Dimensions Archives - ��ӴӴ

Alive and Thriving: After Cancer Scare, Alumna Cherishes Every Day with Family

Office of University Communications — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:00:30 +0000

Gaby Laurent Shares from Her book, ‘Wrinkles Welcome,’ at Dimensions on Feb. 11

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A month after graduating from ��ӴӴ in 2014 with her Master of Arts in school counseling, Gaby Laurent, 26, received both joyous and heartbreaking news. She and her husband, Joseph, were expecting their first child. However, through routine bloodwork, doctors discovered she had acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer normally found in 70-year-olds.

Realizing the unborn baby saved her life by finding the cancer early, Gaby had a difficult decision to make about treatment. She shares about her faith, her choices, and her cancer journey in a new book, “Wrinkles Welcome.”

At 17 weeks of pregnancy, she started chemotherapy, a course of action her doctors had never attempted on a pregnant woman. Family and friends prayed, and her husband prayed as the bags of chemo were administered. “Through faith and determination, I survived, and my son thrived, leading the oncologists at Atrium Health Wake Forest (N.C.) Baptist to use the term: medical miracle,” Gaby affirmed.

After their healthy baby was born, the Laurents made another complex decision. “We later adopted a child affected by the opioid crisis,” Gaby related. “The story takes an unexpected turn when our adopted son’s birth mother passes away from cancer.”

Gaby will describe her experiences and share from the book as she speaks to ��ӴӴ students during Dimensions on Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m. in Tucker Student Center. “This book explores the complexities of life, the universal nature of our struggles, and the power of love and faith,” she noted. “For this reason, it is called: ‘Wrinkles Welcome.’ If I look in the mirror and see wrinkles, it only means one thing: I am alive.”

Gaby and her husband met at ��ӴӴ, and they live in Oak Ridge, Tenn. When they were students at GWU, they participated in a mission trip that included visiting an orphanage in Guatemala. The experience touched their hearts about adopting a child of their own someday. They chose to adopt a baby going through opioid withdrawal from their desire to share their family’s love with a child in need.

Gaby earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from ��ӴӴ in 2011. “My education at GWU gave me the confidence to know that I could write a book,” she affirmed. “The most impactful professors being Drs. David and Laura Carscaddon.”

David Carscaddon, professor and director of the School of Psychological Science and Counselor Education, inspired her to major in psychology. “His compassion for students and helping us to understand how complicated life can be drove me to want to be a great listener and helper,” she reflected. “His classroom atmosphere was always cozy and full of learning. Whether it was from a textbook or personal anecdote, those lessons felt powerful and lasting. Much like Keating’s classroom in ‘The Dead Poets Society,’ it felt like a safe space to ask questions and receive clear and honest answers. I still know the German word for butterfly, Schmetterling, from one of his lessons.”

Laura Carscaddon was her advisor and professor in the school counseling graduate program. “She took our cohort under her wings and mothered us toward proficiency in the school setting,” Gaby described. “Toward the end of my program, my husband and I had to move away from Boiling Springs, and Dr. (Laura) Carscaddon moved mountains to make sure I could still complete my degree, many years before remote learning and working were the norm. I am forever grateful to have had both Carscaddons be a part of my education and life.”

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event. Please call 704-406-4270 or email disabilityservices@gardner-webb.edu with your request.

About Dimensions

�Ҳ��Ա��-�±��’s Dimensions program seeks to enhance the spiritual, intellectual and cultural life at the University and to promote a sense of community. Learn more about Dimensions.

About ��ӴӴ

��ӴӴ is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., ��ӴӴ prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at ��ӴӴ.edu.

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Billy Graham’s Grandson, Will Graham, to Speak at ��ӴӴ Dimensions on March 26

Office of University Communications — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 21:10:23 +0000

The Program is Open to the Public and Celebrates 1971 Event Featuring Billy Graham

Will Graham

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—�Ҳ��Ա��-�±��’s Office of Christian Life and Service welcomes guest speaker Will Graham, the grandson of Billy Graham and oldest son of Franklin Graham, on March 26 at 9:30 a.m. The program, which is open to the public, is part of the University’s Dimensions series and will be held in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. Will’s visit comes more than five decades after Billy Graham visited �Ҳ��Ա��-�±��’s campus on Feb. 23, 1971.

“We are excited to have Will Graham coming to campus, and I’m very much looking forward to hearing the message he shares with our community,” stated ��ӴӴ President Dr. William M. Downs. “The Graham family has meant so much to this region and to evangelical Christians everywhere for such a long time, and we are indeed pleased that—just as his grandfather did 53 years earlier—Will has chosen ��ӴӴ as a place to come and share the good news.”

An ordained minister, Will has previously spoken for Dimensions at ��ӴӴ, as has his cousin, Jonathan Lotz, son of Anne Graham Lotz. Will has shared the hope of Jesus with more than 1 million people across six continents since beginning his evangelistic ministry in 2006. He serves as the executive vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), providing leadership to all aspects of the organization that his grandfather founded in 1950.

A photo from the 1971 ��ӴӴ yearbook of Billy Graham, right, speaking with Pat Spangler and his wife, Eloise.

When the elder Graham visited in 1971, he led a dedication service for R. Patrick Spangler Hall and a consecration service in the chapel. According to “Dreaming, Daring, Doing: The Story of ��ӴӴ,” Billy Graham addressed a crowd of 3,000 at one service. During his comments, the evangelist spoke of his admiration for ��ӴӴ and said he had recommended the school to several students.

Spangler was recognized that day for his many years as a faithful supporter of the University. He served as chairman for the Board of Trustees and led two successful capital campaigns. He and his brother, Bud, were lead donors for the construction of Spangler Stadium, which is named for their father, Ernest Webb Spangler.

As the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel under the BGEA banner, Will has said, “I’m not trying to be the next Billy Graham; I’m just Will Graham. I have a burden in my heart to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If that’s to an arena full of people or one person on the street, I will do whatever God is calling me to do.”

In 2018, Will portrayed his grandfather in the Universal Studios biopic “Unbroken: Path to Redemption” (about Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini). Also in 2018, Will’s first book — a devotional titled “Redeemed: Devotions for a Longing Soul”— was published by Thomas Nelson, featuring stories centered on the life-changing power of a relationship with God. A DVD Bible study curriculum (and accompanying book) based on “Redeemed” was released in May 2019.

�Ҳ��Ա��-�±��’s Dimensions program seeks to enhance the spiritual, intellectual and cultural life at the University and to promote a sense of community. Learn more about Dimensions.

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GWU Alumnus Clayton King and Former NFL Player Derwin L. Gray Discuss Healing the Nation’s Racial Divide

Office of University Communications — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 16:11:26 +0000

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—While healing the nation’s racial divide seems like a daunting task, former National Football League player Derwin L. Gray and ��ӴӴ alumnus Clayton King offered a practical first step during a program on Aug 24 at ��ӴӴ. King stated, “Tonight, we want you to get a glimpse of what I believe is the most effective way that we can heal the racial divide—and that’s through personal friendships with people who are different than us.”

During the event, “Healing Our Racial Divide—A Conversation with Clayton King and Derwin L. Gray,” the two men talked in an informal manner about what they have learned from their 25-year friendship. They quoted scriptures from the Bible that shows God’s redemptive plan for reconciling all ethnicities to himself.

Besides coming from different races, King and Gray are from opposite backgrounds. King grew up on a farm in South Carolina and was raised in church. He began preaching when he was 15. Gray is from the west side of San Antonio, Texas, and his family never went to church.

Football was Gray’s ticket out of poverty, and he got a scholarship to Brigham-Young University. He was drafted and played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998).

It was during his time with the Colts that Gray was transformed by the love of Jesus and the testimony of his teammate, Steve Grant. “On Aug. 2, 1997, I put my faith in Christ,” Gray told the audience. “I knew that I was loved, I knew that I was forgiven, I knew that I was different. For the first time, somebody loved me—not because I was fast, not because I was big, not because I was good at football—there was someone who loved me in spite of me, as I was, and he met me where I was, and I haven’t been the same since.”

Two years later, Gray gave his testimony for the first time at an event hosted by King. Afterward, King told him they were going to be best friends. “We have learned so much about each other, our different cultures,” King affirmed. “We were brought together in common because of our love for Jesus Christ and his church.”

Gray pointed to a passage in the Bible (Eph. 2:11-22) that talks about how Jesus creates the multi-ethnic family of God. “Jesus Christ, himself, forgives our sins and gives us peace with God,” he explained. “But, regardless of our ethnicities, we already have peace with each other. Jesus, the Lord of the universe, came to make us family, a forgiven family, a redeemed family. If you don’t see yourself as family and friends, you won’t advocate for each other.”

King and Gray gave examples from their past of other pastors and family members who made comments about church segregations and mixed families. Both men have intentionally sought to make their congregations and ministries welcoming to all races.

Gray also explained why the term “color blessed” is better than being “color blind.” He declared, “Every ethnic group has the image of God in them, and if I say I’m color blind, I’m muting the creative genius of God. I want you to see me. I want you to know my history. We don’t mute our ethnic distinctions, but our ethnic distinctions are not primary anymore; our in-Christness is primary.”

Gray and his wife, Vicki, are the co-founders of , a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community located in Indian Land, S.C., just south of Charlotte, N.C. King is a teaching pastor at NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C., and the founder and president of .

Gray is the best-selling author of four other books on such topics as what Jesus teaches about true happiness, building a multiethnic church, trusting God with your future and the prayer that God always answers. His most recent book is “How to Heal Our Racial Divide: What the Bible Says, and the First Christians Knew, About Racial Reconciliation” (Tyndale, 2022).

King is a 1995 graduate of ��ӴӴ. He is the author of 18 books with Baker, Harvest House and Lifeway Publishers and the winner of the Christian Retailers Association Young Adult Book of the Year Award in 2015 for his True Love Project with Lifeway. Gray wrote the foreword for King’s recent book, “Reborn: How Encountering Jesus Changes Everything.” The book shares the compelling stories of 12 broken people who came face-to-face with Jesus in the New Testament and got a second chance at life.

The program was sponsored by the GWU School of Divinity’s Pittman Center for Congregational Enrichment. Co-sponsors are the Offices of Christian Life and Service and Diversity and Inclusion.

Note to our readers: This article reflects the University’s tuition and fee schedule at the time of publication. Tuition and financial aid policies change annually. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on current tuition rates and financial aid resources, please visit the University’s official Admissions page.

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��ӴӴ Begins Academic Year with Traditional Fall Convocation

Office of University Communications — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 20:34:11 +0000

Program Recognizes Students’ Achievements and Includes Remarks from Teaching Award-Winner Dr. Elizabeth Amato and President Dr. William M. Downs

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—��ӴӴ celebrated the beginning of the 2023 academic year with the Fall Convocation. Awards were presented to 56 students, and the 2021-2022 winner of the Excellence in Teaching award, Dr. Elizabeth Amato, issued a challenge to students. ��ӴӴ President Dr. William M. Downs also presented his “call to action.”

“Convocation is a calling together, a summoning, or a convening,” he explained. “It is a time-honored academic tradition at most universities, including our own. And Convocation gives me the opportunity … to give you a brief message … and message of thanks … a message of encouragement … and a message of action.”

He congratulated and thanked Amato for being an outstanding teacher and also recognized the faculty for the work they do. He praised their expertise, energy, dedication, passion and compassion and emphasized, “Thank you, faculty, for the paths you illuminate for our students … not only the path to graduation but also the path to a meaningful life.”

In her speech, Amato defined liberal arts education as “the education for learning liberty. For living in this world as a free person.”

Dr. Elizabeth Amato

She continued, “By free, I mean, you are creature who is inherently free. You were born that way. You were made in the image and likeness of God and possess a rational soul. Though you were certainly born free, you are called to participate in your education. You, in an important and meaningful way, are a co-worker in your education. It’s a pretty big responsibility.”

Amato went on to say that a liberal arts education also prepares an individual to be happy. Quoting Aristotle, she said, “The peculiar work of a human being is not your day job. Your day job is what you do to support yourself and your family. Instead, the work of a human being is to seek happiness.”

Happiness, according to Aristotle is to pursue a life of virtue—being a good person who does good things. “It’s up to you to decide what sort of person you’ll be,” Amato elaborated. “Take care to put good things inside of you—in your soul, mind, and heart—where it counts the most and can’t be lost or taken away from you.”

Downs’ remarks followed Amato’s theme. He quoted Woodrow Wilson, the only U.S. President to earn a PhD. Wilson said, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

Downs noted, “At ��ӴӴ, we’ve been underscoring our own version of that message with T-shirts and posters and stickers that have exhorted you to ‘Make Your Mark’ … Now, it has probably been explained to you that the reference to Mark is a biblical one. Mark 12:30, to be specific: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’”

He challenged the students to “Make Your Mark”:

In the classroom: “If you see a problem, imagine a solution … and if you can imagine a solution, then go design the solution.”
On the fields of competition: “Success as a Runnin’ Bulldog doesn’t just mean getting a ring, it means demonstrating to the world what it looks like to win with honor and class, it means competing with integrity, it means living your life as a champion.”
In service to the community: “The world needs more ��ӴӴ. More of our nurses and health care professionals, more of our teachers, our counselors, our pastors.”

Issa Cogdell receives the Ignite Excellence plaque from GWU President Downs.

Student Awards and Recognitions

One-Year Scholastic Awards

After the completion of one year of work at ��ӴӴ, the One-Year Scholastic Award is presented to 27 students who tied for the award with perfect 4.0 averages. They are:

Crystal Alridge
Morgan Barbery
Justin Bender
Emma Duchscherer
Rachel Estes
Mollie Fuller
Kalem Griffin
Caitlyn Hamrick
Avery Hogan
Tanner Horne
Sydney Hudson
Sara Jann
Abigail Mcbee
Zoe Mina
Madison Peek
Braeden Pratt
Mylee Quattlebaum
Jackson Reid
Ashley Rich
Benjamin Rogers
Annali Silver
Austin Thorne
Johannes Van Wijk
Dylin Waldorf
Meredith Wayland
Audrey White
Alaina Yeater

Two-Year Scholastic Awards

Upon the completion of two years of study at ��ӴӴ, the Two-Year Scholastic Award is presented to eight students who have a perfect 4.0 average. They are:

Daniel Beheler
Theodore Drescher
Christian Horton
Kyndal Jackson
Reese Jones
Rebecca Majorel
Sara Roslund
Shelby Watkins

Three-Year Scholastic Awards

After completing three years of study at ��ӴӴ, the Three-Year Scholastic Award is presented to nine students with a perfect 4.0 average. This year’s award recipients are:

Leah Carpenter
Caleb Cook
Alexandra Haasser
Paula Harvie
Makayla Jibben
Micah Moulder
Emma Rayfield
Grace Schiefen
Chelsea Walters

Elise Beaver, Ignite Excellence Scholarship winner, receives her plaque from President Downs.

Ignite Excellence Scholars

The Ignite Excellence Scholarship competition serves as an opportunity for students to compete for the highest academic scholarships awarded by the University. This year, eight students received full-tuition scholarships to honor their exemplary academic achievements. They are:

Elise Beaver from Greensboro, N.C., majoring in elementary education.
Mindy Jae Brown from Polkville, N.C., majoring in elementary education.
Issa Cogdell from Winston-Salem, N.C., majoring in computer science.
Bailey Hope from Gastonia, N.C., majoring in nursing.
Hodges McCathern from Lexington, S.C., majoring in biochemistry.
Andrea Stampone from Parkland, Fla., majoring in political science and psychology.
Corwin Stanley from Mooresville, N.C., majoring in music.
Isabel Suarez from Mount Holly, N.C., majoring in psychology.

The LeGrand Ware Scholarship

The LeGrand Ware Scholarship is awarded to a student from Cleveland or Rutherford County with high academic standing who plans to major in business. This year’s recipient is Jacob Jensen from Lawndale, N.C., majoring in accounting.

Searight Leadership Award

The Searight Leadership Award supports first-generation college students who have demonstrated leadership potential. This award will provide access to the knowledge and skills that will enable graduates to become catalysts for good throughout society and within America’s corporate structure. This year’s recipients are:

AJ Leyva from Cliffside, N.C., majoring in business management.
D’Michael Williams from Charlotte, N.C., majoring in criminal justice administration and homeland security administration.

Tucker Scholar

President Downs presents a plaque to the 2023-24 Tucker Scholarship recipient, Rachel Gaura.

The Tucker Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength Scholarship is awarded each year to one high school student who exemplifies the principles and values representative of the ��ӴӴ community. This top scholarship is made possible by the generous support of Carolyn and Robert Tucker, who exemplify these same principles and values in their personal and professional lives. The 2023-24 recipient is Rachel Gaura from Irmo, S.C., majoring in psychology.

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��ӴӴ Hosts ‘Healing Our Racial Divide’ On Aug. 24

Office of University Communications — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:27:02 +0000

Former NFL Player and Pastor Derwin L. Gray and GWU Alumnus Clayton King Discuss Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Former National Football League player Derwin L. Gray and ��ӴӴ alumnus Clayton King have been best friends for over two decades. These two pastors, speakers and authors will be featured in a program on Thursday, Aug. 24, sponsored by the GWU School of Divinity’s Pittman Center for Congregational Enrichment. The event, “Healing Our Racial Divide: A Conversation with Derwin L. Gray and Clayton King” will be at 7 p.m. in Hamrick Hall’s Blanton Auditorium. The public is welcome to attend, and students will receive Dimensions credit. Co-sponsors are the Offices of Christian Life and Service and Diversity and Inclusion.

Clayton King

King, the founder and president of , shared that his hope for the program is that people will see the gospel at work in two brothers in Christ, from different ethnicities, who truly love each other as friends. He added, “I hope we can inspire hope in the hearts of others that we can bridge the racial divide and that we can encourage students and leaders that real change starts at the most basic level—personal friendships that slowly build the Kingdom of God.”

“This is what great universities do,” emphasized ��ӴӴ President Dr. William M. Downs. “Great universities serve as venues for conversations about timely issues, even when those issues challenge us, make us uncomfortable, or make us rethink long-held opinions. In that spirit, I am pleased that GWU is hosting a solutions-focused dialogue about an enduring tension in American society.”

Additionally, the discussion will include practical ideas for bridging the racial divide, noted Dr. Ben Leslie, director of the Pittman Center and professor of Christian theology and ethics in the School of Divinity. “In my experience, most Christians in our society recognize the need to do more to advance racial reconciliation,” Leslie offered. “The question is always one of ‘How?’”

Gray and his wife, Vicki, are the co-founders of , a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community located in Indian Land, S.C., just south of Charlotte, N.C. He and King met in 1999. “He invited me to speak at one of his evangelistic outreaches,” Gray recalled. “Since the first time we met we became instant friends. We bonded over our deep love for Jesus and his gospel. And, a passion to see the next generation come to experience the grace of God in a life transforming way. Clayton has been one of my best friends for over two decades.”

Through his shepherding heart, Gray has written the book, “How to Heal Our Racial Divide: What the Bible Says, and the First Christians Knew, About Racial Reconciliation” (Tyndale, 2022).

Derwin L. Gray

Drawing largely on Gray’s book, the focus will be on the biblical imperative for action and strategies for making a difference. Topics will explore the concept of “color-blessed” and the multi-ethnic family of God as a vision for what the church should be.

Gray and Vicki met when they were students at Brigham Young University (BYU). After graduating from BYU, he played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). The Grays were married in 1992 and have two adult children.

In 2008, Gray graduated from Southern Evangelical Seminary magna cum laude, with a Master of Divinity with a concentration in apologetics, where he was mentored by renowned theologian and philosopher Dr. Norman Geisler. In 2018, Gray received his Doctor of Ministry in the New Testament in Context at Northern Seminary under Dr. Scot McKnight. In 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary.

Gray is also the best-selling author of four other books on such topics as what Jesus teaches about true happiness, building a multiethnic church, trusting God with your future and the prayer that God always answers.

King is a 1995 graduate of ��ӴӴ. He received a Presidential Scholarship and was chosen as the 1995 Outstanding Male Graduate of the Year. He is a teaching pastor at Newspring Church in Anderson, S.C.

King is the author of 18 books with Baker, Harvest House and Lifeway Publishers and the winner of the Christian Retailers Association Young Adult Book of the Year Award in 2015 for his True Love Project with Lifeway. Gray wrote the foreword for King’s recent book, “Reborn: How Encountering Jesus Changes Everything.” The book shares the compelling stories of 12 broken people who came face-to-face with Jesus in the New Testament and got a second chance at life.

King was adopted at 2 months old and called into ministry when he was 14. He has traveled in 56 countries and 48 states. He was campus pastor at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., for eight years. He is also founder of Jacob’s Well Music Festival. He and his wife, Sharie, were married in 1999 and they have two sons, Jacob, 20, and Joseph, 17.

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��ӴӴ Campus Celebrates Black History Month with Several Programs

Office of University Communications — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:12:16 +0000

Events Follow 2022 National Theme: Black Health and Wellness

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The ��ӴӴ campus is celebrating Black History Month with a variety of programs in February. The 2022 National Theme: will also be the focus of GWU programs, including two film showings and a panel discussion.

Dr. Lorell Gordon

Dr. Lorell Gordon, GWU assistant professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, said the national theme brings awareness to the multi-layered health concerns for Black Americans. “There are concerns about prevalent health conditions such as, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and depression,” she noted. “Access to adequate healthcare is an additional complexity along with having the trust and rapport for an effective working relationship between the patient and healthcare provider. Preventative practices in the Black community include healthy eating habits, regular exercise and physical health check-ups. Additionally, addressing the stigmas about mental health and wellness can assist in reducing barriers to seek appropriate treatment.”

The GWU College of Health Sciences and the Gayle Bolt Price School of Graduate Studies is sponsoring one of the movies that will be shown: “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” This 2017 movie starring Oprah Winfrey is based on a 2010 book by the same title written by Rebecca Skloot, said Dr. Sydney K. Brown, dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “This book has been studied in the past at GWU as a first year book,” Brown stated. “In 1951, cancerous cells from Henrietta Lacks led to breakthroughs that changed the face of medicine forever. Aided by writer Rebecca Skloot, Deborah Lacks embarks on a quest to learn about the mother she never knew.”

A discussion of the ongoing use of HeLa cells in medical research and the shifts in biomedical research will take place following the movie.

A page from the Green Bethel Baptist Church minute books

The second movie, sponsored by The Noel Center for Disabilities Resources and the American Sign Language (ASL) Department, is “Signing Black in America Documentary.” This is the first documentary about Black ASL: the unique dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within historically segregated African American Deaf communities. Different uses of space, hand use, directional movement, and facial expression are ways that Black ASL distinguishes itself as a vibrant dialect of ASL. The African American Deaf community is now embracing their unique variety as a symbol of solidarity and a vital part of their identity. After the screening, senior ASL major Javonda Adams, who has researched Black ASL in America, will lead a discussion.

Also during the month, the large gallery in Dover Library will have a display featuring the and former Green Bethel School. The Green Bethel School was initially founded by the church and during the 1930s received funding as one of the Rosenwald Schools in Cleveland County. The exhibit will feature two interactive panels where students can practice transcribing handwritten church history documents and locating the original sites of the Rosenwald Schools. Conceived in the 1910s by black educator Booker T. Washington and his Tuskegee Institute staff, the Rosenwald program represented a massive effort to improve black rural schooling in the South through public-private partnership. The name came from philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck and Company. Rosenwald offered matching grants to rural communities interested in building black schools.

��ӴӴ Black History Month Programs

Following is a list of activities scheduled for this month:

Juan Cherry

Through Feb. 28 – Green Bethel Baptist Church and School exhibit in Dover Library.
Thursday, Feb. 3 – 3:30 to 5 p.m., Table Talk: Wellness Resources, Tucker Student Center, First Floor; sponsored by: Counseling Services.
Monday, Feb. 7 – 7 p.m., Additional Dimensions program featuring the that powerfully weaves the history of race relations in Charleston, S.C., the significance and impact of Mother Emanuel Church, and the hope that emerges in the aftermath of the shooting that killed nine innocent church members.
Tuesday, Feb. 8 – 9:25 a.m., Dimensions with Jeff Ross, community engagement and corporate responsibility manager for Atrium Health in the west market, which includes Cleveland, Rutherford, Gaston and Lincoln counties.
Wednesday, Feb. 9 – 2 to 4 p.m., A Slice of History: Trivia and Free Pizza, Tucker Student Center Lobby; sponsored by: Student Engagement.
Feb. 10 – 9:25 a.m., The Martin Luther King Jr. Day emphasis with guest speaker Juan Cherry. Cherry will also talk about iBelong, a new mentoring initiative for minority males offered by the University’s Student Success Division. The event will be in Stewart Hall, Tucker Student Center. Cherry, of Cleveland County, N.C., is a GWU alumnus and a high school counselor at Shelby; pastor of New Creation Christian Center; and founder of Wired for Success Communications and Consulting.

Donnie Thurman

Thursday, Feb. 17 – 6 p.m., “Signing Black in America” documentary, Spectrum Theatre in the Tucker Student Center; sponsored by: The Noel Center for Disabilities Resources and the ASL Department.
Saturday, Feb. 19 – 10 a.m., Join the City of Shelby for the unveiling ceremony of the Shelby Civil Rights Trail Marker. The sign will be unveiled in front of Buffalo Creek Gallery on Warren Street, formerly Smith’s Drug Store, where one of the sit-ins took place on Feb. 18, 1960. A ceremony will take place immediately following on the Warren Street side of the Court Square on the lawn. More details .
Saturday, Feb. 19 – 2:30 p.m., Viewing of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” Spectrum Theatre in the Tucker Student Center; sponsored by: The College of Health Sciences and the Gayle Bolt Price School of Graduate Studies.
Thursday, Feb. 24 – 4 p.m., Varied Perspectives on Black Health and Wellness, featuring GWU alumni and faculty, College of Health Sciences, Room 261 and on Zoom 574 097 1067; sponsored by the College of Health Sciences and the Gayle Bolt Price School of Graduate Studies. Panelists include:
- Kimberly Williams-Thompson is an instructor with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the GWU School of Psychological Sciences and Counselor Education. She joined the ��ӴӴ community as a student and continued to serve in the roles of adjunct professor, counseling services staff, and now as a full-time instructor. Kimberly has also worked as a professional mental health counselor in various settings for over 10 years. She continues to reside in Cleveland County where she enjoys being able to spend time with her family and friends.
- Juan L. Cherry completed his undergraduate work at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C., and his graduate work at ��ӴӴ. He is employed with Cleveland County Schools as a high school counselor. Cherry has traveled the country facilitating workshops that encourage and empower people to be the best versions of themselves. He is the founder and senior pastor of New Creation Christian Center, MAN II Man Inc., a male mentoring initiative, and Wired For Success Communications & Consulting. He is the author of the MAN II Man curriculum, “Wired For Success,” “So You Want To Be a Mentor” and the recently published “Intentional Design.” He is the creator of BowTime, weekly empowerment videos designed to motivate people to go after the life God intended. Cherry and his wife, Annette, live in Shelby. They have two children, Terrell, a former soldier, and Kristen, who is studying at UNC-Greensboro. They also have a daughter-in-law and three granddaughters.
- Dr. DeAndre Howard, Dean of Community Wellness, Spartanburg Methodist College. He is a student affairs professional with over 13 years of experience in the field. In his role, he sits on the President’s Cabinet and provides oversight the following areas of campus: Community Life (Residence Life & Student Conduct), Campus Health & Wellness, Counseling Services, Accessibility Resources, Campus Safety & Security, Title IX & Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Howard also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Criminal Justice at Spartanburg Methodist College. He is a first-generation college student and earned his Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from ��ӴӴ in 2018. He is proud to have an opportunity to engage within the bulldog community during a month that means so much to so many.
- Takeysha Foster, Assistant Nurse Manager for Pavilion 4 at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Her nursing background includes pediatrics, cardiac and critical care. Foster is also a clinical nursing instructor for GWU. She is married and the mother of four children, ages 14, 10, 5, and 2.
- LaDonna Clark is assistant professor, principal faculty in the GWU Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program. Most recently, she was employed as a PA with CaroMont Endocrinology Associates in Gastonia, N.C. From 2011 to 2014, she was a PA with Shelby Family Practice in Boiling Springs. She also worked as a PA from 2009 to 2011 at Grace Medical Clinic in Charlotte, N.C. She received her Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg (Va.) in January 2021. She earned her Master of Health Science and PA Certification in 2009 from Duke University in Durham, N.C., and received her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science with honors in May 2006 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her personal relationship with Christ and quality time with her family are very important to her. She also enjoys activities related to fitness and sports, traveling, interior design, writing children’s books, and encouraging young people to dream big.
- Chavonne Good, a student in Hunt School of Nursing, currently teaches as faculty for the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg. As a registered nurse for over 20 years with most of her early nursing career in neonatal and obstetrical nursing, Good also has an intense passion for education surrounding women’s health. She is currently completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership degree at ��ӴӴ in the Hunt School of Nursing with her project topic focusing on the at-risk population of Black women and their health disparities related to stress. Upon completion of her DNP, Good plans to continue teaching but also hopes to open a non-profit center and home for women needing temporary support through life’s challenges.
Thursday, Feb. 24 – 8 p.m., Open Mic Night hosted by GWU alumnus Donnie Thurman, vice president of Human Resources of Holy Angels Inc.; sponsored by Student Engagement and Student Government Association.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 days prior to event. Please call (704) 406-4253 or email servicerequests@gardner-webb.edu with your request.

��ӴӴ is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., ��ӴӴ prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at ��ӴӴ.edu.

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Juan Cherry is Speaker for Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Observance at ��ӴӴ, Rescheduled for Feb. 10

Office of University Communications — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 15:15:00 +0000

Alumnus Will Honor King’s Legacy and Introduce University’s New Mentoring Program for Minority Males

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—��ӴӴ’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance has been rescheduled for a Dimensions program on Feb. 10 at 9:25 a.m. in Stewart Hall of Tucker Student Center. For over two decades, the University has designated the Tuesday program following the MLK holiday as a celebration of the Civil Rights leader. This year’s tribute also honors King’s legacy by introducing iBelong, a new mentoring initiative for minority males offered by the University’s Student Success Division. Guest speaker Juan Cherry is an alumnus and one of the mentors for the program.

Cherry’s message, “Is There Not A Cause?” reflects on King’s devotion to his dream for equality. “Dr. King was thrust into the forefront as a leader of the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955 at the age of 26,” Cherry explained. “He found his cause. It was his life’s work. We must each find our cause.”

Juan Cherry

Cherry received his master’s in school counseling from ��ӴӴ and is a counselor at Shelby (N.C.) High School. He also serves as pastor of New Creation Christian Center, and he is the founder of Wired for Success Communications and Consulting. He has written two books, “Wired For Success,” a guide that helps readers discover and engage God’s purpose for their lives, and “So You Want To Be A Mentor,” a resource for those who desire to help others become their best selves. He also wrote and designed an interactive curriculum that empowers young males to take responsibility for themselves, their families and their communities. On his Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels, Cherry offers , a brief video of him wearing a bow tie and offering a motivational tip for the day.

�Ҳ��Ա��-�±��’s iBelong program is provided through a $5,000 Minority Male Mentoring Grant from North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU). In addition to matching minority male students with mentors and peer tutors, GWU is making a financial commitment to the program by helping to purchase Student Lingo, a tutoring software that offers a variety of information for students, such as workshops on stress management, academic skills, finances and scholarship opportunities.

Cherry is excited to volunteer for the program and believes Jesus provides the best example of mentorship. “Jesus didn’t just teach the disciples. He invested time with them. He trained them. He modeled behavior. He served them,” Cherry asserted. “Mentoring makes a difference because of its design. It puts people together to help the mentee develop the skills necessary to be successful. In addition to skill development, relationships are formed that benefit the mentee and the mentor. Serving as a mentor is not about being an expert. It’s about availability. We can all offer something that will make a difference in the lives of others.”

More importantly, Cherry was a first-generation college student who benefited from the mentors in his life. He received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina A&T. “A historically black university, which had built-in mentors because my professors looked like me, but there were still unique adjustment challenges,” he informed. “I knew I wanted to be in college, but I had no idea what field I wanted to study and found it hard to navigate. This is my chance to help others and to be what so many were to me.”

The first meeting of iBelong will be on Jan. 25. Other mentors in the program are:

Maurice York—Chief Supply Chain Officer, Gathered Foods Corporation; GWU Board of Trustees member.
Omar Porter—Recruiter, Cleveland Community College.
Ricky Alston—Music teacher, 2021 Beginning Teacher of the Year for Cleveland County Schools.

Minority males who are interested in connecting with a mentor, may contact Dee Pettis at (704) 406-2254 or dpettis@gardner-webb.edu.

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��ӴӴ Hosts Dr. Russell Moore, ‘Christianity Today’ Public Theologian, on March 1, 2022

Office of University Communications — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 17:13:00 +0000

Speeches Offered Through the C.O. and Eliza Greene Endowed Lectureship Series and Dimensions

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A national theologian, author and speaker will visit the ��ӴӴ campus on March 1 and present three speeches. Dr. Russell Moore, public theologian at “Christianity Today” and director of Christianity Today’s Public Theology Project, will speak for the C.O. and Eliza Greene Endowed Lectureship Series hosted by the M. Christopher White School of Divinity at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Tucker Student Center. In addition, Moore will be the guest speaker for Dimensions at 9:25 a.m. in Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center.

Dr. Danny West, professor of preaching and pastoral studies and director of the Doctor of Ministry program and Ministry Leadership Development, said the School of Divinity faculty, staff and students are pleased that Moore is giving the Greene lectures. “Dr. Moore embodies the spirit of this endowed lecture series by his very public stance on matters of faith, and for his bold witness for the cause of Christ,” West acknowledged. “An academic and a faithful pastor, Dr. Moore will challenge us all to be more obedient followers of Jesus Christ.”

The C.O. and Eliza Greene Endowed Lectureship was established in 1993 in honor of the Rev. and Mrs. C.O. Greene of Lawndale, N.C. C.O. Greene served for 14 years as the director of missions for the Kings Mountain Baptist Association. Prior to that ministry, he served as pastor of six churches, four within Cleveland County and two others in North Carolina. The lectureship is administered by the GWU School of Divinity’s Pittman Center for Congregational Enrichment and is funded by family members, friends, and members of churches where Greene served as pastor. Established to preserve the legacy of excellence that characterized Greene’s ministry, the lectureship addresses various dimensions of pastoral ministry.

The title of Moore’s lecture is “Integrity and the Ministry of Leadership.” He served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission from 2013 to 2021. “The Wall Street Journal” has called Moore “vigorous, cheerful, and fiercely articulate.” He was named in 2017 to Politico Magazine’s list of top 50 influence-makers in Washington, and has been profiled by such publications as the Washington Post and the New Yorker.

Dr. Robert Canoy, professor of theology and dean of the School of Divinity, praised Moore for his unwavering convictions. “Dr. Moore’s commitment to our Lord and the Church have always guided his thinking both as a theologian and as a denominational figure,” Canoy observed. “Rather than being an ‘ivory tower’ scholar who, as someone once said, ‘says more and more about less and less to fewer and fewer,’ he has much to say that Christians of all backgrounds are eager to hear.”

Moore also served as provost and dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he also taught theology and ethics. He is the author of several books, including “The Courage to Stand: Facing Your Fear Without Losing Your Soul,” “Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel,” and “The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home.” A native Mississippian, he and his wife Maria are the parents of five sons.

For more information about the C.O. and Eliza Greene Lectures, email Lisa Hollifield at lhollifield@gardner-webb.edu.

The Pittman Center for Congregational Enrichment aims to offer educational and enrichment opportunities for both laity and clergy who are not enrolled as degree-seeking students in the ��ӴӴ School of Divinity. The Center’s goal is to be a full-service provider to the churches by delivering a full range of support services to congregations through classes, seminars, and conferences on the ��ӴӴ University campus.

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Following the Calling

Office of University Communications — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 19:25:13 +0000

Dean Emeritus, Dr. Bob Lamb, Part of Transformational Moments at GWU and Beyond

By Kathryn Manning, 2018 ��ӴӴ alumna, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Spanish

In the 116-year history of ��ӴӴ, numerous faculty pioneers have engineered components of campus life and curriculum. One of those influential professors is Dr. Robert L. “Bob” Lamb, dean emeritus of the M. Christopher White School of Divinity.

Lovingly dubbed “The Energizer Bunny” by his friends and family, Lamb, who was also founding dean of the divinity school, has had a prolific career as educator, administrator, and pastor, among other duties. Even under hospice care, at the age of 91, his most fervent wish has been to remain “useful” for as long as the Lord allows.

Dr. Bob Lamb in his younger days

Lamb was born on Aug. 18, 1930, in Nevada, Missouri. He later moved to Mt. Pleasant, Texas, where his father, Rev. L.E. Lamb, was a Baptist minister. Lamb attended Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Texas) for undergraduate studies and pursued postgraduate degrees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, Texas), earning a master’s degree in religious education and Ph.D. in church administration and missions. In his mid-20s, Lamb moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he worked as civilian director of Christian education at Vogelweh Army Chapel.

While in seminary, he served as minister of music and education at Main Street Baptist in Grand Saline, Texas, where he met his future wife, Rhealene Bryant. They were married on Aug. 5, 1961. After they were married, they made plans to serve as missionaries through the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board). Their application was denied due to Bob’s severe allergies. They began seeking opportunities for employment within the United States, and in the summer of 1962, a number of job possibilities presented themselves, including a job offer from Dr. Eugene Poston, then ��ӴӴ College president. Lamb would teach Speech and Remedial English for one year and after that, could have the opportunity to join and assist with the growth of the religion department, specifically religious education. Although neither Lamb nor his wife had ever heard of ��ӴӴ, they agreed to move to Boiling Springs, N.C., and Lamb accepted the position.

After one year at the college, Lamb became professor of religious education and religion. During that time, he also assisted with the college’s transition to senior college status in 1971, serving on accreditation committees and recruiting new students. He wrote letters to potential students and met with them and their families. Before the transition to senior college and right after, ��ӴӴ experienced a large influx of new students. He and his wife bought a large house in Boiling Springs and began renting upstairs bedrooms to freshman students.

Dr. Bob Lamb served as chair of the Department of
Religious Studies and Philosophy from 1988 to 1991.

Upon his initial arrival, Boiling Springs Baptist Church was still located on �Ҳ��Ա��-�±��’s campus. Lamb had agreed to work at the church as Minister of Education, in addition to his duties at the college. He helped design a new educational wing for the church, with plans for the college and church to share it. Not long after, he assisted in finding separate property for a new church building, with plans for the school to take over the former church property. Although no longer physically intertwined, the school and church continued to work together, with the church hosting school events and inviting students for worship services.

Each year, Lamb was involved in planning a Fall Revival and Spring Emphasis Week, which included the administration and faculty working together to lead events and discussions with students. Lamb shared that it was a way to ensure that the students understood their own faith and �Ҳ��Ա��-�±��’s Baptist Christian background. He also helped to create Dimensions, a new weekly approach to Chapel, during which guest speakers would come to the school and lead discussions. The program still exists today.

In addition, Lamb served as chair of the Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy from 1988-1991, and along with other faculty, led the school’s first freshman experience course, a precursor to today’s University 111 class. Also during this time, he helped to establish a master’s program in Christian education. This eventually led to the development of the M. Christopher White School of Divinity, with Lamb serving as the founding dean.

Following his retirement from ��ӴӴ in 1999, Lamb traveled the world, teaching and serving in the Philippines with his wife, starting a school for pastors in Belize, and enjoying excursions with family. He also served as interim pastor for dozens of churches in the area, even serving as guest pastor up until as late as February 2021. Lamb continues to enjoy spending time with family and friends, speaking about his personal faith journey, his years in education, and his many adventures.

Sources: Personal Interview—Bob Lamb; and Robert L. Lamb Dean Emeritus, School of Divinity. Faculty Emeriti Book, (pp. 106-107).

This photo of Dr. Bob Lamb was published in the 1972 GWU yearbook.

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Dimensions Archives - ����ӴӴ