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.”
9/10/2021
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.
8/26/2021
Students and community volunteers work on Ferrum College’s campus. Photo courtesy of Dr. Bob Pohlad.
On the morning of Saturday, August 21, the Ferrum College campus quad held over 180 first-year students, employee volunteers, and members of Ferrum Forward, a local organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of life and the sense of community throughout the village of Ferrum. The crowd was ready to launch a “Morning of Service.”
“This was the first of what we hope will become an annual tradition for new students,” said Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Psychology Kevin Reilly, who designed and orchestrated the event.
College employees volunteered to work with Ferrum Forward members to lead service projects aimed at beautifying the campus and benefiting local businesses. Students packaged two weeks of meals for Ferrum Elementary children in need. They began two murals in Ferrum, one at Hidden Treasures and one at Sun Kist Tanning and Salon. They sorted donated clothes at the St. James Center and cleaned grounds at the local elementary school. Students worked on the College’s Titmus Agricultural Farm; cleared the disc golf course, hiking trails, and Arboretum; and even painted panther paw prints on campus sidewalks.
Ferrum Forward chairman Don Vineyard shared that their organization was pleased to be involved – and that our Ferrum community can be proud of the event. He went on to say, “Saturday’s ‘Morning of Service’ was exactly the kind of event Ferrum Forward was created for. I think the involvement of so many of the folks who took part on Saturday shows just the beginning of what could be a great partnership.”
“This was a wonderful collaboration between Ferrum College volunteers, first year students, and Ferrum Forward,” said Reilly. “This project would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the members of Ferrum Forward.”
See photos from the “Morning of Service.”
Learn more about Ferrum Forward.
Students from the School of Health Professions and Social Sciences received academic awards in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on April 16, 2021. Malcolm Lofton photo.
4/21/2021
Ferrum College celebrated its students during Academic Awards Ceremonies on Friday, April 16, 2021 in Vaughn Chapel and in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room. The traditional single ceremony was split into two ceremonies to accommodate COVID-19 capacity and social distancing guidelines for indoor gatherings.
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly presided over the ceremony for the School of Arts and Sciences, which took place in Vaughn Chapel. Dean of Health Professions and Social Sciences Angie Dahl presided over the ceremony for the School of Health Professions and Social Sciences that took place in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room.
President David Johns and Athletic Director John Sutyak presented the President’s Cup to senior John “Jack” Sheehan, IV, from State College, PA. Sheehan is about to receive a Bachelor of Science in social studies with minors in history and secondary education. Awards were then presented to students during both ceremonies by the dean of their school and their professors.
A list of award recipients and honor society members follows.
See photos from the event here.
The Iron Blade Editor Commendation
Mary Stout
The Chrysalis Editor-in-Chief Award
Abigail McGovern
The Chrysalis Staff Member of the Year Award
Abigail McGovern
The Hamblin Accounting Award
Lola Cannaday
The Outstanding Student in Agricultural Sciences Award
Lindsay Koogler (equine studies)
Hunter Wimmer (agricultural education)
Zoey White (agribusiness)
Jarred Collier (crop sciences)
Macey Vest (animal science)
The Outstanding Student in Finance Award
Jeremiah Valentine
The Outstanding Student in Management Award
Matthew Yarbrough
The Outstanding Student in Marketing Award
Reina Balderas
The Outstanding Student in Sports Management
Mia Holmes
Outstanding Student in IoT Lab
Mason Hamer
Outstanding Student in Programming
Nicholas Johns
Outstanding Student in CIS Public Speaking
Helen Ogbole
CIS Academic Award
Nicholas Cook
Dakota Fletcher
The Eric Lee Baker Award for the Outstanding Student in English
Abigail McGovern
The Outstanding Student in Environmental Science Award
Alexis Davidson
Michelle Musick
Katie ShoafThe Jasse Scholarship in History Awards
Demontay Wimbush
Daeshawn Barrett
Andrew Hill
Charles Tisby
The Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar in History Award
Christian Haley
Fern Stough
The Outstanding Student in Music Award
Julio Salazar
The Academic Achievement in Music Award
Kiersten Jones
The Acey-Wood-Rose Award for Excellence in Religious Studies
Lauren Ries
Outstanding Student in Spanish Award
Suzanne Maines
Douglas W. Foard Award of International Studies
Suzanne Maines
The Theatre Arts Achievement Award
Erica Leed
Alyssa Robles
The Dance Achievement Award
Sarah LaLiberte
2021 Dr. Ken McCreedy Outstanding Criminal Justice Graduating Senior Award
Cayla Morgan Berry
The Outstanding Student in Health and Human Performance Award
Camden Mariotti
The Outstanding Student in Exercise Science Award
Kendra Powell
The Outstanding Student in Exercise Sports Studies Award
Jenna Janicki
The Frank Benjamin Hurt Award
Robert Sean Grande
Mikayla Thorpe
Outstanding Student in Pre-Professional Health Science Pre-Med Award
Elina Baltins
Alexzondra Mattson
Camryn BurkeThe Pre-Professional Health Science Pre-Therapy Award
Joshua Greenway
The Outstanding Student in Biology Award
Camryn Burke
The Outstanding Student in Psychology Award
Alexzondra Mattson
The Jane Addams Social Work Achievement Award
Mia Brower
The Jennie West Outstanding Social Work Senior Award
Madison Brown
The Dr. Betty N. Bailey Silver Weaver Award
Mallory Scott
Delta Kappa Gamma Outstanding Woman in Education Award
Amber Scott
Charles A. and Marion C. Skinner Awards for Excellence in Education Award
Elementary Education
Sarah Ellis
Secondary Education
Jack Sheehan
All-Level
Cade Rouse
President’s Cup
John F. “Jack” Sheehan, IV
On Thursday, September 24, 2020, after an extensive review, Ferrum College received a glowing approval report from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) team.
“We are assessed according to dozens of standards ranging from academic programs, faculty qualifications, budget and finance, planning and assessment, board governance, administrative leadership, student services, general education, and the list goes on and on,” explained President David Johns in a campus-wide email. “Almost always, an institution is given a few (sometimes many!) ‘recommendations’ that MUST be enacted in order to continue its accreditation.”
Upon completion of this rigorous and extensive review process, the SACSCOC team determined that Ferrum College is 100 percent in compliance with every standard set forth, and made no recommendations. Final approval will occur in June 2021 by the SACSCOC board of trustees.
“I wish I could convey…just how absolutely rare it is to receive such a final report,” wrote Johns. “We have all worked very hard over the last few years reshaping the College, encouraging leadership, and dreaming big.”
SACSCOC is the regional accrediting body for higher education institutions in eleven southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and Latin America. Once every decade, a SACSCOC team made up of peers from other higher education institutions performs an extensive accreditation evaluation on SACSCOC colleges.
“We have been preparing for our ten year compliance report and the off-site and on-site visits for several years,” explained Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato. “We brought together various groups of talented and dedicated faculty and staff to analyze the systems, protocols, and program offerings. I am delighted to share in the joy that our faculty, staff, and students feel across the campus. I am proud of our work, our dedication to our students, and our mission.”
“The best part of the process of preparing the report was getting to work with people from all over the College to tell the Ferrum College story,” said Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly, who spent countless hours preparing for the evaluation. “So many people worked so hard and with such excellence because they love Ferrum.”
“The final SACS report with no recommendations is so gratifying,” continued Reilly. “It means that a team made up of our peers from colleges around the southern United States took a very close look at all aspects of our College and discovered that we are doing outstanding work here at Ferrum.”
Learn more about SACSCOC and the accreditation process here.
Read The Franklin News-Post‘s coverage here.
