Meet Joshua Lockhart: USCB’s new director of fun
Don’t confuse Joshua Lockhart with a USCB student—he’s a high energy professional in charge of organized fun on campus. Lockhart is the new Director of Student Life, and he’s tasked with planning and putting on dynamic campus events while keeping students safe. It’s not easy to create engaging activities while following protocols designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but Lockhart is determined to make this a great year at USCB.
“It’s a strange time to be starting a new job, but I am thrilled to be here, “ he said.
Lockhart said he accepted the job at USCB because he wanted a smaller setting where he could form genuine connections with students, faculty and staff. He was most recently community director at Virginia Union University and previously coordinator for student programming at East Carolina University.
From Richmond, Va., he’s the youngest of five siblings.
“I wanted a small campus feel where everybody is like family,” he said. “USCB seems to have this.”
Many of the most popular campus events he has produced combined pop culture and youth trends with more serious concerns facing young adults today. One of these was “Netflix & Chat,” a panel series where students, counselors, faculty and staff at East Carolina University discussed issues highlighted in Netflix’s original programming. By not shying away from social issues and pressures students may be experiencing, Lockhart meets them where they are.
Lockhart draws on his background—which includes science, leadership and the arts—to produce creative events. He majored in chemistry at Winston-Salem State University and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University. He also may be the first USCB staff member to be nominated for a Grammy. In 2009, as a member of Winston Salem State University Choir, he traveled to Prague to record “Somewhere Far Away” with Julius P. Williams & the Dvorak Symphony Orchestra. The album was later nominated in five classical categories.
Music and travel remain important to Lockhart.
“I don’t have much of an outlet to sing now, but I’d like to get back into it. I like choral, classical, barbershop—everything!” he said.
Because USCB is a new school that’s growing, Lockhart sees potential to establish traditions that will become memorable—look for innovations during USCB’s homecoming festivities this spring. He also wants to receive suggestions from the USCB community for events and activities. Contact him at: JLOCKHART@uscb.edu.
