Executive Director

Alvin L. Atkinson is the Executive Director of The Center for Community Safety (CCS) at Winston-Salem State University and a nationally recognized expert in creating safer neighborhoods. He was recruited to join CCS in 2001 after a successful corporate career as Vice President of Wachovia Bank and President & COO of Victory-Masonic Mutual Credit Union.

Alvin served as the Deputy Director of CCS from March 2001 - 2006 before being named Interim Director in January 2006 and Executive Director in July 2010.  He is responsible for the vision, strategic development, financial viability, and build-out of an innovative and multi-disciplinary collaborative that strategically addresses local crime and community safety issues. Alvin also facilitates the building of bridges between the research community and leading practitioners and policy makers at both a local and national level. He earned his B.A. in Economics from Davidson College and is an active member of the Winston-Salem community with his wife and two children.