9/10/2021

This morning, Ferrum College faculty, staff, and students gathered at Hart International Plaza to acknowledge the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Tomorrow marks the twentieth anniversary of those events.

As the American and Ferrum College flags fluttered in a gentle breeze above the crowd, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly brought remarks from President David Johns, who was unable to attend the service due to a death in his family.

“What I can say with certainty is that September 11th exposed human cruelty and hatred, but September 12th displayed human resolve and solidarity,” wrote Johns. “Being lumped together as one by the terrorists actually made us act together as one – mostly, and for a time. It seemed to matter less who was who or what group we represented.”

Following Johns’ remarks, Campus Minister Laura Robinson led a prayer and a moment of silence, saying, “When we pray together today, I know many of us will be praying for protection, for safety, for understanding, for peace, for relief. But I also ask all of us here to make room in our hearts for freedom from fear.”

Robinson concluded the service with a wish: “May we never live through another day like 9/11, but may we rise to the occasion if we do.”

See photos from the service here. 

Read President Johns’ full comments in his commentary published in The Franklin News-Post.

8/7/2021

Laura Robinson

Ferrum College is pleased to announce that Laura Robinson has been named campus minister. She will officially join the Ferrum College family on August 9, 2021.

“I’m looking forward to talking to students, getting their ideas, and implementing them to make Student Ministry a program that reaches Ferrum students where they are,” said Robinson. 

In 2016, Robinson began assistant teaching New Testament courses at Duke University. She served as the head teaching assistant for Duke Divinity’s New Testament survey course, and then transitioned to teaching her own class in 2019. She is a 2015 James B. Duke Fellowship recipient, and has extensive experience in audio and video production with co-hosting her own podcast, “New Testament Review.”

A native of Zionsville, IN, Robinson received her Bachelor of Arts in English and religious studies from Indiana University in 2011, and her Master of Arts degrees in biblical exegesis (2013) and systematic theology (2014) from Wheaton College in IL. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in religious studies at Duke University. 

“[Laura] is a young, dynamic, experienced, and energetic pastor who will bring so much to our college community,” said Dean of Student Success Dave Wiggins, who chaired the search committee for Ferrum’s campus minister. “We are very fortunate.”

Robinson is looking forward to getting started. “My hope for the Student Ministry program is to make it a program that is centered on students and directed by them,” she said. “Some of my current ideas include prayer walks in the woods, craft sessions, book discussions, and movie nights. These are really powerful ways students can think about spirituality and connect with God.”

Learn more about Spiritual Life at Ferrum College by visiting here.