor, hoping that she and the students involved can create a safe space for self-expression. Whether you enjoy being onstage or being behind the scenes, she says all talents, personalities and majors are welcome. If you’re interested in learning more about this club, email Dr. Nathaniel at d.nathaniel@wingate.edu for more information, or check out the Corq app for upcoming meetings and events.
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