Dr. Linda Nixon Hudson is the associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). In her role as associate dean, Dr. Hudson promotes the development and delivery of emerging, high-demand graduate programs to ensure the highest academic experiences for WSSU graduate students.

Dr. Hudson is considerably skilled in developing strategies for enrollment management to include feeder programs recruiting highly selected students from other institutions. She brings a demonstrated commitment to and success in supporting the scholarly and research initiatives of the faculty. She has a demonstrated commitment to and success in supporting the academic achievement of graduate students. Her philosophy is “retention is your best recruitment strategy.” Her motto is “excellence without excuses”.

Dr. Hudson received the inaugural “Building Bridges” Award at the 19th Annual National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP) conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 25, 2006. Dr. Hudson received this award for her accomplishments at WSSU for instituting funding support for graduate students, graduate student recruitment, faculty research initiatives, graduate program development and expanded web presence for graduate programs.

Dr. Hudson joined WSSU in January of 2005 from East Carolina University (ECU), where she provided marketing leadership; enrollment management and professional development opportunities for the graduate school. While at ECU, she was selected to participate in BRIDGES, an intensive academic leadership training program for women sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003.

Prior to her appointment at ECU, Dr. Hudson served as director of the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program (a formally organized partnership program with 48 institutions located throughout the United States) and director of the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Programs (GAANN) at Florida A&M University (FAMU). Under her leadership, the FAMU Graduate Feeder Scholars Program was recognized as unique, innovative and as an exemplification of "best practices" in African-American student achievement in higher education.

Because of her work in identifying undergraduate students with the potential for advanced study and implementing and developing support systems to nurture their academic and professional growth, Hudson was selected as an Agent of Change Scholar at the Educational Development Center, Inc. in Newton, Massachusetts for the 2002 academic year.

Dr. Hudson holds the bachelor's degree in sociology and criminal justice; the master of applied social science degree in criminal justice, the master's degree in administration and supervision, and the doctorate in educational leadership. Hudson specializes in factors that impact recruitment, enrollment, retention and graduation of underrepresented minorities and women in higher education.