THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP

D. Scott Showalter ’73, Chair

W. Jeffrey Booker, First Vice Chair

Bernice Cobbs ’98, Second Vice Chair

Amanda Cox ’04, Secretary

David Arrington

Denise Bates

Suzanne M. Boltz

John Cougill ’69

Jeff Davoud ’97

F. Abe Dymond

Everett Foxx ’92

Jeff Knotts

Sharma D. Lewis

Judson P. (Jud) Mason ’67

Annita Nelson

Baxter Phillips, Jr. ’66

Jeffrey C. Pugh ’77

Ronald E. Singleton ’70

Nancy Walsh

Teresa Watson

Marilyn H. West

Bruce Whitehurst

B. Clay Wiley, Jr. ’06

George D. Yancey ’67

William B. Bales

Patricia O. Compton

Robert A. Cox, Jr.

Thelma B. Crowder

Betty Forbes

Samuel L. Lionberger, Jr.

M. Douglas Newman ’42

Ida B. Powell

B. Clay Wiley, Jr. ’06, President

Ty’Nesha Jamison Scales ’05, Vice President

Terrance S. Harrelson ’11, Secretary

Twyla Stephen Tatum ’04, Past President

Frank Boxley ’17

Wayne Brockwell ’06

Scotty Bryan ’97

Nate Daniels ’99

Alex Dixon ’19

Randal Doss ’94

Brooke Gill ’05

Ray Goode ’92

Lynette Guilliams ’05

Danielle Hannuksela ’16

Shannon Jost ’97

Sandy Kalamaras ’04

Glynn Loope ’86

Camille Mangum ’22

Alesha Meadows ’12

Robert Monolo ’92

Jubal Poindexter ’05

Jason Priest ’02

Billie Quesenberry ’17

Jeff Reardon ’96

Kevin Reynolds ’13

Matthew Scruggs ’04

Beth Simms ’09

Aundrea Smiley ’07

Deanna Sumners ’13

Dorothy Vetterl ’18

Donald Brown ’66

Samuel Camden ’66

James Clark Jr. ’62

Bruce Griffith ’66

Higher education has been a key institution of American society since the 17th century. The catalyst behind America’s progress, from the industrial age to the digital revolution, can be traced back to ideas and concepts conceived in classrooms, dormitories, and libraries across the nation. Yet, as higher education in the United States enters its 5th century, it is clear that it is facing a critical inflection point.

As chair of the Board of Trustees, it has been a privilege to work with my fellow trustees and the campus leadership to prepare Ferrum College to meet this challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many institutions to look inward and ask themselves who they are, and who they want to be. Ferrum College is uniquely positioned to answer these questions and put forth an institutional narrative that captures the values that have guided our College for over 100 years.

While many institutions strive to provide greater equity and opportunities for their students, Ferrum College boasts one of the most diverse student bodies in the Commonwealth. With learning outside the classroom becoming a greater emphasis, Ferrum can be proud of the experiential learning opportunities we have offered our students for decades.

Looking ahead, we know 2023, our 110th year as an institution, marks a pivotal year for the College. We will be guided by the vision of a new president, while remaining true to our mission and motto, Not Self, But Others.

Achieving our ambitious goals for the future will require the support, engagement, and generosity of our entire campus community. I hope you will join us as we build a bright and prosperous future for Ferrum College.

With Panther Pride,

D. Scott Showalter Chair, Ferrum College Board of Trustees

Director of Norton Outdoor Adventures and Adjunct Instructor of Ecotourism Aaron Conover ’93 photographed his Ferrum Foundations students as they enjoyed kayaking and canoeing in August 2022 on the beautiful Adams Lake on campus. The students were participating in REC-109, Outdoor Recreation Sampler, an introductory course that explores multiple outdoor recreation activities including rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, orienteering, mountain biking, hiking, camping, and fly fishing, while emphasizing basic skills, proper use of equipment, and safety.

The goal of the Ferrum Foundations program is to make the transition to college life less daunting for new students by offering them opportunities to forge relationships with upperclassmen, faculty, and staff, while learning academic strategies designed to ensure their success at Ferrum College and beyond.

I am honored to serve as your president and to lead Ferrum College into its 110th year. Ferrum College has incredible programs, outstanding people, unique assets and a beautiful campus. I am here to work with the Board of Trustees and the entire Ferrum College family to see it thrive!

I am a ‘people-person’, and I believe in the power of personal relationships, so I am most excited to meet you and others who care so deeply about this College. Every day, I will spend time strengthening my connections with faculty, staff, community leaders and alumni – and getting to know students. It’s important for me to know them; to know their stories, their hopes and desires, as well as their needs and challenges.

One thing I already know – there are boundless opportunities for Ferrum College. We can use our strengths to drive innovation and growth. We will remain mission driven, and we will raise our visibility and recommit to our identity. We are the exceptional “College of Opportunity” – the home away from home that offers every student an outstanding college education. We will continue to be the destination of choice for students who “Enter with Promise and Leave with Purpose.”

It all begins with welcoming students to our beautiful campus where dedicated faculty and staff get to know and support each individual in a way very few colleges can. Ferrum College is a place where students are nurtured and challenged in a safe and caring learning community. We deliver relevant, engaged liberal arts and professional programs that enable our students to become more than they ever thought possible – entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, farmers, state office holders, corporate executives, educators, healthcare professionals, and so much more!

As you know, our enviable geographic location makes the outdoors a key component of our educational experience. Blending classroom and hands-on learning experiences, a Ferrum College education guarantees our students are career-ready when they graduate. We are nimble enough to anticipate, innovate, and meet the workforce needs of today and tomorrow – here in the Commonwealth and across the globe.

This spring, I plan to spend much of my time on the road meeting with community stakeholders, as well as supporting Admissions and Advancement efforts. I want to meet with our prospective students and their parents. I want to get to know our alumni and learn your success stories. I want legislators, community and business leaders to see Ferrum College as a preferred partner for developing solutions and providing the workforce of the future.

I look forward to meeting with many of you in my travels and on campus. My door is always open.

Onward and upward! The best of is yet to be.

Welcome home to Ferrum College!

With Panther Pride,

Mirta M. Martin, Ph.D. President, Ferrum College

A collaborative vision; diversified financial support; and creative implementation to yield increased student success, satisfaction and retention.

Higher education is changing. Best practices and expectations in and out of the classroom are evolving. In this environment, Ferrum College has a long history of serving students from underserved backgrounds whose transition to college life can come with additional hurdles—navigating unfamiliar academic processes, loss of social support networks, difficulty connecting with professors and classmates, and the realization of knowledge gaps in foundational areas like math and writing.

Early in 2022, these combined realities led faculty and staff across campus to see the necessity to revitalize student support services. Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly and Vice President of Student Development & Campus Life Angie Dahl, led the development of a comprehensive student support program to improve student satisfaction and increase retention, especially among Ferrum’s first-generation and low-income students. Initiatives to expand some existing services and add new programs—in areas such as academic advising, financial literacy, first-generation college student support, and mental health—were identified and implemented through the Carter Center and the Office of Student Life & Engagement.

The Carter Center for Academic Success (CCAS) programs and services to assist and empower students throughout their educational journey begin when students arrive on campus. The CCAS staff provide regular proactive, intensive, and individualized academic support for each student based on their comprehensive academic assessment.

As part of its strategic vision, the CCAS launched the following programs in 2022:

Each Ferrum College student is assigned a student success coach who provides a variety of individualized advising and assessment services from the day they arrive on campus until they graduate. While academic advising is still a key component to Ferrum’s support services, Coaches help students navigate other possible determinants to their success such as financial literacy, career advice, and working through personal or emotional challenges.

Under the direction of Tracy Holley ’96, the recently established Michael T. Christian First-Year Experience Center provides a variety of resources, including workshops, study sessions, social activities, as well as a dedicated study space with coffee, snacks, school supplies and support staff.

The first-year college seminar was redesigned to include both large group sessions covering topics such as campus technology and financial literacy, and smaller class sessions designed to discuss and utilize the information from the large group sessions.

Before the 2022 fall semester, incoming freshmen had the opportunity to participate in the Foundations one-week summer bridge program. This inaugural program was hosted by 7 upperclassmen mentors and included activities designed to increase academic preparedness and engagement in the campus community. To date, only one participant was not retained for spring 2023 and 81% of the participants are in good academic standing with 43% achieving Dean’s List.

Financial literacy and financial stability are often important predictors of student success. The First@ Ferrum Financial Literacy and Scholarship Program provides students with additional sources of financial support as well as education and information regarding grants and scholarships.

Additionally, the Carter Center recently launched the Ferrum College Opportunity Fund to provide need-based mini-grants. Financial literacy will help set good habits and prepare students to make sound decisions with their money as they advance into financial independence, but students often face unanticipated emergency expenses. The Opportunity Fund one-time mini-grants help bridge financial gaps that might otherwise present an obstacle to academic, professional, personal, or spiritual development.

Ferrum College has recognized the growing demand for mental health and community support services from our students. To increase student satisfaction, retention and ensure persistence to graduation, innovations in academic support must be complemented by mental health and quality of life resources. The Office of Student Life and Engagement transformed the lower level of Roberts Hall in fall 2022 to house the Creativity and Mindfulness Suites to teach stress management skills. Broader social emotional programming is also provided through residence life, counselors are also on staff to provide confidential, one-on-one therapy when needed.

Additionally, the College now uses multiple assessment instruments to equip Success Coaches with data to work proactively with College faculty, staff, Office of Student Life and Engagement, and athletic coaches to provide immediate support alerts for our students. A committee meets weekly to discuss students in need and makes recommendations, writes an action plan, and assigns a staff member, coach or faculty member to help the students.

Ferrum College has been successful in obtaining a combination of private and public funds to support these strategic and groundbreaking initiatives. In May 2022, Ferrum College was awarded $143,000 in grant funding by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to support the Carter Center for Academic Success. The grant award will support the College’s academic support services to increase equity in academic achievement as well as the overall performance, persistence, and graduation of first generation students, low-income students, and students with disabilities who demonstrate a need for academic support.

The Office of Student Life and Engagement resources in Roberts Hall and other student mental health initiatives were funded through an Office of Postsecondary Education federal grant and Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III - Supplemental Support under the American Rescue Plan for education stabilization.