Gardner-Webb Awards Promotions and Tenure to Faculty Members

Accomplishments Recognize Teaching Excellence, Scholarship, Mentorship, and Contributions to the University’s Mission and Goals

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University officials recently announced promotions for four faculty members and tenure for six. Promotions and tenure are awarded after an extensive application and review process that includes evaluations by the appropriate dean or department chair, the provost, and the president.

“The achievement of Promotion and Tenure is a significant celebration for our faculty and the university community,” Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Nicole Waters noted. “It recognizes a faculty member’s commitment to teaching excellence, scholarship, and meaningful engagement in the life of the campus. These accomplishments reflect not only their guidance and mentorship of students but also their leadership in university activities and service. We honor our colleagues whose dedication to excellence in their field, their students, and the institution itself strengthens the foundation of our mission.”

Achieving promotion and tenure recognizes teaching excellence, productive scholarship, creativity, participation in university activities, guidance and counseling of students and leadership in student activities. The honor also considers the candidate’s contribution to GWU’s mission and institutional strategic goals.

“Promotion and tenure mark a significant milestone for our faculty and for Gardner-Webb,” explained Gardner-Webb Interim President Nate Evans. “These honors reflect years of dedication to students, scholarship, and service, and they strengthen our mission of preparing students for lives of purpose and leadership. We are proud to celebrate their achievements.”

Tenure Awarded and Promotion

Dr. Josh Cheney, Associate Professor

Cheney came to Gardner-Webb in the fall of 2020. A native of Fayetteville, N.C., he is associate professor of music and director of Choral Activities. He is responsible for the leadership and administration of GWU Choirs, to include the direction of the Concert Choir and Reach Worship. Cheney also teaches Aural Skills, Music Survey, and courses in conducting, voice, and guitar.

He is an active performer and has sung professionally with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir, Bel Canto Company, Red Shift, Coro Vocati, and Blue Ridge Consort. He is also a regular clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, having directed honor choirs, adjudicated choral festivals, and given lectures at professional conferences throughout the United States. He holds the B.A. in Music Education from Campbell University, the M.M. in Choral Conducting and Church Music from Mercer University, and the D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University.

Dr. Erin Cook, Associate Professor

Cook is associate professor and chair of the Department of Public Service. She started teaching at Gardner-Webb in the fall of 2013. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human and Community Services as well as a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., and an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership from Gardner-Webb.

Her doctoral research focus involved adult learner’s professional readiness. She is a certified Career Development Facilitator, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA), and is certified in the Myers Briggs Type Inventory. Before her faculty role, Cook was a career counselor where she focused on student professional development. She enjoys volunteering in the community, serving local families as a Guardian ad Litem Volunteer for District 27B. She also has a small side business, Artsy Acorn, where she refinishes furniture and does hand lettering.

Tenure Awarded

Dr. Jessica Ivey

Ivey began serving at Gardner-Webb in the fall of 2016. She is the interim director of the Hunt School of Nursing and associate professor of nursing. She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and her EdD at Gardner-Webb. Ivey received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University. Her clinical practice experience includes labor and delivery, obstetrics, newborn, and pediatrics.

She holds professional certifications in Inpatient Obstetrical Nursing and Certified Nurse Educator. She is a member of the National League for Nurses, the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning and the North Carolina Nurses Association.

Dr. Melissa McNeilly

An associate professor of nursing, McNeilly came to Gardner-Webb in the fall of 2013. She earned her EdD from the University of St. Augustine and her associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Gardner-Webb. Her clinical practice experience includes Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Progressive Care Unit, and Medical-Surgical.

She is a Certified Nurse Educator, a Quality Matters Master Reviewer, and has Basic Life Support Certification. She is a member of the National League of Nursing Ambassadors, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, American Nurses Association and North Carolina Nurses Association.

Dr. Angelina Smith

Smith began teaching at Gardner-Webb in the fall of 2017. She is the director of the Broyhill School of Management and an assistant professor of business. She received her J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law and is working on her MBA from Gardner-Webb.

She has a bachelor’s degree from N.C. State University. She teaches Legal Environment of Business, Legal Issues in Sports Law and Principles of Economics I. She holds a certification from the N.C. State Bar.

Dr. Jessica Van Cleave

Van Cleave is a professor in the College of Education and program coordinator of the Masters of Curriculum Leadership and Instructional Coaching. She came to Gardner-Webb in the fall of 2021. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Masters of Education in Language and Literacy Education from the University of Georgia. She earned an Interdisciplinary Qualitative Research Graduate Certificate and a Teaching Endorsement for Academically or Intellectually Gifted. She also has a Standard Professional II Teaching License for 9-12 English and Project GLAD Tier I, OCDE.

She has received numerous awards including the American Educational Research Association’s Division D Significant Contribution to Qualitative Methodology Award, American Educational Research Association’s Qualitative Interest Group Outstanding Dissertation Award, Qualitative Dissertation Award Nominee, International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award and others.

Her research has been published in the Handbook of Research on Formative Assessment in Pre-K Through Elementary Classrooms, English Education, Education Policy Analysis, Qualitative Inquiry, the Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, and more.

Promotion

Dr. Lorell Gordon, Associate Professor

Gordon began teaching at Gardner-Webb in the fall of 2018. An associate professor for the Counselor Education Program and internship coordinator for Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Gordon has been instrumental in the development and implementation of a new concentration in her department and has chaired several search committees for eligible new hires on both the main campus and Charlotte campus. She has volunteered her time soliciting and obtaining approval for continuing education credits for mental health counselors to obtain through our PACE program.

She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of South Carolina, an Ed.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Converse College, a M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from Winthrop University, a Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems Management and Bachelor of Science in Biology from Winthrop University.

She is a licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Addictions Counselor. Gordon volunteers her time providing counseling for veterans, active-duty military and their families through the American Red Cross. Gordon is a Navy Reserve veteran and the president for the Military and Government Counseling Association of North Carolina.

Dr. Jennifer Putnam, Professor

Putnam joined the GWU faculty in the fall of 2013. She is associate dean of the College of Education and coordinator of the EdD in Curriculum and Instruction Program. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in elementary education from Appalachian State University. She earned her EdD in Curriculum & Instruction from Gardner-Webb. Her Dissertation Title was “Program Fidelity and Teacher Decisions: A Case Study of the Renaissance Learning Program.” Putnam has a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification and her Academically/Intellectually Gifted License.

She serves on the editorial board for “IMPROVE: Instructional Modules for Professional Learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators,” and is dissertation chair for the College of Education.  She previously served as the managing editor of “JOEL: Journal of Educational Leadership.”

She has numerous awards and honors, including Quality Matters Course Design, Burroughs-Wellcome District Grant Recipient, Outstanding Elementary Mathematics Teacher Award, and others.

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. Learn more at Gardner-Webb.edu.