Assistant Professor Still Learning After Nearly Four Decades of Experience

Dr. Stephen Gambill Honored for His Dedication to Student Success, Professionalism and Mentorship 

By Avery Copeland, Intern for University Communications

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Dr. Stephen Gambill, an assistant professor of criminal justice administration at Gardner-Webb University, enriches his courses by including his own experiences from nearly 40 years of practicing law. He can share from his work with law enforcement officers as well as court, city, county, state and federal officials. Despite his own practical knowledge, Gambill challenges his students to teach him, understanding that he does not have all the answers. “I am somewhat pleased when a student does ‘stump’ me, and I hope the students are as well,” he reflected. “I am also influenced very much by the life stories that the students have to tell.”

He finds learning alongside his students to be the most rewarding part of his job. “Teaching gives me the opportunity to keep my mind active, and working with students lets me challenge both myself and them,” Gambill affirmed. He added that he has benefitted from working alongside Dr. Bobbie Cox, chair, and the other professors and staff in the Department of Public Service and the Master of Public Administration program, and he appreciates the abundance of support they have given to him.

Gambill served as the police attorney for the City of Gastonia Police Department when he was approached by Dr. Barry Hambright in 1994 to teach in Gardner-Webb’s Greater Opportunities for Adult Learners (GOAL) program. He taught in the program for 24 years before joining the faculty full-time in 2018.

He was honored with the Graduate Full-Time Faculty Award at the 2024 Faculty Award ceremony for his dedication to student success, professionalism, and mentorship. Gambill is known amongst his colleagues and students for fostering a respectful workplace and learning environment. “It was a humbling experience to receive this award … especially because this award is based on the recommendations of my students,” he commented. “In a lot of ways, this award was for me and my students, because they are the ones who really made it possible.”

Raised in Ashe County, N.C., Gambill earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Wilkes Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree from Appalachian State University, and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Despite discovering his love for teaching after serving as a Sunday School teacher, Gambill didn’t consider it his calling until he obtained his law degree and started teaching criminal justice classes for Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C. “The experiences I had working as a police attorney helped me realize that I could apply those experiences to teaching in the field of criminal justice administration,” he shared.

As a professor, he aims to be approachable to his students and to engage them with a common-sense practical view of the field of public service. His objective is to provide his students with a quality learning experience. He strives to instill confidence in them that they can achieve their goals and dreams. “My advice to them is to explore,” Gambill emphasized. “There are numerous career choices in the field of criminal justice administration that cut across federal, state, and local lines.”

Avery Copeland, of Atlanta, Ga., is a senior English major.

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.