Grace Howell ’22. Photo by Ferrum College student Ryann Tyree.
10/5/2021
On Thursday, October 7, Ferrum College senior Grace Howell presented during the 2021 virtual session of Virginia Social Work Education Consortium’s (VSWEC) Student Rally in the Valley conference. Howell’s presentation focused on the intersecting barriers that women of various sexual orientations face in terms of sexual abuse and violence.
“The conference shed a lot of light on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of social work,” said Howell. “I think my research contributed well to the theme of the day. I am glad I had this opportunity!”
Held each fall, Rally in the Valley brings together students within Virginia’s accredited college and university social work programs to focus on current issues. Students choose the theme of the conference, its speakers, and activities. This fall’s partnership is between Ferrum College, George Mason University, and Radford University.
“Grace is an exceptional student and well-respected by her peers,” said Professor of Social Work Martha Haley-Bowling. “She is an excellent presentation choice for Rally in the Valley.”
Howell is from Keysville, VA. She is majoring in social work and currently interns with Child Trust in Roanoke, VA. She also serves as captain of Ferrum’s equestrian team and is the vice president of programming for Delta Phi Epsilon.
Learn more about Ferrum College’s social work program here.
Learn more about the Virginia chapter of the National Association for Social Workers here.
Dr. Durham worked on his family’s Brookhaven, NY farm this summer. Photo by Durham’s cousin, Sam Nolan.
9/22/2021
Associate Professor of Crop Science Tim Durham has been named a Global Farmer Network (GFN) Roundtable fellow. In this role, Durham will virtually coordinate with about 30 other farmers from six other continents to develop innovative strategies to meet the food, clothing, and fuel needs of our growing global population.
“The GFN provides premier training that leverages trust through shared practice – an international community of farmer ‘agvocates,’” explained Durham.
According to the GFN Roundtable’s website, Durham will be part of a prestigious group of global farmers who will “discover commonalities, share their challenges, discuss tools, technologies and strategies that can be adopted to meet these challenges, and are empowered to meet the demands of feeding, clothing and fueling the world in a manner that is sustainable through shared work, message and mission.”
Durham’s first virtual meeting will occur next month, in October. His training will also include an in-person meeting in Brussels, Belgium to discuss trade and other contemporary agricultural issues.
“I look forward to meeting my peers to discuss technology, trade, and messaging,” Durham said. “Common ground is the only way we can address ‘wicked’ problems – those that seem to defy solutions – and secure a sustainable future.”
Read more in this Franklin News-Post article by Leigh Prom.
9/16/2021
Ferrum College is pleased to announce that Dr. Kevin Reilly has been named Vice President for Academic Affairs. Reilly took the helm on September 15, after serving as Acting Vice President over the summer.
“I am pleased to be offered the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs,” he said. “I am excited to work with the finest faculty and staff anywhere.”
Reilly earned his Bachelor of Science in psychology in 1991 and his Master of Arts in industrial/organizational psychology in 1994, from Bridgewater State College. After receiving his Ph.D. in social cognition/personality from Lehigh University in 2002, Reilly arrived at Ferrum College as a faculty member in the psychology department. He also served as a school dean for eight years before being named Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2019.
Reilly played a substantial role in preparing Ferrum for its fall 2020 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation review, which received a glowing report and offered no additional recommendations. He also helped Ferrum to earn Level IV institution approval, which authorized the College to offer a variety of masters and specialist degree programs.
As Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, Reilly has guided the faculty through the summer and the fourth semester of teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. He has been instrumental in welcoming new students to campus for the fall 2021 semester. Reilly spearheaded a “Morning of Service” in late August, when students partnered with leaders from the Village of Ferrum to undertake a number of community service projects, including grounds keeping, painting, and packing food for local elementary school children.
“My vision,” said Reilly, “is to work collaboratively and build upon our strengths: delivering outstanding opportunities for students through existing programs, while developing exciting new programs, both graduate and undergraduate. We plan to provide career-oriented experiences throughout the College that prepare students for life after college.”
“Kevin is an obvious choice for Vice President for Academic Affairs,” said President David Johns. “He has been involved in many of our most important academic initiatives in recent years, and has provided smart and consistent leadership. Kevin is deeply committed to our students and his work is filled with creativity, grace, and good humor. We would be hard pressed to find someone who knows us better or loves us more.”
9/15/2021
Ferrum College Counseling Services is now offering “Mandala Mondays” in the mindfulness suite in Bassett Hall.
Mandala Mondays. Journaling Wednesdays. Yoga, meditation, and more. All of these mindfulness activities are now being folded into campus life at Ferrum College.
Ferrum College Counseling Center Director Jessica Stallard and Outreach & Programming Coordinator Lee-Ann O’Dell have spent the better part of 2021 developing a program to allow the campus community to explore contemplative practices. They’ve designed a mindfulness suite on the second floor of Bassett Hall where students, faculty, and staff are invited to practice mindfulness during the week.
“By offering additional services through the Counseling Center, we are hoping to reach those who may need some help with stress reduction but may not need or want individual counseling. Our mindfulness services can also be a great supplement to individual counseling,” said Stallard.
Mandala Mondays were created with a focus on meditative arts, and are offered in Bassett 216 (next to the mindfulness suite) on Mondays from 12 – 1 p.m. Campus members are invited to select a mandala and spend time creating various color patterns. According to O’Dell, “it activates the medial prefrontal cortex, or reward center of the brain,” and has been shown to lower cortisol, a stress hormone. See How Art Helps the Brain for more information.
O’Dell also noted that while mandala is closely associated with the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, it also has roots in both eastern and western religions. “In Christianity, we see the circle in the halo over Jesus’ head, in the Celtic cross, and the dome. In Native American culture, Shamans believe the center of the circle holds sacred healing power,” she said.
Journaling Wednesdays occurs from 12 – 1 PM in Bassett 216, and offers students a writing space outside of their dorm rooms or other busy areas on campus. The suite is stocked with prompts to encourage journaling, and free writing is also encouraged. “Either way,” said O’Dell, “this is another way to draw focus to the present – a mindful moment.”
Additionally, Stallard and O’Dell will use these services to supplement therapy for those who are already using the 1:1 counseling model at Ferrum. They also want to create an academic curriculum that will incorporate mindfulness disciplines.
“From our perspective, in the social emotional learning lens, it is all about resilience. Building resilience while at Ferrum to deal with the demands of college life, but also adding some tools in the tool box to deal with life beyond Ferrum,” said O’Dell.
The mindfulness suite is open to students from 10 – 12 a.m. and 2 – 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Faculty and staff may visit the space from 12 – 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Campus members who are interested in counseling options should visit here. In-person and telehealth options are available.
Learn more about mindfulness at Ferrum.
9/13/2021
On Monday, September 13, 2021, the U.S. News & World Report released the 2022 Best Colleges Rankings. Ferrum College was ranked number eight in the category of Undergraduate Teaching – Regional Colleges South.
The number eight ranking was bestowed upon Ferrum College after top college administrators completed a survey in spring and summer 2021, which ranked institutions across the nation according to a set of performance measures indicating excellence. Ferrum’s counterparts that ranked in the Undergraduate Teaching category received the most votes from the college administrators for focusing particularly on undergraduate teaching.
Read more about the Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs here.
9/10/2021
Demontay Wimbush ’21 at Schoolfield Hall.
Ferrum College senior and National Guard Member Demontay Wimbush ’21 is spending the final semester of his college career preparing to mobilize stateside in November. From there, in January 2022, he will deploy to Africa where he’ll be stationed for nine months.
“Luckily, all of my wonderful professors are working with me to finish early, before I deploy,” said Wimbush. He doesn’t yet know what his job duties will be in Africa.
On August 21, 2021, Wimbush married his high school sweetheart Kyra, who recently graduated from Averett University. The couple resides in Bassett, VA. As expected, Kyra isn’t looking forward to Wimbush’s deployment, but is supportive of his endeavors.
This isn’t Wimbush’s first experience with deployment. After the events at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, he was deployed to Washington, D.C. to help with security. “I stood in front of the Capitol building for twelve hours a day for a month,” explained Wimbush. He completed the beginning of the spring 2021 semester remotely while also fulfilling his guard duties.
As history major, Wimbush also worked as a McBroom Scholar at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM) over the summer. His job included giving tours of the farm museum while wearing wool interpreter’s clothing and working over a blacksmith’s fire in the summer heat.
“From the very first day, he fit right in with the staff and was incredibly enthusiastic about having this opportunity,” said BRIM Director Bethany Worley. “He was always looking for something new to learn, either in the museum or at the 1800’s farm.”
Associate Professor of History Tim Daniels, who is also Wimbush’s advisor, remembered taking a group of PAWS students to the farm museum in July, where he found Wimbush weeding the garden. “He hopped up and gave us an impromptu tour, immediately engaging the students by drawing them into what life would have been like at a farm inhabited by immigrants to his area,” explained Daniels. See Wimbush in action in these Flickr album photos submitted by Daniels.
As a McBroom Scholar, Wimbush learned blacksmithing techniques from local Franklin County resident Bill “Spook” Parcell, along with gardening and farming. He said that his experience at the BRIM’s farm allowed him to appreciate the preservation of Blue Ridge history.
Wimbush is also the first Ferrum College intern at the Booker T. Washington National Monument in Bedford County, VA. Daniels explained Wimbush’s duties: “There, he builds on what he honed at the BRIM, doing interpretation, manning the store, helping out in the garden and with animals, and developing educational materials that compliment the exhibitions and site.”
Researching and learning through history has always been Wimbush’s passion. “I enjoyed history during grade school,” he said. “My desire to seek the truth has allowed me to fall even more in love with my history major at Ferrum.”
Worley knows Wimbush is destined for great things, and said, “Demontay is just an extraordinary young man. His life experiences, combined with his education and his wonderful personality, set him apart from many people. I have no doubt that Demontay will make an impact in this world.”
8/13/2021
In celebration of a new semester, Ferrum College is inviting its campus community to an All-Campus Welcome on Monday, August 16. The day’s events, which will be hybrid in nature, will be devoted to getting to know campus members, building community, and connecting with each other.
A link will be provided to the campus community to watch a virtual welcome video prior to returning to campus and participating in the All-Campus Welcome. The video will provide updates about new faces on campus, major projects on the horizon or in the works, and some fun news from each department.
Director of Student Activities Justin Muse ’05 will also host two virtual Kahoot! trivia sessions, with prizes, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Login instructions will be emailed on Monday morning.
The day will close with a 1 p.m. ice cream social in the Panther’s Den on campus. Everyone must follow Ferrum College’s physical distancing protocols and wear masks while inside (except when eating) regardless of vaccination status. The patio will be open for those who wish to be outdoors.
8/12/2021
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are now able to swipe a new Ferrum College branded bank card, brought to them by Carter Bank & Trust.
The bank has partnered with Varsity Financial Services to bring free online and mobile banking, free bill pay, and free peer-to-peer payments to local colleges and universities. Through this partnership, Ferrum’s campus community can enroll and receive a free Ferrum College branded debit card. The College will also enjoy ongoing revenue to support its teaching priorities.
“Our partnership with Carter Bank & Trust and Varsity Financial Services will provide a necessary service to our students and community, while also benefitting Ferrum College,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07. “This is a great way to show your Panther pride.”
Learn more about Varsity Financial Services here.
8/11/2021
Ferrum College’s Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM) has announced the return of the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival on October 23, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event will happen on the Ferrum College campus, rain or shine.
New to this year’s festival, the BRIM is offering a $5 discount for every festival ticket pre-sold online. Purchase tickets online here. If bought in-person on the day of the festival, tickets are $15 each.
With food, music, and crafts, and events like horse pulls, mule jumps, and coon dog races, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival has been called “thoroughly authentic” by the New York Times. It’s also a major venue on the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. See photos from 2019’s Folklife Festival here.
The BRIM also invites patrons to become “Friends of the BRIM.” Members get exclusive benefits like free tickets to the Folklife Festival, free admission to the Farm Museum, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, and more. Click here to become a member.
8/11/2021
After a chaotic 2020-21 season, Ferrum College’s sports competitions will resume this fall. Panther football opens at home with a 6 p.m. game against Averett University on September 4. Head Coach Cleive Adams ’02 will instruct the Panthers against Averett’s Cougars, a team he coached for six years prior to his 2020 arrival at Ferrum College.
Additionally, the College is inviting Panther fans to become members of the Panther Club, which has supported Ferrum athletes for over 50 years. Memberships provide Ferrum’s 27 varsity athletic programs with leadership development, advanced technology for game streaming, and upgrades to athletic areas. Panther Club members will also receive exclusive benefits, including reserved parking at games, access to the President’s Suite, free decals, and more. Click here to learn more and join the Panther Club.
“Last season was unique in many ways,” wrote Director of Athletics John Sutyak, in an email about the Panther Club. “In the end, all of our student-athletes had the opportunity to compete in meaningful games. We [sent] our men’s and women’s wrestlers to their respective national championships, resulting in one all-America honoree. Additionally, we had three academic all-American student-athletes, three ODAC Scholar Athletes of the Year honorees in their respective sports, and 190 student-athletes were named academic all-ODAC, the fifth most in the conference.”
Check out the Panthers’ fall football schedule here.
Cross country begins with the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg on September 1. The 2021 cross country schedule is here.
Men’s soccer starts with a home game against Pikeville on August 22. Here’s the fall schedule.
Women’s soccer will begin its season away against Lynchburg on August 25. The fall 2021 schedule is here.
The equestrian program is gearing up for the University of Virginia IHSA Show in Charlottesville on October 9. The 2021-22 schedule is here.
The field hockey team is poised to go up against Lincoln Memorial in a home opener on August 28. Check out the 2021 field hockey schedule here.
Women’s volleyball begins the season with a home game against Patrick Henry on August 28. The fall schedule is here.
Visit the Ferrum College Athletics website for more fall 2021 sports information.
8/6/2021
Panther Family:
I hope you are as excited as I am for a new year of connection, growth, and community. There are great opportunities for us in the months ahead, and I am eager to get underway.
As we navigate through this pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we work together to follow the guidelines I am sharing with you today. Many of these guidelines are familiar to us by now, and exercising them together with civility and grace will benefit us all as we continue to live with our new normal.
We are stronger together.
We are ready to welcome the entire Ferrum College family back to campus for the 2021-22 academic year — students, faculty, and staff. We’ll have some challenges along with our opportunities, to be sure, but as we have seen time and again, when we work together as one, we triumph as one.
Last year, our hard work and determination paid off. Together, we kept each other safe and healthy, and we upheld our motto: not self, but others. I am proud of how well we did last year, and while the world is making progress, we are not wholly through this pandemic. I wish we were, but we are not. Thus, we will need to continue caring for each other, so we can continue spending time together.
EFFECTIVE MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2021
Vaccines
At this time, Ferrum College strongly encourages all members of our campus community to get vaccinated. We will host a vaccination clinic on campus soon, and urge all students, faculty, and staff (who are able) to get vaccinated. You can also find a vaccination location near you here. Vaccinations are available at no cost to you and they are our best defense in stopping the spread of this virus and getting back to normal.
Testing
If you aren’t feeling well, get tested for COVID-19 at a pharmacy or health care provider’s office. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please refrain from participating in campus activities and get tested. Find a testing location near you here. In the future, additional testing may be required.
Face Coverings
As COVID-19 variants are now impacting both vaccinated and unvaccinated people: all students, employees, and visitors must wear face coverings while indoors at this time – regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings are strongly recommended outdoors when social distancing is not feasible or realistic.
We will communicate adjustments regarding face coverings if they change; we are hopeful vaccinated students and employees will not need to wear face coverings in the near future.
Self-Monitoring
Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19. If you notice symptoms, find a testing site near you right away and get tested. Students contact the Office of Student Life and Engagement. Employees contact Human Resources.
Classes and Campus Life
Most classes at Ferrum have returned to in-person instruction with some protocols from our previous semesters remaining in effect for the Fall. Some classes will be offered online or in a hybrid format. Reasonable accommodations will be available for those who cannot attend in-person due to quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.
Key protocols: Face coverings while indoors and continued practice of social distancing. Face coverings are strongly recommended outdoors when social distancing is not feasible or realistic.
The Dining Hall will be open for indoor dining and takeout options will be available. Dining Services employees and diners will need to follow College protocols regarding face coverings when not eating or drinking.
Events, Visitors, and Athletics
Everyone will be required to wear face coverings during indoor events. For outdoor events where social distancing is not possible, face coverings will be strongly encouraged.
Ferrum College welcomes prospective students and their families, alumni, friends of the college, and vendors to campus. Face coverings are mandatory for all visitors while indoors and are strongly recommended outdoors if social distancing is not possible.
All Ferrum Athletics teams will be competing as scheduled, and student-athletes and athletic staff will follow conference guidance. Currently, spectators are permitted to attend games and must follow Ferrum College’s visitor protocols.
Continued Monitoring
Ferrum College will continue to monitor and adjust protocols based on campus and regional COVID-19 activity, as well as recommendations from the CDC, local department of health, and the Governor’s Office.
I want to thank you all in advance for your help with these guidelines.
We all want to return to normal as quickly as possible, and we are nearly there — in person classes, athletics, campus events and activities; it is awesome to be back together! Let’s work together to squash this virus and maintain a campus environment that is safe and healthy for the entire Panther family. I strongly encourage all faculty, staff, and students to be vaccinated to help us avoid additional restrictions. We are always stronger together, and I am looking forward to a dynamic and rewarding academic year.
Sincerely,
David L. Johns, Ph.D.
President
Learn more about Ferrum College’s plans for fall semester 2021 by visiting www.ferrum.edu/stronger-together.
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.
