Curator Angela Jennings with “Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels” collections

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Ferrum College will host the “Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels” on January 21 at 11 a.m. in the Panther’s Den on campus.  An open forum discussion will begin at 12:15 p.m. with museum curator Angela Jennings.  The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Sankofa is a Ghanaian term, which means to “use the wisdom of the past to build the future.” Jennings set out to do just that in 1995 with the creation of the “Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels,” which strives to educate viewers about African Americans’ heritage, pain, and pride.  Jennings takes viewers on a journey through African American history by using a collection of art and historical artifacts gathered from the United States, Virgin Islands, West Africa, and Europe.  The collections span from 1860 to present day and include authentic whips, chains, and receipts of purchase during the slavery era.  Viewers will travel through slavery; emancipation; the creation of the Negro Baseball League; African Americans’ inventions, literary works, and social movements; and the lives of Dr. King and Barack Obama, among others.

Jennings explained the museum’s mission: “Those are the very same shackles used during slavery. Teach them the struggle. Show them the struggle. Learn the contributions that blacks have made to this society.”

Read more about the “Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels” here.

Darrian Marshall, a junior majoring in musical theatre, will display his own production, The Empowerment Concert, on January 19 in Schoolfield Hall’s Sale Theatre, on the Ferrum College campus.  The event will begin at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.  Tickets are not necessary. Please note that this performance contains content that is not suitable for children.

Darrian Marshall ’20

Hailing from Gloucester, VA, Marshall’s passion for theatre arts began when he performed in The Wiz, an African American remake of The Wizard of Oz, at the tender age of 13.  Since his freshman year at Ferrum College, Marshall has participated in every theatre arts production on campus.  His inspiration for The Empowerment Concert originated from the Black Power Movement along with pop culture influences.

Marshall wishes to express sincere appreciation to the Concert’s production team and dancers, to include: dance captains Mia Brower; Autumn Murray-Burns; and Tamiah Palmer; dancers Laura Aylor; Jenise Venible; Ellie Eckrote; and Jay Moy; executive producer Precious Leonard; director of sound Marie Mance; concert host Jasmine Williams; and vocalists Lacey Matthews and Lechelle Smith.

While at Ferrum College, Marshall intends to audition for professional theatre companies in hope of landing a career in theatre after graduation in May 2020. Marshall also plans to perform for Universal Orlando Entertainment in Florida.  “No matter where I’m at or where I’m going, I will always perform at 100 percent from my heart, while inspiring and empowering the hearts all around me,” said Marshall.

Find more details about Marshall’s upcoming performance  here.

Ferrum College junior Brian Mann from Pearisburg, VA, has been named to both the 2018 American Football Coaches Association Division III All-American Team, and the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-American NCAA Division III Football Team.  He is the College’s first ever student-athlete to earn academic and athletic All-American recognition.

Mann, who is majoring in business administration and financial management, was named to the All-Conference first team by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference this season, and is one of only two ODAC players named to the 2018 AFCA All-American team.  Mann earned a place on the Academic All-District V first team in November, which made him eligible for Academic All-American.  He ranks as Ferrum College’s seventh Academic All-American and the second in Panther football.  Currently, Mann holds 14 school records, received an ODAC nod in 2018, and was USA South Offensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

Read more about Brian Mann’s athletic and academic achievements here and here.

Ferrum College’s Gary Holden was recently featured in the College Sports Information Directors of America 360 magazine for his expansive knowledge in collegiate athletics.

Currently serving the College as sports information director and assistant athletic director for compliance, Holden’s career began in the mid-1980’s as an assistant wrestling coach at Plymouth State University, and grew to include head wrestling coach and residence hall director at the university.  Holden joined Ferrum College as sports information director in 1991.  Except for a small hiatus as SID to Lynchburg College from 1997-1998, Holden has called Ferrum College his home for almost 30 years.  While at Ferrum, he has seen and done just about everything in collegiate athletics, including serving as sports information director, assistant athletic director, compliance director, head men’s tennis coach, interim head women’s tennis coach, and commissioner to the Atlantic Central Football Conference.

“Life as an SID can be a blur sometimes,” Holden remarked. “Add in compliance work and you jump from one thing to the next to keep up. It’s crazy, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

A native of Nashua, New Hampshire, Holden and his wife Leslie reside in Ferrum, and are the parents of two grown sons Taylor and Drew. He is the author of the book Black & Gold, A History of Athletics at Ferrum College, which he wrote and self-published in 2014. Holden was inducted into Plymouth State’s Sports Hall of Fame in October 2015.

Read more about Holden’s career and accomplishments in Will Roleson’s article in CoSIDA 360 here.

Fall 2018 Chrysalis contributors. Marissa Ruiz of Wake Forest, NC, holds her artwork, “Fall’s Lake.”

On December 4, Ferrum College Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine staff revealed the Fall 2018 edition of the magazine in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on campus.  Submissions to the magazine were canvassed from across campus with winners in four categories: visual art, prose, photography, and poetry.

Freshman M’bambi Mbungu, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, received first place in visual art for “Nothing Beats a Mother’s Love.” First place for prose was awarded to senior Taylor Kent, of Hilton Head Island, SC, for “On the Train.” First place award for photography was given to junior Autumn Potkay, of Mayodan, NC, for “Puddle Leaf.”  Junior AnnGardner Eubank from Corolla, NC, received the first place award for poetry for “Father and Son.”

Judges included: Ferrum College alumnus Joe Stanley ’93, artist and owner of Upcycled Gifts in Roanoke, VA, who evaluated the visual art category; Ferrum College alumna Emily DeLoach ’96, currently a Montessori teacher in the Hampton Roads area who reviewed the prose category; Cynthia Herrick, a National Geographic travel and wildlife photographer, who judged the photography category; and Sandra Ballard, professor of English at Appalachian State University and editor of Appalachian Journal, who evaluated the poetry category.

This semester’s Chrysalis edition was “a rebuilding one” as both prior student editors graduated last spring, per Ferrum College’s Professor of English and Chrysalis advisor Dr. Katherine Grimes. Grimes edited this semester’s edition.

“[Ferrum College Provost] Dr. Aimé Sposato said of the Reveal, ‘It was inspiring to hear students read their work,’” Grimes reflected. “As I pondered her comment, I thought about how much many students are willing to expose themselves in writing creatively. They write about their families, their experiences, their joys and pain, even their heartaches. A Chrysalis reveal is like almost nothing else on campus, for in plays and concerts, students speak and sing the words of others, and in athletic contests, little about individual players is revealed. But students’ reading from their own works shows a sort of willing vulnerability. To get up and speak before an audience is brave; to let other people judge one’s work is brave, too. But to open oneself to others by reading one’s personal writing takes a special courage.”

Read this semester’s edition of Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine here: https://issuu.com/ferrumcollege/docs/fall_2018_chrysalis?e=2565008/66334638.

Jacob Wilson ’21 photograph.

The past two weekends were filled with celebrations at Ferrum College—the 45th annual Folklife Festival, Homecoming, and the inauguration of a new president. These events recognized the rich culture of the region, the College’s history, and the new directions Ferrum will be taking in the coming months.

Ferrum College has been a vital part of this region since its founding in 1913, and although the College is changing and growing, one thing is clear: it plans to continue being part of the revitalization of this area. In his inaugural address, President David Johns said, “Service to community is our heart and soul; we have always been grounded in Appalachia and committed to southwest Virginia, even as we extend our reach far beyond this corner of the world.”

While students from across the U.S. and from several countries attend Ferrum College, about three quarter come from Virginia and the surrounding areas. Because of this, President Johns said, “We have a responsibility to pay attention to needs in this region, and give students the tools they need to succeed.”

He said that graduates need to be entrepreneurs, no matter their major. “Students must do more than seize opportunity for themselves, they need to create opportunity for others.” This is a practical application, Johns explained, of the College’s motto, Not Self, But Others.

To better serve its students and prepare them for meaningful and productive lives, Johns said, “We are reallocating our resources to invest in programs and services that help our students succeed, in college and through the rest of their lives.” For perspective, Johns added, “A student who begins college this year will retire around 2065. Obviously, we need to change in order to compete and be relevant in a world that will change considerably during the lifetime of our students.”

And Ferrum College is making strides in serving its students. During the spring, students met with the president in three Town Hall meetings to offer their comments and suggestions. “We asked our students how we could improve,” Johns said, “and they told us!” Over the summer and during this semester, College staff and faculty have made a number of changes, from building renovations and food venue changes, to upgrading internet capacity and modifying the College’s first year student program.

In July, Ferrum College joined the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, one of the nation’s largest NCAA Division III conferences. “This is an incredible opportunity for our many student-athletes,” Johns pointed out. “The level of competition in our match-ups with ODAC-member schools brings a new level of excitement for all Panther fans. In addition, the close proximity to Ferrum of the other ODAC schools means our students will not need to spend as much time traveling, and it is far easier for family members to attend games.”

But it all comes back to service.

There is a great need for professional development in our area to enhance the existing workforce. “Talking with community leaders is helping as we plan our next steps and focus our efforts,” said Johns. To meet the growing demand in the region, Ferrum College is strengthening its offerings in high demand areas such as health care and recreation leadership, and will soon begin offering graduate programs in forensic investigation and teacher education.

“The kind of education that has the power to transform,” Johns stated in his inaugural address, “is the kind that gets its hands dirty, the kind that digs into the challenges of our world.”

Ferrum College has been a vital part of this region for over a century, changing lives and improving communities, and it is making the changes necessary for the next 100 years. “I am enthusiastic about the future of Ferrum College,” Johns remarked. “With passion, imagination, hard work, and the grace of God, anything is possible.”

VAS Conference Presentations

Ferrum College hosted the Virginia Academy of Science Fall undergraduate research meeting on campus on November 3, during which 35 undergraduate students from 13 different Virginia colleges and universities competed for research funding. Among the competitors were three Ferrum College students: Caitlin Hodges, a junior from Moneta, VA; Kyle Haley, a senior from Troutville, VA; and Jared Williamson, a senior from Hardy, VA. Dr. Carolyn Thomas, professor of environmental science and biology at Ferrum College, gave the keynote address.

For the competition, students presented posters which outlined their research projects and judges selected the top nine presenters, who each received $750 to assist in their research and a 2019 VAS student membership. Williamson received an honorable mention for his presentation.

The Virginia Academy of Science (VAS), first established at the College of William and Mary in 1923, promotes the advancement of science in the Commonwealth of Virginia by providing financial support for research projects and by providing a platform for dissemination of research results. Exemplary programs have included Flora of Richmond and Vicinity (published in 1930), the first comprehensive multidisciplinary studies of the James River Basin and the Great Dismal Swamp, volunteer research assistance to Virginia in the instance of the kepone pollution disaster, and leadership in establishing the Science Museum of Virginia. VAS research grants, awards, scholarships, and assistantships are made possible by corporate and individual donors. Read more about VAS grants here: http://vacadsci.org/about-vas/.

Ferrum College announced that late this fall and during winter break, a variety of online courses will be offered through the College Consortium, a network of accredited colleges and universities that share online course offerings.  The Fall and Winter Terms reflect Ferrum College’s commitment to ensuring students have access to the courses they need to complete their degree. The terms also provide students with the opportunity to get ahead in coursework or to repeat a course to improve their grade point average.

For more information about current College Consortium online classes, CLICK HERE.

If you have questions or concerns regarding accommodations or need academic support please FILL OUT THE FORM HERE and a representative will respond to you within 48 hours.

In the wake of Hurricane Florence in September and Hurricane Michael in October, which dumped rain and wind on the east coast and caused thousands of dollars of damage, Ferrum College’s Spiritual Life sponsored a clean-up mission during Fall Break, from October 10 – 15. The relief effort, headed by Dean of Chapel and Religious Life Jan Nicholson Angle, included fourteen students and two staff members who provided local clean-up in Rocky Mount, VA on October 10 and 11, in conjunction with the Franklin County Perinatal Education Center. From October 12 – 15, the students and staff members traveled to Fayetteville, NC where they removed debris and damaged drywall from homes, and replaced the roof of a military veteran who, unable to be on the roof, still worked beside the team doing what he could to repair his home. “Something about this experience seems to give me life and hope,” said Ferrum College senior Mark Kellam, who was a member of the relief effort. “I can’t get enough of it.”

“Our students are humble when you ask them about their experience, often stating, ‘It was good,’” said Rev. Dr. Nicholson Angle. “If you engage them further, you will see their faces glow as they begin to share their stories of heartache in seeing the devastation, joy in the physical labor they were able to provide to help families rebuild their homes, and hope they experience as they witness the resilience of these survivors.”

“I went on this trip to give back to the community and to connect with others other than my friends at home,” explained Ferrum College junior Serena Johnson. “It’s a good practice to give back.”

Samantha Smith-Herndon

In addition to being named a 2018 Outstanding Young Alumni recipient by Ferrum College in a September 22 ceremony, Samantha Smith-Herndon ’12 has been selected as a Middle Border Forward Fellow and invited to participate in the Leadership Southside program through the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.

As an October 2018-September 2019 MBF Fellow, Smith-Herndon will participate in “a year-long leadership development program designed to introduce emerging leaders to the opportunities and challenges within the Middle Border region, encourage civic engagement and create a network of grassroots leaders poised to make a change where they live and work,” according to MBF’s website.

Smith-Herndon will also take part in the September 2018-April 2019 Leadership Southside class which will focus on developing leadership skills and strengthening roles of individuals, professionals, and community members.  She was one of 18 chosen participants.

A 2012 Ferrum College graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture, Smith-Herndon is currently employed by The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research as a research associate.  She volunteers at Southern Virginia Career Choice Expo where she actively engages more than 4,000 students to career choices in the Southwest Virginia communities.  She is a remote pilot-section 107 licensed agriculture drone operator with a passion for UAV technology, horticulture, plant sciences, agriculture and education.  Additionally, she spent several summers with Ferrum College’s Water Quality Program as an associate of the Virginia Department of Health’s Marina Education Program, an initiative which seeks to educate recreational boaters regarding the detrimental effects negligent boating practices have on public waterways.  She is currently working on her master’s degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with hopes to continue her studies of conservation practices in Appalachia.

Mark Gignac, executive director of The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research stated, “We proudly congratulate Samantha on her achievements and appreciate the talent, professionalism and passion she brings to her work day in and day out.  We benefit tremendously from her leadership of our drone program, which positively impacts precision agriculture as part of our regional economic transformation efforts.”

Read more about Smith-Herndon’s achievements here.

Ferrum College will celebrate the inauguration of its twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., on Friday, October 19 at 10 a.m.  The ceremony will be held in Vaughn Chapel located on the College’s campus.  Phyllis Karavatakis ’76, chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, will install Johns.   Beth Rushing, president of the Appalachian College Association, will bring the keynote address. The ceremony may be watched streaming live online here.

Johns became president of Ferrum College on January 1, 2018.  Prior to arriving at the College, he served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of college at Union College in Kentucky.

To celebrate this historic moment, Ferrum College invites members of the College, community and Ferrum alumni to join in the festivities surrounding the inauguration. These events begin on Thursday evening, October 18, when the College hosts Rev. Anna Woofenden, visiting pastor of peace and spirituality at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ohio, as part of the Rev. Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr. ’60 and Mrs. Patricia G. Wright Endowed Lecture Series. She will speak about “Food and Faith: Conversations from the Soil and Around the Table” at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den located in lower Franklin Hall on campus. This event is free and open to the public.

Following the inauguration on Friday, October 19, the community is invited to participate in a family-friendly bike tour hosted by Ferrum Outdoors at 1 p.m.  Also at 1 p.m., the 27^th Annual Corron Classic Panther Open Golf Tournament will commence at Great Oaks Country Club in Floyd.  Registration at www.ferrum.edu/homecoming is required for both events.

Community members are also invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the following outside events that are free and do not require registration:  The Homecoming parade will process down Wiley Drive on campus beginning at 4 p.m., followed by food trucks and children’s activities, plus live music by Twin Creeks Stringband at 5:15 p.m. and The Blue Crawdads at 7 p.m.  Fireworks over Adams Lake at 9 p.m. will conclude the evening’s events with s’mores immediately following outside Stanley Library.

Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities will continue on Saturday, October 20, with reunions, tailgating, and a 4 p.m. football game showcasing the Ferrum College Panthers versus the Washington and Lee Generals at W.B. Adams Stadium.  Football game tickets are available at the gate for $10 cash only.  The weekend festivities will conclude with a 9:30 a.m. worship service at Saint James United Methodist Church in Ferrum on Sunday, October 21.

For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please visit www.ferrum.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.

For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please click here or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.

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More information about Dr. Johns: Johns graduated from Malone University in Canton, Ohio in 1985, then earned an M.A. in Theology from the Earlham School of Religion, an M.L.S. from Kent State University, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Duquesne University in 1999.  He taught at Wilmington College and the Earlham School of Religion; worked as a college chaplain and an academic librarian; lectured at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla, Mexico, the Instituto de Jorge Fox in Ocotepeque, Honduras; and was a scholar-in-residence at the Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos in Mexico City. 

On Monday, October 1, the Blue Ridge Mountain Room at Ferrum College filled with over 200 students, faculty, staff and community members, eager to participate in “Saving Ourselves: A Symposium on the Opioid Crisis,” which featured New York Times Best-Selling author, Beth Macy.

The program, hosted by Martha Haley-Bowling, assistant professor of social work, and Lana Whited, professor of English and director of the Boone Honors Program, began in the afternoon with a continuing education event for regional social workers.  The education event featured two parts: “Ethical Lapse and Relapse” and “Virginia’s Behavioral Health System and Opioid Crisis.” Later in the evening, Macy gave insight to the research she completed while writing her newest book, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America.  Following a reading of excerpts from her book, Macy and a diverse panel from the community answered questions and discussed the opioid crisis and its effect.

“We’re estimating that about 270 people attended the event, and the momentum for change was palpable. I’ve seldom seen a larger gathering of our community’s human resources marshaled in one place: the president of Piedmont Community Services, the principal at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, a juvenile court judge, an assistant commissioner from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health, our sheriff, the commonwealth’s attorney, the college president and vice president for academic affairs, representatives from Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, parents who have lost children to opioid addiction, recovering addicts, mental and behavioral health professionals working every day with addicts in various stages of recovery, and a New York Times Best-Selling author, Beth Macy. Beth is fond of quoting the author James Baldwin: ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed that is not faced.’ The purpose of this event was to confront, full-face, the opioid crisis, to ‘be woke’ to our capacity to initiate change,” said Dr. Whited, following the event.

Dr. Haley-Bowling stated, “It was amazing to see and hear the energy in the room last night as people talked about how the opioid epidemic has affected them personally and professionally. One of the keys for me is where do we go from here? We had an amazing dialogue but we can’t let it stop there. I know I will be looking for avenues to keep this conversation going.”

To see more photos of the event, visit here.

To read more about the event, click here.