Rhashanda Haywood
Dr. Haywood recently joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at North Carolina Central University as an assistant professor in August 2025. Before becoming a faculty member at NCCU, she earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Following her M.S. in Chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University, she gained industry experience in the chemical sciences over three years, holding various positions, including research specialist and analytical/microbiological specialist.
Transitioning from industry to academia, she held several adjunct instructor roles at North Carolina A&T State University, Wor-Wic Community College, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. To prepare for an academic career, she became a UNC Seeding Postdoctoral Innovators in Research and Education (SPIRE) Fellow, receiving training in pedagogical methods for effective college teaching and conducting scientific research on developing chemical probes to understand neurotransmitter signaling under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Frankowski, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Division, Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Her research centers on developing small organic molecules that target orexin and cannabinoid receptor signaling to discover potential treatments for central nervous system disorders. Outside the lab, Rhashanda enjoys community service and STEM outreach. Her experience working with students has inspired her to pursue a career in academia, where she can teach and mentor future scientists.
Courses
Publications
Haywood R. D.; Amaye, I.J.; Martin-Caraballo, M.; Chang, Z.; Fang, Y.; Caudle, R.; Jackson-Ayotunde,
P.L. The Early Drug Design and Discovery of T-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Blockers: Novel Small Molecules for the Treatment of Epilepsy. Submitted.
Amaye, I. J.; Haywood, R. D.; Mandzo, E. M.; Wirick, J. J.; Jackson-Ayotunde, P. L., Enaminones as building blocks in drug development: Recent advances in their chemistry, synthesis, and biological properties. Tetrahedron 2021, 83, 131984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2021.131984
Kelley, A. M.; Haywood, R. D.; White, J. C.; Petersen, K.S., Enantioselective Desymmetrizations of Diesters to Synthesize Fully Substituted Chiral Centers of 3,4‐Dihydrocoumarins and Related Compounds. ChemistrySelect 2020, 5, 3018-3022. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202000312