NCCU Professor Rachelle Gold honored by UNC Board of Governors for Excellence in Teaching

Rachelle Gold, Ph.D., professor of English at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), has been named one of 17 faculty members across the University of North Carolina System to receive the 2026 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Gold has served NCCU students for almost two decades as a dedicated instructor, mentor, and scholar. Her teaching spans a wide range of courses, from developmental writing and first-year composition to graduate seminars. She teaches in several areas of the English curriculum, including composition, literature and courses that prepare students to become high school English educators.

Known for her ability to connect with students at every stage of their academic journey, Gold helps first-year students develop the critical thinking and communication skills necessary for success while also guiding graduate students through complex research and scholarly inquiry. She also advises English Education majors and supports their progress through the Teacher Education Program.

"NCCU is replete with stellar teachers, Gold said. "I am honored to have been selected among the superb applicants for this magnificent award. Seven members of my family were teachers, and I benefited tremendously from extraordinary public-school educators who taught me. In my teaching, I emphasize the Power of voice as students write authentic personal narratives and read inspiring memoirs; Patience with all stages of the writing process; Persistence as they study rhetoric and grammar; and by Purposeful reading aloud in class to stimulate attention and to activate curiosity."

Since joining the NCCU faculty in 2008, Gold has earned numerous honors for her teaching and service. In 2015, she received the NCCU Award for Teaching Excellence, the Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award, and the Chancellor's Excellence in Service Award.

"Dr. Gold is a leader in advancing digital humanities at NCCU, says NCCU Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ontario S. Wooden. "Equally important, she is a dedicated educator and mentor who is deeply committed to her students' academic success, personal growth and leadership development."

Her commitment to innovative teaching and student engagement extends beyond the classroom. Gold has secured several major grants supporting humanities education and research, including a National Endowment for the Humanities grant for digital humanities initiatives and a $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support student-led research documenting the achievements of African American women connected to North Carolina and NCCU. The latter was the first Mellon grant awarded to NCCU.

Gold holds a bachelor's degree in humanities from San Jose State University, a master's degree in education from the University of California, Berkeley, a master's degree in English from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Established in 1994 by the UNC Board of Governors, the Excellence in Teaching Awards underscore the importance of teaching, encouraging and rewarding good teaching within the UNC System.

For more information about the awards, visit https://www.northcarolina.edu/leadership-and-governance/board-of-governors/awards/.