CSU Magazine - Fall 2023

Welcome, Faulkners!

B. Keith Faulkner ’98 Named Fourth President

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magazine

volume 33 I number 3 I Fall 2023

On the cover: Ryan, Hannah, Patty, Keith, and Erin Faulkner.

Photo by Emma Crawley Photography

EDITORIAL STAFF:

CONTRIBUTORS:

Miranda Asson, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communication

CSU Athletics Communications

Ty Cornett, Multimedia Producer McKenzie Barker, MBA, Digital Content Specialist Jenna Johnson ’21, MBA, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Jan Joslin ’82, Editorial Director; Editor, CSU Magazine Tyler Stokes, Creative Director; Brand Manager Daniel Taylor ’22, Junior Graphic Designer

© 2023 Charleston Southern University

Brianna Parker ’24, Graduate Assistant

Taylor Chitwood Tom Clemmons Josh Goodwin, MUSC College of Nursing Susan Gresh Willow Oak Photography CSU Magazine is published by the Office of Marketing and Communication for alumni and friends of Charleston Southern University.

Contact us: magazine@csuniv.edu

Address changes: csudevelopment@csuniv.edu

contents SPECIAL 4

Welcome, Faulkners!

Buccaneer Takes the Helm

LEARNING 12

Daniel and the Kings Features CSU Singers

14

Alumnus Coming Full Circle

16

CSU Making the News

18 Mizner Working with International Disney Employees

LEADING 20 Life Abroad with the Browns 23 40 Under 40, Best and Brightest 24 Tennis Team Is Three-Peat Title Holders 26 Fischer’s Story-Filled Life 27 Yarbrough Named VP 28 Fox Named Inaugural VP SERVING 29 Changing Lives of Foster Children 30 Successful School Supply Giveaway FOREVER CSU 32 Norris Family Legacy Celebrated 33 DAR Scholarship

SCHOOL TIES CSU at Clemson Design and layout by: Bob Durand Design facebook.com/bobduranddesign

Printed by: Knight Printing and Graphics knightpandg.com

Charleston Southern students cheer on the Buccaneers at the first football meeting of CSU and Clemson University. The Buccaneers fell to the Tigers 66-17 at Death Valley on Sept. 9. The Bucs gave Clemson a scare in the first half leading 14-7 in the first quarter and entering halftime at 24-17.

Photo by Jenna Johnson

34 Class Notes 36 In Memory 37 Baby Bucs 38 Alumni Award Winners 40 Homecoming 2023

CSU at Clemson Alumni Association Tailgate at Clemson The CSU Alumni Association’s tailgate in Carillon Gardens at Clemson on Sept. 9 served about 150 alumni and friends before the CSU vs. Clemson game. Sponsors for the event were the CSU Nielsen College of Business, the CSU Admissions team, and Clemson’s Study Hall Restaurant.

To make sure you are notified of upcoming alumni events, make sure your email and address are up-to-date with the alumni office by emailing alumni@csuniv.edu.

Photos by CSU Marketing and Communication

Esther Wilkins ‘91, Alumni Association officer, represents CSU at Clemson.

CSU alumni and friends enjoyed the CSU Alumni Association tailgate at Clemson.

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Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

PRESIDENT’S message Honored to Lead My Alma Mater Photos by Ty Cornett

“It is a privilege and honor to serve as president of my alma mater. CSU is a great story of a university doing more than they had to. This institution changed me and transformed me. I look forward to what the Lord has in store as we work together to change lives and deliver excellence in everything we do.”

– B. Keith Faulkner

Students welcomed their new president with treats from Pelican’s SnoBalls.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

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Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

Buccaneer Takes the Helm as CSU’s Fourth President The Charleston Southern University Board of Trustees

unanimously approved and announced the appointment of B. Keith Faulkner, JD, LLM, MBA, as CSU’s fourth

president in July. Faulkner, a 1998 Charleston Southern alumnus, began duties in early October.

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CSU magazine 5

Buccaneer T

he selection and announcement followed an extensive nationwide search led by CarterBaldwin—the same executive search firm that landed Dr. Dondi Costin at CSU five years prior. Chaired by Jerry Williams, a former trustee board chair, and Judy Hetz, current board chair, the 12-member presidential search committee was comprised of trustees, former trustees, alumni, and employees representing areas such as academics, student success, alumni engagement, and athletics.

Hetz said that the committee’s primary requirement in selecting a candidate was an individual who held a demonstrable history of living the Christian faith as a believer in Jesus Christ as their Savior. According to Hetz, their search for a person with a deep faith was the “undergirding and motivating factor” for their leadership skills.

“We were blessed with many qualified candidates; however, the uniqueness of Keith Faulkner’s combination of receiving his degrees at Christian institutions and working at Christian colleges first as a professor and then as a dean at the world’s largest Christian college equipped him to understand the day-to-day challenges of our faculty and staff,” said Hetz.

Faulkner said he cherishes the opportunity to serve his alma mater. “The responsibility of leading is one that I take with great seriousness and humility,” he said. “I am a good listener, and I am anxious to hear from our alumni about how they believe that we can improve CSU together. Serving a cause and a place that you love is an opportunity like no other, and I commit to work hard every day to expose the light of CSU to any and all who will see it. Due in large part to the exceptional leadership of all who have gone before me and a Board of Trustees who sincerely believes in our mission, CSU has grown and flourished over the decades since its faithful beginnings. We stand on the shoulders of giants, and their faithfulness and stewardship along with God’s abiding love have positioned CSU for even greater heights.”

With 20 years of higher education experience, Faulkner formerly served as president and dean of Appalachian School of Law in Virginia. Prior to this, he served as the dean of Liberty University School of Law and the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University. He also served as interim dean at Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. Over

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Takes the Helm

Keith Faulkner’s family at his undergraduate graduation from CSU in 1998. Photo provided

his career, he and his teams have launched online programs, developed innovative partnerships with industry, enjoyed success in fundraising, and many other notable accomplishments.

Noting Faulkner’s experience in strengthening every institution in which he has served, Hetz pointed to Faulkner’s time at Liberty where he doubled law school enrollment in five years and achieved a 95% bar passage rate.

Prior to Liberty, Faulkner led Campbell University’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business as dean and professor of business.

He served in other roles at Campbell at the law school including associate dean for external relations, executive associate dean for academic and administrative affairs, vice dean for administration and external relations, and interim dean of the university’s School of Law. Faulkner also taught courses on business ethics and legal and regulatory environment of business as an adjunct and visiting professor of business at Campbell for 11 years.

Before he stepped into the waters of higher education, Faulkner practiced law in the areas of insurance defense, criminal defense, estate planning, family law, and real estate litigation and transactions.

From 1989 to 1997, Faulkner served in the U.S. Navy where he worked as a nuclear power plant operator and technician. For four of those years, his responsibilities were aboard a fast-attack nuclear powered submarine—the USS Billfish. Already built to be a CSU Buccaneer living on the high seas, his longest stay under water was almost two months.

Faulkner earned his Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Business Administration from Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. He also holds an LLM in litigation management from Baylor University School of Law. In 1998, he graduated from Charleston Southern University with a BS in business administration-finance emphasis— where he won the Outstanding Business Administration Student Award that same year.

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Erin, Ryan, and Hannah Faulkner. Photo by Emma Crawley Photography

His story did not begin in college, however. Prior to being a first-generation college student, Faulkner was a first-generation high school graduate and entered the U.S. Navy upon graduation. In fact, the Naval Nuclear Power School is what brought him to Charleston and eventually to CSU. Through the years, Faulkner has been an engaged alumnus. “I have remained a part of the CSU family because I believe in it,” he said.

“My service on the Board of Visitors has been important for me to feel truly involved over the years. While at Campbell, Liberty, and Appalachian, I have actively recruited CSU graduates for law and business programs. I wanted CSU graduates for these programs because I knew they were prepared academically, and I knew they were going to be leaders.”

Faulkner’s obvious interest in leading his alma mater has deep roots from his personal experiences as a nontraditional student and veteran. In a letter to the search committee, Faulkner said, “My service in the U.S. Navy

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

coupled with my experience at the university paved the way for me to follow my call of serving others through the practice of law and higher education,” he said. “My professors and the staff at CSU helped me to understand the concept of vocation and answering God’s call. Their care, academic demands, and mentorship laid the groundwork for the Christian, husband, father, and professional that I am today.”

He added, “I was certainly transformed, and I never felt like a number or statistic at CSU. I remain excited about the mission of the university, because it makes an impact on students and graduates by shaping their lives through preparing them to be servant leaders.”

A native of Montgomery County, North Carolina, Faulkner and his high school sweetheart, Patty, have been married for 30 years. They have three children: Hannah, 21, Erin, 18, and Ryan, 12.

Keith Faulkner in 1989 in the U.S. Navy. Photo provided

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Buccaneer B. Keith Faulkner HIGHLIGHTS

Takes the Helm

Photos by Ty Cornett

Jerry Williams, former chair of the Board of Trustees, served as the chair of the search committee which brought President Faulkner to CSU. Pictured are: Williams, President B. Keith Faulkner, and Judy Hetz, current chair of the Board of Trustees.

EDUCATION Juris Doctor, Campbell University Master of Laws Litigation Management, Baylor University Master of Business Administration, Campbell University Bachelor of Science in business administration, finance emphasis, Charleston Southern University Certificate, Nuclear Power Program, Naval Nuclear Power School and Training Pipeline

EXPERIENCE President and Dean, Professor of Law, Appalachian School of Law 2021-2023 • Served as the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer Dean and Professor of Law, Liberty University School of Law 2015-2021 • Served as the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer • Launched online programs and developed clinical partnership with Virginia Legal Aid Society • Improved graduate performance on the bar exam to a 95% bar passage rate

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• Increased incoming class enrollment in the School of Law; re branded the law school and programs; doubled experiential l earning opportunities; increased alumni and public outreach; secured largest law school gift from an alumnus, and developed academic additions to the legal education program • Program recognitions: - Most Devout Christian Law School - Top 20 Law School for Prosecutors and Public Defenders - Top School for Practical Training - Top 16 for Law School Moot Court Programs, twice Dean and Professor of Business, Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, Campbell University 2014-2015 • Served as the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer • Developed dual programs with College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Led design, fundraising, construction of First Citizens Wealth Management Center, $1 million stock trading and wealth planning center for the School of Business • Classes taught: Business Ethics, Freshman Seminar, Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business, Business Law Interim Dean, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University, Raleigh 2012-2013 • Served as chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer; Vice Dean for Administration and External Relations

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President Faulkner greets employees at a Meet and Greet during his first week at CSU.

• Classes taught: Law Practice Management, Start Your Own Law Firm, First Year Professionalism Lecture Series, Pretrial Litigation Vice Dean for Administration and External Relations, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University, Raleigh 2008-2012, 2013 • Served as chief financial officer; chief of staff for dean • Coordinated logistics for relocation of the law school from Buies Creek to Raleigh • Classes taught: Law Practice Management, Start Your Own Law Firm, First Year Professionalism Lecture Series, Pretrial Litigation Executive Associate Dean for Academic and Administrative Affairs, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University 2006-2008 • Served as primary academic and administrative officer for the law school • Prepared law school for ABA reaccreditation visit Associate Dean for External Relations, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University 2004-2006 • Developed major donors who provided gifts during the Campaign for Raleigh; increased alumni outreach • Increased outreach to potential employers to increase student recruitment Adjunct/Visiting Professor of Business, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University 2003-2014 • Classes taught: Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business, Business Ethics Attorney, Litigation Associate, Hedrick, Eatman, Gardner & Kincheloe, LLP 2002-2004 • Partner Track Associate, insurance defense with a primary focus on Workers’ Compensation, Commercial, and General Liability Defense

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Member, Peal & Faulkner, LLC 2001-2002 • Owner/Operator law firm, legal services in Criminal Defense, Estate Planning, Family Law, and Real Estate Litigation and Transactions United States Navy 1989-1997 • Instructor, Nuclear Prototype Training Unit, Charleston, S.C. • Operator and Technician, Nuclear Power Plant, Charleston, S.C., and USS Billfish SSN 676

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT • Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges; Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia; Virginia State Bar Section on Education of Lawyers; North Carolina Bar Association; The Virginia Bar Association Board of Governors, and Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Virginia • Served on numerous church committees

HONORS • 2010 President’s Award of Excellence, Wake County Bar Association • Honorary Member, Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity • Navy Achievement Medal • Sailor of the Quarter, USS Billfish SSN 676 and Naval Prototype Training Unit Charleston • Submarine Squadron Four Letter of Commendation • Neil Emory Leadership Award, Leadership Harnett • 2019 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Charleston Southern University

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Buccaneer

Takes the Helm

Faulkner File: Started education at CSU as a nontraditional student in the Evening College.

LEFT: Keith Faulkner greets his former professor and boss, Dr. Maxwell Rollins. Photo by Ty Cornett FACING PAGE: Erin, Hannah, and Ryan Faulkner explore the campus the day their father was named president of CSU. Photo by Ty Cornett

Thing that gets him out of bed in the morning: Figuring out how to transform student lives. Higher education is the key to the vehicle to really change your life. That is what excites me the most about CSU. Remaining part of the CSU family: In addition to being a member of the Board of Visitors, while at Campbell, Liberty, and Appalachian, I actively recruited CSU graduates for law and business programs. I wanted CSU graduates because I knew they were prepared academically, and they were going to be leaders.

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Qualities of an effective leader: Leads without ego, sets the conditions for success, is accountable, approachable, transparent, engenders trust, casts a vision, models a servant’s heart.

My leadership style: A blend of transformational and servant.

Law school: The analytical and critical thinking skills honed in law school have helped me be a better thinker, writer, and advocate.

Completing long-awaited CSU projects: The construction of a convocation center and the successful completion of our Limitless Campaign. Expanding and strengthening academic programs. Improving the physical and fiscal landscape of the university.

What his kids say about him: Fun, loving, hardworking, smart, goofy, sensitive.

The kids’ favorite family tradition: Going to Boone, North Carolina, to cut down a Christmas tree.

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Members of the Faulkner family visit at the Clemson game with athletic team members and representatives from the Board of Trustees. Photo by Jenna Johnson

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LEARNING

CSU Students, Alumnus Cast in Daniel and the Kings World Premiere

By Jenna Johnson

Adelaide Lovelady and Luke Jones singing in Daniel and the Kings. Photo by Willow Oak Photography

J

oining Broadway, Off-Broadway, and local performers, four students and an alumnus of Charleston Southern University added to the talented cast of Daniel and the Kings where they brought an incredible biblical story to life on the big stage. This musical has been 13 years in the making, and the Charleston stage is where it kicked off.

The world premiere of Daniel and the Kings, a new musical written and produced by Chuck and Karen Smith, ran Sept. 21 – 24 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

CSU participants included students Luke Jones (Prince Marduk and Ensemble), Michael Trimboli (Daniel’s Father understudy and Ensemble), Meredith Lane and Annalisa Blevins (both Ensemble), as well as alumnus Adelaide Lovelady ’21 (Ensemble). Faculty from CSU’s Horton School of Music & Performing Arts also contributed to this world premiere, with Professor of Theatre Thomas Keating as consulting producer, and Dr. Nicholas Holland, director of bands, and Dr. Elaine Ross, adjunct faculty member, serving in the live orchestra.

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Set in 614 BC, Act One introduces 8-year-old Daniel and the history behind the Babylonian exile. There are serious and comedic tones throughout the musical, and some familiar biblical characters hit the stage, such as Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and King Nebuchadnezzar.

Keating, who provided technical supervision and production management for Daniel and the Kings, is known as a connector-of-people person. Through CSU alumni connections and a close relationship with local theatres, Keating met the writers Chuck and Karen. For the last 18 months, Keating has been involved in scenic elements, lighting, and more.

According to Keating, to see it all come together on the North Charleston PAC stage is a dream—even more so because of the faith aspect.

“Too often we see Christian productions and think the quality will be lower,” he said. “In this case, I can tell you that you will be blown away by the voices, the scenic elements, the music, and the whole story. The caliber is top tier.”

Keating added that he is incredibly proud to see his own students and alumni performing at this level.

“I see them almost every day, and they are in awe of the talent they can work alongside of,” he said. “They are both learning and experiencing what it means to achieve their goals. They are seeing it come to life in front of them.”

The writers and producers of Daniel and the Kings attended shows at CSU and noted several student performers, ultimately asking Keating to connect them.

Luke Jones is one of those students.

Jones studies voice and theatre at CSU and is no stranger to the CSU Lyric Theatre stage, having played Randy in Curtains and Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls.

He has also been in productions with the Flowertown Players in Summerville and SHEEP—a homeschool musical theatre group in the Charleston area.

“It honestly means a lot to be a part of such a big production on a professional level,” said Jones. “It has been such an honor to work

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Meredith Lane, Michael Trimboli, and Annalisa Blevins in Daniel and the Kings. Photo by Willow Oak Photography

Michael Trimboli, Meredith Lane, Adelaide Lovelady ’21, Annalisa Blevins, and Luke Jones at rehearsal for Daniel and the Kings. Photo by Thomas Keating

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with everyone and being one of the many people who get to start this whole process.”

Senior vocal performance major Annalisa Blevins has been singing and acting in musicals and plays since age 7, with her first professional role at age 15 in S.C. Actor’s Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in downtown Charleston. In addition to Ensemble, she was the understudy for the role of the Queen in Daniel and the Kings. [italicize] She said, “This has been such a blessing to learn from my coworkers (all of whom are incredibly talented), from Brad and Jenny Moranz—our incredible directors—and to practice what I’ve studied and performed around the world. I am so thankful they have taught me professionalism and skill which have prepared me to work at this level.”

Michael Trimboli, a music education major who has performed for the campus stage in Curtains and Guys and Dolls, agrees. “This opportunity makes me feel like the work that I have been putting in and the educa-

tion that I have received the past three years at CSU has been valuable. I never expected to be able to perform at this level with Broadway performers, but I am excited and honored to be on the stage with them.”

Jones hopes that through this world premiere “people live through this story of Daniel with us as we do this production and that we show how God’s grace can be shown through a musical.”

Blevins agrees. “I believe that the performing arts is a HUGE mission field, and the arts are such a bridge to connect with people. The arts point to the greatest artist—God—who created the arts in the first place! I believe the tides are changing with the arts, and as more Christian artists step up to demonstrate skill and beauty in their creations, lives will be touched, and people will be drawn to their Creator.” Learn more about the future of Daniel and the Kings at danielandthekings.com.

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COLLEGE MEMORIES “I’ve met so many amazing and inspiring people who have touched my life – many from CSU. Dr. A.J. Conyers solidified my love for my faith with his religion classes. Dr. Lionel Lackey inspired me to take in what I read with his engaging storytelling. Mrs. Johnnie Keyes in the library was like a mother to me when I needed one away from home. Ms. Pamela Peek was always encouraging and inspired me to minor in Spanish. Dr. Bruce Harshbarger and Coach Howard Bagwell brought tears to my eyes with their personal congratulations letters upon being selected as Homecoming Queen my senior year. CSU was certainly my village when I started in academia. It is one of the fondest memories I will always have and be grateful for.”

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Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

LEARNING

ALUMNUS C MES FULL CIRCLE

By Jan Joslin

N LEFT: Tricy Kosobud-Sossamon has worked at the Medical University of South Carolina for 21 years.

Photo by Josh Goodwin/MUSC College of Nursing.

BELOW: Tricy Peralta’s father, Perfecto Peralta, was her escort at the 1991 Homecoming where she was crowned Homecoming Queen. Cutlass file photo.

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ot only does Tricy Peralta KosobudSossamon ’92 hold the distinction of being named the first CSU Homecoming Queen, she was also the first Homecoming Queen crowned during football season in fall 1991 after the university changed its name in 1990.

Through personal tragedies, career changes, and perseverance, Kosobud-Sossamon has relied on the foundation of faith her family instilled in her, the encouragement of college professors and mentors, and her love of lifelong learning to help her not only succeed but also flourish.

A self-described Navy Brat, KosobudSossamon traveled the world with her family and became intrigued with global business.

She completed a business degree with a minor in Spanish and had plans to complete a Master’s degree in international business.

Professor Steve Best in the CSU biology department encouraged Kosobud-Sossamon to consider a career in nursing while she was an undergraduate. But at the time she was focused on international business. While working temporary jobs waiting on acceptance to graduate school, she realized she enjoyed interacting with and helping individuals, especially those with medical needs. She said, “Professor Best had been right. I trained as a licensed practical nurse in Roper Hospital’s LPN program and realized this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she said.

She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina, a Master of Science in

healthcare administration from Bellevue University, and earned a dual Master of Science in Nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice from MUSC this summer.

Her 21-year career at MUSC is changing once again as she transitions into a doctorate-prepared Nurse Practitioner position in MUSC’s Neurology Department for Movement Disorders this fall.

Kosobud-Sossamon wanted to learn more about this subspecialty of neurology following some tragic events in her family.

“Before completing my BSN, my younger brother grievously lost his life in a motor vehicle crash. He had neurological injuries leading to his tragic death. I later mourned my husband when he succumbed to ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) a week before our daughter turned two,” she said. She also has family members suffering from dementia and Parkinson’s, which increased her desire to understand the pathophysiology of the nervous system and brain.

Kosobud-Sossamon credits her family and her church community of St. John the Baptist Cathedral with keeping her grounded.

“I am blessed to have parents who sacrificed coming to this country so that my siblings and I could have opportunities we otherwise would not have had,” she said. “Last spring, I was honored to mentor a few CSU nursing seniors through the Buccaneer mentorship program – what a wonderful way for me to give back to an alma mater that has given me so much.”

CSU magazine 15

LEARNING

Charleston Southern named to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges List

By Jan Joslin / Photo by Ty Cornett

U

.S. News & World Report has once again named Charleston Southern University to its Best Colleges list for 2024 in the Best Regional Universities in the South, Best Colleges for Veterans, and the Top Performers on Social Mobility. Charleston Southern was also named to the national Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing category.

Charleston Southern University focuses on student success using a Passport to Purpose program. The Passport to Purpose is designed to help students discover their passion, design their pathway, develop their potential, and declare their purpose, enabling them to embark on a life of significance after graduation.

Dr. Anthony Turner, vice president for enrollment and marketing, said, “Multiple groups recognizing Charleston Southern University on a national level points to the incredible value, academic reputation, and accessibility to quality education provided by the university.”

Earlier in the year, U.S. News & World Report named Charleston Southern to the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans lists, making CSU the top-ranked online program

Doctor of Physical Therapy students receive their white coats.

for veterans in South Carolina.

The Top Performers on Social Mobility category, according to U.S. News & World Report, lists colleges that “are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.”

Kinesiology Now Eligible for S.C. Enhancement Program

O

ne of Charleston Southern’s most popular majors received a major boost this summer from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

The CSU Bachelor of Science in kinesiology joined the list of enhancement eligible programs for Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholarship recipients. The enhancement provides an additional $2,500 in scholarship funding for those awarded Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholarships.

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First generation students make up more than a third of the 2023-2024 freshman class.

Washington Monthly’s recent college rankings again included Charleston Southern on the Best Bang for the Buck in the Southeast list. And, Charleston Southern moved from the Silver level up to Gold status on the 2023 Military Friendly School list.

By Jan Joslin

According to the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, student eligibility began with the freshman class that entered for the 2023–24 academic year. These students will be eligible to receive the scholarship enhancement as sophomores in 2024–25.

In order to maintain the enhancement, as well as Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholarships, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA each year.

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LEARNING

Community Research Institute Wins Award

By Jan Joslin / Photo provided

P

Dr. Erin Hinson and Dr. Kristen Donnelly

restige Awards named Community Research Institute the Corporate Training Company of the Year – South Carolina for 2023-2024.

Community Research Institute, a partnership between the CSU Nielsen College of Business and Abbey Research, provides internships to NCOB students to conduct research about Gen Z students and workers.

CRI has developed training pertaining to working with different generations. Run by Dr. Kristen Donnelly and Dr. Erin Hinson, corporate trainers at Abbey Research, the institute has also partnered with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Check out their blog at communityresearchinstitute.org/blog.

CSU Partners with Logos for Christian Studies Majors

By Jan Joslin

T

he College of Christian Studies announces a partnership with Logos Bible Software which started with fall semester.

The Logos partnership will give Christian studies majors, minors, and students enrolling in courses beyond the survey-level courses access to a powerful Bible study and research platform.

Dean of the College of Christian Studies Dr. Ben Phillips said, “The textbooks for

the class will be downloaded into students’ personal accounts which will stay with them through their time at CSU and will continue to be theirs after graduation.”

Using the Logos app, which can be accessed by computer, tablet, and phone, students will have access to an online theological library. Students are also able to take class notes in Logos.

CSU Earns Gold Rank in 2023-2024 Military Friendly® School Designation

By Jenna Johnson / Photo by Ty Cornett

C

harleston Southern University has earned the 2023-2024 Military Friendly® School designation, this year hitting Gold status. CSU moved up the ranks to Silver a few years ago.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher educa-

tion and military recruitment community.

Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

For more information about Charleston Southern’s student veteran programs, visit charlestonsouthern.edu/veterans.

CSU’s Detachment 772 AFROTC

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CSU magazine 17

LEARNING

Meeting Needs of International Disney Employees

By Jan Joslin / photos provided

E

ven as a freshman, Ashleigh Mizner ’21 would pop in the office of Stephanie LeVan, director of the Global Education Center, and remind LeVan she wanted to study abroad and find out what her next steps were.

Mizner, a political science major and family communication minor, did indeed study abroad in spring 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. She also was selected as the first Charleston Southern student and the first in the Charleston region to receive a national scholarship to attend the national conference for the World Affairs Councils of America.

According to their website, “The World Affairs Councils of America is an independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to engaging the public and leading global voices.”

“Coming from a household where I’m a first generation college graduate, first generation of studying abroad, really first of a lot, it is mind blowing to have had the opportunity,” said Mizner. “It’s amazing to know that I got to represent Charleston Southern University, and to represent Charleston and

“It’s amazing to know that I got to represent Charleston Southern University, and to represent Charleston and South Carolina, as well, and to have such a supportive faculty that had faith in me.”

– Ashleigh Mizner ’21

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Ashleigh Mizner speaks with a Botswana embassy staffer at WACA.

South Carolina, as well, and to have such a supportive faculty that had faith in me.”

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences faculty unanimously nominated Mizner for the WACA scholarship after LeVan, who is a board member of the World Affairs Council Charleston, asked the faculty to nominate a student. Mizner received one of the 14 scholarships awarded nationally.

She said, “The conference encompassed a multitude of topics involving international issues, including U.S. and China relations, U.S. and Russia relations, age of technology, democracy abroad and in the states, and global warming.” Although Mizner learned many things at the conference, she said the biggest take-away was learning the value of networking and learning to understand your cohorts. “I gained more confidence in how to approach people, and I learned the importance of perseverance,” she said.

Mizner’s intention after graduation was to study for law school entrance, but she was accepted into the Disney College Program, relocated to Florida, and used her communication minor in day-to-day activities as well as her political science major while meeting people from different countries, cultures, and

backgrounds. She also put her networking skills to work to apply for a position with the Disney company.

After the Disney College Program ended, Mizner went to work for Disney and helped open a new location. She is currently working with the Disney immigration compliance team processing J and Q1 visas for all internationals working for Disney. She was also selected for a Master of Legal Studies degree program through Purdue’s Global University fully funded by Disney.

Mizner said, “I’ve continued my involvement with international matters by providing talks with internationals staying at the provided housing on Disney property to help them combat homesickness.”

Her involvement with the World Affairs Council has had to take a back seat at this time in her career, but Mizner is getting connected with World Affairs Council Orlando, enjoying her career, and looking forward to a bright future.

Ashleigh Mizner, on right, took advantage of networking opportunities as the CSU representative at the World Affairs Councils of America conference.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

Ashleigh Mizner represents CSU at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

CSU magazine 19

Danielle and Solomon Brown took advantage of their time in Europe to explore. One of the trips they took was a hiking excursion in Croatia.

LEADING

LIFE ABROAD with Solomon and Danielle Brown Compiled by Jan Joslin / Photos provided

Solomon, ’21 and Danielle Hensley Brown, ’18 recently returned to the United States after six months living in Europe. Follow along to find out what they were doing in Poland.

Solomon Brown greets fans on the sidelines.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

Danielle and Solomon Brown rep #34 for the Wroclaw Panthers.

CSU magazine 21

LEADING

Chance to play pro football Solomon: I was helping a friend who had graduated from CSU in 2022 and was working on continuing his football career. I still had several football contacts, agents and coaches, from my draft year in 2019. My friend and I began training together, and I felt I still could physically play. Almost every weekend from April to July 2022 we were at different camps and tryouts for Canadian Football League and XFL (American football minor league) teams. It was recommended that I send my tape and information to EuroPlayers which is the European League of Football’s scout website. Two teams reached out, the Wroclaw Panthers being the first. The Panthers signed me in December 2022. I was the first import player signed the day after they signed the head coach.

Wroclaw Panthers 2023 season Danielle: Solomon had a terrific season.

He was elected to the leadership council by the team and was captain of several games.

He finished the season 16th in the league for tackles, had 5.5 sacks, 11 TFLs, 1 interception, 8 PBUs, 2 blocks,1 fumble recovery, and averaged 9.4 tackles/game in eight games. The team finished 8-4 and made it to the first round of playoffs. There are rule differences for kickoff and kickoff return in the European League of Football. Besides that, the main difference is the cultural blend.

While everyone on the team spoke English, it was most of the team’s second language.

There were eight different nationalities represented on the Panthers between coaches and players.

Traveling in Europe Danielle: We were fortunate to visit 10 countries during our time in Europe from mid-April to the end of September.We toured Wroclaw, Poland, (and Krakow including a trip to Auschwitz and Birkenau); several places in Germany including Berlin; Vienna, Austria; Split, Croatia; Rome, Italy; Malta; Bratislava, Slovakia; islands of Greece; Buda-

Solomon Brown shows off some of his defensive skills learned with the CSU Buccaneers.

22 CSU magazine

pest, Hungary; and Prague, Czech Republic.

Our favorite places were Rome, Italy, and Rhodes/Kalymnos, Greece. I studied abroad in Rome while in college. It has always been my favorite place for its beauty and history.

It was so cool to go back and experience it with Solomon. Solomon is really into history and is also part Italian, so Rome was a super fun visit. We got to go canyoning in Croatia, ride mopeds around the mountains of Kalymnos, and unexpectedly found ourselves in a parade while staying in Valletta, Malta, that filled the streets.

Learning and Living on a Different Continent Solomon: There are things we learned to appreciate while living in Europe, such as, fresh bread, walking, public transportation, and communicating despite language barriers. It was such a beautiful thing to see how similar we all are despite growing up across the world. Every nation has something unique to offer.

Danielle: We hosted what we called Breakfast Church every week at our apartment where some of Solomon’s teammates came, and we cooked breakfast, ate together, and watched church service from home.

Many of our friends here did not grow up in the church and thus we got to have a lot of really meaningful conversations. We knew coming here would not only be an opportunity to play football but also to be missionaries.

What’s Next The Browns are back in South Carolina and moving into their new home. While they are not sure what the next year holds, Solomon feels confident he will be playing a second season.

Danielle graduated with a communication studies degree in 2018 and currently works in cybersecurity sales. She also hosts a podcast called All About Life with Danielle Brown where she shares the good, bad, happy, and hard things in life. She previously worked in TV news.

Solomon earned a dual degree in applied mathematics from CSU and engineering from Clemson in 2021. He worked in engineering sales before signing with the European League of Football’s Wroclaw Panthers in Poland.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

LEADING

Turner Named to 40 Under 40

Charleston’s Best and Brightest Recognized

Brittney Greer. Photo by Ty Cornett

T

he Charleston Business Magazine named five Charleston Southern alumni to the 2023 Best & Brightest 35 and Under list.

• Brittney Greer ’11, ’16 MS, is the assistant dean of student life in charge of residence life at CSU. • Christopher Makowski ’20 is the public information officer and drone program manager for the Town of Summerville.

• Brantley Meier ’13 is the owner of The Bridge Chiropractic in Charleston.

D

r. Anthony Turner, vice president for enrollment and marketing at CSU, was named to the 2023 40 Under 40 list by the Charleston Regional Journal. In addition to being a CSU vice president, Turner serves as Commissioner for the Commission for Innovative Enrollment and Marketing for

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities; served as president of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals, and also serves as a high school referee. He previously worked at Geneva College and Moody Bible Institute. He and his wife, Zan, have three children.

• Tevin Proctor ’21 MBA, is the diversity, equity, and inclusion program manager for Wellstar Health System.

• Jaimee Salone ’16 is the global marketing communications specialist for Ingevity.

CSU magazine 23

LEADING

Women’s Tennis Celebrates As Three-Peat Title Holders

I

n a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, the Charleston Southern women’s tennis team won the Big South Championship for the third-straight year, defeating the UNC Asheville Bulldogs 4-3 in the spring.

This was their 16th win of the season, which is tied for fourth all-time in school history.

The Bucs (16-7) took the doubles round to start the afternoon, as Luiza Fullana/Khyanna Singh started the day off with a 6-4 win. After UNC Asheville (16-2) picked up a win on court three, Noa Boyd and Amila Jusufbegovic gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead with a 7-6 victory.

Bucs clench the conference title.

By Taylor Chitwood / Photos by CSU Athletics Communications

Boyd followed her win in doubles with a dominate performance in the singles round, as she swept her opponent 6-2 and 6-3 to start things off. Then, the Bulldogs got on the board with a 6-2 and 6-4 win on court no. 6. This was Kassandra Di Staulo’s first loss of the season, as she had won her previous 14 matches.

The Bulldogs took a 3-2 lead in the match with wins on court no. 4 and no. 5. With their backs against the wall, the Bucs fought back. Jusufbegovic lost in the first set 6-7; however, she fought back to win by a convincing score of 6-1 and 6-2.

It all came down to Fullana, who fell in the first set by a 3-6 score and won the second set 6-2. In the final set point, Fullana was able to claim victory, giving the Bucs their third-straight victory as well as handing the Bulldogs their first conference loss of the season.

Bucs Fall in NCAA Tournament Match Charleston Southern fell 4-0 to the No. 1 national seed North Carolina in first round

action of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships, ending their 2023 campaign.

North Carolina (30-1) was able to make quick work of the doubles stanza, taking wins at the second and third flights to clinch the first point. Fullana and Singh were battling at the first flight before that match went unfinished.

Charleston Southern (16-8) was unable to pick up a point in singles play as well, as the Tar Heels were led by a slew of top-ranked players in singles play, as each player was ranked in the top-110. Fullana had a strong showing on court one, taking three games from No. 8-ranked Reese Brantmeier in both sets before the match went unfinished.

Zoe Cauthen and Boyd each looked good in their flights as well, taking four games in a set before both went unfinished.

The loss ended a magical season for the Bucs who made it three-straight Big South Tournament Championships. Nine Big South postseason accolades also came during the Bucs’ 2022 run with seven studentathletes receiving recognition.

of both teams that took home Back-to-back Big South Championships.

Cauthen sports a career singles record

of 30-18. She is a multitime All-Big South selection as well as a multitime ITA ScholarAthlete selection.

Cauthen Named Big South Scholar-Athlete

T

he annual Women’s Tennis All-Conference award winners were announced by the Big South and included Cauthen, who was named Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Majoring in biology, Cauthen sports a 3.86 GPA with a goal of finishing up her master’s degree. She finished her undergraduate degree with a 3.96 GPA while majoring in biology with a preprofessional emphasis.

The Florence native had a winning season in singles play each of her seasons in the blue and gold, the best coming a season ago where she finished 11-1. She was a member

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Third straight championship for the women’s tennis team.

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CSU magazine 25

LEADING

Sculptor, Storyteller, Sailor, 1973 Alumnus Shares Her Love for the Savior

By Jan Joslin / Photos provided

N

ormandie Fischer ’73 did not have a typical college experience, especially at the then Baptist College at Charleston.

Fischer grew up in a family of unbelievers.

She was happily pursuing a sculpting degree in Perugia, Italy, when she needed to move home (and eventually to Charleston) to help a family member.

“I was distracted during this period of my life. I wasn’t a Christian, so it was a shock to have Bible classes at Baptist College. But He knew what I needed,” said Fischer. “Who knows what seeds were planted in my life during that time?”

As an art major, Fischer was required to complete a senior project. She chose to do a portrait sculpture of the first president, Dr. John Hamrick. Also known as a bust, the sculpture was cast in bronze, was displayed in Rivers Library for several years, and is currently in storage in the library.

After graduation, Fischer got a job as a proofreader, then a copy editor, a content editor, and a senior editor for nonfiction. She continued to create sculptures and to teach classes, and it was during this period that the Lord grabbed her by the throat.

“I came to know God through a series of miracles,” said Fischer. “I went to visit my paternal grandmother, who said, the Hound of Heaven was after me. At the time, I didn’t even know what she meant.” Fischer prayed that if God was real He would take away her stomach ulcers, which wouldn’t respond to treatment or medication. “I knew I couldn’t believe in a Lord who wasn’t still parting Red Seas,” she said. Her stomach pain vanished.

“It went from excruciating pain to zero.”

Fischer said, “God has such a wonderful sense of humor. I read the Word, read it again, listened to it on tape. I was baptized in a Baptist church, and have gone to whatever church is preaching the Word, preaching truth ever since.”

Prior to and after her children were born, she continued to do portrait sculpture and teach, but three difficult sculpture clients in a row convinced her that a sculpture career wasn’t worth it. “Sculpture didn’t challenge my intellect, and my opportunities to share

26 CSU magazine

Normandie Fischer

Normandie and Michael Fischer at Beaufort Hotel in North Carolina enjoying Sunday lunch.

Jesus with clients began to dry up,” she said.

“I no longer wanted to be in the art scene and felt the Lord opening me to fiction writing.”

Nonfiction had allowed her to write sparsely and taught her to organize logically.

However, writing fiction is not sparse. “I had to learn to enlarge the writing, to bring all five senses into a scene,” said Fischer. “My years of writing poetry helped.”

“In writing fiction, I never know what is going to happen next,” she said. “I start with

a germ of an idea and see where it goes. I write with multiple story lines – can’t have just one!

Where is the fun in that?”

She wrote two books of fiction, Two from Isaac’s House and From Fire into Fire which won awards but weren’t published at the time. Her first published book of fiction was Becalmed, a story based loosely on her Aunt Tadie.

Fischer was caring for her Aunt, who had dementia. Fischer’s first husband had taken off when her son was 11 and her daughter had already left home. So when Fischer met her husband, Michael, Aunt Tadie was part of the package deal. “He married us both, and they became really good friends,” she said.

Fischer had grown up sailing, and when she prayed she asked God for a tall, Christian sailor. “God brought me my best friend,” she said, “and we married, bought a big boat, and went sailing.” They set out with a plan to sail around the world, but they were so captured with the beauty of the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, they ended up remaining there for almost three years.

Eventually the Fischers settled in coastal North Carolina to care for Normandie’s mother who had Alzheimer’s. “Ministering to older people has been such a gift to me,” she said. She runs a prayer ministry in their church and holds several prayer sessions throughout each week and counsels women.

In her prayer group she teaches, “God is; Jesus is; if we keep our focus on Him, nothing can take away our peace.”

Her son lives in North Carolina, and her daughter and two grandchildren live in New York. She also has two bonus children.

Fischer’s award-winning books are classified as Southern Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Christian, and Christian Suspense.

Thus far, she has written two series, the Isaac’s House books and Carolina Coast Series, six contemporary novels set in North Carolina.

Fischer’s life has come full circle from the sculptor who did not know Jesus to a storyteller committed to sharing the truth that Jesus is the great and glorious I Am who has become our Savior.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

LEADING

Yarbrough Becomes Inaugural VP for Student Success

By Jenna Johnson / Photo by Ty Cornett

Dr. Scott Yarbrough

I

n this new role for Charleston Southern, Dr. Scott Yarbrough sets the foundation to build a strong retention model for CSU students to finish strong and graduate with purpose.

“Dr. Scott Yarbrough has been at the forefront of student success since his arrival more than 25 years ago,” former President Dondi Costin said. “As a professor, academic administrator, accreditation liaison, and our most experienced retention strategist, Scott is the right leader at the right time to push

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

our retention and student success efforts to the next level. I’m extremely confident that his advocacy as a senior officer for two of our three wildly important goals – student retention and graduation – will prepare even more servant leaders to pursue significant lives.”

Yarbrough has served CSU for a quarter of a century with various responsibilities, and he was formerly associate vice president for academic affairs. In this capacity, he developed and maintained initiatives to improve student retention, graduation rates,

and overall student success, working with Academic Affairs, Student Life, and other campus areas to achieve university goals.

Yarbrough is the university’s chief compliance officer and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges liaison, and directs particular attention to CSU’s Strategic Plan’s Wildly Important Goals of enhancing retention and continuing to improve graduation rates. He is also the university’s point person for the Move the Needle project over the next five years.

CSU magazine 27

LEADING

Fox Promoted as CSU’s New VP for Finance and Operations

By Jenna Johnson / Photo by Ty Cornett Janelle Fox

H

aving served as the university’s controller since May 2021, Janelle Fox is now CSU’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer where she is responsible for developing and implementing organizational efficiencies, operational effectiveness, and administrative policies and procedures consistent with the university’s strategic plan and direction from the president.

Her charge is to implement best practices and business process redesign to enhance the academic, administrative, and fiscal operations of CSU, while working collaboratively with university leadership, faculty, staff, and external constituents. Fox also oversees several functional areas, including finance (accounting, accounts payable, purchasing, and student accounts), human resources, Title IX, implementation of the Institutional Priorities Project, and other related duties.

Fox said that she has been blessed in her role as controller to work with senior officers, the president, and the board. “Working alongside some of the most faithful and wise leaders has been an absolute gift,” she said. “Not only has it allowed me to obtain an opportunity to see behind the scenes on the weight of leading this institution, it has taught me so much as a child of God and as a leader. Becoming a vice president gives me a bigger opportunity to be a part of what God is doing here at CSU. I am humbled and thankful that God has chosen me to partner with Him.” Former President Dondi Costin said, “In the increasingly complex world of higher education, Janelle Fox is exactly what Charleston Southern needs to help guide us through the maze. Having proven her fiscal savvy and strategic approach in countless ways as our forward-looking controller the last two years, she has recently led the charge to ensure the university is operating as effectively and efficiently as possible in every arena. I look forward to seeing how the Lord uses her in the coming years to help our faculty, staff, and students thrive at the highest levels.”

As a female leader, Fox aims to be a Proverbs 31 woman. “She is a woman who hon-

28 CSU magazine

ors God by seeking Him in everything she does and trusting Him wholeheartedly with her life,” stated Fox. “I pray that I continue to grow in the Lord and emulate the characteristics in the Scripture that include being trustworthy, in service to others, generous, strong, and loving while using my hands to serve a bigger purpose. Christian women in the workplace can make a tremendous impact by going to the Lord first and seeking Him in all that they do.”

In her role as VP, Fox sets her sights on continued refining of operations to meet strategic goals. This includes the Institutional Priorities Project that will unveil CSU’s strengths and areas where improvement is needed. “The higher education industry as a whole has a responsibility to our students to continue to find ways to keep expenses down

so that education continues to be affordable and meets their needs,” she said. “Development and implementation of policies and procedures will lead to better efficiencies that will increase our students’ success as well as allow our amazing faculty and staff to do what they do best and serve our students well.”

Prior to CSU, Fox was an outsourced controller/CFO for various businesses and industries. She was an owner of a firm in Pennsylvania and sold the business before moving to South Carolina where she worked for Elliott Davis, a public accounting firm in downtown Charleston.

Fox has been married to her husband, Joel, for 12 years, and they have three daughters— Taylor (a senior at CSU), Sophia, and Nora.

They also have two adorable golden doodles, Zoey and Indie.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

SERVING

Classroom Project Would Change Lives of Foster Children

By Jan Joslin / Photos provided

E

ntering the foster care system understandably fills children with anxiety. A classroom project completed for an Early Childhood Practicum class has the potential to help ease that anxiety.

Alyssa Phillips, a senior child development major, created a project called The Distraction Bag. While comfort bags filled with basic necessities are given to some children in the foster care system, Phillips could find no evidence of anything similar to her distraction bag in South Carolina.

Phillips and her professor, Dr. Jacquelynn Pleis, associate professor of education, have pitched the idea to The Bair Foundation, a Christian-based foster care and adoption service. They are also working on writing a grant and have plans to share Phillips’ idea with other organizations.

Once a child enters the foster care system he or she spends a good bit of time waiting – waiting in court room hallways, foster care offices, and doctor offices. The Distraction Bag is designed for case workers to provide children with activities to fill the waiting time.

Pleiss said, “Alyssa initiated contact with the Bair Foundation, set up meetings with the caseworkers to find out the needs of the children, researched child development theories when choosing the items for the bags, created sample bags, created a sample budget for bags, included a faith component, and then presented the project to the directors of the Bair Foundation.”

Phillips said, “I never had an idea and actually acted on it. So, for me to be able to come up with an idea, then carry it out and see it flourish, it showed me how much potential I have.

“A lot of things went into the planning of this project, a lot of writing plans, making phone calls, inexpensively shopping, researching, presenting information, and summarizing all the things I learned.”

Items in the bag were specifically chosen to provide activities to help children pass the time while waiting and to reduce their anxiety.

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Pleiss said, “For me, the big takeaways are how this project allowed Alyssa to grow in unexpected ways and the continual connections CSU makes with the community.”

One of the aspects of the project was finding a way to fill a distraction bag inexpensively. Phillips shopped at local Dollar Tree and 5 Below stores. She was able to find book bags and the items that would enable children to escape from their stressful environments and help them develop in healthy ways.

Items Phillips included in the Distraction Bags:

Making a presentation about the project was one of the requirements of completing the practicum class.

“Physically, research has shown that when kids can control or direct their movements, especially when stressed or anxious, they can also improve focus and concentration,” said Phillips. “Movement and sensory input are essential for learning and carrying out tasks since they involve both the right and left hemispheres of the brain.”

Each bag has multiple objects meant to provide distraction for anxious brains and bodies. “Fidget toys serve to productively distract and occupy a child’s attention,” said Phillips.

Phillips’ research showed that a distraction bag can be used to help children calm down when they are feeling upset. The child can choose an activity from the bag to focus on, which can help distract them from their negative emotions and allow them to calm down.

A distraction bag can be used to keep children engaged and occupied while they are waiting and can be used to pass the time and reduce the children’s frustration or impatience.

• Coloring book with crayons • 2 children’s books • Mini stuffed animal • 2 squeezable toys • 2 slinkies • Etch-a-Sketch toy • Light-up spin wheel • Light-up pop-it worm • Fidget link tracks • Sensory mat

Alyssa Phillips prepared a sample Distraction Bag to present to employees at The Bair Foundation.

CSU magazine 29

SERVING

By Jan Joslin / Photos provided

W

hat would make people stand in the sun for two hours when the heat index is at 105 degrees? The Highway 15 Back to School Bash in Myrtle Beach draws hundreds of families each year for free school supplies and information about community services available to them. Families begin lining up hours before the event begins.

Dana Patrick Painter ’84 and her sister, Becky Robertson, became aware of the need through the music minister at First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach when he challenged the congregation to volunteer to help third graders learn to read. More than 300 volunteers from the church formed the Reading Buddies Program and worked with three elementary schools. Reading scores improved. Painter said, “We learned a lot from

30 CSU magazine

Alumnus Running Successful School Supply Giveaway the South Carolina Baptist Heart for School Initiative. Dr. Emory Hiott, CSU business professor, was a big part of this program.”

Painter said the volunteers uncovered the need in local schools for school supplies.

Teachers were stretched to the limit trying to meet the needs of their students. Painter said, “Myrtle Beach schools are approximately 85% at or below the poverty level.

Almost one third of the student population changes during the school year. The elementary school had students speaking 15 languages from 17 different countries.”

Learning that families were choosing between food and school supplies propelled Painter and Robertson to get involved. The sisters had been running school supply drives at First Baptist Church-MB since

2006. Each year, the drive grew bigger.

“Our parents raised us in church and to serve others,” said Painter. “We were blessed to be able to purchase the vacant lot next to our family business, Patrick Mobile Home Park, a few years ago. We have hosted mission groups doing neighborhood Bible Clubs, weekly kids programs each Wednesday from FBC-MB and community Easter Eggs hunts along with our annual Hwy 15 Back to School Bash,” she said. They are in the planning stages with Chapin Memorial Library to bring the book mobile to the lot.

“Dana and her sister have hearts of gold,” said Tom Clemmons, assistant vice president of development. He said, “Their parents, Cecil and Barbara Patrick, are longtime members of First Baptist Church of Myrtle

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

PAINTER’S TIPS FOR SUCCESS • Any church with space and volunteers can duplicate this event • Start small by collecting school supplies for your local school or neighborhood kids • Shop on tax-free weekend to be good stewards of the donations • Partner with office supply stores, grocery stores, and restaurants for donations and giveaways Dana Patrick Painter, in yellow in center, pauses to thank volunteers.

Beach and have been very supportive of their daughters‘ efforts to serve the underprivileged members of their community.”

Painter and her husband, Dennis, have been members of the CSU Board of Visitors for years and have recruited future Buccaneers from the Myrtle Beach area. “Dana and Dennis have a heart for Christian higher education and recently established an endowed scholarship to help future South Carolina students receive the best Christian education available,” said Clemmons.

Painter said, “The number one thing I want people to learn is that a lot of people doing a little bit can make a huge difference.

Anyone can do what we did by partnering with others in their community. If each partnered with a local school, think how many lives could be touched. We can’t preach or teach Jesus in public schools, but we can be His hands and feet and share His love. More and more kids today have no idea who God is or why they would want to go to church.

We have to bring Jesus to them.”

The 2023 Hwy 15 Back to School Bash served more than 600 families and had 33 vendors participate. Families started lining up at 4 p.m. for the 6 p.m. event. By 8:30 p.m. they had run out of supplies, and everything was cleaned up.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

“That is always our goal, to run out,” said Painter. “We start shopping for next year as soon as school supplies go on clearance.” One of the ways the sisters raise funds is through a donation bucket at FBC-MB. “Each year is a loaves and fishes miracle,” said Painter. “We never run out of anything until it is almost over. We have no idea how we are able to provide for so many. In 2019, we had a widow’s mite testimony. In our donation tub, we found wadded up a $1 and a $5 bill. That bought 12 packs of crayons on tax free weekend!”

• Begin advertising the event in early July • Place collection tubs in your church for donations • Work with your city officials to provide tables, trash cans, etc. Work with police and fire departments to bring equipment so students can interact with them and learn to trust first responders • Partner with service organizations and free/low cost medical and dental clinics for donations and to tell people what they offer • As volunteers, run all cash donations through a church or organization that qualifies as a nonprofit for accountability and to qualify as tax deductible

The Highway 15 Back to School Bash, is headed by Dana Patrick Painter, (third from right), her sister, Becky Patrick Robertson, (second from right), and many volunteers, including Dana and Becky’s mother, Barbara Patrick (far right).

CSU magazine 31

FOREVER CSU

NORRIS FAMILY LEGACY Living on Through Third Generation

By Jan Joslin

F

red Norris III and his wife, Tracy Compton Norris ’83, recently visited campus to deliver proceeds from The Frederick K. Norris Jr. and Mary Ann R. Norris Charitable Remainder Trust and the Fred K. Norris Jr. Charitable Remainder Unitrust.

The $321,507 gift will provide a Christian education to more young men and women.

Fred and Tracy reflected on the legacy of Fred Norris Sr., Fred Norris Jr., and Mary Ann Norris. Fred and Tracy are continuing the family legacy through the Board of Visitors Scholarship Program and serving as stewards of the family trusts.

“I’m blessed, so I’m led to give back,” said Fred. “Our desire is to better enable CSU to carry the light and hope of the gospel into this messed up world.”

The Norris family’s involvement began before Baptist College at Charleston (now CSU) was established. Baptists were raising money

in the 1950s, and Fred’s grandfather, Fred Norris Sr., was involved in funding the school.

The family’s belief in the value of higher education was ingrained in Fred and his siblings by their parents, Fred Norris Jr. and Mary Ann Norris. Fred said, “My parents pushed to make sure we had the very best options in terms of education. We were fortunate to grow up with the faith aspect; my parent’s commitment to Jesus was unwavering. When you went home to St. Julien in Eutawville, you knew things would always be the same.”

“The lovers of God will walk in integrity, and their children are fortunate to have godly parents as their examples.”

Proverbs 20:7 TPT

Norris family CSU connections: Mary Norris Mitchell ’76 Nathaniel D. Gearles ’09 and Leslie Mitchell Gearles ’03 Tracy Compton Norris ’83 Chrystal Compton Hawkins ’80 and Michael Hawkins ’79 Amber Compton Keys ’81 and Barry Keys ’82

Tracy and Fred Norris at a recent President’s Club dinner. Photo by Ty Cornett

32 CSU magazine

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

FOREVER CSU

Fred Jr. and Mary Ann Norris at a Board of Visitors meeting. File photo

Fred Jr. and Mary Ann met through the Baptist Student Union when Fred Jr. was a student at Clemson and Mary Ann was a student at Converse. Fred Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps of supporting BCC/CSU. He was elected to the Board of Trustees, and for the next 40 years he served numerous terms on the board.

“My parents were very committed to the school and made a lot of friends,” said Fred.

“They brought us to BCC for concerts in the gym, such as Al Hirt, the Temptations, and the 5th Dimension. Robert and I even went to the first BCC SPORTS CAMP.” Fred’s mother loved and encouraged the arts making sure her five children took piano lessons and were exposed to cultural events such as opera, symphonies, and ballet. Each of the children were given the opportunity to select which event interested them the most and would take the ride with mama and daddy to Township Auditorium in Columbia. “I think my father may have slept through some of the performances after a long day on the farm, but they were a team, so he was a good sport about it,” said Fred.

Fred absorbed the music instruction and later found rock and roll and the guitar.

Fred said his father was a visionary farmer.

He wasn’t afraid to try new ideas and was involved in the community. Fred Jr. joined a farming co-op, Gold Kist, eventually becoming a board member.

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

“I grew up seeing how my father interacted with people,” said Fred. “My mother and father were comfortable in all kinds of settings.

They had a relatability factor. My mother enabled us to be an encouragement to others.

“Every morning at breakfast the five of us kids would be together around the table as mama and daddy would read a devotional and then we would pray together. They steadfastly continued these devotionals their entire lives ending their morning prebreakfast time praying out loud for each of us. Our parent’s prayers of faith not only led the way for each of us to encounter Jesus but also empowered us to faithfully remain on the road of destiny He had for each of our lives.”

Tracy added, “Fred has done a good job representing the family. I feel like I still see Mr. Fred through traits my husband has.”

Fred and Tracy met at church and married. They decided they wanted to run a business together and bought a carpet cleaning franchise in 1986. Several years later, they transitioned into the restoration/ mitigation business. As services expanded, the business became Disaster Plus from an idea suggested by their friend, the late Barry Shropshire ’79.

Disaster Plus provided mitigation work in Norris and Wingo Halls a year ago just before school started. “It was strange to be working there and reading about my grandfather, Fred Norris Sr. on the stairwell wall in Norris Hall,” said Fred. Norris Hall originally was named the Fred K. Norris Hall Library for Fred Sr. Almost 40 years later, Tracy and Fred continue to serve in music ministry while still running the business together and helping people through some of the toughest times in their lives.

“Tracy is really good at having an ear and a sensitivity to pray for customers,” said Fred.

Looking back on their time in college, Fred and Tracy said you have to find the Lord for yourself. “You have to find your own relationship with Jesus – not your parents’ Jesus,” said Tracy. She continued, “Think of your Christian faith as an atomic bomb – that’s the power we have as Christians.”

Fred and Tracy are continuing to spread the legacy of Jesus through managing the Norris family trusts, in their business, and in their ministries.

DAR Providing Scholarships for Students Dr. Mark Williams, chair of the history department, and Dr. John Kuykendall, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, accept a scholarship check from the Daughters of the American Revolution, represented by Maggie Adams and Angie Cease ’92.

Photo by Ty Cornett MAR

SAVE THE DATE March 14, 2023 CSU Giving Day 14

The Charleston Southern Family wishes Vera F. Johnson a Happy 100th Birthday!

Johnson was one of the first university professors and was hired to teach business administration. She is a longtime supporter of the university and was awarded the honorary doctor of business administration in 1994.

CSU magazine 33

SCHOOL TIES

Class notes 1970s

COMPILED BY JAN JOSLIN

1980s

military and deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina Relief and Operation Iraqi Freedom. She Brooks Moore ’70 was recently Rev. Paula Shelley Mullen ’82 writes, “Less than 1% of Airmen featured in the Summerville Jour- has been named the Deputy Senal Scene about his book Chalk nior Chaplain for the Lowcountry in the Active Duty, Reserves, and Air National Guard make it to the Talk: 30 short stories that will touch Community Chaplaincy. She rank of Chief. An even smaller your funny bone and heart, pubwill assist the Rev. Rob Dewey percentage are women.” While at lished five years ago. Brooks writes in all areas of the chaplaincy for CSU, she was a member of the about some of his experiences as a the Isle of Palms Police Departschool teacher and principal. After ment, Explore Charleston, Federal softball team. he retired, he served as a principal Drug Diversion Court, CharlesTravis Brewster ’94 is the specialist for South Carolina. ton County Probate Courts, Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, head women’s basketball coach at Chadron State College in Stan Wise ’74 has been appoint- International Critical Incident Chadron, Nebraska. He formerly ed to the state ethics commission Stress Foundation, and Cooper coached at Saint Xavier University on the Georgia Government River Bridge Run. LCC also in Chicago. He has been in coachTransparancy and Campaign Fiworks with the Dewey Center ing since 2001. nance Commission. He formerly for Chaplaincy at CSU, named served on the Georgia Public Ser- for Dewey and his wife, Kathy, Greg Atkinson ’97 has released vice Commission and the Cobb who provided funding to begin a new book, The Secret Power of County Commission. He is also the center. She is also in sales for Kindness. The book is available at an associate with the Pendelton Charleston’s Cumulus Media. amazon.com. He is the founder Group, an economic development consulting firm in Atlanta.

Tim Rice ’88 was recently recog- and CEO of Worship Impressions, the First Impressions Connized for 20 years of service with Marilyn Kelly Bays ’77 received the South Carolina Baptist Con- ference, the co-founder of the her Master’s degree in elementary vention in the Missions Mobiliza- Social Media Church Conference, education in 1985 from Francis tion department. He is married to and EntreChurch, an Entrepreneurial Church Conference. He is Marion University where she met fellow alum Magda Rice ’90. a member of the Forbes Coaching and married her husband. She has Council and the International been married to Jan L. Bays for 38 Christian Coaching Institute. years, and they have two children, 1990s Maddox and Bence Elizabeth.

Marilyn taught fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in both Chesterfield County Schools and Florence District One for 27 years. She also taught fifth and sixth gradse at The King’s Academy in Florence and sixth, seventh, and eighth grade at Faith Christian Academy in Florence. She retired in 2020 after 42 years of teaching. She has spent her retirement years volunteering for OMSHIPS, Harvest Hope, and as a part-time fitness instructor at Florence YMCA. She is a seven-year breast cancer survivor.

34 CSU magazine

Andrea Owen Smith ’00 and Jeffrey Smith ’00 were at CSU in May to attend the national conference of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals representing Alaska Christian College in Soldotna, Alaska. Andrea is director of financial aid and scholarships, and Jeffrey is director of admissions and enrollment and is an adjunct professor of biblical studies.

2000s Daryl Leach ’00 is the new chief financial officer and treasurer for Eriez in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was previously with Zeus Industrial Products in Lexington.

Amanda Turner Leviner ’01 was named to the 2023 Top 10 under 40 list of the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. She is owner of Leviner Law Firm in Summerville.

Bertie Wiggins ’93 was promoted to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in the Tennessee Air National Guard. She is currently serving in her 20th year in the

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

Dr. Lucinda Hines ’00, ’02 MBA is co-author of a white paper, “The American Workforce’s Health Card: Well-Being and Career Trajectories,” which uses the 2023 Career Optimism Index ® to understand trends in American workers’ well-being and perceptions of career trajectory for the University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies. Hines has 30 years of health care administration experience with the Department of the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and the Department of Veterans Affairs and is currently a health care executive. She holds a doctorate in healthcare administration from the University of Phoenix.

Bobby Vann ’05 was promoted to Senior Firefighter/Paramedic at Salem Fire & EMS department in Salem, Virginia. He is also a member of the Division 6 Hazardous Materials Team. He is married to Virginia Vann ’06, and they have four children.

Irene Rose Smith ’07 has released “Believe and Receive,” a children’s song, to explain the plan of salvation. A singer and songwriter, she has been a children’s minister and worship leader. You can find the song on streaming platforms.

Shelby Busey ’07 has opened The Class Acting Studios in Summerville where she teaches acting.

After graduating from CSU she graduated from Bang Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles.

Dr. Jermaine Whirl ’08 MBA is president of Augusta Technical College. He was recently named to the Biden-Harris administration’s First 21st century Energy Workforce Advisory Board.

Octavia Goode ’09 MBA is currently the director of procurement at BIOLYTE in Atlanta. She previously worked for Coca-Cola Company and Abbott Laboratories to grow their brands.

STAY CONNECTED! Send us news about family additions, job changes, community involvement, etc. To include a photo, email a high resolution jpg - 800kb or larger. (If you send a professional photograph, please include permission to print from the photographer.)

Class Notes: magazine@csuniv.edu

Rebecca Poisson ’09 is the director of operations and administration for Drawing Near to God.

Address change: csudevelopment@csuniv.edu

2010s

Name change: register@csuniv.edu

Dr. Ashleigh Wojslawowicz ’10, ’13 MS, ’21 EdD has been selected by the National Institute of Justice’s Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science Scholars Program as a LEADS civilian.

She is also a research manager for Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Wen Bumgardner ’11 is an HR specialist at the U.S. Department of State.

Jim Coman ’11 MBA is an assistant vice president for asset management at Welltower.

Krista West ’11 was featured as the Mom of the Month in Lowcountry Parent Magazine for the month of June. She and her husband, Evan, and daughters, Hadley, 10, and Hazel, 2, live in Shalah Sweeney ’07 MEd is the Charleston. After the loss of their new director of elementary educa- daughter, Hope, Krista and Evan started a nonprofit, You Keep tion for the Darlington County Hope Alive, to help parents who School District. She was previously the academic officer for the have lost a baby or a pregnancy.

You can follow You Keep Hope Marion County School District.

Alive on Facebook.

Sunni Clark ’08 MEd and DarJason Drayton ’12 MEd has ren Clark announce the birth of been named the interim princia son, Judson Daniel Clark, born pal at Baptist Hill Middle/High April 26. Darren works at CSU. School in Charleston County School District. He was a former Lakeia Newsome ’08 is a assistant principal at Wando High student success coach at Strayer School in Mt. Pleasant.

University.

Follow the Alumni Association on Social Media: CSU Alumni Association alumni_csu

Charlie McCready ’12 is a straWayne Jay Hartley ’16 is a tegic sourcing analyst at Vanguard. branch rental manager at Enterprise Holdings.

Sylvester Miniea ’12 is a family nursing practitioner at Devoted Lauren Powers ’18 is a senior Health. He holds a doctor of account manager for Oracle Net nursing practice degree.

Suite.

Rachelle Rea Cobb ’14 and Devin Cobb announce the birth of a son, John “Jack” Anders Cobb, born Feb. 20. Jack was welcomed home by big sister Rosalie.

Nicole Zittinger Albertson ’19 and her husband, Andrew Albertson, a CSU employee, announce the birth of a daughter, Peyton Albertson, born Feb. 9.

Dr. Albany Irick ’15 MS is an HR Council Member on Forbes Human Resources Council. She is vice president of HR operations for AgFirst Farm Credit Bank.

Micayla Crozier ’19 works for Charles River in sales and operations. She previously worked in endotoxin testing and R&D labs for Charles River and as a histotech with Mt. Pleasant DerSaah Nimley ’15 has been promatology. She writes, “I also am moted to associate head coach engaged to another fellow Buc, of the men’s basketball team at Dakota Hill ’20, ’21 MS, and we Charleston Southern. He has been are planning our wedding for this part of the coaching staff at CSU winter.” Dakota is currently enfor five seasons. rolled in the PA program at CSU. continued >>

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

CSU magazine 35

SCHOOL TIES

in memory James “Jim” Charles Currow ’71, age 79, died August 30 in Sunset. He was executive vice president of Morris Publishing Group when he retired, overseeing daily newspapers and other publications.

Ryan Eklund, age 91, died Sept.

18. He was a pastor at numerous churches and was a founding member of the Board of Trustees at CSU.

Billy Morse ’19 MBA is a strategic account manager for the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy at SANS Institute in Davidson, North Carolina.

Emma Slaven ’21 has been named a full-time multimedia reporter and storyteller for The Daniel Island News in Charleston.

She previously was a copywriter for GoSocial, LLC and an ELA teacher in the Charleston County School District.

Jackson Woodle ’19, ’22 MEd is the varsity boys basketball head coach at Aynor High School. He was formerly an assistant coach at the school. He graduated from Aynor High School in 2015.

Woodle completed his Master of Education in physical education and sport coaching to have a better shot at a coaching career.

Theresa Jackson ’22 MBA is a recovery agent at Navitas Credit Corp.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GRADUATES GAINING RECOGNITION Compiled by Susan Gresh

ROOKIE TEACHER OF THE YEAR Kelsie Ratliff ’22........................................Oakbrook Middle School Brenna Bourgeois ’22...............................Gregg Middle School McKenna Richards Boone ’22................DuBose Middle School Ardae Hobbs ’21........................................River Oaks Middle School

TEACHER OF THE YEAR Lauren Davis Sibrava ’16, MEd ’20........College Park Elementary Sabrina Gaines ’19.....................................Cane Bay High School Erin Bailey Zubkoff ’13.............................Cane Bay Middle School

Chris Hock ’20 is marketing coordinator to the Charleston office of Colliers South Carolina.

Kennedy Burks ’21 works as a designer and developer for Georgia State University women’s basketball and for Atlanta Mission.

John Larisey ’71, age 76, died Aug. 22 in Ravenel. He was a member of the golf team at Baptist College. He was a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He retired from the banking industry as a senior executive vice president at Bank of America.

Kelsie Thomas ’21......................................Newington Elementary School

2020s

Nate Louis ’20 has been promoted to assistant coach of the men’s basketball team at Charleston Southern. He was formerly director of basketball operations.

Jennie Clayton Goodman ’68, age 94, died July 3 in Charleston.

She was a retired Summerville High School psychology teacher and ran the Teacher Cadet Program. She was named Teacher of the Year three times. She was active in church work and was a guardian ad litem.

Dr. Gloria Gilliard MEd ’01.......................Cross Elementary School Kim Crocker ’94........................................Hanahan Elementary School

Keiara Williams ’23 and McKayla Nesmith ’21 pause backstage at the 2023 Miss South Carolina pageant. Keiara competed as Miss Charleston Southern University and is currently a student in the Howard University College of Dentistry. McKayla competed as Miss Grand Strand, and she is an elementary school teacher.

Melanie Wyndham ’11 .............................Marrington Elementary School

TEACHER OF THE YEAR-Semifinalist Amanda Wanninger MEd ’17..................Bowen’s Corner Ashley Boone MEd ’20............................Daniel Island School

SCATE Student Teacher of the Year for 2022 Ashley Mae Gregg ’22

2022 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award Winner Dr. April Sanders ’12, ’16, ’21 If you are a College of Education graduate and were honored in the past year, let us know and we will include in the next CSU Magazine, magazine@csuniv.edu.

36 CSU magazine

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

SCHOOL TIES TO SUBMIT YOUR BABY BUCS PHOTO:

Baby Bucs 1

3

TO ORDER A SHIRT: CSU graduates, if you have a child under the age of 2, let us know at alumni@csuniv.edu, and we will send a CSU onesie for your Baby Buc. The shirt is free; all we ask in return is a photo of your Baby Buc for the magazine.

2

4

1. Peyton Albertson, daughter of Nicole Zittinger Albertson ’19 and Andrew Albertson, a CSU employee 2. Henry Sizemore, son of Hillary Rayburn Sizemore ’08 and Marcus Sizemore 3. Judson Daniel Clark, son of Sunni Clark ’08 MEd and Darren Clark, a CSU employee

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

Email a picture of your Baby Buc wearing the shirt to alumni@csuniv.edu. Pictures should be 800kb or larger in size, jpg format.

5

4. John “Jack” Anders Cobb, son of Rachelle Rea Cobb ’14 and Devin Cobb 5. Nora Conley, daughter of Taylor Conley ’17

CSU magazine 37

SCHOOL TIES

Alumni Award Winners 2023 Compiled by Denise Dawson ’93

Front row: Jaimee Salone, Sarah Williams, and Dot Scott, back row: John Muller, Tod Petty, Hal Adams, President Keith Faulkner, and David Weiss.

Photo by Ty Cornett

Harold H. Adams Jr. ’69 Distinguished Alumnus Hal was elected vice chair of the CSU Board of Visitors when it was created in 1988. CSU awarded him an honorary Doctor of Business Administration in 2000.

Hal started his career in property-casualty insurance and began to notice other insurers offering programs to particular business segments and professions. A couple of random phone calls seeking insurance to cover equipment for international medical clinics led him to reach out to the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

38 CSU magazine

who confirmed a need but said no one had created such a product. After several years of research and working with his contacts in insurance, Hal not only created the niche but also added related services such as emergency medical evacuation, crisis management, and delivery of prescription drugs to remote areas at greatly reduced costs. Creating insurance plans for foreign missionaries, and insuring personal property against such things as floods, fire, theft, etc., is also part of his business model. Hal recently donated $500,000 to establish the Royce W. Breland, Jr./Harold H. Adams, Jr. Endowed Chair of Business in the Nielsen College of Business.

Tod Petty ’83 Outstanding Alumnus Tod reflects honor on the university for exceptional achievement in the field of senior care. He draws upon his development and operations skills honed over a 30-year career within the senior housing industry.

His experience encompasses all levels of senior housing from independent living through assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. In this role, Tod focuses on the business development of third-party management services and forging relationships with investors. Early in his career he

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

SCHOOL TIES

founded Augusta Respiratory Care, which he subsequently sold to Lincare Holdings.

From there, he joined various health-related organizations serving in executive-level positions in business development and operations. Ultimately, he became president and COO of Thrive Senior Living, a high-growth operator of assisted living and memory care communities. Over a nine-year period, he led the company through an era of extensive development with the addition of 29 new senior communities.

Prior to joining Lloyd Jones, he served as president and CEO of Mainstay Senior Living, which offers innovative housing solutions from independent living through skilled nursing. Altogether, he has managed over 50 senior housing communities of varying levels of care.

Tod is a certified director of assisted living, and a Senior Living Certification Commission member. He has served Lloyd Jones since 2019, where he laid the foundation of ownership’s vision in creating a senior housing operating company. Tod partnered with talented team members to establish a brand, recruit industry leaders, construct an operating platform, raise equity, and acquire communities.

The team created a senior housing portfolio of 12 communities and supported new development, third party management, and the predevelopment of a hotel conversion.

Jaimee Salone ’16 Outstanding Young Alumnus Since graduating, Jaimee has coached the Color Guard for the CSU Pride of the Lowcountry Marching Band, consulted on marketing strategies for small businesses and religious groups, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in advertising and marketing and certification in project management. She leads the service pillar of the Charleston Young Professionals Steering Committee, volunteers on the Regional Housing Committee through the Charleston Metro Chamber, volunteers with community and special events at Joint Base Charleston and is a big sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry. She is an active member of Delta Iota Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and is training to transition into executive positions at the local and

Fall 2023, vol.33 no.3

regional levels. She worked as the Information/Graphics Specialist for the 628th Force Support Squadron (628 FSS) on Joint Base Charleston, supporting active-duty military members, retirees, and dependents. Transitioning to the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce allowed her to develop digital marketing and project management skills, engage with over 1,600 organizations, 160,000 members, and elected officials, and creatively communicate the valuable work the Chamber is doing for our region. She is now the global marketing communications specialist for Ingevity, managing the implementation and execution of marketing communications strategies for their industrial specialties and oil field businesses.

Dorothy “Dot” Scott ’84 Alumnus Community Service Dot headed the Charleston Branch of the NAACP for over 10 years. She is active in her childhood church, Zion United Methodist Church. She embraces what she calls a “lifelong commitment” to fair and equal treatment in the workforce. Dot became a member of the NAACP in the early 80s and has been working for the organization ever since. She was honored as the Outstanding NAACP Branch President in 2009. She was selected to serve on the North Charleston Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Community-Police Relations in 2017 by Mayor Keith Summey. Besides her work for the NAACP, since 2011, Dot has been the owner/operator of PCAAN, Inc. Real Estate in North Charleston. In 2021, she was named a Hall of Fame Inductee (50 Most Influential) by the Charleston Business Journal.

John Muller ’05 University Mission While a student at CSU, John gave his life to the Lord and surrendered to a call to ministry. After graduation, John joined the staff with Campus Outreach. In this role, he led multiple Bible studies that led to the salvation of many CSU students. Later, John began work at Summit Church in North Carolina, where he still serves as the campus pastor of the Capital Hill Campus and the Wake County area director. When

John began pastoring this campus they had around 1,000 weekly attendees, now they have over 3,500. John models what it looks like to faithfully love and shepherd people of God. He has poured his life out into others to help raise them up to serve the Lord. He is reliable and trustworthy. He cares deeply about people and shows it in words and actions. John is married to Ashley, and they have one son, Conrad.

David Weiss ’03, Alumni Service David has devoted numerous hours to serving and promoting Charleston Southern University. He is a former director of alumni engagement at CSU. After leaving his position as alumni director, David served on the Alumni Board for many years, including all the officer positions. He recently rotated off the Board; however, he is still advocating for CSU. David is a marketing agent with Southern Mutual Church Insurance Company of S.C., and holds the Certified Insurance Service Representative designation. He is licensed as an insurance agent in South Carolina and Georgia. He and his wife, Stephanie, have three children: Cameron, 14, Kennedy, 7, and Beckham, 2.

Sarah Williams ’73 Military Service Sarah served for 27 years in the U.S. Army achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the Army Nurse Corp while working jointly for the VA when not on active duty. Her years of service include serving during the Vietnam era and Desert Shield/Storm. Including her service in the Army, Sarah retired with 42 years of federal service. Her service included serving as the associate director of patient services at the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System. While there, Sarah served as the interim medical center director when the facility transitioned to a new director. Sarah also served as the associate director patient care services/executive nurse at the W.G. “Bill” Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina.

CSU magazine 39

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