N.C. A&T Alumna Webb Leads Student Health Center During COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit our nation, doctors and nurses stood on the frontlines to answer the call. With resilience and grace, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has been fortunate to have under its leadership, Dr. Padonda Webb ’03, the executive director of the Student Health Center. She is responsible for the public health safety of nearly 12,800 students and close to 2,000 faculty and staff members.

In August 2020, Webb stepped into the role as interim executive director, when the previous director retired — during the peak of the pandemic and the re-entry of students coming back to campus.

“It was very critical for me to make sure we re-opened the campus safely, and I honestly didn’t have time to be scared or nervous – I just knew how to do my job,” said Webb. “When the pandemic started, I was previously serving as the assistant director at the center, so I had a good rapport with the team and I believed we were all capable of implementing best practices for safety.”

Webb’s resiliency didn’t develop overnight. Rather, it stemmed from her grandmother who raised her in her hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“My grandmother was instrumental in teaching me about life lessons and she was my support system when my brother passed away at the age of 4 years old from leukemia,” said Webb. “That life experience is the reason why I aspired to become a nurse and why I attended North Carolina A&T.”

In 2003, Webb worked as a registered nurse at Wake Forest Baptist Health in the intensive care unit when she soon realized in order for her to advance in her career, she would have to go back to school. In 2006, she received her master’s degree from Winston-Salem State University and a doctorate in nursing and practice from the University of South Alabama in 2012. During her career, she has worked in emergency medicine, urgent care and primary care.

“I made my way to A&T when the former director contacted me regarding a position in the Student Health Center. Initially, I immediately thought of the old Sebastian Student Health Center, but there was a whisper in my ear encouraging me to come back to Aggieland,” she said. “I was hired as a clinical director that managed the nursing staff in the clinic and then I was promoted to the assistant director that oversaw the pharmacy and various departments.”

As of today, Webb is leading the charge of keeping A&T safe during the pandemic. To date, 22,916 COVID-19 tests have been administered to students, faculty and staff.

“In this role, I have learned the importance of building relationships with departments and making sure if there is a situation on campus, the health center is able to respond quickly and effectively,” she said.

A&T is one of four universities in the UNC System that has stepped up to vaccinate the designated groups set by the state of North Carolina, and students, faculty and staff on campus. The vaccination center is open to the public based on appointments only and state guidelines.

“With communities of color being impacted greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am passionate about helping everyone to understand the importance of getting vaccinated. I trust the science and I want to encourage people to put their health first to help defeat this virus,” Webb said.

Webb became the permanent executive director of the Student Health Center on March 1, 2021.

To learn more about how A&T is keeping its community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Aggies Cares site by clicking here.