news-category: Academics GWU President Announces Grant-Seeking Reassignment Award to Ellen Campos Sousa By Gardner-Webb University On April 8, 2022 Dedicated Research Explores Empowerment of Vulnerable Women in U.S. and Brazil BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.— Gardner-Webb University President Dr. William M. Downs has presented the 2022-23 Grant-Seeking Reassignment Award to Dr. Ellen Campos Sousa, assistant professor of marketing. For the third consecutive year, this award seeks to provide recipients the time to prepare and submit a proposal for external funding in support of scholarly activities and program enhancements. “I am very thankful to Dr. Downs for this award,” said Campos Sousa. “Opportunities such as this are very important to help us in creating good practices to positively affect society.” Campos Sousa’s project, “Social Change via Relational Engagement: Redeeming Women’s Power,” is a collaborative effort between partners in the United States and Brazil. It focuses on research and hands-on program development and implementation to assist women in overcoming the personal anguish associated to poverty, violence, cultural stigmatisms, external expectations, self-doubt and more. “This research has a social impact aligned with the GWU mission statement,” Campos Sousa offered. “The indirect social impact cannot be measured, but it will promote change on women’s lives and consequently reflecting on those around them. My main goal with this research is to be able to be a tool on promoting societal change and offering an opportunity for a vulnerable population to improve their wellbeing.” When Downs arrived at Gardner-Webb, he placed a strong emphasis on research-related and academically-focused opportunities for faculty to enhance programs and scholarly pursuits. According to Downs, millions of dollars from public and private sectors are provided annually to university faculty throughout the United States in order to boost these types of activities. “These funds go to support individual or collaborative faculty research and creative projects, academic program building, instructional innovation, student support, equipment purchases, and the like,” Downs noted. Downs added that external grants are essential in providing a path for faculty and programs to gain benefits. “Private universities, which do not receive annual outlays from the state legislature, rely heavily on grants to grow and strengthen their programs. Although Gardner-Webb does not have a history of grant-seeking, we are now getting in the game so that we can better support our students, better equip our faculty, and better promote our institutional brand.” Campos Sousa hopes through these immersive studies that women will be able to move past existing traumas, gain independence, and irradicate pure survival mentalities. She believes that providing these women opportunities to explore empowerment offers benefits beyond the personal space. On the other side, she wants them to be able to express, “I am aware of who I am, what I want for me, and I can make my own choices. I can do everything from a place of love, and I can be compassionate to others. It is about knowing who I am and that I deserve the best,” she added. Previous award recipients are Dr. Stefka Eddins, professor of chemistry, Dr. Steven Harmon, professor of historical theology, and Dr. Patricia Sparti, professor of music. Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, 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 Runnin’ Bulldogs Men’s Tennis Claims Program’s First Big South Tournament Championship Team Advances to NCAA men’s Tennis National Championships May 15-18 in Waco, Texas BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Big South All-Conference standout and freshman newcomer Boyd Schreiber took down Trevor Gray 6-5, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to clinch the 2025 Big South Men’s Tennis Tournament Championship for Gardner-Webb over UNC Asheville on April 18 at the Lexington […] Office of University Communications | April 22, 2025
News Article The Rev. Dr. M. Lamont Littlejohn Jr. Elected First African American Chair of Gardner-Webb Board of Trustees In his New Role, Pastor, Teacher and Leader will Focus on Transparency, Accountability and Communication BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Rev. Dr. M. Lamont Littlejohn Jr., pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C., is a trailblazer “Pro Deo et Humanitate” (for God and humanity). A three-time graduate of Gardner-Webb and the first African American chair […] Office of University Communications | April 22, 2025
News Article Gardner-Webb Announces Formation of Presidential Search Committee University Appoints Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Trustees to Help Select Next GWU President BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Officials at Gardner-Webb University have announced the formation of the committee that will guide the search for the institution’s 14th President. Dr. William M. Downs, who served Gardner-Webb from 2019 to 2025, left in February to prepare for his […] Office of University Communications | April 17, 2025