Post Susan Carlisle Bell Professor Emerita of Art Susan Carlisle Bell (1951- ) was the third child born to Elizabeth and Thomas Jones on Aug. 18, 1951, in Wytheville, Va. She loved the outdoors, nature and farm life. Bell and her sisters grew up riding horses and cleaning out stalls at one of her father’s farms. He even raised […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Carolyn Billings Professor Emerita of Music After Dr. Carolyn Billings (1946-) was born, her father gave her a piggy bank to save money for a piano. She started taking piano lessons in the first grade and soon had her own instrument. “When I was in second grade I decided I wanted to be a piano teacher when […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Kent Blevins Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies By the time Kent Blevins graduated from high school, he had lived in four states: South Carolina (where he was born), Nebraska, Oregon, and New Jersey. Although his father’s job led the family to move every few years, Blevins always felt an attachment to North Carolina. Both parents were from […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Nancy Bottoms Professor Emerita of English and Art Dr. Nancy Rogers Bottoms was born in Clemson, S.C., to Hilton and Evelyn Thorne Rogers while her father was a student at Clemson University. Hilton Rogers’ job as an extension agent meant the family moved to various locations around the state of South Carolina. The family eventually returned to […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Frieda Brown Professor Emerita of Psychology Dr. Frieda Brown (1948-) graduated from high school in Morganton, N.C., before earning bachelor’s (1970) and master’s (1972) degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Louisville, Ky., in 1979. Prior to coming to Gardner-Webb, […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Joyce Compton Brown Professor Emerita of English Dr. Joyce Compton Brown (June 8, 1942-) was born in Troutman, N.C., to Daniel Edgar and Catherine Vera Troutman Compton. Joyce’s father was a farmer and a furniture factory worker. Her mother was a housewife who struggled to hold the family together after her husband died at the young age of […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Les Brown Professor Emeritus of Biology Dr. Leslie (Les) Morris Brown (Jan. 19, 1941-), the son of C. Eugene and Nelle Hensley Brown, was one of the few babies born at home during that time. He grew up in North Cove, in northern McDowell County, N.C. Les received Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Claude Douglas ‘Doug’ Bryan Associate Provost Emeritus for Student Success Dr. Claude Douglas Bryan is the son of Rudolph and Beatrice Bryan. Born in 1954, he spent his childhood surrounded by the rugged beauty of Greenwood, S.C. The oldest of three children, he became the first in his immediate family to pursue postsecondary education. Once he started school, he […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Chuck Burch Athletic Director Emeritus Chuck Burch was born on July 12, 1957, to John and Esther Burch of Charlotte, N.C. Looking back on his life, he sees the numerous ways that God directed his steps—from attending Gardner-Webb University to meeting his wife, Franki Bailey Burch, and becoming vice president for Athletics at his alma mater. After […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Dr. Franki Bailey Burch Professor Emerita of Education During her 26 years at Gardner-Webb University, Dr. Franki Bailey Burch, was a faculty member, dean of Graduate Studies and associate provost for Professional and Graduate Studies. She retired in 2023 as coordinator of the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership program and was named Professor Emerita of Education. The daughter […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
