After holding at least eight different positions over 43 years of service to Ferrum College, alumnus and – most recently – former Director of Residence Life and Housing Chip Phillips ’77 retired at the end of June 2020. 

“I will never forget all the students, co-workers, faculty, staff, and summer guests that I met and got to know over the years,” said Phillips. “I built some lifelong relationships and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work at Ferrum as long as I did.”

Phillips arrived at Ferrum College in 1973 as a Carroll County High School graduate. He earned his associates degree in 1975 and then a bachelors degree in leisure services in 1977. As a new alumnus and member of Ferrum’s second four-year graduating class, Phillips immediately stepped in to a position as residence hall director at the College.

That was when Phillips started dating his future wife, Martha Arnold. Martha, who received a bachelors degree in social work, was the very first Ferrum student to graduate in 1976 with a four-year degree from the institution. 

“Martha and I knew each other as students, but really didn’t start ‘hanging out’ together until we both had graduated. Martha had been working at Ferrum for a year and I had just graduated and began working right after,” remembered Phillips. 

The couple married in October 1977, bought a house on Arthur Circle, and raised their two daughters, Jennifer and Sydney, steeping their small family in Ferrum’s genuine, close-knit community. 

Over the years, Phillips held various positions at the College: director of traffic and parking; director of campus safety; director of administrative services, which included telephone services, cable television, and student employment; emergency services; campus safety; director of summer programs; and director of Residence Life and Housing, “with some additional responsibilities and titles in between,” added Phillips.

On June 30, 2020 Phillips retired from his most recent post as director of Residence Life and Housing. 

“We are so grateful for Chip’s leadership in the Office of Student Life, and at Ferrum College for the past 43 years,” said Dean of Student Life Nicole Lenez, who worked with Phillips for three years. “His wisdom and work ethic have been invaluable! Transitions can sometimes be painful, but Chip has left us with so much knowledge to continue doing our good work. We all wish him and Martha the best and hope that they make many memories on the beach with their grandbabies.”

“I’ll never forget the time Martha and I spent on campus,” Phillips said. “We’ve really enjoyed Ferrum athletics, especially Ferrum football. We’ve attended many of the games over 43-plus years! And we’re still in Ferrum, so we’ll continue to support the College in any way that we can.”

View photos from Phillips’ retirement celebration here. Photos are by Bob Pohlad.

The Chip Phillips Scholarship Fund

The “Chip Phillips Scholarship Fund” has been created by the Office of Student Life and Engagement to honor Phillips’ years of service to the College. As a member of the Tri-Area Community Health Center Board of Directors, Phillips discovered the need for quality nurses; therefore, the scholarship seeks to support a deserving student(s) who plans to enroll in Ferrum College’s nursing program and hails from Franklin, Carroll, Floyd, Patrick, or Grayson counties.

To make a donation to the “Chip Phillips Scholarship Fund”, please visit www.ferrum.edu/giving/give-to-ferrum-college/, click the “Give Now” button, select “other” in the gift designation drop-down box, and type “Chip Phillips Scholarship Fund” in the box to designate a tribute gift. 

Dr. Ed Chappell, on right, at the Public Armoury in Colonial Williamsburg, 2010. Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

On Saturday, July 25, 2020, architectural historian and Ferrum Junior College alumnus Edward A. Chappell, Jr. passed away at the age of 71. He leaves behind his wife Susan. 

Chappell was born in Farmville, VA on October 16, 1948. After graduating from then-Ferrum Junior College in 1969, Chappell earned a bachelors degree in history from the College of William and Mary in 1972, and then received his graduate degree from the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia. 

As a young architectural historian, Chappell traveled through Virginia and Kentucky, mapping and recording historical sites for the Virginia Landmarks Commission and Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources. In 1980, he was hired as the Shirley and Richard Roberts director of Architectural Research and Archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg. He and other historians added numerous buildings including Charlton’s Coffeehouse, the Public Armoury, and the Market House.

When Chappell retired in 2016 after 36 years of service, he held an endowed chair at the Architectural Research Department and continued to share his expertise with other historical preservationists at Monticello, Mount Vernon, Prestwood, Drayton Hall, the Historic Charleston Foundation, and Historic Annapolis. 

He was a world traveler, visiting countries like Russia, the Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bali, China, Europe, and more. On his visits, he made drawings and notes of buildings and later donated them to the Virginia Historical Society. He imparted architectural knowledge to review boards for colonial Williamsburg as well as the College of William and Mary, eventually receiving the highest stewardship award as a token of the college’s gratitude. 

Former Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Bob Todd offered insight on Chappell’s informed yet unassuming nature: “If you met Ed, you would not assume he was an internationally known expert on architectural history. He was soft spoken and humble and never seemed to seek the spotlight. However, when engaging him about his area of expertise, one immediately recognized his mental energy and that he was someone with highly special knowledge and experience. He also possessed a wry sense of humor and an appreciation for life and inquiry. His passing will leave a huge void here in Williamsburg and beyond. We lose a lifetime of stored knowledge, not to mention a most wonderful, down-to-earth person.”

Read Chappell’s obituary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, here.

Alumna Iesha Taylor is proud of her Ferrum College success story. 

She entered higher education as a first-generation college student, and participated in Ferrum’s freshman College Success coursework, which provides additional academic support for first-generation students. She said the opportunities and guidance she received at Ferrum provided a pathway for her to make the Dean’s List for seven semesters and graduate in 2018 with Magna Cum Laude honors.

Originally from Manassas, VA, Taylor majored in business administration with an emphasis in management and a minor in accounting. She was a member of the Accounting Club and the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. Additionally, Taylor was a work study in the College’s Admissions Office.

“As a first-generation college graduate, I had a strong desire to do my absolute best in my undergraduate studies. The faculty and staff from Ferrum helped me achieve that goal,” said Taylor. 

After her graduation from Ferrum, she landed a position as an assistant project manager at Diamond’s Management Group, Inc. “It’s a small, women, minority-owned business located in Manassas,” explained Taylor. 

Her duties as an assistant project manager include developing marketing and advertising strategies, reviewing project movements, and maintaining customer accounts, along with other responsibilities. She is also a member of the Women’s Leadership Organization through Prince William County’s Chamber of Commerce, where she represents Diamond’s Management Group, Inc. in monthly meetings and networking events.  

“I use my education from Ferrum to resolve issues and make decisions on a regular basis,” said Taylor. “My problem solving and critical thinking skills are enhanced due to the program and its curriculum. My business administration degree from Ferrum was instrumental in establishing my career as a project manager.”

“Iesha Taylor is a wonderful young lady,” said Director of Academic Outreach and Athletics Initiatives Tom Steele, who instructed Taylor during her freshman College Success course in 2014. “She overcame obstacles any first-generation college student might face, and graduated with honors. She listened to resources, applied success strategies, and became a scholar. I am so proud of this young lady.”

Taylor’s future is only growing brighter as she was recently accepted to George Mason University’s Masters of Business Administration program. “Ferrum College taught me that consistency, persistence, and hard work are required to succeed. It gave me the tools I need to succeed in my graduate program, and in my career,” said Taylor. 

Learn more about Ferrum College’s business administration program here.

Alumnus Ra’meer Roberts ’13

Alumnus Ra’meer Roberts of Richmond, VA, has established a scholarship for African-American students at Ferrum College. 

The Black American Scholarship for Empowerment, or B.A.S.E., will give an annual gift of $250 to one male and one female African-American student at Ferrum College, to be used for books and supplies. Recipients must live on campus, be enrolled full-time, be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and demonstrate a financial need.

“According to national studies, African-Americans have the lowest graduation and retention rates in higher education among other ethnic groups. This statistic is primarily due to two factors: financial stability and first-generation status,” explained Roberts. “Based on the current social climate of our country and the financial strain on our colleges and universities from the [novel coronavirus] pandemic, I felt a need to assist African-American students in their pursuit of a good, quality education.”

Roberts has firsthand knowledge of these statistics because he has worked in higher education for over six years, currently serving as the coordinator for Student Conduct at Virginia State University. 

Originally from Paterson, NJ, Roberts graduated from Ferrum College in 2013 with a degree in business administration. He went on to earn his Master of Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently pursuing his doctoral degree with the intention of continuing his career in higher education as a dean of students. Roberts’ long-term goal is to become a vice president or provost for student affairs. 

“It’s been an honor to work with Ra’meer in establishing this important scholarship. I’ve been so impressed with his compassion and the responsibility he feels towards our students and Ferrum’s future,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine. “His commitment to turn words into action is an inspiration to us all.”

Learn more on the B.A.S.E. Facebook page.  

To make a gift to B.A.S.E., click here, then click the ‘give now’ button, designate ‘other’ in the dropdown menu and type ‘B.A.S.E.’ in the designation box.

Tabatha Chitwood ’19, a third grade teacher at Ferrum Elementary, transitioned to virtual learning in March due to COVID-19.

Alumna Tabatha Chitwood ’19 knew she was always meant to be a teacher. 

“I did a co-op my senior year [in high school] and loved it, but I had children first before going to college,” she explained. Chitwood spent her pre-college years working as a restaurant manager, server, and bartender, but never lost her drive to educate children.

She attended Virginia Western Community College for regular classes, and dabbled with becoming a nurse, but ultimately decided to pursue her teaching dream by enrolling as a non-traditional student in Ferrum College’s teacher education program. She graduated in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. 

“I was a single mother of two boys that played soccer and football. I was busy working two jobs full-time. But I found balancing everything easy because I am used to doing everything on my own,” she said. 

In fact, Chitwood found higher education to be so manageable and worthwhile, she has enrolled at Liberty University to pursue a master’s degree in administration and supervision, with the goal of eventually becoming a principal or administrator. “But I will be teaching for a long time first, because I enjoy it,” said Chitwood. 

After graduating from Ferrum, Chitwood was hired as a third grade teacher at Ferrum Elementary School.

“It was evident from the first day of school that Tabatha made instant connections with her students and throughout the year formed a bond that helped every student be successful,” said Jennifer Talley, principal at Ferrum Elementary. “Her classroom is a fun and engaging place for students to learn.  She provides a variety of hands-on activities to enrich the learning experience for every student.” 

Little did Chitwood know that her first year teaching would be so unusual. On March 13, 2020, Franklin County Public Schools closed abruptly for the remainder of the school year to tamp down the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. 

“Transitioning to virtual learning was hard,” said Chitwood. “We continued using Google Classroom, which is something that we did from the first week of school. That part was easy. Technology is easy and fun for me. The hard part was not seeing my students in person.” 

“I am sure she never expected her first year of teaching to transition so quickly from a typical classroom to a virtual classroom. Not only did Tabatha accept the challenge, she embraced the opportunity to provide the richest experiences for all of her students,” said Talley. 

Chitwood worked diligently to conduct weekly Google Meets for her students to stay in touch. She also made the work interactive, assigning virtual field trips and hands-on projects like building solar ovens so students could harness the sun’s power to make s’mores. 

She said transitioning to virtual learning during her first year of teaching went smoothly, thanks in part to the teaching strategies she learned at Ferrum College. 

Chitwood is looking forward to hopefully returning to her in-person classroom in the fall. She is using the summer to continue dreaming up unique and creative ways for her next class to learn, noting “I just hope my students will look back and say I had a positive impact on their lives.” 

Learn more about Ferrum College’s teacher education program, including the new elementary education major, here.

Alumna Caitlin Menefee ’09 with her husband Earl and daughter Ella.

Alumna Caitlin Menefee ’09 owns and operates Forget Me Not Flowers, a quaint flower shop located in the small but bustling town of Somerville, VA. “It’s kind of a thoroughfare,” she explained in a Fauquier Times article. “From the beginning, people have seen our sign and stopped on their way home to pick up flowers.”

After graduating from Ferrum College in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in general agriculture and a minor in history, Menefee opened Forget Me Not Flowers in 2011 in Grove’s Store in Somerville. “I worked in flower shops throughout high school and college, and knew it was something I was good at,” said Menefee. “I learned a lot from my experiences at each flower shop and with a family background of small business, I decided to give it a try.” The store, originally established by her great-grandfather in 1908, has been continuously family owned and operated since opening. Menefee and her mother manage Grove’s Store in the historic building which now includes a small contract post office and a convenience store.

Forget Me Not Flowers has been very successful. After opening her first location in Somerville, she then expanded to include a Remington location in 2012. Running two shops was time consuming, but Menefee managed without trouble. “At the time, I had several employees and was able to maintain both locations. Over the years, not only has the flower industry changed, but so did my life.  I married my husband Earl in 2016 and we had our baby girl Ella in 2018,” she said.

This past January, Menefee consolidated her two shops into just the Somerville location to provide a more streamlined service for her customers.  She hires part-time help during the busy holiday and wedding seasons, but otherwise runs the shop herself. Ella accompanies her mother to work most days: “She’s 19 months old and the happiest baby you’ll ever meet. Everyone knows Ella’s sweet smile, and she’s the light of our life,” said Menefee.

Forget Me Not Flowers serves the entire southern Fauquier County area along with the towns of Warrenton and Culpeper. Visit Forget Me Not Flowers online at www.forgetmenotva.net.

Read more about Menefee and her flower shop in this Fauquier Times article.

On Friday, December 13, 2019, alumnus Nate Daniels ’99 cut the ribbon in front of Daniels Sports Performance, his new athletic training facility in Richmond, VA.

“The opening of Daniels Sports Performance has been a culmination of a lifetime dream,” said Daniels. “I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to help as many athletes as possible.”

Daniels, from Richmond, VA, is founder and president of Daniels Sports Performance (DSP), which provides one-on-one sports training and personalized workout sessions for athletes. The new 3,000 square foot facility offers a year-round indoor space to train in any sport regardless of the weather.

In his sports training career so far, Daniels has worked with notable athletes such as National Football League wide receiver Eddie Royal, professional soccer player Jim Flores, and former Professional Golf Association Golf Pro Tyler Clark.

Although the facility is open to athletes of any age, Daniels’ main focus is youth training. The DSP website cites three main training benefits for youth: a lifelong pattern of physical activity, improved health related to physical activity, and improved coordination and balance.

“As I was growing up, so many people provided guidance and support throughout my athletic career, and to have a platform to do the same for young people is an amazing feeling,” said Daniels.

At Ferrum College, Daniels majored in criminal justice and minored in music. He played football for the Panthers and trumpet for the band. He served as class president and worked in the sports information office. After his 1999 graduation, Daniels went on to play professional football in the Arena Football League and eventually founded DSP in 2017. He is a certified personal trainer, and a certified speed, agility, and quickness trainer. Daniels also won Collegiate All-American honors and has been inducted into the Ferrum College Hall of Fame and the Fairfax High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Learn more about Daniels Sports Performance here.

Ferrum College sweethearts Bradley Lael ’16 and Virginia Pannill ’17 met at the College in 2014. As freshmen, both enrolled in the agricultural studies program and slowly got to know each other over the course of about a year. “We met in Garber, room 123,” said Lael. “We really hit it off during the summer of 2015. When we returned to Ferrum in the fall of 2015, we decided to make it official. We started dating in September that year.”

The couple experienced their first trial during the spring semester of 2016. Over Christmas break, while Pannill was visiting Germany, Lael severely broke his foot while cleaning his grandfather’s gutters. He was forced to use a wheelchair for about fourteen weeks. Once Pannill returned home from Germany, she dutifully took care of Lael, getting him to and from class and helping him walk again just before his graduation in May. “She only forgot me once at the top of the auditorium in Garber,” laughed Lael.

During that semester, Pannill’s loyalty and caring nature shone through. “I believe she would’ve played that role for anybody,” Lael said. “All semester long, she was right there by my side.”

The similarities between the couple are obvious. Both are agriculture teachers for Spotsylvania County Public Schools, both love classic country music and singer George Jones, and both plan to be lifelong educators. They are independent, professional, and their love for each other grows stronger each day.

It didn’t take long for Lael to realize he wanted to marry Pannill. “I probably asked her mother at the wrong time,” he said. “She was taking something hot out of the oven.” But the blessing was given and Lael proposed to Pannill at Kings Dominion’s Halloween Haunt.

The couple will tie the knot this Saturday, December 7, 2019, in Ferrum College’s Vaughn Chapel. “Coming back to where we first met, shared laughs and tears, and the continued love and concern from everyone at Ferrum made it an easy choice for a venue,” explained Lael. After the wedding, they will honeymoon in the Caribbean and return home in time to celebrate their first married Christmas with family.

Lael is thankful for the role Ferrum College played in his romance with Pannill. “We never would’ve met if we didn’t choose Ferrum,” he said. “I wouldn’t change a Ferrum experience for anything.”

Ferrum College alumnus and former professional baseball pitcher Billy Wagner was inducted to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in a weekend celebration over November 1-2, 2019. The ceremony was held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Wagner credits much of his success to Ferrum College: “Going to Ferrum was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life,” Wagner said in an article that appeared in the October 30 edition of The Roanoke Times.

Wagner spent three years at Ferrum College until he was recruited by Houston in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft. His professional career includes stints with the Houston Astros (1995-2003); Philadelphia Phillies (2004-2005); New York Mets (2006-2009); Boston Red Sox (2009); and Atlanta Braves (2010). Wagner now coaches high school baseball at The Miller School in Albemarle County.

“There is absolutely no way somebody that hasn’t been to Ferrum could understand the beauty of Ferrum and what it entails,” Wagner concluded during the interview.

Learn more about Wagner’s athletic achievements here.

Read more about Wagner in this Roanoke Times article.

One hundred percent of Ferrum College’s teacher education program graduates are employed, according to data gathered across three years, from 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Ferrum College teacher education program graduates: spring 2017 (top); spring 2018 (left); fall 2018 (right).

“Approximately ninety percent of our graduates secure full-time employment in their endorsement area by the start of the next school year,” explained Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Christine Christianson. “It is typical for several of our student teachers to interview for and be offered positions before graduation in May. Graduates who are not employed full-time by the start of the school year in August typically work part-time coaching or teaching in a district they targeted until a full-time position in their endorsement area becomes available.”

Franklin County Public Schools has hired forty-seven percent of Ferrum College’s teacher education graduates. The other graduates are teaching in South Carolina, North Carolina, and all over Virginia, including Southwest Virginia, Northern Virginia, Tidewater/Hampton Roads, Southside, and Piedmont regions. Employment data for May 2019 Ferrum College teacher education program graduates will be available in spring 2020.

This fall 2019, Ferrum College began offering courses for a new Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. This degree comes with the state education board’s approval of 53 new teaching preparation programs and allows Ferrum College students interested in teaching in an elementary school setting to earn a degree focused in elementary education.

Christianson explained that Ferrum College usually has more elementary education students than other endorsement areas. Over the last three years, sixty-three percent of Ferrum’s teacher education graduates received an elementary endorsement (pre-kindergarten through sixth grade); twenty-three percent received an endorsement in health and physical education in all grades; and fourteen percent earned an endorsement in secondary subjects, like social studies and English, for sixth grade to twelfth grade.

Ferrum College teacher education program graduates: spring 2016 (top); fall 2016 (bottom).

“Well-prepared educators are influencers at a critical time in the development of elementary-aged children,” said Ferrum College Provost Aimé Sposato. “Our new four-year elementary education degree provides future teachers with the skills and hands-on experience in the classroom they will need to gain employment in school districts throughout the state and region. Our dynamic faculty share their passion and expertise as experienced educators with the students and guide them through the licensure and job search process.”

Christianson noted there is a teacher shortage crisis across the nation. “In Virginia last year, there were one thousand unfilled teacher positions on the first day of school. At Ferrum, we have the capacity to grow our teacher education program, and we are working to do that in several ways: we are offering a dual credit education course at Franklin County High School beginning in Spring 2020; we are participating in campus activities such as the Academic Majors Fair, Academic Fair Open House, and Major Decision Day to promote our program; and we promote our program and our students’ achievements on social media,” said Christianson.

Ferrum College teacher education graduates are proud of the knowledge they received in the program. “Being part of the teacher education program at the College was simply amazing,” explained Tabatha Chitwood, who graduated this past spring and is now a third grade teacher at Ferrum Elementary School. “Not only was I provided with various opportunities to work in my desired field, I was able to make strong connections within the county I have always called home. I also felt empowered by the small class size and was able to make special bonds with friends that are now my colleagues. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose Ferrum College.”

Learn more about Ferrum College’s teacher education program here.

Watch WDBJ-7’s coverage of this exciting news here.

Update:

Additional recent data confirmed an employment rate of 100 percent for spring 2019 teacher education graduates. Per Christianson, “All 14 of the graduates were offered and accepted full time employment during the academic year following graduation.” Data for spring 2020 graduates is still pending.

With Homecoming 2019 festivities occurring this upcoming weekend, Ferrum College is also anticipating the return of four of its notable alumni.

On Thursday, October 10 at 6 p.m. in the Panthers Den in lower Franklin Hall on campus, alumna Melanie Rooks ’15 will share how her Ferrum College experience prepared her for working at a nonprofit focused on educational programming in South Africa.

On Friday, October 11 from 3 – 4 p.m. in the Founders Room on campus, alumni Bernice Cobbs ’98, Lloyd Parker ’79, and Mika Smith ’16 will participate in an alumni panel detailing how their Ferrum College education prepared them to launch successful careers.

Read more about Rooks, Cobbs, Parker, and Smith, below.

Click here to see the Homecoming 2019 schedule of events. Register for events here. Most events are free but registration using the “Tickets” link is required.

Melanie Rooks ’15

Melanie Rooks graduated from Ferrum College in 2015 with a degree in psychology. While at the College, she served two years as president of the Student Government Association. After graduation, Rooks began working for Lift Every Voice, a non-profit organization focused on educational programming in South Africa. Rooks spent time in Capetown, South Africa in conjunction with Lift Every Voice and now periodically visits Ferrum College’s classes to share information about leadership and transformative change. She was named Ferrum College’s first Citizens Engaging in Service alumni recipient for her work.

Bernice Cobbs ’98

Bernice Cobbs graduated from Ferrum College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts and a teaching endorsement. She went on to receive a Master of Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia (2002), a Master of Education in educational leadership from Radford University (2007), and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech (2014). In June 2019, Cobbs was named the 2019 Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia, an honor received for her work at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Rocky Mount, VA, where she served as campus principal from July 2015 to July 2019. She was named Boones Mill Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 2003 and 2004. Also in 2004, Cobbs was honored as Franklin County Public School System’s Teacher of the Year and Virginia’s Region VI Teacher of the Year. She received the 2005 Virginia Lottery Excellence in Education Award and was named a Ferrum College Distinguished Alumna in 2008.

Lloyd Parker ’79

Lloyd Parker is a 1979 graduate of Ferrum College where he earned his Bachelor of Science in public affairs and administration. He served as Student Government Association president, chaired the Judicial Council, played on the tennis team, and sang in the choir. He has 35 years of experience as a paramedic and served in emergency medical services (EMS) leadership roles in both VA and FL for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for eleven type I incidents, including the earthquake in Haiti; the 1998 Florida wildfires; the Florida Groundhog Day tornadoes; and hurricanes Andrew, George, Charlie, Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Rita, and Gustav. He also performed leadership roles for four national security special events: the Barack Obama presidential inauguration; the Fourth of July event held at the US Mall; and two State of the Union addresses). He also served on the incident management team at two NFL Super Bowls. Today he works for the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates as EMS chief for US Army bases in Kuwait.

Mika Smith ’16

Mika Smith graduated from Ferrum College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. She went on to earn a Master of Science in forensic science with a concentration in drug analysis and toxicology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Upon graduating in May 2018, Smith began working with the toxicology section as a forensic laboratory specialist at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science western laboratory located in Roanoke, VA. She currently is employed as a forensic scientist in the toxicology section at the western laboratory.

Dr. Bernice Cobbs ’98

Ferrum College alumna Bernice Cobbs ’98 has been named the 2019 Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia. She receives this recognition through the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals for her work at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Rocky Mount, VA, where she served as campus principal from July 2015 to July 2019.

“VASSP is honored to recognize the outstanding work of Dr. Cobbs,” said Randy Barrack, VASSP executive director. “Effective schools are vital to the success of students, and the high expectations demanded by principals and their belief in the capacity of all students to perform is critical in school leadership. The stories of such leadership that we capture in the annual award program continues to impress and inspire all of us.”

“The leadership abilities Dr. Cobbs has demonstrated in Franklin County and throughout the state account for the numerous awards and recognitions she has received all while remaining very humble,” said Franklin County School Division superintendent Mark Church.

Cobbs graduated from Ferrum College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts and a teaching endorsement. She went on to receive a Master of Curriculum and Instruction from University of Virginia (2002), a Master of Education in educational leadership from Radford University (2007), and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech (2014).

Cobbs’ career with Franklin County Public Schools is extensive and includes roles in teaching, curriculum and instruction direction, and administration. In 2003 and 2004, she was named Boones Mill Elementary’s Teacher of the Year, an award she was given again the next year for the entire Franklin County Public School System. In 2004, she was also named Virginia’s Region VI Teacher of the Year. Cobbs received the 2005 Virginia Lottery Excellence in Education Award and was named a Ferrum College Distinguished Alumna in 2008.

In July 2019, Cobbs accepted a position as assistant principal at Franklin County High School, where she is responsible for supporting the daily operations, management, and instructional leadership for high school students. “First and foremost,” said Cobbs, “I am here for the students and staff, and to work closely with the high school administrators for the overall success of the school.”

True to her humble nature, Cobbs placed the recognition for her most recent award on those she has worked with over the years: “I was really honored to be named 2019 Virginia Middle School Principal of the Year. We all know that anything that is noteworthy is not something that is done in isolation. I experienced how empowered a school can be when everyone works together for the good of the students and the extended community. Even though I was a recipient of the award, honestly the award belongs to all the teachers, staff, students, and families who support the everyday work of Benjamin Franklin Middle School and the Gereau Center.”

Cobbs will be honored at a VASSP dinner ceremony in December 2019, where she will receive the state principal’s ring from Herff Jones.

Cobbs is married to Hildred, who retired from Norfolk Southern Railway. Together they have two grown children: Kimberly of Richmond, VA; and Bradley and his wife Jennifer, of Atlanta, GA.

Read more in this WDBJ7 news article.