Lt. Cmdr. Caroline Gray Potter Discovered Her Interest in Psychology and Sense of Adventure at Gardner-Webb University

An Officer and Social Worker in the Navy, Alumna Provides Mental Health Support to Sailors

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Originally from Kitty Hawk, N.C., Lt. Cmdr. Caroline Gray Potter chose to attend Gardner-Webb University after her first visit to campus. On a whim, her family decided to go see the place where her grandparents met, dated, and decided to build their lives together. As they walked around, Potter encountered people who expressed a genuine interest in getting to know her and answer her questions.

“A couple of ladies at the security office kindly took me to their dorm and talked to me about the school, even though I was not scheduled for an official tour,” reflected Potter, now a social worker in the U.S. Navy. “I had looked at another state school and remember feeling incredibly overwhelmed there. At Gardner-Webb, it felt like a welcoming tight-knit community. I thought I would get more out of my education if I went to a school with smaller class sizes, where I wouldn’t feel like a number.”

Potter is stationed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. “I provide feedback to the command regarding an individual’s fitness for duty and suitability for service,” Potter described. “As an active-duty social worker, I not only have clinical responsibilities, but also responsibilities as an officer. I also provide feedback to the command regarding mental health trends onboard.”

Potter also has responsibilities as the Medical Department duty officer, provides mentorship to junior sailors, and assists in supervising the maintenance completed onboard to ensure the ship’s readiness for the next deployment. She is working on a Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS) to learn about the capabilities and workings of the ship that she is assigned to outside of the medical department.

When she came to Gardner-Webb in 2007, Potter didn’t have a major and had never thought about enlisting in the Navy. “I loved taking different classes,” she shared. “I did not declare my major until spring semester of my sophomore year. I took many of my core classes and really got time to think about what I wanted to do. That spring semester, I took Intro to Psych and Developmental Psych and loved the professors and subject matter. After a few weeks in those classes, I knew that I would major in psychology, because I was incredibly interested in the human experience and better understanding the ‘why’ of our behaviors and decision making.”

After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb in 2011, she earned her master’s in marriage and family therapy from the University of Central Florida in Orange County and applied for several positions, including a contracting job with the Navy. Because she wasn’t independently licensed, she did not qualify for the position. “However, a Navy recruiter called me and told me about their social worker program, in which I would be an active-duty officer while attending graduate school for social work, and that I would only owe three years of service after being licensed,” Potter explained.

She took the offer and received her master’s degree in social work from Fayetteville State University—Army Program. The military offered her a salary and health insurance at a time when she was looking for stability. “I thought I would do the time that I owed and get out,” Potter related. “Now, 10 years later, I’m still active duty and love working with sailors. I plan on retiring from the Navy.”

Potter looks back fondly on her time at Gardner-Webb. Among her most meaningful experiences—and one that prepared her to travel with the Navy—was the opportunity to spend a month in Germany through the summer travel abroad program. “Getting to learn and travel in another country was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that GWU made accessible and affordable for me,” she stated. “Having a small group to learn and travel with was amazing.” 

She added, “I think overall, my time at GWU helped me to become a more open person. I had no idea when I was about to go to college that I would end up in the military, moving around regularly (every two to three years). Going to a school that was almost an eight-hour drive away from my hometown helped me learn about independence and gave me a sense of adventure, in a safe space. I see college as a time to explore interests and learning opportunities just for the fun of it.”

Even though she graduated from Gardner-Webb over a decade ago, Potter is still in touch with her psychology professors, especially Dr. James Morgan and Dr. Iva Naydenova. “The psychology program at GWU really helped prepare me for my master’s programs in marriage and family therapy and social work,” she asserted. “I felt that given the experiences, particularly in Dr. Morgan’s classes, I had a leg up in the counseling classes that I took. In life, my time at GWU prepared me to be open to meeting new people and experiences. The people I met at GWU helped me challenge my past held beliefs and preconceived notions in a loving, caring way.”

In addition, Naydenova and Morgan helped her navigate her senior thesis so that she could graduate in the honors program. “Dr. Naydenova advised me about next steps for graduate schools and was a huge inspiration to me,” Potter praised. “I loved her classes and research. She helped me understand the importance of research to a practicing mental health provider. Dr. Morgan took time with me to talk about the topics we discussed in class. His guidance and classes helped me discover my love for counseling.” 

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.