Volume 55, 2020 THE MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE: HEALTH, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION LEAD EFFORTS THROUGH PANDEMIC ALUMNUS CLAYTON KING MAKES HISTORY IN AFRICA TAKING A STAND AGAINST RACISM TRE LAMB NAMED AS NEW FOOTBALL COACH NATE EVANS NAMED AS VP FOR ADVANCEMENT GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY The mission of Gardner-Webb University is to prepare graduates for leadership and service in their professional careers and in their personal lives. Rigorous and innovative degree programs, combined with distinctive experiential learning opportunities, shape students into thinkers, doers, and world-changers. Forged within a supportive and diverse Christian CONTENTS community, our students emerge ready to impact their chosen professions, equipped with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspired to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. 14 Feature Rising Above the Challenge 2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Gardner-Webb Chair Treasurer Jennifer Marion Mills David W. Royster III Answered the Call Vice Chair Immediate Past Chair Susan Briggs Ronald R. Beane to Serve During Secretary Christopher L. Welch the Pandemic Rodney Allison Dr. Carole Roberts Bill Bell Steve Simpson Thomas Bell Delaina Smith Ralph Bentley Gary H. Smith III Mark Collins Jesse Sprinkle IV Ed Cooke John Teeter Verhonda Crawford Lisa Tucker Bill Ellis Dr. Jenson Turner O. Max Gardner III Dr. Phillip Turner Chris Gash Thomas H. Watson George R. Gilliam Archie Wood Kitty Hoyle Maurice York Teresa Huggins David Keim Dr. Lamont Littlejohn Trustees Emeriti Dr. Ashely Lowery Dr. Rance Henderson Dr. Randy Marion Sam McMahon Bobby Morrow III James Robbins Tony Robbins Dr. Bob Shepherd PRESIDENT’S CABINET Dr. William Downs Tracy Jessup President Vice President for Christian Dr. Ben Leslie Life and Services, Senior Provost and Executive Minister to the University Vice President Richard McDevitt Chuck Burch Vice President Vice President for Athletics Marketing Brian Arnold, Interim Steve Serck Vice President of University Counsel Student Development Stephanie Stearns Nate Evans Executive Assistant to Vice President for External the President Affairs/Advancement Kristen Setzer, Mike Hardin Vice President for Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management Administration Jeff Tubbs Vice President for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness ACADEMIC COUNCIL Dr. William Downs Pam Dennis President Dean of the Library Dr. Ben Leslie Cheryl Duffus Provost and Executive Vice Faculty Chair President Elizabeth Pack Tracy Arnold Dean, Adult and Distance Dean, School of Nursing Education Bruce Boyles Stephanie Stearns Associate Provost for Executive Assistant to the Professional and Graduate President Studies Mischia Taylor Sydney Brown Dean, Godbold School of Dean, Graduate School Business Prince Bull Nicole Waters Dean, School of Education Interim Associate Provost, Carmen Butler College of Health Sciences Associate Provost and Dean David Yelton Departments of Student Success Associate Provost, Arts Robert Canoy and Sciences 4 From the President’s Desk 44 Alumni Features Dean, School of Divinity David Carscaddon Dean, School of Psychology 5 News & Notes 48 Military Spotlight and Counseling 14 Feature 50 Advancement SGA OFFICERS (2020-21) 32 Students 51 Class Acts Carlee Winstead, President Blake Elizalde, Treasurer Jillian Sward, Vice President Paige Butler, Parliamentarian Grace Nance, Secretary 40 Bulldog Nation 59 In Memoriam 2 | GARDNER–WEBB • THE MAGAZINE GARDNER-WEBB • THE MAGAZINE Volume 55, 2020 The Gardner-Webb Magazine is the official magazine of Gardner-Webb University, and it is published by the 32 Students Division of University Marketing and Communications. More than 300 stand ‘Together Gardner-Webb President Editorial Assistance Dr. William Downs Julian Ajello as One’ against Shelley M. Stockton Vice President racial injustice for Marketing Design and inequality Richard McDevitt SPARK Publications Managing Editor Digital Noel T. Manning II Design Editor Phillip Lewis Assistant Editor Jackie Bridges Contributing Writers Jackie Bridges Noel T. Manning II Ryan Bridges Marc Rabb William M. Downs Shelley M. Stockton Contributing Photographers Austin Billiot Blanton Leigh Joe Bolado Lindy Lynch Bob Carey Lisa Martinat Elizabeth Covington Joy Smith Anya Floge Benjamin Pruitt Alexis Fonville Brittany Randolph Sarah Garrison Abbey Sprinkle Edin Hernandez Ely Thompson Robin Jackson Sarah Tudor Jeff P. Janowski Adam Willis Kim Kreuzman Mylana Wolff Please Recycle Submissions and Feedback 40 Bulldog Nation 44 Alumni By mail: The Gardner-Webb Magazine Head football coach Tre Clayton King, ’95, has Office of University Communications P.O. Box 7315 Lamb has bold vision for shared life-changing Boiling Springs, N.C. 28017 Gardner-Webb power of Jesus with By email: [email protected] people all over the world Gardner-webb.edu/magazine Address and Name Change Submissions Contact: Becky Robbins By phone: 704.406.4251 By email: [email protected] Social Outreach Twitter.com/gardnerwebb Facebook.com/gardnerwebb Instagram.com/gardnerwebb Upon request, this publication can be made available in an alternate format. Please make a request by calling 704.406.4631 or emailing [email protected]. Gardner-Webb University’s publications, including, but not limited to, its policies, procedures, website, guidelines, communications, and social media posts, do not constitute a contract between the University and any person or entity. The University reserves the right to modify all such publications and/ or modify its operating practices without prior notice. 48 Military Spotlight 50 Advacement *Unless otherwise noted, all stories credited to Jackie Bridges Larri Robinson, ’20, Nate Evans selected discovers Army ROTC gives as new Vice President her structure to excel for Advancement VOLUME 55, 2020 | 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Continuing to Power Through ow, what a year it has been! percent increase achieved during one of 2020 will not likely go down in the most inhospitable recruiting seasons Wthe annals of history as one of in anyone’s memory. This is cause humanity’s favorites, but considering all for celebration! we’ve been through, Gardner-Webb stands In April, Gardner-Webb’s faculty remarkably strong and resilient. Despite a approved a new General Education protracted global pandemic, enrollments Curriculum, making GWU that much are up, world-class instruction continues more appealing to prospective new without interruption, and our distinctive students and to transfers. In June, mission of servant-leadership plays out Gardner-Webb’s Board of Trustees each and every day with renewed vigor. unanimously approved GWU 2020- We are living up to the image of our 2025: A Strategic Plan for Growth and beloved bulldog mascot…courageous, Excellence, which will guide our priorities fierce, and determined. moving forward. In July, we opened a Personally, I could never have new Student Health Clinic on campus. envisioned a more fascinating start to In August, we launched the University’s my presidency. Fall 2019 was a blur of new website, which provides a brilliantly stay connected with our accomplished activity and a revving up of amazing updated platform from which to tell our alumni who live out our institutional energy and momentum. Spring 2020 institutional story. commitment “For God and Humanity” started the same way. Then the infamous Throughout the summer and the fall, (Pro Deo et Humanitate). You will see that month of March arrived, when most the campus landscape saw important an important number of our students are of American higher education made changes in the form of facilities also preparing for service to our country an unprecedented pivot to online renovations and upgrades. The 72-year- through ROTC, and as an institution we instruction. Unlike many colleges and old Decker Residence Hall received a will be looking to do more in the future universities, Gardner-Webb never comprehensive internal transformation. to serve veterans, active military and closed. We maintained an active student The Dover Campus Center’s façade had their spouses. In short, by the time you presence on campus throughout the an impressive facelift. The venerable Bost complete your reading of this present remainder of spring, and our second Pool earned an entirely new structure to issue you will see why we are all so excited summer session was taught face-to-face. house our men’s and women’s swimming to be Runnin’ Bulldogs! Students continued to live in university programs. Thanks to the generosity I want to close this letter by asking all housing. Dining services continued to of Dr. Randy Marion and Board of those who love Gardner-Webb to consider keep everyone well fed. Chief Barry Trustees Chair Jennifer Marion Mills, doing three things: (1) Let us hear from Johnson and the University Police Spangler Stadium is now home to a much you. We’d love to know where you are and continued to keep everyone safe. When needed new video scoreboard. Other what you’re doing in your professional the dust settled from the pandemic’s first projects are presently underway or in pursuits and personal life; (2) Visit us. phase, the University allocated more than the pipeline. Always moving forward… We’d love to host you on campus at any $2.1 million in COVID-19 relief funds always trying to realize a culture of time; (3) Support us. We are grateful for back to students and their families in continuous improvement. the passion and generosity of our alumni recognition of the disruptions caused by To learn more about what’s been and friends who partner with us to grow the move to online instruction. going on at GWU, I invite you to read Gardner-Webb University into North Nobody sat on their hands waiting for through the pages of this latest issue of Carolina’s recognized leader in Christian the storm to pass. Instead, Gardner-Webb Gardner-Webb Magazine. In the features higher education. got busy … real busy. Our admissions that follow, you will see why we are all so Thank you for all you do for GWU! team took their recruitment efforts very proud of our high-ability, socially to a new level, and now, after years of engaged students.