CSU Magazine fall/winter 2025

Lessons Learned in MBA Fueling Goins ’13 YouTube Career PAGE 6

Engineering Students Create Stove for Rural Nicaraguans PAGE 20

Jason Caron ’94 Finding Success on Senior PGA Tour PAGE 33

contents

Handyman Hal

Class of 2025 Graduates

PAGE 6

PAGE 18

magazine volume 35 I number 2 I Fall/Winter 2025

On the cover: A pivot during Covid resulted in Shawn Goins ’13 MBA launching a new career.

You might also know him as Handyman Hal. Photo by Dan Steffy Bob Durand DESIGN

EDITORIAL STAFF:

CONTRIBUTORS:

Jan Joslin ’82, Editor | Content Director

Susan Archer

McKenzie Barker, MBA, ’24 MS, Content Strategist

CSU Athletics Communications

Miranda Briscoe, Creative Director

Kaia Thomson Barnes ’24, ’25 MBA

Zoe Ganiszewski ’24, Junior Graphic Designer Jenna Johnson ’21 MBA, Executive Director of Marketing & Communication Dan Steffy ’21, Multimedia Specialist Daniel Taylor ’22, Lead Graphic Designer

Marketing and Communication for alumni and friends of Charleston Southern University.

Contact us: magazine@csuniv.edu Address changes: csudevelopment@csuniv.edu

Dr. Joel Chapman Coach Thomas Cousins

Logan Worley ’25, Intern

CSU Development

Kaylee Allen ’26, Intern

Rev. Monty Self

© 2025 Charleston Southern University

CSU Magazine is published by the Office of

Allison Bryant ’25

Design and layout by: Bob Durand Design facebook.com/bobduranddesign Printed by: Knight Printing and Graphics knightpandg.com

Former Men’s Golfer on Senior PGA Tour PAGE 33

Debut of Play Honoring Anita Zucker’s Legacy PAGE 26

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN BLVD. 4 President’s message 6 Handyman Hal’s YouTube Sensation 10 CSU under construction 12 Clay target team has first national champion

13 The Sounds of Music continue 13 Johnson celebrates 102nd birthday 14 How to: Support others struggling with stress

15 Pastoral crisis intervention certifications

16 Grummer named E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year 16 Celebrating Limitless campaign 17 President’s Cup breaks record

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

ACADEMIC DR.

BUC CLUB BLVD.

18 Teasdel, class of 2005, challenges graduates 19 Leach receives Excellence in

30 Calhoun named Scholar-Athlete of Year 31 Tennis wins fourth Big South 32 Smith named NCAA RBI champion 32 Clark new head golf coach 33 First Pitch with Ralph Ciabatteri 33 Caron having solid Senior PGA tour

Teaching award

20 Now We’re Cooking! Engineering senior project 22 Preprofessional health studies: preparing for future 22 Engineering qualifies for ABET accreditation 23 DPT hosts Hustle for Heroes 24 Three staff members retire 24 Program accreditations 24 Huggins leaves estate to CSU 25 Lafayette Trail historic marker unveiled 26 Play honors Anita Zucker’s family 28 Yue awarded National Science Foundation grant 29 CSU serves military students 29 Parker coauthors book on God’s love

ALUMNI DR. 32 Class notes 35 Legacy of service 37 In memory 37 Bucky goes to first day of school 38 Baby Bucs 40 Alumni question answered 40 Childhood dream comes true

CSU magazine 1

Still Waters For 61 years, students have found comfort and strength beside the still waters of the Reflection Pond. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters” Psalm 23:1-2.

Photo by Dan Steffy

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Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

President’s message

CSU leveling up for the future

By B. Keith Faulkner

A

s I was walking through Reagan National Airport on a recent business trip, I heard someone calling repeatedly, “President Faulkner, President Faulkner.” I looked up to see a CSU aeronautics alumnus striding toward me.

The young pilot was about to leave on the longest flight he had flown in his career – Washington to Miami. He had nothing but rave reviews about the CSU aeronautics program.

I shared this story at the September 9 open house for the completion of the Aeronautics and Engineering building. This event was just one of many we have enjoyed lately on campus and beyond. CSU is leveling up. We are taking a deep look at where we are and where we want to be.

We are also rejoicing that enrollment has surpassed 4,000 students for the first time in our history. The increase in students also brings an increase in services necessary to accommodate their needs and ensure success and safety for each student.

We are approaching the final months of our current strategic plan, so as a campus we have been looking ahead, dreaming, and planning about what the future of Charleston Southern will look like. It’s not just about setting goals—it is about casting vision.

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

— Isaiah 60:1

President B. Keith Faulkner | Photo by Ty Cornett

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Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

We welcomed the Class of 2019 to campus in August | Photo by Dan Steffy

We have a taskforce working on our future plan, a future where we live out our mission even more fully. Our God is bigger than any dream we may have, and if we are faithfully in His will, He will equip us to glorify Him through our hard work.

• Construction of two parking lots: one new lot next to the Quads, and an expansion of the Rivers Library lot.

If you haven’t been on campus in recent days, here is a sample of recent projects:

• Relocation of multiple offices across campus

• Completion of the Aeronautics and Engineering building, which also contains a state-of-the-art cell genetics lab.

• • • •

• Phase 1 of the Rivers Library lower-level update – to be completed over Christmas break.

Isaiah 60:1 tells us, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Arise and shine was a call Complete renovation of the Buc Stop. to recognize God’s presence in the Israelites’ Complete renovation of the Hunter Center. lives. He also calls us to live in a way that reveals His glory to others, so that through us, Complete renovation of the Residence they might see Him. Life area in the Student Center So, what does rising and shining have to do New bleachers installed at the soccer field. with the Charleston Southern family? I beComplete renovation of the fourth floor of lieve a renewal is upon us. A season of blessing abounds. The projects we completed this sumthe Whitfield Stadium Center. mer are outward manifestations of this season,

• Complete renovation of the dining facilities and a renaming of the facility to The Caf. •

• Construction of a new residence hall being built beside Mead Hall with a completion date of fall 2026.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

but they are done—not for our glory—but for His. This is the key for each of us and one that we must remember. We want to use His light to attract the best and brightest students, educate them well, expose them to the glory of Jesus Christ, and graduate them to go out to lead lives of significance.

We want to inspire you, our alumni, donors, students, and employees, to be the best in your field, to be lifelong learners, and to integrate your faith into your profession. We want to spark an innovative spirit in you to solve problems, reach for the stars, and use your God-given creative minds to improve our world. And we want you to impact the world for Christ realizing that you reflect Him in all you say and do.

Together, walking by faith, He will help us see over the horizon to recognize opportunities and avoid obstacles.

We look forward to sharing all that we have learned in recent days and invite you to join us as we launch a new strategic plan which will guide us in the years ahead.

Be Encouraged, for our future is bright!

CSU magazine 5

Handyman Hal talks individually with kids who attend his Meet and Greets around the country.

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Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Meet

Youth Pastor to YouTube Sensation

By Jenna Johnson | Photos provided by handyman-hal.com

T

he year 2020 was a momentous year for our world— shaking every level of comfort and habit with fear, wonder, and pivots. For Shawn Goins ’13 MBA, it was the beginning of something bigger than he ever imagined.

A PK Pivot Like most pastor’s kids (or PKs), Goins grew up in the church, loved Jesus, and faced the question, “Is ministry for me?” All wonder, some wander, and some walk in the footsteps of their parents. For Goins, he charted the path into a Christian studies bachelor’s degree at Emmanuel College but felt his internal compass break by the weight of hurtful experiences in the church. He sought a new path by switching to business administration—something Goins felt like he could apply to endless career opportunities.

Upon graduation, he started a role in hospitality for a golf club near Lake Hartwell in Georgia. For four years, he worked his way up the ladder and faced a difficult season where he raised ethical concerns with his employer.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Frustrated, he decided to leave and pursue his master’s degree. He moved back home to South Carolina.

He entered the MBA program at Charleston Southern University in 2011. He worked as a bookkeeper at Piggly Wiggly (later Harris Teeter at Northbridge) by day and hunkered down for classes on campus at night.

“While I was working at Harris Teeter, it was great. It was fun. It was a job,” Goins said. Even after he graduated with his MBA in 2013, he was working his way up in the grocery company.

All was well, but then in 2016 he got a call out-of-theblue from Pastor Benji Wham of The Refuge Church in Murrells Inlet.

Goins recounted the conversation: “He said, ‘Hey man, I want you to be my youth pastor.’ Really? Where is this coming from? So, I had to make the big decision of whether I wanted to quit this job and move--I don’t know that you can do both.”

This was a literal call back onto the path to ministry. He stepped out on faith and believed God would make a way.

CSU magazine 7

The Path to Handyman Hal Accepting the call to quit a stable job and enter the world of ministry is not always easy. For Goins, he knew this decision would require becoming bivocational. He worked parttime for Life Springs, but it wasn’t paying the bills. Then a gentleman from the church stepped in to offer Goins a fulltime job—Mike Bell with Mike Bell Construction.

Goins had no prior construction experience. “I said, ‘Well, what all do I need?’ And he’s like, ‘Well, you need your tool belt and a hammer.’ I get there the first day, and one of his workers looks at my hammer and is like, ‘What is this? This is a girl hammer. This is what you need. You need a man hammer.’” He added, “It was in the middle of the summer, and you had to have steel-toed boots on, long pants, t-shirt, construction vest, harnesses, a hard hat—in the broad summer on the beach. I stuck it out and became the lead trim carpenter running my own crew.”

While working full-time in construction and serving as a youth pastor, he also stepped up to help lead worship after their worship leader stepped down. A few years later, the children’s pastor left, and Pastor Benji once again asked Goins for help. As a compromise, Goins stepped back from music ministry to take on the roles of both youth pastor and interim children’s pastor in January 2020.

At the time, he was using free content from NewSpring Church for the children’s ministry. Goins really enjoyed the interactive videos, but he wanted to offer something more. He decided to create a character called Hal. The Birth of Hal “I put on an old camp t-shirt, my nasty gray hard hat and some gardening gloves, and my vest. I just put a white little ‘my name is’ sticker on. I’m like a handyman—I thought, ‘Now that sounds kind of catchy,’” Goins said.

He got into character one Sunday as this new Handyman Hal for the children in his church—and then the world shut down. The COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on anything normal for businesses, schools, and churches.

Goins was determined to bring the Word of God to the kids at his church through fun, engaging ways.

“My motto the whole entire time is that this is a God thing. It’s not me.”

— Shawn Goins

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He thought, “Maybe we can air a 30-minute video prior to the service video.” His friend, Jason Wheeler—who attended CSU before moving on to Savannah College of Art & Design to pursue a degree in film—helped Goins with video work and got him acquainted with the world of YouTube.

“We started in his backyard because you couldn’t do anything during COVID—couldn’t go nowhere,” Goins reflected. “We took the swing set that was already in his backyard—took it apart and put it back together. Took his daughter’s playhouse apart and put it back together. And the Power Wheels Jeep—yeah, took it apart and put it back together. We made three videos up front and posted them on a channel Jason already had.” The YouTube channel was previously monetized due to a viral dog video from a few years before.

Their next video idea—a walkthrough of a carwash.

“That’s the only thing kids really could do for entertainment during COVID is go to car washes. We didn’t know that until January of 2021 when that video kind of went nuts overnight. We had 120,000 views in one night.”

That same video now has 16 million views—and counting.

The business of Handyman Hal

By September of 2021, Goins quit his job in construction to manage the Handyman Hal brand and continue his role as youth and children’s pastor at The Refuge.

He remained as interim children’s pastor until they found a replacement in 2024. Now, he is back in his role as youth pastor while balancing life as Handyman Hal. As of 2025, Handyman Hal has more than 600 original videos, workshop channel, music channel, Spanish channel, podcasts, and merchandise in an online store. Currently, Handyman Hal has nearly 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube.

His success is a testimony to God’s providence. “I started this because I love ministry. When this started taking off, I asked, ‘God, are we going in a different direction here? Am I making a stupid decision to get back out of ministry and into the worldly stuff? God, if this is what you want, the sky’s the limit. Take me wherever you want to. This is not going to be a me thing.’”

Goins credits what he learned during his MBA program for helping him manage this rapidly growing business. “It’s really taught me how to manage all of these funds and how to think creatively. In the business of social media, you have to think outside of the box, critically or very strategically,” he explained. “We’re constantly having to do research; constantly having to find out about social trends. And now we’re in the process of hiring staff.”

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Follow on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@HandymanHal

In addition to Goins and Wheeler, Wheeler’s wife assists with clerical and administrative work. They also have a music producer in Ireland—Chris Kirby—who writes the songs for the brand. Kirby’s wife helps with social media content creation.

This year, Handyman Hal was on tour throughout the United States doing meet and greets with up to 1,200 people at each event. They also kicked off AwesomeCon last summer where attendees met all the characters in the Handyman Hal brand like Awesome Alex, Safety Cone Sally, and Cool Chris.

“The kids would just come up to me and say, ‘I love Jesus! What’s your favorite Bible verse? What’s your favorite Bible story?” Goins shared that one kid really hit his heart at one recent meet and greet. “I asked him, ‘Where are you from?’ And the kid looks right at me and said, ‘Well, I don’t know Jesus.’ It startled me, and I had to walk away for a moment—kid’s makin’ me cry.”

As the Handyman Hal team continues to create content, Goins said his team’s goal is that whatever they produce is something that an adult and kid can watch together. “We want to make sure our content is family-friendly, not just kid-friendly.”

Videos have covered subjects like sod farming, lawn mowing, haircuts, and, of course, construction equipment.

“Parents will always say, ‘You have really created and sparked imagination in my child. My kid would never have loved the lawnmower, but he loves it now. My kid hates going to the barbershop and getting a haircut—now he doesn’t.’”

The future is bright for the brand. The Handyman Hal team recently attended a 10-year celebration in New York for YouTube Kids as a top influencer. Next up, Goins plans to add a marketing position to assist with cross promotions, expand content creation, and prepare for a Handyman Hal Live tour in 2026.

With tremendous success and growth, Handyman Hal AKA Shawn Goins remains humble with his focus on the Lord as his brand has been used as a platform for clean, informative, fun content.

To be a Christian social influencer, Goins shares that you don’t have to follow after worldly things to make it big. “My motto the whole entire time is that this is a God thing. It’s not me.”

Check out upcoming tour dates and merch at Handyman-Hal.com

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU magazine 9

CSU under construction

Photos by Dan Steffy

New residence hall construction has begun between Mead Hall and the expanded library parking lot.

New Residence Hall p Construction has begun on a new residence hall that will mirror Mead Hall. The project is on track to open in fall 2026.

Flight School Ribbon Cutting u CSU held an official ribbon cutting ceremony May 5 at the Summerville Airport in celebration of its purchase of Chucktown Flight Training, LLC. President B. Keith Faulkner said, “This is a historic day for Charleston Southern and for our burgeoning aeronautics program,” as a plane bearing the CSU aeronautics patch of Semper Altius was visible behind him.

Lloyd Richardson, chair of the aeronautics program and a U.S. Air Force veteran, said, “We have had many people tell us they see something different in our CSU graduates – character. CSU creates men and women of character and attracts men and women of character.” He said the faculty has pledged a commitment of safety in all they do to keep students safe.

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All of the aeronautics faculty members are veteran military pilots.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

April Clark ‘02 helped Aramark open the renovated dining facility.

Ribbon cutting for The Caf.

A cell genetics lab is also a part of the Aeronautics and Engineering building.

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t Dining Renovations at The Caf CSU officials and Aramark representatives were on hand Aug. 18 for a ribbon cutting celebrating the renovations and the unveiling of a new name for the CSU dining hall.

The updated space features a streamlined entry, a revamp of the serving stations, new flooring and furniture, and structural changes for more efficient service.

April Clark, Aramark’s vice president of operations for the Southeast region, and a 2002 graduate of Charleston Southern, said, “I had the privilege of supporting Ben Davidson, CSU Aramark general manager, and celebrating my alma mater to open a new dining hall to enhance the student experience. This is a place where students can gather, connect, and build community.”

The university ran a naming contest with current students and alumni. The Caf, the name students have called the space for decades, was the winner by a landslide. The Buc Stop also received a makeover upstairs.

Aeronautics and Engineering building q An open house for the completion of the Aeronautics and Engineering building on Sept.

9 showcased the growing programs. Construction began on the building in 2019 but was soon interrupted by Covid. The engineering program took possession of the finished portion of the building, and the completed building was unveiled at the open house.

Guests were invited to try out the flight simulators.

CSU magazine 11

Clay Target Team has first national champion y Jan Joslin | Photos provided B

T

his spring the CSU Clay Target Team celebrated two milestones: the first student recruited for the team graduated, and a member of the team won a national championship for the first time.

Freshman Ella Grace Harrison won first place in Class C American Trap at the Association of College Unions International/ Scholastic Clay Target Program 2025 College Nationals in San Antonio, Texas.

Reagan Martin was the first person signed to the newly formed Clay Target Team four years ago by Founding Coach Thomas Cousins. Martin graduated in May with a major in biology with a wildlife emphasis. In the ACUI/SCTP college nationals in San Antonio, he finished in the top 20% overall in Classic All Around.

Cousins said, “I had hoped when we started the team that we could compete with the schools we shoot against. In building the program, we had a few years of just learning and kind of taking our lumps, but now we feel as if we can compete with just about anyone on a national stage.” The CSU Team finished tied for 12th out of 21 teams in Division 3 at nationals.

“The traveling experiences were my favorite. I was able to compete in Nevada, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.

The sights, stories, and fellowship will not be forgotten.”

— Reagan Martin

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Freshman Evelyn Elkins also saw success at the college nationals shooting a 90 in sporting clays and finished second (class B), shooting a 95 in trap, tied for first (class B), and finishing third in the nation in her Division in Classic All Around – combined skeet, trap and sporting clays.

Harrison said her favorite memories from the year came at the national championship, “I was able to shoot my first ever 25 in a row in trap and won first place in C Class women’s trap. I was also surrounded by the best teammates and coaches having fun the whole time we were there.”

Martin said, “The traveling experiences were my favorite. I was able to compete in Nevada, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. The sights, stories, and fellowship will not be forgotten. The trophies won were rewarding because they were a result of something that I was a part of from the beginning.”

Cousins emphasizes the commitment students on the Clay Target Team make. When he coached at the high school level, the season ran from November to March. College seasons run from September through April. “It is a big commitment for the students to be a part of a season that is so long,” said Cousins.

Team members contribute their success to having a family with their teammates. Martin said it is important to draw near to the Lord and remember that success is earned, not given.

Harrison said, “I try to stay on top of my class work, so then I can focus on the tournament and keep up with grades.” She says sporting clays is a mental game, and you must make sure your education comes first.

She said, “The 2024-2025 season was my first season with CSU, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My teammates and coaches made this season to be some of the best memories I will forever keep, and at dinner after each tournament there was never a moment we weren’t laughing. I am looking forward to getting back to shooting and being around the team in our 2025-2026 season.”

Reagan Martin

Ella Grace Harrison

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Dr. Jennifer Luiken, Rafaella Connolly, and Lauryn Kay. Photo provided

The sounds of music continue

By Jan Joslin

D

r. Jennifer Luiken, professor of music, was reunited with former student Lauryn Kay ’15 in Charleston Stage’s production of The Sound of Music at historic Dock Street Theater in Charleston. Luiken played the Mother Abbess and said the experience was a full circle moment for her. She taught, directed, and conducted The Sound of Music

at CSU two years ago, so being on the performance side was fun. Kay played one of the nuns in the musical. “It’s been a real joy to share the stage with her,” said Luiken. Kay is the senior director of development and major gifts for Charleston Stage and holds a master’s in vocal performance from the University of Florida.

Lauryn Kay ’15, far left, and Dr. Jennifer Luiken, far right, performed in The Sound of Music with Charleston Stage. Photo by Reese Moore Photography.

Kay said, “Performing alongside my former professor, Dr. Luiken, in The Sound of Music was an experience that felt truly full circle. She was my voice instructor for five years, from 2011–2016, and during that time she helped me discover my voice, fall in love with classical music, and ultimately change my career path from marketing to music. She was more than just a teacher to me; she was a mentor and a second mother, creating a safe space where I could grow, express myself, and learn how to communicate through singing. Some of my favorite moments weren’t even on stage, but in the dressing room and backstage, where we laughed about old memories and caught up after so many years. What made the experience even more meaningful was that my own voice student, Rafaella Connolly, was part of the cast as Louisa von Trapp. To stand between the person who first nurtured my love of music and the student I now have the privilege to teach was incredibly moving. I will always carry immense gratitude for this opportunity and the ways it brought my journey as both a student and a teacher together in such a beautiful way.

Johnson celebrates 102nd birthday

By Jan Joslin | Photo provided

F

ormer President Jairy Hunter and Sissy Hunter recently visited Vera Johnson, professor emerita of business administration, to celebrate her 102nd birthday.

Johnson was one of the first people hired when the university started as Baptist College at Charleston. She worked at BCC/CSU from 1965-2009. She served the first president, Dr. John Hamrick, as a building consultant and worked on the plans for many of the original campus buildings.

The university awarded her an honorary doctor of business administration in 1994.

She was instrumental in helping Hunter work with her sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Robert Condra, to secure funding for the front gates, front signs, and the brick walkway around the Reflection Pond.

The Condras’ Robert and Evelyn Condra Foundation funded The Vera F. Johnson Scholarship in addition to the funding for campus beautification.

Vera Johnson and Dr. Jairy and Sissy Hunter.

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CSU magazine 13

How to: Support others struggling with stress

By Monty Self | Photo by Dan Steffy

H

ave you got a minute?” I have heard those words thousands of times and each time two things happen. First, it is always more than one minute, and second, the speaker is going to share a heart-wrenching struggle or dilemma. Regardless of the topic, how you respond reveals your inner character, and how you respond can impact the future of the relationship.

While most people will not go into professional ministry or become a counselor, all of us will have relationships with romantic partners, friends, and coworkers, and we will all at some point be called to respond to someone who is struggling with grief, trauma, or relationship discontent. Most crisis response moments do not involve major trauma. They are everyday challenges, but the wisdom and skills of those who respond to disasters provide a helpful

framework for connecting and supporting the people of our everyday lives. Experts in crisis response often refer to these skills as Psychological First Aid. PFA at a minimum is a strategic approach to supporting an individual and allowing them to express their challenges and frustrations while enabling them to embrace healthy coping mechanisms. Most crises are either because an individual is struggling with something

The CSU campus ministries team supports the campus in numerous ways.

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they have never experienced before, or all their coping skills have become overwhelmed leaving them with a feeling of hopelessness. This is where PFA comes in. It nudges the individual back to more stable ground.

When responding to those in crisis, one wants to consider the wisdom of PFA by employing five steps of support.

FIVE STEPS OF SUPPORT 1. Acknowledge that the individual is

reaching out for help and establish some agreed upon expectations. If you are running to class or between meetings, pick a time you can sit down in a calm place and talk. Setting expectations as to what you can and cannot do or agreeing upon a time where the two of you can sit down and talk shows that you are taking the individual’s stress and concern seriously. If you cannot promise confidentiality because of your organization’s policy or because you are a mandatory reporter, be open and honest about your limitations. I often tell people up front that I do not know if I can help, but I am willing to listen and do my best to point them in a direction where they can find help.

2. Confirm that the individual feels

safe. You may not even know what they want to talk about or why, but the conversation is always better if the individual feels safe and shares as they feel comfortable. Blocking out stimulants that might generate more stress is essential. A safe place has the power to assist in reducing tension that allows the individual to focus better on what has just happened.

Establishing a sense of safety is a process that can take time, but it is an important step.

People are more likely to share if they feel safe in a nonjudgmental environment.

3. Active listening is a skill and like all

skills it must be learned, developed, and practiced. The third step is often the most difficult because most people are not good listeners. The use of simple open-ended questions, like “what is going on?” or “Wow!

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

What was your reaction?” helps the individual express more of what they are experiencing.

Closed questions like “Did you see the accident?” only elicit a yes or no response and are less likely to move the conversation forward.

Reflective confirmatory statements are helpful as well. Saying “you sound really frustrated” or “I hear grief and pain in your voice” shows that you are listening and are truly empathetic.

These types of statement are helpful in allowing the individual to be able to confirm what they are feeling.

4. Validate feelings. Step four is linked

to listening and calls for the validation of emotions and feelings. After you have a firm grasp as to what the individual is struggling with and they have expressed their emotions as much as they are able or willing to at that moment, it is very powerful to validate these feelings. Validating feelings is not the same as agreeing with actions. Emotions and feelings belong to the person who is experiencing them, and they need to know that those emotions are ok and even natural.

5. If appropriate, remind people that

they have internal strength and existing personal support networks which they can use to promote resiliency. After validating how people feel, I like to redirect the conversation to focus upon what has worked for them and who they have relied upon in the past. I often ask, “have you ever experienced this before” or “what helped you when that happened.” This approach allows the individual to generate a list of what works and it reminds them that they have skills, internal strength, and personal resources.

The process of crisis intervention and Psychological First Aid is very different than psychotherapy or traditional counseling. It is very similar to the skills used by life coaches.

It is not appropriate to do therapy with the individual nor is it your responsibility to solve their problem. You are simply there to help sustain them while nudging them back to stability, resilience, and other resources.

CSU and ICISF offering certification in pastoral crisis intervention

By Jan Joslin The value of psychological crisis intervention principles offered with a spiritual or religious context has long been recognized. Recognizing these benefits, the CSU Center for Chaplaincy has partnered with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation to offer certification in Pastoral Crisis Intervention.

Chaplain Monty Self, director of the CSU Center for Chaplaincy, said CSU and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation are pleased to offer the only universitybased certification for pastoral crisis intervention.

CSU serves as the credentialing agent for the continuing education units, also known as CEUs. Those successfully completing the certification will be certified for five years. At the end of five years, they may take a recertification exam.

Self said, “Pastors and others such as chaplains and pastoral counselors working in the faith-based tradition should consider certification to aid them in supporting people dealing with emergencies, illness, and other crises.”

Those seeking certification will take an online two-day class with ICISF and then take the Certification of Pastoral Crisis Intervention Examination, which is sponsored and endorsed by CSU. To get started with the class, visit icisf.org/pastoral-crisis-interventionpsychological-and-faith-based-crisis-intervention.

CSU magazine 15

Grummer named E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year

By Jan Joslin | Photo by Dan Steffy

Celebrating the Limitless campaign

By CSU Office of Development

W

Daniel Grummer

D

aniel Grummer, executive director of facilities and event services, was named the E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Year is selected from the 12 employees nominated as E.P.I.C. employees throughout the academic year.

Grummer has been at CSU since 2022 in the facilities office. He previously worked for CSU from 2012-2019 in event services. He was facilities manager for The Charleston Gaillard Center in between.

Fellow employees said about Grummer in nominating him: • Daniel goes the extra mile in his role by thinking not only of what a good short-term fix would be, but how we can do better in the long-term.

• On more than one occasion, I have watched as he sweeps, cleans, fixes, and ensures a project is done the right way. As a director, he could tell others to do this kind of work

16 CSU magazine

or even tell people it’s not possible. But that’s not who he is.

• He always looks at the big picture and how he can improve processes to be more efficient and beneficial for the campus community. He is willing to look at the budget in a way that smartly invests in our facilities rather than taking the cheap way out.

• Daniel looks for innovative processes that help progress our university forward. Take all of this and wrap it up in a nice bow with the fact that he treats others with respect and the kindness of Jesus.

President B. Keith Faulkner said, “Being the E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year means you go the extra mile for everybody, have a passion for what we are doing at CSU, and are innovative in the way you approach your job and fulfilling CSU’s mission. Daniel goes above and beyond. He is always a step ahead of me and has a passion for CSU.”

ith a new academic year and a growing student body, the Office of Development is strategizing how best to meet the university’s needs in the coming years.

CSU is officially sunsetting the Limitless campaign. When we launched the Limitless campaign in 2021, we stepped out in faith with a bold vision to transform CSU—strengthening our campus, expanding student opportunity, and affirming our belief in a limitless God and a limitless future.

Thanks to your generosity, Limitless yielded more than $21 million in gifts and commitments. Together, we exceeded our scholarship target of $7.5 million in record time, launched transformational student enhancements, and raised more for a single capital project—a convocation center—than ever before, with nearly $10 million committed, including two recent commitments, totaling $3 million from our partner Aramark and an anonymous donor.

With the future in mind, we are launching a singularly focused campaign for a convocation center, with a goal of raising $50 million to complete it. A new strategic plan is being shaped over the next several months, and on the heels of a recently approved master plan, many exciting initiatives are on the horizon.

A convocation center is the Board of Trustees’ highest capital priority and is a transformational project that will provide the physical foundation for CSU’s next season of growth as a vital space for ministry, community, and athletics.

Stay tuned for information about the new CSU Society. All giving societies are being consolidated into one and rebranded.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

President’s Cup breaks record

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ith an assigned email address of caddy@csuniv.edu, it is unsurprising that Corey Addy ’17, director of development, led the President’s Cup Golf Tournament to a fundraising total of more than $100,000 this fall.

Addy said, “Our success was due to our amazing sponsors stepping up. We couldn’t have done it without our key sponsors such as Huntington National Bank, presenting sponsor, Trident Construction, Carolina Chillers, United Bank, Enterprise Mobility, and more.” The 2025 golf tournament raised the most of any golf tournament in CSU history. All money raised goes to student scholarships.

ABOVE: President B. Keith Faulkner, on right, thanks teams for participating in the President’s Cup. RIGHT: Corey Addy ’17, director of development, organized the annual golf tournament.

Photos by Dan Steffy

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Corey Addy

CSU magazine 17

Teasdel, class of 2005, challenges graduates

By Jan Joslin | Photos by CSU Marketing & Communication

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harleston Southern celebrated commencement with a service for master’s and doctoral students on May 8, and for those receiving bachelor’s degrees on May 9. More than 460 students received diplomas.

A baseball game called for lightning allowed nine Buccaneers to receive their diplomas in a surprise ceremony pulled together after commencement ended.

Ashely Teasdel ’05, deputy secretary of commerce for the state of South Carolina, was the guest speaker. She joined S.C. Commerce

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in 2015 as the director of the business services division after spending nearly a decade in the banking sector.

Teasdel said, “What a joy and profound honor to stand before you today—to be asked to deliver a commencement address, especially at the university that grounded me.”

Referencing the book of Esther in the Bible, Teasdel said, “For such a time as this, Esther was unexpectedly placed in a place of influence.” Esther arrived at a new responsibility. Teasdel told the graduates, “You have

Ashely Teasdel

learned to persevere; the college experience is a masterclass in adaptability.”

Teasdel shared five lessons she has learned on her own journey: 1. Courage will rarely feel like confidence. It often looks like standing alone. Conviction must speak louder than fear, especially when silence feels safer than truth.

ABOVE: Friends and family celebrate graduates.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Leach receives Excellence in Teaching award

By CSU Academics

A surprise proposal capped off commencement for one graduate.

2. Adversity will indeed shape you—let it refine you, not define you. Transformation lives in the tension between what is and what could be.

That tension is often the making of what’s next.

3. Leadership requires more than excellence, it requires self-awareness. It’s not about being the smartest or loudest in the room, but the most grounded. Know your blind spots. Manage your ego. Seek counsel.

4. You won’t always feel ready—but step anyway. Purpose doesn’t wait for perfect timing.

Most growth happens not before the leap, but in the leap.

Dan Leach, assistant professor of English, received the 2025 CSU Excellence in Teaching Award.

Leach holds a Master of Fine Arts in fiction from Warren Wilson College and a Master of Arts in English from Clemson University. A member of the Charleston Southern faculty since 2020, he specializes in creative writing and teaches workshops in both poetry and fiction. With his trademark blend of Socratic dialogue and humor, he enjoys helping students discover and develop their voices in both academic and creative writing.

Outside the classroom Leach supervises the undergraduate literary magazine, Olive & Ash, and oversees the university’s Writers Guild, a club that meets weekly for the purpose of sharing and critiquing writing across genres.

Leach has two collections of short fiction published and is the 2023 recipient of Texas Review Press’s Southern Poetry Breakthrough Award. Hub City Press awarded him the South Carolina Novel Prize in 2024 and published his debut novel this summer.

5. Timing is real, but trust is greater.

She said, “Authentic leadership isn’t about being unfiltered, it’s about being grounded, grounded in your purpose, grounded in your values.”

Dr. Michael Bryant ’95, former vice president for strategic planning, faith integration, and Christian leadership, said, “Don’t get wrapped up in your status like the world often gets wrapped up in its status. Instead, use your new educational status to fulfill God’s kingdom purposes–to do His will and to serve others in need–wherever He places you.” Bryant is now dean of the College of Christian Studies at North Greenville University.

Elizabeth England, Student Government Association president, congratulated her fellow graduates on persevering through every obstacle, including beginning college during a global pandemic.

Undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies.

Dr. Michael Wilder and Dan Leach

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU magazine 19

Now We’re Cooking!

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harleston Southern University engineering students are required to complete a senior project, a culmination of all they have learned throughout their program. Tyler Durst ’25 and Nathan Morrow ’25, along with their faculty advisor, Dr. Joel Chapman, chose to use their engineering expertise to meet a humanitarian need in Nicaragua.

Chapman explained that the engineering faculty wants students to be able to work on projects that can help solve a need rather than create projects solely for the purpose of academic work.

That desire led Chapman to reach out to his contact at a nonprofit in Atlanta called Rayo Del Sole. The nonprofit works to meet humanitarian needs and shares the love of Christ with underdeveloped, rural communities in Nicaragua.

“The project required us to create a stove that produced temperatures to cook with while using very little firewood and emitting very little smoke while operating. Where they live, most of the rural Nicaraguan communities don’t have easy access to a lot of firewood, so the fuel source would need to last them throughout droughts and rainy seasons,” said Durst.

Nathan Morrow and Tyler Durst debuted their senior project of a stove for rural Nicaraguans.

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Engineering students leverage senior project to make a lasting impact

By Kaia Thomson Barnes ‘24, ‘25 MBA | Photos by Dr. Joel Chapman

Another issue the students’ design had to address was how to build a stove that could be used inside because the leading cause of death in these communities is due to smoke inhalation from cooking indoors.

“Our design that we came down to was based on what they call a rocket stove. This design allowed for low smoke emission and high cooking temperatures with low fuel consumption,” said Durst.

Through months of trial and error, these students were able to create a fully functioning prototype and design schematics. The goal is for a local small business to easily build these stoves, like an IKEA kit, using the plans designed by Durst and Morrow.

Durst said that he and Morrow ultimately decided on this project “because of the possible wide-spread impact it could have in communities with similar conditions to the rural Nicaraguan communities that we were helping serve.”

Not only will this project make a lasting impact in rural Nicaragua but also the design that these students created can be used in similar communities around the world for years to come, making a global impact.

Chapman, Durst, and Morrow have not been able to travel to Nicaragua but hope to go see how their work is impacting people’s lives one day in the future.

The senior capstone projects begin in the fall each year and are completed in the spring. The students and faculty start by brainstorming proposals, determining budgets, speaking with potential corporate or community partnerships, and drafting the creation of product designs. Then in the spring semester, the students test ideas, build prototypes, and finalize schematics.

If you have an idea for future projects or would like to donate to help these projects continue to make a lasting impact, please email Chapman at jchapman@csuniv.edu.

TOP LEFT: Engineering students gather for a hot dog picnic cooked on the stove.

RIGHT: At the end of the semester, engineering students cooked hot dogs on the stove to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU magazine 21

Engineering qualifies for prestigious ABET accreditation

By Jan Joslin | Photo by Dan Steffy

Steele Morris

Preprofessional health studies: preparing for a future in healthcare

By Jan Joslin | Photo by Dan Steffy

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he Bachelor of Science in public health is now a Bachelor of Science in public health: preprofessional health studies.

“This change is paramount to our students’ success in preparing for their future application to a variety of healthcare-based programs,” said Steele Morris, program director and instructor of public health. “It also demonstrates the versatility of a public health degree in all areas of population health.”

The biggest change is the public health: preprofessional health studies program will require students to complete two lab science courses (Anatomy and Physiology I and Chemistry I) and then allows students to choose the remaining five lab science courses needed to complete the degree.

Morris said, “This change allows students the flexibility to choose the lab-based science courses they need to prepare for the specific graduate program of their choice, while also growing a deeper understanding of the patients they will care for in their future career.”

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he Charleston Southern engineering program has received notification that it qualified for ABET-EAC accreditation on its first attempt. Engineering joins the computer science and cybersecurity programs at CSU holding the coveted ABET accreditation.

Dr. Andrew Blauch, chair and professor of engineering, said to qualify for ABET accreditation, the program had to graduate its first students, complete a readiness review right after those first students graduated, and have a site visit. Blauch said the accreditation is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2022, and covers all CSU engineering graduates.

Blauch said, “Accreditation is important because it affects the kind of job graduates can

apply for and enables students to pursue licensure. It adds legitimacy to the program.”

CSU engineering currently has close to 90 students and is growing faster than anticipated. Blauch said, “We have 11 seniors, our largest senior group, and we have a strong freshman class.”

As Blauch looks back over his career, he is amazed at how the Lord has orchestrated his path. He expected to teach engineering straight out of college and has been at Charleston Southern teaching in the College of Science and Mathematics since 2007. He said, “God took what we had at CSU and turned it into an engineering program. It is humbling to look back on what God orchestrates.”

ABOVE: Engineering students fine-tune a device used to shoot t-shirts at ball games.

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Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

DPT hosts Hustle for Heroes

By Jan Joslin | Photos by Dan Steffy

Part of the Doctor of Physical Therapy’s program mission is to serve the community.

Two years ago, the DPT Class of 2025 identified WarriorWOD, a local foundation supporting Charleston and beyond.

Angela Stagliano, associate professor of physical therapy, coordinates the Hustle for Heroes event which benefits WarriorWOD. She said, “We partnered with them to raise awareness and help veterans and families access their programs.” Not only do the DPT students learn how to organize large community-based events, but they are also impacting veterans and their families.

Madelyn Richburg, DPT student, said, “The Hustle for Heroes 5K inspired me both as a student pursuing a career in health care and as a young individual learning the power of community. The event brought people together to support Veterans with PTSD—men and women who face the daily challenge of separating their experiences in active duty from their current lives.”

Richburg said, “Overall, it was a truly moving experience—one that motivates me to do more for those in need, especially those who never ask for help.”

The Hustle for Heroes 5K was run on CSU’s campus and trails in the spring.

“The Hustle for Heroes 5K inspired me both as a student pursuing a career in health care and as a young individual learning the power of community.”

— Madelyn Richburg

ABOVE: The Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2025 presents a check to WarriorWOD from their Hustle for Heroes 5K. LEFT: Dr. Angela Stagliano, associate professor of physical therapy, and Phil Palmer, president of WarriorWOD address the DPT students.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU magazine 23

Program accreditations Compiled by Jan Joslin

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Three retiring staff members honored for service

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hree staff members with a combined 54 years of service were honored in late August.

Faye Wood, executive assistant to the president, assisted three of CSU’s four presidents.

Luke Blackmon was vice president for business, and Jennifer Welch was executive assistant for Blackmon.

Wood summed up the day for all by quoting the favorite phrase of each president she served: • Press on [Dr. Jairy Hunter] • Be encouraged [B. Keith Faulkner] • Because the best is yet to come [Dr. Dondi Costin].

Pictured are: Jennifer Welch, Luke Blackmon, and Faye Wood. Photo by Zoe Ganiszewski

Huggins leaves estate to CSU

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he late Dwight Huggins left money in his estate to fund The Dwight David Huggins Endowed Scholarship at Charleston Southern.

Huggins had a career in the military and was later a civil contractor, spending time in several states and in Saudi Arabia. Huggins’

ccreditation of professional programs demonstrates to prospective students and future employers that a program exhibits quality, meets standards, and, in many cases, leads to the opportunity for professional licensure for graduates of the program.

The Master of Science in clinical counseling program was granted accreditation status by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs in July 2025 and will continue until Oct. 31, 2033.

CSU graduates are considered CACREPeligible beginning Jan. 17, 2024.

The CACREP accreditation for CSU MS in clinical counseling graduates meets requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina.

The College of Nursing’s Master of Science/ Postmaster’s Certificate in Nursing was granted continuing accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing on Sept. 26.

Dr. Vicki Ball, dean of the College of Nursing, said, “I am delighted to share that we received formal notification of Continuing Accreditation for the MSN program from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Sept. 25. Congratulations to Dr. Marcey Jorgenson, graduate nursing program director, and the College of Nursing team, for a successful accreditation visit and recognition of excellence in nursing education.”

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. CAPTE accredited the DPT program in October 2024 until Dec. 31, 2029.

sister, Adranna Grant, said, “He was always involved in the community and helping others. He left his total estate to charities.”

David Baggs, vice president for development said, “The university appreciates that Huggins’ life well-lived will benefit students for years to come.”

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU unveils Lafayette Trail historic marker

By Jan Joslin | Photos by Dan Steffy

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Lafayette Trail historical marker was officially unveiled Sept. 17 at the front of CSU’s campus on U.S. Constitution Day. The event marked the commemoration of General Marquis de Lafayette’s overnight stay at the Izard home March 13, 1825, on what is now the Charleston Southern University campus. Lafayette returned to the U.S. for a tour in 1824-1825.

CSU President B. Keith Faulkner welcomed visitors to the campus and said, “Lafayette’s legacy is deeply tied to freedom and the role that education provides in preserving it. He believed, as he once said, that young people were the hope of the country and that hope rests on teaching the science of freedom.

That vision resonates with us at Charleston Southern University where our livelihood is dedicated to the preparation of students to lead lives of learning, leading, and service all grounded in faith, truth, and liberty.”

Faulkner said, “We are grateful to the Lafayette Trail and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for making this marker possible. It is a meaningful and significant reminder not only of our campus’s connection to American history but also of the enduring role of universities in shaping the future of freedom.”

Julien Icher, president of The Lafayette Trail Inc., said, “In 1825 Lafayette basically validated, like he had done in the Revolution, the exceptional nature of this country, and Americans looked to him as this providential hero that was sent as I said to validate the American experiment. We have to continue that political discourse of Lafayette’s belief in America, and when we can do that on the campus of a university, we take advantage of that.”

Dr. Brian Miller, CSU professor of history, gave a brief history of Lafayette’s time in American. When Lafayette arrived in America, he was 19, the age of current college students. He went on to serve as a vital part of the American Revolution.

Miller said, “As America approached its 50th birthday, Lafayette, the last surviving revolutionary major general, wrote to President James Monroe expressing his longing to

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Julien Icher, president of The Lafayette Trail, second from left, talks with CSU professors at the marker ceremony.

revisit the happy shores of an adopted country.” It was during this tour that he visited the Izard home.

The land where Charleston Southern sits is connected to the Revolutionary War through the Izard family, who owned the land from the late 1600s into the mid-1800s. Ralph Izard III, who was in Europe when the American Revolution broke out, was asked to serve the Continental Congress as a diplomat and worked to seek France’s help in the war. It was during this time that he met Lafayette.

The historical marker was donated by The Lafayette Trail, Inc., to CSU with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

The Pomeroy Foundation is the nation’s leading funder of historical markers with nearly 2,900 grants awarded across 49 states and Washington, D.C. The Lafayette Trail marker is located at the front of campus outside the Hunter Center.

Julien Icher and B. Keith Faulkner

CSU magazine 25

“On the Other Side” CSU Players debut original play honoring Anita Zucker’s legacy and family

By Allison Bryant ’25 | Photo by Dan Steffy

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harleston Southern debuted an original theatrical production titled “On the Other Side” in October exploring the true story of the life, trials, and triumphs of Anita Zucker’s family and how it shaped her journey, from the survival of her parents during the Holocaust to her own rise as an educator, entrepreneur, and one of South Carolina’s most influential community leaders.

Written and directed by Thomas Keating and Drew Heineman, the play was developed in collaboration with the CSU Players, which consists of 15 students. The plot is rooted in the powerful story of Zucker’s parents, Rose and Carl Goldberg. Both endured unimaginable hardships during the Holocaust.

Rose survived forced labor camps and many attempts to evade Nazi-occupied Poland. Carl survived as well, and together the two rebuilt their lives in Jacksonville, Florida, after the war. Their resilience, faith, and work ethic became the foundation for their family’s future together.

Zucker often acknowledges that her mother, Rose, was her greatest teacher and a significant influence in her life. She recalls her mother’s advice: “Always take baby steps, but keep moving forward, not backwards. And as long as you are smiling, everything will be okay.”

Zucker attributes much of her drive to her parents’ influence, noting that both Rose and Carl instilled in her a strong sense of determination and purpose. These values have guided Zucker throughout her personal and professional journey.

Her path as an educator and entrepreneur is intertwined with her family’s legacy. After marrying Jerry Zucker, she embraced the roles of both pursuing education and managing businesses. The principles instilled by her parents empowered her to navigate hurdles and thrive in building The InterTech Group, Inc., with her late husband, which has become a leading privately held corporation in the United States.

Her philanthropic work reflects those same values, with significant contributions to education, the arts, and social causes. Zucker has become a driving force for good in the Lowcountry and beyond.

Alana Lowery, a senior and member of CSU Players, said that the play is about more than one family’s story. It is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity, to the power of hard work, and to the importance of giving back. “Anita Zucker’s journey exemplifies the kind of perseverance that we all as students hope to achieve one day.

She demonstrates courage when she speaks about her family’s story.

Her story has taught us that we can celebrate the good but also to tell our stories of what we have been through,” Lowery said.

By bringing this story to the stage, the production aims to resonate with contemporary audiences, emphasizing the importance of sharing history to inspire future generations. “Even when the state of the world is difficult, I believe it’s important to use our voices,” Zucker said. “I tell this story because of my family’s perseverance and courage. It is why I am here.”

Keating added that the timing of the play is especially meaningful.

“This story carries special significance. It serves as a reminder of why it is important to share stories of resilience and faith, so that we can all learn from them and be inspired to stand for what is right.”

Actors portray events in the lives of Anita Zucker’s family.

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CSU magazine 27

Yue awarded prestigious National Science Foundation research grant

By Susan Archer | Photo by Daniel Taylor

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r. Songhui Yue, assistant professor of computer science, has been awarded a Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Initiation Initiative grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

This prestigious, two-year grant provides $175,000 in funding to support Yue’s innovative research in artificial intelligence and software engineering.

The project seeks to address a critical challenge in AI: the automated creation of ontologies, structured frameworks for representing knowledge, by integrating multiple data types such as text, code, and diagrams. As artificial in-

telligence techniques advance, this is considered a core issue in how knowledge is represented.

Since the target domain of building ontologies is software engineering, the project has the potential to significantly enhance automated software evolution, opening avenues for further research.

“This project has the potential to create broad and lasting impact across key areas,” said Yue. “By developing an automated workflow for ontology generation using large language models, we aim to support the research community, improve software responsiveness, and enhance workforce development through education and training.”

As part of the project’s outreach, Yue will develop educational materials on knowledge representation and train students in applying ontologies and LLMs. “The results of this study will be disseminated widely, ensuring that the benefits of this research reach both academic and nonacademic audiences,” said Yue. CSU President B. Keith Faulkner praised the achievement, “We commend Dr. Yue for his dedication and are proud of his success in securing this prestigious National Science Foundation grant. His work exemplifies the culture of research and innovation we are building at CSU. We are also grateful to the NSF for their continued investment in research that shapes the future and drives meaningful advancement in science and technology.”

Yue holds a Bachelor of Engineering in software engineering from East China Normal University in Shanghai and earned his PhD in computer science from the University of Alabama in 2019. He has over five years of industry experience in web application development and data analysis, including leading agile teams as a software engineer in California’s Bay Area. His research interests include software engineering, automation, artificial intelligence, context-aware systems, IoT, smart cities, and software privacy and security. He is also an active peer reviewer for leading journals such as IEEE Internet of Things Journal, IEEE Access, Computer Communications, and Pervasive and Mobile Computing.

The NSF CISE Research Initiation Initiative is designed to support early-career researchers in launching their first independent research efforts, particularly at institutions with emerging research programs.

Dr. Songhui Yue, right, participates in commencement.

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Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU recognized for service to military students

Parker coauthors book on God’s love

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By Jan Joslin

harleston Southern University has earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School designation, Silver Award. CSU was also named a 2025-2026 Military Spouse Friendly® School, Gold Award.

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 2025-2026 survey with 830 earning special awards for going above the standard.

Charleston Southern currently has 547 military connected students using military benefits—which includes active duty, veterans, and dependents.

CSU President B. Keith Faulkner, a U.S. Navy veteran, said, “CSU values our current students and alumni who have served our country, and we are proud to be listed as a Military Friendly School.”

Charleston Southern has served veteran students for more than 50 years. CSU’s U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment 772 has graduated military leaders since the 1970s.

By Jan Joslin | Photo by Dan Steffy

r. Ross Parker, professor of Christian studies, has written Divine Motivation and Humanity with Dr. Jordan Wessling, associate professor of religion at Lindsey Wilson University.

The book deals with the Agapist Framework—God’s actions to us as humans is motivated by His perfect love. Parker points to learning this truth at a young age through 1 John 4:8, “God is love.” He said, “I’ve studied theology and philosophy for a long time, but that fundamental truth has been the guiding

Dr. Ross Parker Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

principle for my academic endeavors, and in particular the work of this book.”

Parker said he and Wessling had two goals in writing the book. First, they sought to introduce students and scholars to the debate in scholarly literature about divine motivations.

“Second, we wanted to make an argument for our position on divine motivation—that God is fundamentally motivated by love in all that he does,” said Parker.

Divine Motivation and Humanity is available through Cambridge University Press.

CSU magazine 29

Calhoun named Big South Male Scholar-Athlete of Year Story and Photo by CSU Athletics

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ichael Calhoun was named the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Big South Conference. The annual Scholar-Athletes of the Year are voted on by the Big South Sports Information Directors from a pool of each sport’s Scholar-Athlete winner during the past season. Calhoun is the first Charleston Southern male student-athlete to receive the award in the Big South’s 30-year history.

Calhoun holds a 4.0 GPA and is working on his Master of Science in biology. He recorded some of the top marks in league history in the shot put during the indoor season, as he broke and re-broke the school record in the event four times. His longest mark of 18.17m claimed him a runner-up finish at the Big South Championships which ranks sixth all-time in the league record book.

Calhoun was also a member of the Big South’s Men’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Academic Team and earned a second-place finish in the shot put at the Outdoor Conference Championship. He set the CSU outdoor record in the shot put with a mark of 17.88m at the Weems Baskin Invitational and had a PRmark of 45.75 in the discus at the CSU Buc Open. Calhoun claimed five different podium finishes during the outdoor campaign and qualified for the NCAA East First Round in the shot put to finish his career as one of the best throwers in CSU track and field history.

The only other CSU student-athlete to make the list was Annah Junge, of the softball team, who was named the female scholarathlete of the Big South for 2023-2024.

Michael Calhoun

For all your Buccaneer news, visit

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Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Tennis wins FOURTH Big South tournament Story and Photo by CSU Athletics

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harleston Southern claimed their fourth Big South Tournament Championship in the past five seasons this spring defeating Gardner-Webb by a 4-1 final scoreline. With the victory, the Buccaneers clinched the Big South’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Buccaneers entered the weekend as the top seed after going a perfect 5-0 against Big South competition during the regular season.

CSU defeated Presbyterian in the semifinals to advance to finals.

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In the finals, Charleston Southern got the opening doubles point by claiming each of the matches. Kassandra Di Staulo and Marina Skegro won 6-2 on the #2 court which was followed

by Noa Boyd and Amila Jusufbegovic clinching the point with their 6-2 victory in the topflight.

In singles, the Buccaneers got out to a dominant start in the matches. Skegro got the first decision with her 6-2, 6-1 victory on the #2 court which was followed by Emmie Moore’s 6-4, 6-1 result in the topflight. Boyd provided

the championship-clinching point with her 6-1, 6-4 victory on the #3 court.

The Bucs moved on to NCAA Regionals, falling to N.C. State by a final score of 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Team Championships.

The Buccaneers ended the seasons with a record of 17-5. They claimed both the Big South Regular Season Championship and Tournament Championship, earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023.

CSU magazine 31

Smith named NCAA RBI champion Story and Photo by CSU Athletics

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aden Smith was named the NCAA statistical champion in Runs Batted In (RBIs) per game on June 21. He finished the year with an average of 1.58 per game to lead all of NCAA Division 1 to become the firstever statistical champion in the history of the Charleston Southern baseball program.

In Smith’s 50 games played and started during the 2025 season, he collected 79 RBIs to lead the team. He was named Second-Team All-Conference along with earned ABCA Second-Team All-Region.

Beginning in April, Smith’s offensive production reached a new level across the final seven weeks of the season as he raised his batting average by .075. Also, during this stretch of 27 contests, he batted in 52 runs for an average of nearly two per game to catapult himself onto the national leaderboards.

Kaden Smith, on right.

Clark named head coach for Men’s and Women’s Golf Story and Photo by CSU Athletics

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oritz “Scooter” Clark was named head coach for Men’s and Women’s Golf in the spring.

“Clark brings us a deep passion for the game along with a strong commitment to the development and experience of our studentathletes,” said Athletic Director Jeff Barber.

Clark joined the Buccaneers after spending the past two years as the director of golf at North Carolina A&T. He previously worked for the PGA of America as director of collegiate championships. Clark also was BethuneCookman’s director of intercollegiate golf from 2010-2016.

Clark’s coaching career includes 29 tournament team wins and 32 individual tournament championships between his time with the men’s and women’s programs. While he was at Bethune-Cookman, the men reached a GolfWeek ranking as high as No. 58, while the women’s highest ranking was 76. The two programs earned the NCAA’s Golf Public Recognition Award for three consecutive years in 2014-16.

Clark started his collegiate career in 1987 at Southern University. His final three years of collegiate golf were spent at the University of Maryland after transferring. Clark has been a Class A PGA Professional since 2009. He graduated from Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice.

Coach Scooter Clark

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Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

First Pitch

Former Baseball Coach Ralph Ciabatteri ’77, wearing No. 13, threw out the first pitch at the March 6 baseball game, surrounded by some of his former players. Ciabattari served as head coach from 1984-1988 and went on to coach at College of Charleston for nine seasons. CSU Athletics photo

Former men’s golfer Caron having solid season on Senior PGA Tour Story by CSU Athletics | Photo provided

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harleston Southern alum and Athletics Hall of Fame member, Jason Caron ’94, has continued to make a splash in his postcollegiate career in the world of professional golf. In late May, he took a tie for fourth at the 2025 Senior PGA Championship, finishing just two strokes behind champion, Angel Cabrera.

Caron began the final day with a share of the lead with eventual champion Cabrera and Retief Goosen. He finished with a 1-under 71 in the fourth round at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. During the week, Caron had a score of 282 for 6-under across the four days to conclude his play in the tournament.

Caron played on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour until 2003 following his graduation from CSU. Since then, he has qualified for events on each tour, however, last year, he emerged back on the scene in a big way as he earned a spot into the field for the Senior PGA Championship and finished in a tie for fourth. After this, he went on to claim

a trio of additional top five finishes in 2024 at the Rogers Charity Classic, Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS and Simmons Bank Championship. His tie for third at the Simmons Bank Championship placed him inside the top 36 of the PGA Tour Champions to earn full membership for this year’s tour.

In 2025, he has kept up the success. So far, has had seven Top 10 finishes and 12 times in the Top 25. In March, at the Cologuard Classic, he dropped the playoff hole to finish second overall in the field for the best finish on the tour of his career.

Caron is showing no signs of slowing down as he continues to put the professional golf world on notice and make those that remember watching him wear the blue and gold over three decades ago, proud.

Caron was inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, one of just five former Men’s Golf student-athletes to be inducted. During his CSU career, he was a three-time

Big South All-Conference honoree, earning the distinctions in 1992, 1993, and 1994.

At the time, Caron was the first CSU men’s golfer to accomplish this, setting the path for seven more Buccaneers to do so since.

Jason Caron

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU magazine 33

Class notes 1960s

Randy Kellum ’83 recently earned a Master of Arts in pastoral counseling-crisis response and Richard A. Froom ’69 sent trauma. He has begun work on a a Baptist College at Charleston Doctor of Education in commumemory: “The 1965-66 Bucs, a nity care and counseling-traumagood team, played an unknown tology. He is married to Allison North Carolina college twice that had a pretty good player. The school Ashmore Kellum ’83, and they was Southwood College. The Bucs live in Georgia. lost, but the player’s name you Dr. Lyndon Abrams ’86, remight have heard of – his name cently won the Cato College of was Pistol Pete Maravich.”

Education Excellence in Innovation Award. He is an associate 1980s professor in the department of counseling at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.

1990s Allison Musgrave ’93 MBA has joined the faculty at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia, teaching accounting and finance.

Dr. Mahalah Bowman Campbell ’82 is an assistant professor of psychology at Claflin University. She received the UNCF Henry Cecil McBay Faculty Research Fellowship this summer.

Upon her selection, the Fellowship wrote, “This prestigious fellowship highlights Dr. Bowman Campbell’s dedication to scholarly research and her impactful role in mentoring the next generation of psychologists. Her selection for this award reflects her continued contributions to both the academic and broader psychological community.”

34 CSU magazine

Andrew J. Schliesman ’94, ’95 MBA has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. He is a CPA and owner of Andrew Schliesman Tax & Accounting LLC. He is retired from the U.S. Air Force and is currently working on a doctorate at Liberty University.

Alan Johnson ’96 MAT was named Teacher of the Year for Fort Dorchester High School in Dorchester District Two.

Compiled by Jan Joslin

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Class Notes: magazine@csuniv.edu Address change: csudevelopment@csuniv.edu Name change: register@csuniv.edu Follow the Alumni Association on Social Media: CSU Alumni Association alumni_csu

Amanda Turner Leviner ’01 owns Leviner Law Firm in Summerville which was voted best in the state of South Carolina for family law for 2025 by the Guide to South Carolina.

Allison Waring ’02 MEd, ’12 MEd has been named principal of Fort Dorchester Elementary School in Dorchester School District Two. She has been a teacher, reading coach and an assistant principal.

Dwayne Boulden ’03 has been promoted to executive vice president of Preferred Utilities Manufacturing Corporation in 2000s Danbury, Connecticut. Veronica Boulden ’03 is in graduate Andrea Balongo ’01 was feaschool for classical liberal arts edutured in the Top 100 Canadian cation at Belmont Abbey College.

Professionals Magazine. He is Veronica continues to homeschool a partner at Theodore Partner, their children full time. Dwayne founded in Nairobi, Kenya, in Ed- and Veronica have been active monton, Canada. He has worked members of Walnut Hill Comin finances for 22 years. Originally munity Church in Bethel for over from Nairobi, Andrea played soc- 20 years. cer while at CSU.

Eugene Granger ’03 is an assistant coach for Florida A&M’s men’s basketball team. Previously, he was a high school basketball coach.

Shawn Toothman ’04 lives in West Virginia and works as a labor and delivery nurse at United Hospital Center.

Nik Stockman ’05, ’08 has published Bentley Goes Golfing, about teaching his son to golf. The book is available at Amazon. He is a senior customer experience manager at Bennie and lives in Charleston.

Chris Atkinson ’06 has been named a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a principal advisory with the Atlanta office, and his specialty is technology and transformation. He is married to Tina Buchanan Atkinson ’06.

Tabitha Mack Glover ’06 was named the Teacher of the Year for 2025 at North Springs Elementary School in Columbia. She serves as NSE’s media specialist.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Andy Kubik ’06 MEd is currently the director of the Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center for Colleton County School District. He was previously a quality control inventory supervisor in Knoxville.

Irene Rose Smith ’07 was featured in the Spring 2025 issue of Charleston Women Magazine for her singing and songwriting. She has written songs that have played on the radio, created an audio drama, “Base Camp Adventures Sing-Along,” and her music can be found on Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. She is married and has two children.

Rhett Marley ’10 is owner of Marley Photography which was recently named to The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame and Best of Weddings 2025 and to Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice Awards 2025. He is married to Alicyne Marley ’10.

Sade’ Nelson ’10, ’12 MS was named Teacher of the Year for St. John’s High School in Charleston County School District. She serves as the school counselor.

2010s Katie Barker ’11 MEd has been named an assistant superintendent with Dorchester School District Two in Summerville. A former teacher and principal, she most recently served as chief academic officer and assistant director of elementary schools.

Robert Culbreth ’11 has been named pastor of worship, community, and connections at Summit Church, which meets on the CSU campus.

Legacy of service Retired Lt. Colonel Warren Parker ’07 MBA was the guest speaker at the May commissioning ceremony for Air Force ROTC Detachment 772 which included his daughter, Brianna Parker ’25 Master of Science in project management graduate. Warren is currently deputy division chief for the Defense Intelligence Agency. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Embry Riddle, and Bri is a graduate of Florida State. Not to be left out, Bri’s mom Melissa Parker is a 2005 MBA alumnus. Bri is now an Air Force officer studying collecting and analyzing information to promote our Air Force operations. She said, “My Dad was such an influential person in my decision for joining the Air Force. It was so special for him to be the one to commission us and pass down the legacy to the next Air Force officer generation.” Photo by Dan Steffy

Tyler Davis ’11 MBA is a higher education account manager at Howardedu, a division of Howard Industries Inc. Dr. Troy Hall ’11 MBA is the founder of Cohesion CultureTM and was recently named the Talent Retention Expert of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals and is a Brainz Global 500 Top Entrepreneur. He is a member of CSU’s Board of Visitors and the Legacy Society.

Cori Hustedt ’11 is the executive director of student services with the Fort Mill School District. She has been a teacher, assistant principal, and principal and earned an MEd in leadership from Queens University.

Anna McSwain ’12 was named a 2025 Woman of Influence recipient by the Charleston Regional Business Journal. She is currently the marketing and investor relations administrator for Dorchester County Economic Development.

Erin Zubkoff Bailey ’13 was named Teacher of the Year at Carolyn Lewis School in Berkeley County School District. She teaches physical education.

Taylor Bensinger ’13 was named Teacher of the Year at Edith L. Frierson Montessori School in Charleston County School District. She teaches art, STEAM, and career and technical education.

Carla Ferrette-Clark ’13 was named Teacher of the Year for Charleston County School District at Military Magnet Academy.

She is a high school career and technology teacher.

Kristen Huddle Collins ’13 was named Teacher of the Year for Knightsville Elementary School and was a semifinalist for Dorchester District Two Teacher of the Year.

Megan Profit ’14 MEd is the new principal of Alston Middle School in Summerville. She has been a math and science teacher and has served as an assistant principal.

Andrea Keesee Scurry ’14 was named Teacher of the Year at Lake Carolina Elementary school in Richland Two School District.

She teaches first grade.

Shawn Woodside ’14 MEd was named Teacher of the Year for Spann Elementary School and was a semifinalist for Dorchester District Two Teacher of the Year.

Steve Zubkoff ’14 promoted from sergeant to lieutenant with Berkeley County Sheriff ’s Office.

He is a supervisor in the training division and is also a member of the Special Response Team, Dive Team, and Bike Patrol. He and his wife have two children.

continued >>

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU magazine 35

Class notes continued

Emily Reeves Bohl ’15 is the artistic director for The Singers of Summerville. She is the director of choral activities at Berkeley Center for the Arts at Goose Creek High School and is involved with music educator groups in South Carolina.

Amanda Blanche Buchanan ’15 is the gifts compliance and reconciliation manager for the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she recently earned her Master of Business Administration degree.

Michael Logsdon ’17 was featured in the June 25, 2025, Summerville Journal Scene. He is the worship director for Great Commission Baptist Church and is a singer and songwriter. His newest release is “Marvelous Light (All Praise).” You can check out his music on YouTube @MichaelLogsdonMusic. His wife, Emily Logsdon, is a 2019 CSU graduate.

Blake Wilson ’17 is the special teams coordinator for the Georgia Southern football program. He has worked with special teams at Georgia Southern for the last three years. He previously worked at Lake Erie College, Montana State University Northern and University of San Diego. He was a member of the CSU football team as a student.

Bernard Blaney ’18 MEd, ’24 EdD was named Teacher of the Year at Burke High School in Charleston County School District. He teaches science.

Tiffany Fletcher ’17 writes, “In July 2024 I welcomed my first child, Adelina. We had a rough delivery and are both lucky to be alive. We would have not made it if it wasn’t for God and the prayers of many. She is doing amazing now.” Tiffany has been a 911 telecommunicator for six years, receiving promotions and awards during her tenure. She is the first civilian employee to be named a crisis negotiator on the SWAT team.

Tierrhane Huff Goodwin ’17 graduated with an EdD in education leadership from Liberty University in 2025. She teaches music at Reeves Elementary School in Summerville.

36 CSU magazine

Laina Holmgren ’18 has joined Extra Inning Softball as the new rankings and media coordinator. She is a former member of the CSU softball team and since graduation has coached at George Washington University, University of Louisiana at Monroe and College of Charleston.

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If not, update your email address with the Alumni Office at alumni@csuniv.edu

Lucas White ’19 was named Teacher of the Year for Oak Pointe Elementary School in Lexington-Richland School District Five. He teaches physical education.

2020s Chris Hock ’20 is the marketing and pursuit coordinator for Colliers | South Carolina. He has been a real estate investor and has performed freelance duties in photography, graphic design, logo design, and branding initiatives. He won Colliers’ Rising Star Award in 2023 and the Innovation Award in 2024.

Jerome Davis ’21 EdD is the executive director of secondary instruction for Richland Two School District in Columbia. He was the director of curriculum and instruction for Charleston County School District prior to joining Richland Two. Kevin Jacques ’21 has been promoted to U.S. Regulatory Reporting Manager at American Express. He oversees regulatory filings related to single counterparty credit limits (SCCL) in compliance with Federal Reserve requirements. He recently relocated to New York City.

Jenna Johnson ’21 MBA has been appointed a commissioner Mike Marangelli ’20 is the on the Council for Christian Colequipment manager at Davidson leges & Universities’ Commission College in Davidson, North Caro- for Strategic Communications lina. Davidson recently hosted QB & Public Affairs. She is the exand WRs from the New England ecutive director of marketing and Phoung Nhi Thi Le ’19 graduPatriots while they were in Char- communication at Charleston ated from the Medical University lotte, and Marangelli served as Southern. of South Carolina in 2025 with their equipment manager. an MD and is an internal mediCaptain Lee W. Mixon Jr. ’21 cine resident at MUSC. Looking Cameron Buskirk ’21 was MS is the new town of Moncks ahead, she is aiming to pursue a named Teacher of the Year for Corner’s chief of police. He has fellowship in cardiology with the Fort Dorchester Elementary been in law enforcement since goal of becoming an intervenSchool and was a semifinalist for 1989 when he joined the U.S. Air tional cardiologist.

Dorchester District Two Teacher Force Security Police. He worked of the Year. for the Charleston City Police Alyssa Popolizio ’19 was named Department before joining the Teacher of the Year at Green Moncks Corner Police DepartCharter School. ment. He graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

In memory Joseph Richard Altman ’01 MEd, age 60, died Feb. 19, 2025, in Goose Creek. He was an educator and vice principal.

Ray Winfred Baxley, age 68, died June 6 in Baytown, Texas. He worked in facilities at CSU from 2004-2016 and was an electrician.

Marion Henry Benton ’75, age 75, died May 30. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, retired assistant commissioner of the water and sewer department for the City of Myrtle Beach, and owner of Lakewood Camping Resort.

Rev. William M. Brailsford ’83, age 63, died April 15 in Maryland. He was most recently parochial vicar at Resurrection Parish in Burtonsville. He was an ordained priest and served in numerous roles including as a chaplain to Sibley Hospital.

Alys Anne Passailaigue Dennis ’89, age 62, died Aug. 28 in Mount Pleasant. She was a certified public accountant and a certified valuation analyst.

Dr. Erica S. Taylor ’21 was named a 2025 Women of Influence recipient by the Charleston Regional Business Journal. She is the assistant superintendent for communication and business and community partnerships for the Orangeburg County School District.

Bucky goes to first day of school Bucky greeted students at the first day of school at Pinehurst Elementary School in North Charleston. Pinehurst Elementary is the CSU College of Education’s partner school. Also on hand were Susan Rawlings, Principal Paul Pallagi ’09, ’13 MEd, in the eagle suit, and Assistant Principal Sarah Griggs ’14 MEd. Photo provided by Pinehurst Elementary.

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Linda Salter Gooding, age 80, died Aug. 19 in Ridgeville. An emeritus professor of history, she taught at CSU from 1967 until 2016. She was also a choir director at several churches.

William C. Haselden Sr., age 89, died March 19 in Summerville. He was retired from the Naval Weapons Station and from the S.C. Army National Guard. He later owned an electrical contracting company. He was a member of the CSU Board of Visitors.

Brian Craig Johnson ’98, age 49, died March 31 in Mount Pleasant. He was a physical education teacher and coached cross country and track for local teams and at Academic Magnet High School.

Leona June Wilson Johnson, ’76 died June 3 in Newport News, Virginia.

She was a librarian and taught English in the U.S. and at American schools in Germany while her husband was in the military overseas.

Deanna H. McBroom, age 74, died April 26 in Charleston. She was a former member of the CSU music faculty and was professor emerita of voice at the College of Charleston. She was an internationally acclaimed vocalist.

the Bronze Star. He held management roles at Milliken & Company prior to teaching. He was the coauthor of a finance using a biblical approach textbook and was a member of the CSU Board of Visitors.

Donald Bret McIver ’05, age 43, died Aug. 13. He was currently enrolled in a Master of Worship Leadership program at New Orleans Baptist Seminary.

Thomas Benjamin Spell ’74, age 74, died Aug. 14 in Florence. He was an insurance agent for 30 years.

Charles Wayne Moore ’79, age 73, died July 11 in Mount Pleasant. He was a manager of Suburban Propane Gas in Hartsville.

Hugh Wyman Preacher, age 89, died Aug. 6 in Jacksonville, Florida. He had a long career in the pharmaceutical industry and was a National Guard veteran. He was a member of the CSU Board of Visitors.

Susan Rison ’71, age 78, died April 29 in Summerville. She was a retired teacher and assistant principal at Summerville High School.

Joanne Jones Kassis, age 88, died Aug. 8 in Charleston. She was active in the community and was a member of the Boyce Luther Smith III, age 78, CSU Board of Visitors and the Women’s died May 13 in Hollywood. He was an Council. assistant professor of business in the Nielsen College of Business and was Robert Rhett Knoth ’70, age 81, died cofounder of the Center for Personal Aug. 29 in Charleston. He was a licensed Financial Management. He was a real estate broker and a delegate for the Coast Guard veteran and recipient of United States Polo Association.

Steve Young ’21 MS is the chief of staff for the Dorchester County Sheriff ’s Office. The former chief of the Moncks Corner police department, he has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience.

Justin Ruffin ’22 has been promoted to DL/ID standards officer with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. He began as a license examiner instructor and was promoted to examiner training unit manager before receiving this recent promotion.

Emily Camille Stokes ’16, age 30, died May 21 in Greenville. She was a graphic artist.

Marilyn Kay Watts Tsirigotis ’74, age 72, died June 4 in Camden. She was a librarian in several South Carolina towns and received citations from Clarendon County Council, the South Carolina House of Representatives and the South Carolina Senate for her work in the community.

Joel Elliott Waddell ’70, age 78, died June 5 in Greer. He was a longtime music minister.

Kaye Patterson Wren, age 78, was a retired English teacher and was a longtime member of the CSU Women’s Council.

Gracie Hendrix ’24 was Rookie Teacher of the Year for Nexton Elementary School in Berkeley County School District.

Rebekah Kelly ’24 was named Rookie Teacher of the Year for Oakbrook Elementary School in Dorchester School District Two.

Elizabeth Guthrie ’23 was named Rookie Teacher of the Year Allison Nemrow ’24 MMS, PA-C, at St. James High School in Murhas joined Southcoast Health Heart rells Inlet. She teaches mathematics. & Vascular, specializing in vascular surgery and caring for patients in Jada Cook ’24 was named 2025 Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Rookie Teacher of the Year for Eagle Nest Elementary School in Taje’ Kelly ’25 is playing proDorchester School District Two. fessional basketball with BBC Bayreuth in Germany.

Grace Daniel ’24 was named Rookie Teacher of the Year for River Oaks Middle School in Dorchester School District Two. She teaches social studies and ELA.

CSU magazine 37

Baby Bucs 1

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To Order a Shirt:

To Submit Your Baby Bucs Photo:

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.

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

38 CSU magazine

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

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1. Jesse Rogers, son of Abigail Rogers ’22 and Jared Rogers ’22

8. Giulia Rutigliano, daughter of Jennifer Rutigliano ’09

2. Grayson James Ivey, son of Katie Beth Ivey ’15 and Kadin Ivey ’15

9. Hannah Grace Singer, daughter of MC Singer ’20 and Andrew Singer ’19

3. Lilly Litton, daughter of Jessie Litton ’21 and Jacob Litton 4. Haven Addy, daughter of Corey Addy ’18

10. James Declan Sullivan, son of Rebekah Sullivan ’17 and Christopher Sullivan ’17

5. Sadie Clay Sandifer, daughter of Jacey Sandifer and Thomas Sandifer ’16, ’22

11. Michael “James” Schermbeck II, son of Brandi Norris Schermbeck ’19 and Michael Schermbeck

6. Sam Jackson and Peter Jackson, sons of Amanda Housand Jackson ’10 and Mark Jackson

12. William Drayton McCall II, son of Morgan Lewis McCall ’12, ’21 MSN and Bill McCall ’09, ’15 MBA

7. Everleigh Marie Salley, daughter of Alicia Terwilliger-Salley ’03, ’17

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

CSU magazine 39

Childhood dream comes true As a child, Brianna Jaeger ’18 dreamed of playing and competing at the Chopin International Competition. That dream came true in June when Jaeger, one of 20 chosen from thousands of applicants, competed and played Concerto in E minor with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in Cyprus. She said, “My professors and even the president donated from CSU to help with travel to Cyprus.”

When not competing, she teaches music and choir in Northern Virginia, teaches private piano students, and soon will be taking classes and conducting at Julliard. She is also recording an album which will feature a few pieces written by her former CSU professor, Dr. Richard Pressley. After graduating from CSU, she obtained a master’s from Shenandoah University. She said, “CSU prepared me so well for graduate school. I actually tutored doctoral students.”

Photos provided

What BCC/CSU class had the most lasting impact on your career?

I attended BCC from 1978-1982, majoring in PE. All of my professors were great, but Howard Bagwell (PE) influenced my career more than anyone. I graduated in 1982, earned my master’s at Furman in 1986, and taught elementary PE for 28 years.

Kathy Huff Campbell ’82

My name is Zeni Freeman, and I am a proud alumnus of Charleston Southern University, having graduated in 2012. The pharmacology course, expertly taught

by Dr. Amy Nolan, had a profound impact on my academic experience. I gained a comprehensive understanding of drug categorization, their interactions with the human body, and their effects on living organisms. The course also covered the rigorous testing processes new drugs undergo, their applications in treating various diseases, and the potential risks and side effects associated with their use.

Furthermore, I developed valuable insights into the safety and efficacy of medications, which has been essential in my personal and professional life. As a Physical Therapy Technician, I work closely with patients who rely on medication to regain their well-being through exercise. This course has been instrumental in my ability to properly utilize drugs in a positive manner, and it has profoundly shaped my perspective on drugs, including their benefits and drawbacks.

Congratulations to Zeni Freeman, winner of the random drawing for CSU swag! Thank you to the CSU Alumni Office for contributing the prize.

Zeni Freeman ’12 QUESTION FOR THE NEXT ISSUE:

If you could go back and relive one day on campus, which day would it be?

Email your answer to magazine@csuniv.edu by Feb. 1, 2026, for a chance to win CSU swag and to share your memories in CSU Magazine.

40 CSU magazine

Fall/Winter 2025, vol.35 no.2

Is your name on the walkway?

Commemorate your time at BCC/CSU by purchasing a brick on the walkway around the Reflection Pond.

Not only is it a great way to remember your time in college, but your purchase also helps pave the way for current and future students. All proceeds go to student scholarships.

Buy your brick now at:

Charlestonsouthern.edu/legacy-lane-brick

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Charleston SC Permit #1202

Charleston Southern University 9200 University Boulevard Charleston, SC 29406

INTEGRATING FAITH IN LEARNING, LEADING, AND SERVING Earn Your PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision!

CSU now offers a PhD in counselor education and supervision. The faith-integrated doctoral program will prepare you to become a counselor educator, supervisors, researcher, and leader. Students are equipped to lead with wisdom, competence, and Christian character in a hybrid delivery model featuring rich faculty mentorship. The doctorate is designed to meet CACREP standards, with internships in counseling, teaching, and supervision, with an embedded dissertation focused on real-world research solutions for diverse counseling populations.

Learn more at: charlestonsouthern.edu/ces

SACSCOC approval pending. Program designed to meet all CACREP doctoral standards. Eligible to apply for CACREP accreditation as soon as the first cohort graduates.