For some, the war in Ukraine feels distant and out of reach.
But for Mariya Dzhyoyeva and Roman Bohdan, the situation is personal.
Dzhyoyeva, an assistant professor of Modern Language at Ferrum College, hails from Ukraine. And Bhodan, an assistant professor of Business at Ferrum, is from Crimea. The two participated in an Inquiring Minds panel discussion held February 28, 2022, on campus about the Russian invasion in Ukraine. They were joined by Michael Hancock-Parmer, an assistant professor of History.
“I think I speak for all of us in that what we want you to see is that it is a very nuanced, complicated situation,” Hancock-Parmer said. “On the simple side, the human cost requires our compassion—the loss of life, the invasion of a sovereign state. But at the same time, as I kind of warn my students, it can be too easy to go looking for heroes and villains, to sort of put up flags or statues.”
The panel discussed many topics, including the subject of timing and why this conflict is happening now, as opposed to occurring earlier.
“For me personally, this invasion hasn’t started five days ago. It started eight years ago… since or even before 2014,” Dzhyoyeva said. “They realized that Ukraine would not back away from it (being independent), so it was just a question not of if (Russia would invade), but a question of when.”
Bohdan agreed the invasion had been ongoing and added that the attitude of some Ukrainians toward Russia has changed. “It’s not an easy process,” he said. “It’s all Ukrainian spirit. And the majority of the political leaders–they have become nationalists, and it’s very difficult to conquer them. That’s why we still have independent Ukraine up to this point. Otherwise, it would be very quick, a very quick reunion. But it’s all lasted since probably 2004.”
Bohdan believes much of the resistance stems from the fact that Russia is dealing with deep internal issues, and Ukrainians–even former supporters of a Russian union–now want no part of a reunification.
“I guess now people more realize that they don’t want Russia because Russia has its own problems… Because in Russia there is totalitarianism… So if they go to protest, they will be arrested. They will get criminal records,” he said.
Bohdan also said some people were more nostalgic about Russia, especially those from the eastern part of the country. Many of those people no longer feel that way, he said.
“(They) might have wanted to be closer or to be reunited, but now they’ve changed their minds because Russia has its own political issues. And some even realize that the current president is losing reality,” Bohdan said.
Members of the audience also wanted to know the panel’s thoughts on NATO support for Ukraine.
“This is very difficult to provide an exact answer, but I can say that there is never enough,” Bohdan said. “The war is ongoing, and the fight is the Ukraine’s fight, so they need as much as possible—a lot of supplies and ammunition.”
Dzhyoyeva expressed concern over whether NATO support would heighten tensions. “As a Ukrainian Canadian, I am very proud of what Canada has done for Ukraine so far in terms of military and military aid,” she said. “Now should they go further? I don’t know. Because they do realize how fragile the situation is. And we don’t know if going further would cause something that gets completely out of control…”
Another topic raised was the Ukrainian response to the invasion and people defending their homes and homeland.
“I’m proud, but at the same time, I’m embarrassed and angry,” Dzhyoyeva related. “When I go to social media and read what the people of Crimea post there, it is a stark contrast with Poland, with Bulgaria, with Hungary that are now receiving Ukrainians as fugitives. And that level of humanity is an exact opposite of what you see in Crimea…The sentiment there is not like the rest of Ukraine… There is a very significant sector of population that genuinely supports Russia.”
Bohdan explained his amazement at the nationalistic spirit of the Ukrainian people. “There is a group where local people post videos, how they fight. And I’m watching, and I’m just very proud, because some people, just by their bare hands, fight the armed Russians,” he said.
Remarks were also made about the cost of the war, both financially and otherwise. Bohdan argued that this is no mere invasion—no matter how it is portrayed. “That’s a war, and it’s (been) a war since 2014, because Russia annexed Crimea. Crimea is part of an independent country… So that’s not a crisis. That’s a war. It’s (a) real war,” he stated.
Hancock-Parmer went on to discuss the various sanctions and the effects they may or may not have on Russia. He believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is confident in his country’s ability to weather these effects.
“The narrative is that he is prepared for the sanctions. He is saying, ‘Oh of course they are going to do this and this and this, but we can withstand all of this.’ One of the things he’s saying is, ‘We will be able to sustain our way of life without the West,’” he explained.
Regardless of the motive for war, both Russia and Ukraine are feeling the costs.
“The average Russian citizens are also paying the price,” Dzhyoyeva remarked. ”If you look at social media, people are talking about how ordinary people aren’t able to make payments or transactions and complaining about it…and then it’s been over 3,000 arrests over internal protests just in two days,” Dzhyoyeva remarked. “It’s amazing that people dare to protest like this.”
Hancock-Parmer agreed. “It’s amazing that it’s that high…because I don’t think they’re being handled politely,” he said. “I don’t think the situation is going to come into the brightest of focus, but at the same time, (we should do) anything we can do to build our understanding and build our concern and compassion for other people in the world who are going through hell at the moment.”
Article written and submitted by Marina J. Powell, assistant editor of The Iron Blade. Powell is a freshman majoring in music with an emphasis in performance. Powell’s article appeared on the front page of the March 4 edition of The Franklin News-Post.
Steaming ovens were humming, and the kitchen was buzzing with laughter and quick movements amongst the staff. In the background, you could hear the clanging of the cutlery against the stainless-steel pots as a whiff of the sizzling vegetables and fried plantains wafted through the air.
The scene was Ferrum College’s Franklin Dining Hall, lively and bustling as Midoven Lormejuste, freshman, had students floating in to eat what was dubbed “The Haitian Station Takeover”.
Lormejuste, a nursing major and student chef, cooked up a heart-warming meal with his Haitian family recipe of Legum and Diri (rice with bean gravy and legume.)
“The gravy is a tough thing to make. You have to really take care of that one,” he said. While he worked, he talked about the dish.
“This ingredient requires way too much stuff,” he joked. “If I ever create a time machine, and I go back in time, I’m gonna have to talk to the person who created this dish. There are just too many steps and too many ingredients.”
The idea for the takeover came about when Lormejuste and Aladdin Food Services Director Levi Briggs were joking around.
“I was going around the dining hall making sure stations were ready for service,” Briggs recalled. “I don’t remember what we were first talking about, but I do remember ‘ML’ (Lormejuste) saying, ‘we should cook Haitian food’, and that rhyme: ‘Haitian Station Takeover’ just jumped into my head.”
Briggs told Lormejuste to pick a dish and bring in the recipe.
“He asked me if I was joking, and I told him, ‘No,’” Briggs said. “I also told him that he would be responsible for cooking the dish. ‘ML’ stepped up and brought me a recipe. Aladdin bought all the items on the list. We talked about his menu, set a date, and he embraced the challenge.”
All in all, Lormejuste felt the meal went over well.
“The reactions that I got were amazing!” he said. “Everyone loved it, and I will definitely do it again. I would wanna do better than the first time. I do have other recipes to share, but I would need to think about it.”
Briggs also felt the event came off smoothly.
“It was a great success,” he said. “We had students trying something new. ‘ML’ did a great job describing and teaching the diners about the recipe’s origin and why that dish was special to him. It opened a door for other students to step up and share food that has meaning to them.”
Jeffrey Maddy, freshman, whose parents are Haitian, also enjoyed the meal and praised its authenticity. “Spot on!” Maddy said. “I wish Ferrum would do more food like this, like cultural food, because it would be much better for other people to experience it.”
The only drawback to the event, Lormejuste said, was in the cutlery. “One thing that I was upset with was people using forks,” he said. “Because we weren’t Americans that day, but Haitians.”
Lormejuste qualified the statement, saying that generally, Haitians don’t use the utensil. “We don’t really use forks because there is no use for it,” he said. “You were to mix everything up and scoop it to your mouth.”
Traditionally, he said, people use either spoons or their hands. “It depends on your class in society,” he said.
The “class in society” and growing up in Haiti helped him choose the path of being in the medical field, Lormejuste said.
“I saw that health was the biggest issue we have–and poverty. I was like, ‘You know what? If I ever have the chance to do better, I need to have the knowledge of being in the medical (field), and hopefully one day, I can go back home and share that knowledge.’ That would make a big impact,” he said.
Meanwhile, the current avenue for getting back home is achieved through the international cooking.
“My hope is that the student is transported back to fond memories, and it shows that we care about them,” Briggs said. “This is one of the wonderful things about America—people come from all over the world and proudly share aspects of their culture.”
Lormejuste agreed. “I was happy with how the meal came out,” he said. “It tasted like home.”
Article written by Refentse Maselwa and submitted courtesy of The Iron Blade. Maselwa is a freshman from Pretoria, South Africa, who is majoring in accounting with a minor in journalism.
Ferrum College is pleased to announce that journalist and bestselling author Beth Macy will be the keynote speaker for its 106th commencement ceremony on April 23, 2022.
Beth Macy is the author of the critically acclaimed and New York Times-bestselling books, Factory Man, Truevine, and Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America. Macy served as Executive Producer and writer on the acclaimed Hulu limited television series, Dopesick, which was based on her book and starred Michael Keaton, who won a Golden Globe for his performance as Samuel Finnix.
A longtime reporter who specializes in outsiders and underdogs, Macy has won more than a dozen national journalism awards, including a Lukas Prize for Factory Man, multiple shortlist and best-book-of-the-year honors for Truevine, and a Nieman Fellowship for Journalism at Harvard University for her newspaper writing.
A frequent speaker, teacher, and essayist, Macy has been published in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Oprah Magazine, and Parade.
Her upcoming book, Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Drug Crisis (August 2022), focuses on solutions to the opioid crisis and the heroic efforts of frontline workers applying harm reduction practices on the streets of America.
Macy was a reporter for The Roanoke Times from 1989 to 2014. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University and her master’s degree in creative writing from Hollins University.
The Ferrum College commencement ceremony honoring the class of 2022 will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Adams Stadium on campus. For more information, click here.
10/6/2021
Ferrum College has announced the new Student Government Association (SGA) cabinet officers for the 2021-22 academic year. For the senior class, Andre Williams ’22 was named president and Damon Curry ’22 was named vice president. Kelsey Smith ’23 was named junior class president. She will serve alongside Jazmin Scarberry ’23 as vice president, Jess Bollinger as secretary, and Cameron Hawkins ’23 as treasurer. To enter the SGA election, students must run together as a cabinet and submit a petition for election showcasing 100 signatures.
“I’m looking forward to working with this group of students this year,” said Director of Student Activities Justin Muse ’05. “They’ve already hit the ground running and have been bouncing around great ideas to implement. We’re going to have an exceptional year!”
Meet the 2021-22 class officers below.
Senior Class President – Andre Williams ’22Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Major: business administration
Why he loves Ferrum College: “The students and professors at Ferrum are some of the best I’ve ever known. I wanted to serve as senior class president to be their voice and to help Ferrum stay great.”
Senior Class Vice President – Damon Curry ’22Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Majors: business administration
Why he loves Ferrum College: “I love Ferrum because of the opportunities it’s given me to showcase my leadership skills. I’m fortunate to do a lot on campus and meet a lot of people. I look forward to working with you!”
Junior Class President – Kelsey Smith ’23Hometown: Gretna, VA
Major: sociology
Why she loves Ferrum College: “Ferrum College is a second home to me. I have made a lot of friendships that I know will be lifelong. I can be a voice for the junior class because of my love and devotion to better the place I call home.”
Junior Class Vice President – Jazmin Scarberry ’23Hometown: Bluefield, VA
Majors: ecotourism and history
Why she loves Ferrum College: “I love Ferrum College because it makes me feel at home. It is such a tight knit community where everyone is so caring and welcoming. I enjoy being greeted everywhere with a smile and a wave. I believe the voices of the students are what makes a difference.”
Junior Class Secretary – Jess Bollinger ’23Hometown: Bedford, VA
Majors: political science and history
Why she wants to serve as a class officer: “I am excited to help my classmates voices be heard. I’m also able to interact on campus in a new way.”
Junior Class Treasurer – Cameron Hawkins ’23Hometown: Sparta, NC
Major: psychology
Why she wants to serve as a class officer: “I love how Ferrum College creates events and activities to do right here on campus. I wanted to make my own college experience great, and make others’ experiences better, as well. I also want to build and strengthen my leadership skills for my responsibilities in the future.”
8/19/2021
Dr. Ed Hally
Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration Ed Hally has been appointed to the position of Boone Honors Program (BHP) assistant director. He will serve alongside Professor of English Lana Whited, who has directed the program for the past 13 years.
“With a keen intellect and a heart for service, Ed Hally is an ideal candidate for honors education,” said Whited. “I am delighted about his appointment and grateful for his willingness to take on this new role.”
“I have a soft spot for honors programs, in general,” said Hally. “They were an important part of my own college career and development as a scholar.”
The BHP, an interdisciplinary program committed to challenging students, and the college campus as a whole, to strive for excellence, has continued to grow since its 2001 inception under the leadership of now-retired Dean of Arts and Humanities and Religion Professor David Howell. In May 2021, the program graduated 14 honors medallion recipients, its largest-ever group. This fall, BHP will welcome its largest entering class of 25 honors students. (An SAT score of at least 1200 and a GPA of at least 3.5 are required to join BHP as a Ferrum College freshman.)
Hally has worked closely with BHP for more than a decade, and has taught the introductory honors seminar (Honors 100) eight times. His role as BHP assistant director will evolve over time as the program’s needs are determined, but will mostly involve program assessment, mentorship, service on the BHP steering committee, and continuing to teach the Honors 100 seminar.
In 2020, Hally began directing the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which seeks to engage the student body in ways that will lead to even more student success. He will continue directing the QEP as he navigates his new role as BHP assistant director.
“The students are the main reason to work so closely with the BHP,” said Hally. “The classes are always rewarding to teach because the students always surprise and impress me with their creativity, their talent, and their ability to work as a team.”
Read more about the Boone Honors Program.
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.
7/11/2021
Homeschoolers’ Day Camp, 2017.
The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM) of Ferrum College is pleased to announce a new membership initiative, called “Friends of the BRIM.”
“This is our first ever membership campaign,” said BRIM Director Bethany Worley. “These membership opportunities are an exciting part of the BRIM’s future. This is a great way for us to share what we do—which is documenting the rich cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge region and bringing it to life for all generations. We look forward to connecting with our special ‘Friends of the BRIM’ and offering unique opportunities just for them.”
The initiative encompasses four membership packages with various perks:
Moonshiner Membership is $30 per year ($25 for senior citizens) and includes free admission to the Blue Ridge Farm Museum for the year along with two single-use guest passes, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, access to exhibit previews and members-only events, and more.
Homestead Membership may be purchased for $60 per year and includes free admission to the Farm Museum for two adults and two children, four single-use guest passes, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, access to exhibit previews and members-only events, and more.
Folklorist Membership is $150 per year and includes the same perks as the Moonshiner and Homestead tiers, with additional discounts on workshops and gift shop items, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, two free tickets to the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, and more.
Mountaineer Membership is the highest tier and costs $500 per year. These members will receive free admission to the farm museum for four visitors, four single-use guest passes, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, a behind-the-scenes tour for up to eight people, access to exhibit previews and members-only events, four free Folklife Festival tickets, Folklife Festival t-shits, and an exclusive parking pass for the Festival.
“Friends of the BRIM” memberships will become available for purchase on July 13, 2021 and beyond, on the BRIM’s online gift shop site. Click here to visit and become a member.
Additionally, the BRIM is offering a $5 discount to those who purchase tickets for this year’s Folklife Festival, scheduled for October 23, through its online gift shop site. Tickets will go on sale online on July 16, 2021. Click here to buy them. More information about this year’s Festival will be available soon!
Learn more about the BRIM here.
7/9/2021
Photo by Stephen “West” Nuttycombe, Jr. ’18
Ferrum College raised over $2.5 million this fiscal year (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021), surpassing last year’s total by more than $600,000. In addition to the increase in overall fundraising, the College is also celebrating an uptick in its Arthur Society members, its leadership giving society for individuals and businesses who contribute over $1,000 annually. Read more about Ferrum’s giving societies here.
For the second consecutive year, Ferrum experienced record-breaking fundraising for athletics by raising over $128,000. This comes on the heels of the recent announcement of the Black Hats football endowment that will provide ongoing support for the Ferrum College football program.
With over 1,000 donations (a 10 percent increase from last year’s giving), the Ferrum Fund raised more than $385,000 in unrestricted dollars, which will be used to develop new academic programs programs, support scholarships, provide student research opportunities, and more.
In addition to athletics and the Ferrum Fund, the College raised more than $500,000 for scholarships and over $560,000 (including the endowment) for the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum.
“Our College faced unusual and uncertain circumstances during the 2020-21 academic year,” said President David Johns. “This year’s success can be attributed to individuals who were encouraged by Ferrum’s response to COVID-19, our unwavering commitment to our students, and to our vision for the future. We are grateful for the support shown to our students and campus community.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, College officials were unable to visit constituents for most of the 2020-21 academic year. Ferrum was also forced to cancel Homecoming and other alumni events. To combat these challenges and keep constituents engaged, the College launched a series of mini-campaigns that began last August with a mask campaign in which supporters could make a contribution in exchange for receiving a Ferrum College face mask. The mini-campaigns also included the College’s Giving Day that raised over $100,000, the virtual sell out of Adams Stadium to support athletic teams, and culminated with the “It’s the People” campaign that encouraged folks to make a gift in honor or memory of an individual who played an important role in their own Ferrum journey.
“We appreciate the alumni and friends of Ferrum College who have increased their giving or gave for the first time during the pandemic,” said Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Scott Showalter ’73. “I encourage others to do the same to help future students realize their dreams.”
Make a gift and learn more about what your gift supports by visiting here.
7/8/2021
Ferrum alumni enjoyed a Washington Nationals game (2018).
After more than a year of solitude due to COVID-19, Ferrum College alumni are now able to safely gather and reconnect per updated CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals.
“Ferrum alums are ready to get back together,” said Director of Alumni and Family Programs Tracy Holley. “We’ve all missed each other and are excited to put into action the plans we’ve been making over the last year.”
A list of upcoming alumni events follows. Some details are not finalized yet. Holley reminds everyone to continue watching the Alumni and Alumni Association Facebook pages for updates.
Additionally, the College is pleased to introduce a Build Your Own Event (B.Y.O.E.) option, in which alums are invited to create their own events, and Alumni and Family Programs will help spread the word. “We want to get reconnected with each other and our community,” explained Holley. Interested participants should email Holley at alumni@ferrum.edu to get started.
Upcoming Alumni Events:
July 15, noon: Alumni Lunch at Mac & Bob’s, Salem
July 15, 7:00 PM: Salem Red Sox Game
July 27, noon: Alumni Lunch at Golden Leaf Bistro, Danville
July 27, 6:30 PM: Greensboro Grasshoppers Game
July 21 – 25, all day: FloydFest21~Odyssey
July 30 – 31, all day: Float Trip down James River
August 12, 7:00 PM: Alumni Virtual Wine Tasting with Beliveau
August 19, noon: Alumni Lunch at P.F. Chang’s, 9212 Stony Point Pkwy, in Richmond
August 19, 6:00 PM: Alumni Event at Topgolf, Richmond
September 17: Alumni Event in Hampton (more details to come)
September 18, 4:00 PM: CNU Tailgate & Game
October 8: Alumni Event in Bridgewater Area (more details to come)
October 15, 5:00 – 8:00 PM: Alumni Kick-Off at 202 Social House, Roanoke
October 16, 8:30 AM: Homecoming & ABOD Meeting
October 16, 11:00 AM: Golden Panthers Induction
October 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
October 30, 11:00 AM: Alumni Awards and Sports Hall of Fame
7/8/2021
Ferrum College is pleased to announce that its campus is once again open to the public. This reopening comes after the May 2021 guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which updated COVID-19 safety protocols for vaccinated individuals.
While the College is not requiring students, faculty, or staff to receive the vaccination at this time, President David Johns said that the institution is strongly encouraging it. Ferrum has joined the White House COVID-19 College Vaccination Challenge which seeks to vaccinate as many young adults as possible prior to them returning to campus for fall classes. This means that Ferrum has committed to taking the following action against the virus: engaging every student, faculty, and staff member by providing resources to get vaccinated; organizing its college community by implementing a vaccination plan; and delivering vaccine access for all.
“We will definitely host at least one flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinic on campus, ideally in early September, where students, faculty, staff, and the community can get either or both vaccinations,” explained Dean of Student Life and Pandemic Coordinator Nicole Lenez. “Or if it is easier for a community member to get vaccinated elsewhere, we’ll help them find a clinic. All they need to do is reach out to our Student Life office by calling (540) 365-4461 or emailing studentlife@ferrum.edu.”
More information about upcoming vaccination clinics will be available in the near future.
Additionally, the College is preparing for fall courses to begin on August 23. The semester will offer 14-week courses as well as two seven-week sessions, with all courses ending on November 23 prior to the Thanksgiving holiday break. The majority of courses will be delivered in the classroom (face-to-face) or through a hybrid method (50 percent virtual, 50 percent in-person). Ferrum faculty have completed an intensive online teaching certification to provide high-quality instruction both in the classroom and online.
On campus, physical distancing will be encouraged and sanitizing protocols will be maintained, including twice-daily disinfection of high-touch areas like light switches, bathrooms, and door handles. The College will not require masks indoors for individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Likewise, masks will not be mandated for anyone attending outdoor events unless three feet of distance cannot be maintained.
Athletics will return to normal competition this fall, with Panther football taking on Averett University on Ferrum’s campus on September 4 at 6 p.m. For more updates, check the official Ferrum College athletic website.
“The pandemic’s most pernicious work has been to separate us, keeping us from many of the things and people we enjoy,” wrote Johns in a campus-wide email. “What we learned so well over this past year will help us as we prepare for the year ahead: we are always stronger together.”
View Ferrum College’s plan for the 2021-22 academic year, and sign up to receive news and updates, on the Stronger Together website.
Learn more about the White House COVID-19 College Vaccination Challenge by visiting here.
5/25/2021
On June 1, 2021, Ferrum College will welcome Lydia and Justin Kitts to its campus family. Lydia will serve as the College’s senior director of Strategic Communications and Justin has been named dean of Innovation and Opportunity.
“I’m excited to join a community where good people are doing good things – guiding our students, and each other, to fulfill their purpose,” said Lydia, who has been teaching communications at Union College (Barbourville, KY) since 2017. “I can’t wait to share those stories with potential students and families, showing them the promise of Ferrum.”
Justin expressed the same anticipation. “This position marries my love of student development and desire to see students reach their professional goals. Fulfilling the promise of college not only helps our students but will also have a larger impact on the communities in which they work,” he said. Justin currently serves as dean of students at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC.
When the couple arrives at Ferrum College, it will be the first time in five years that they and their two children, Weston (6) and Lavinia (5), will be able to spend every night of the week in the same home. “We’ve ‘lived’ in the same home – but the kids and I would drive between Berea, KY and Banner Elk, NC every week, with a day of driving in between,” explained Lydia.
Justin, originally from Minot, ND, received his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Lees-McRae College in 2007. He went on to earn his Master of Arts in College Student Development from Appalachian State University in 2010. Justin has served as resident director, director of Greek life, and director of Summer Conferencing at Lees-McRae (2007-2009); director of Campus Life and Recreation at Lees-McRae (2010-2013); and director of Campus Life, director of Housing and Residence Life, and dean of students at Union College (2013-2019).
Lydia, a Berea, KY native, received her Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts Studies from Lees-McRae in 2012. She earned a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from Kent State University in 2017. She has a professional background at Union College as an admissions counselor (2013-2014); coordinator of communications (2014-2017); director of digital marketing (2014-2017); and lead graphic designer (2015-2017).
“My passion has been working with students in the Appalachian Mountains. As a child I learned a great deal about these mountains from those who call them home, in particular, the value of family and the importance of support,” explained Justin. “Throughout my career I have sought opportunities that allowed me to give back to the mountains and her people. My drive has always been student-focused, supplying students with the right amount of challenge and support to ensure they not only reach their goals but also exceed them.”
“Over the past few years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into teaching students how to think, connect, and create strategically, all while running my own business doing the same on the side,” said Lydia. “I’ve been consulting with institutions and nonprofits throughout Appalachia as they develop strategic storytelling and communications plans. Now I’m thrilled to support Ferrum College as we bring the new strategic plan to life.”
