Faculty Awards

This year’s award winner exemplifies the very nature of the mission and Motto of the University in her teaching and in her life.  She is said to have fully committed to providing interesting and thought-provoking course work for students, as well as mentoring and advising students in an out of her Major.  She demonstrates her love for teaching every day, in and out of the classroom. Here are a few quotes from some of her students describing their thoughts on this year’s winner:

• “Her classroom is filled with positivity, and she always has a smile on her face.”
• “What every student dreams of in a teacher.”
• “A caring and thoughtful professor who chooses to include and push students to be the best.”
• “As a first-year student I would not have been as successful as I was without her guidance.”
• “No other professor has taught me more whether in life or classes than her.”
• “She perfectly represents what makes Gardner-Webb great.”

She has made a commitment to the University and her students by developing professional skills in scholarship through involvement in several political science organizations.  She attends conferences regularly allowing her to keep her classes relevant and up to date.  Her commitment to being the highest quality professor and striving to learn more is part of her unique character.  In 2018 she completed her first book, “The Pursuit of Happiness and the American Regime: Political Theory in Literature.”  She has authored multiple articles and chapters and served as a go-to resource on elections in the local area.

She has been integral to her department rewriting the curriculum for Political Science, developing a political science club, and a Pre-Law Society.  She has designed and taught informative and interesting courses.  She brings a contagious enthusiasm to her classes and holds students to high standards out of a genuine desire to prepare them for professional success.

Her students are always first.  Most often you will find her involved in long conversations with her majors, not just answering questions, but truly engage in hearing their ideas and helping them formulate their thoughts into quality essays and papers.  She also mentors any student interested in pre-law helping them to formulate a plan for their success.

Her Colleagues quoted:

• “Her commitment to students and her selfless mentoring of them, is outstanding and goes above and beyond what we expect.”
• “She always helps me remember the purpose and pleasure of being an educator.”

This year’s winner was nominated for his dedication, academic leadership and organizational expertise. Here are a few things he has done in the last academic year.

In service to his community, he held many leadership roles in NC music education.  He served as the Collegiate student activities chair and Interest Sessions Chair for the annual conference of the North Carolina chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He was also asked to present at the annual in-service conference of the North Carolina Music Educators Association in Winston-Salem in November ‘21.

In service to his campus community, he organized and hosted the 2-day Music Literacy workshop led by internationally renowned pedagogue in the field of Music Education Dr. Carol Kreuger.  This workshop was held on GWU’s campus free of charge to all Music Ed students and all Music Faculty.  In the spring he coordinated and hosted the Western North Carolina annual meeting of Middle School All State Chorus, bringing several hundred prospective students to Gardner-Webb’s campus.

As part of the General Education Committee, he played an integral role in the redesign of SLO’s for the General Education core restructure.  His creative vision, preparation and execution of all concerts presented by GWU choirs including the GWU Spring Concert Tour across the state of North Carolina are some of the many accomplishments that were mentioned in his nomination

This year’s winner has been an asset to her colleagues across campus and in her department. She served as former faculty chair and former department chair.  She serves her campus community as a member of the committee on committees, the EPSC, and the Ged Ed Committee.  She also has given her time and expertise as part of the EPSC appeals subcommittee and the ad-hoc committee to review University Promotion and Tenure standards and processes.  She has served on several search committees including the Physics and Astronomy position and the ongoing PreAward Grant Specialist position.

She provided guidance and wisdom in the review of departmental minors and the creation of the new bio-chemistry major.  She is a team player and faithfully covers other departmental tasks.  Personally, she volunteers her time at her church and with the Prosphora Ministry.  Her attitude of service and expertise make her the ideal candidate for this award.

This year’s winner shows constant commitment to mentoring students and faculty. She serves on many committees ensuring that all students and faculty are advocated for at GWU. She has mentored many students in pursuing higher levels of education in the Hunt School of Nursing including RN-BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. She has created and presented at multiple conferences. She shares these projects and presentations with her peers in the Hunt School of Nursing helping them to continuously grow and ensure students are achieving the best quality of education.  She has become a partner and mentor to new faculty, helping them to transition into academia at GWU.  It was quoted by a new faculty member and fellow colleague, “She has ensured that my transition into academia was enriched in scholarship, evidence-based practice, and GWU pride! She is a role-model that we all can look up to, and she is doing wonderful things in the Hunt School of Nursing”

This year’s winner has faithfully served as an adjunct in the College of Education for the over 10 years.  He is the retired Assistant Superintendent and High School Principal of Robeson County Schools.  He currently serves as the Executive Director for Robeson County Communities in School Educational Foundation.

His colleagues have called him a dream to work with and that he provides excellent instruction for our doctoral candidates.  He is a fine Christian gentleman and embodies the mission of Gardner-Webb in his life and teaching.  Students have stated how caring and patient he is.  One student’s comment of his character, “He was always efficient and very quick to respond to any question I had. He graciously gives of his time to help guide his students to be successful. He does a phenomenal job!!”  He is the lead Instructor for MELS 601 Introductory Course and Clinical Team in the Masters of School Administration Program in the College of Education.

For full-time faculty, the runners-up are Dr. Dale Lamb from the College of Education and Dr. Yvonne Smith from the Hunt School of Nursing within the College of Health Sciences.

The winner of the Graduate Full-Time Faculty Award is Dr. Laura Carscaddon from the Counselor Education Program in the School of Psychological Science and Counselor Education within the College of Health Sciences.

One of the nominating students stated: “Dr. Carscaddon is the most attentive and caring professor I have ever met. She creates a very calm and comfortable environment for her students and goes the extra mile. She can take a subject that her students are dreading and turn it into their favorite class. I am beyond grateful for my time with her.”

Dr. Carscaddon’s presentation to faculty attending Online Faculty Learning Day and available to others in the CETL Classroom Strategies Blackboard area is titled: “Using Process in the Classroom to Promote Understanding of Content.” Her presentation shared methods for applying the concept of process as defined in counseling, psychotherapy, and communication theories into the educational experience in order to promote understanding and recall of content.

The runners-up for the adjunct graduate faculty award are Dr. Joey Bullis, adjunct professor in the Master in School Administration program and Dr. Betsy Jones, adjunct professor in the EdD in Organizational Leadership program. The winner of the adjunct graduate faculty award is Dr. Sara Newell, a professor in the EdD in Curriculum and Instruction program. Her presentation was titled, “Looking inside ourselves to build equitable and culturally responsive practices.”

Lord is an assistant professor in the College of Education. Her nominator said that she is loved by her students and is patient, caring and kind. The nominator continued that Lord is willing to take on any task with a positive disposition and is a joy to work with. Her students reported that her course is organized well, and she is available to help when needed.

Church’s nominator said that she was a valuable member of the Human Services team. The person noted that she consistently works to improve on her coursework and engagement with her students, and she utilizes her real world experience as a practitioner to bring depth of knowledge to the classroom. The students said that she is one of the best professors in the program, gives constructive feedback and has prepared them to start their career.