news-category: Alumni Celebrating Alumni—Dr. Lori Metcalf By Office of University Communications On October 25, 2022 Alumna Named Dean of Health and Human Services at Gaston College BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Students are the focus of Gardner-Webb University’s mission. Faculty members seek to engage students with unique, experiential learning opportunities to prepare them for their next steps. Whether they choose to begin a career or accept the academic challenges of graduate school, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead and serve. Additionally, through GWU’s supportive and diverse Christian community, students are inspired to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Dr. Lori Metcalf is the new Dean of Health and Human Services at Gaston College. She received her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership in 2020 from Gardner-Webb. Metcalf’s dissertation project focused on program review and assessment. Metcalf has been employed at Gaston College since 2000 in numerous roles including faculty member, department chair, and associate dean. During her time there, she has been active in program assessment and improvement processes, advising, accreditation, program development, course development, online education, honors coursework, faculty development, and committee work. She has received numerous recognitions while working at Gaston, including National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award, Gaston College Faculty of the Year Award, Arts and Sciences Faculty of the Year Award, Arts and Sciences Outstanding Service Award, and the Gaston Has Heart Educator’s Award (first recipient and namesake). Metcalf was also a semi-finalist for the North Carolina Excellence in Teaching Award (community college system faculty member of the year). She also worked with a fellow faculty member to publish a textbook. Prior to her time at Gaston College, Lori was a faculty member at Cleveland Community College and Haywood Community College. She also worked in mental health care centers, group homes, and in community-based programs for at-risk youth. Her expertise in the human services profession lies in developing daily living skills for adolescents, needs assessment, counseling, crisis management, case management, care coordination, and conflict resolution. She also provided fiscal management and grant development, implementation, and supervision in her former roles in human services. Metcalf has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Master of Arts in Psychology from East Carolina University. Stay connected Gardner-Webb’s faculty and staff are eager to hear about and celebrate alumni news and success. There are three ways to share your story with us: • Contact a faculty member. • Touch base with Alumni Relations. • Share your story here. 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.
News Article Gardner-Webb University Receives Federal Grant Totaling $2.16M Over Four Years Funding Awarded to the College of Health Sciences to Address Behavioral Health Needs in Rural and Underserved Areas of North Carolina BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb’s College of Health Sciences has received the University’s first federally-funded grant. Presented by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the initial award is $550,000, which is renewable for three years […] Office of University Communications | July 17, 2025
News Article Gardner-Webb Student Film Selected for Real to Reel International Film Festival “Shaping the Old North State” to Screen at 26th Annual Event on July 26 BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Cleveland County Arts Council is pleased to announce that “Shaping the Old North State,” a documentary created by Gardner-Webb University students, has been selected for inclusion in the 26th Annual Real to Reel International Film Festival. The film […] Office of University Communications | July 16, 2025
News Article Gardner-Webb Volleyball Announces 2025 Schedule Season Features Nine Games Inside Paul Porter Arena BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Head Coach Alex Hinsey and the Gardner-Webb University volleyball team have announced the 2025 fall schedule, featuring nine games inside Paul Porter Arena and 14 Big South Conference contests. After a home pre-season intra-squad scrimmage on Aug. 16 and a road scrimmage at ETSU in […] Office of University Communications | July 15, 2025