SinceFrancis Marion University’s founding some 50 years ago, its core mission has been clear. The university was created to provide the people of this area with access to a quality college education.
While FMU’s capability and reputation have grown, the original purpose remains. We are here to make our region and our state a better place by educating young men and women for careers filled with meaning. In the past decade or so, nowhere has that focus been more apparent than in the growth of our nursing and engineering programs. Both are observing significant anniversaries this year. You can read more about that in this issue, but allow me a moment to reflect on the importance of these programs and their transformational impact on this university and the people it serves.
Nursing has enjoyed a rich history at FMU. The university began educating nurses in partnership with MUSC from its very beginning. We brought the program to campus in the early 2000s and constructed a new building a few years after that, signaling a long-term commitment to this crucial profession.
As this was happening, the university’s faculty, and its partners in the community, made it clear that nursing would evolve quickly and require post-baccalaureate degrees. The impact of these initiatives has been astonishing — even our staunchest advocates have been surprised. When FMU launched its advanced practice nursing degree program, there were less than a handful of FNPs practicing in the area. Today there are hundreds, most of whom are FMU graduates.
The healthcare these women and men deliver is impeccable, their impact undeniable. Areas without providers are now served extensively. Patients are seen in a timely manner and receive more attention. The list of benefits continues to grow as we’ve added several specialties to the program over the years. More are yet to come.
Our engineering program, which developed at about the same time, has produced similar returns, albeit with a different workforce.
The Pee Dee is rapidly transforming into a hub of manufacturing activity, thanks to the visionary leadership by state and local elected officials, combined with the efforts of regional industrial recruiters. Yet even as this process began, these same officials pointed out an obvious stumbling block. There simply weren’t enough engineers in the region. While some engineers could be brought in from afar, they tended to be transient. What was needed was homegrown talent.
Enter FMU again, this time to create a program that few believed could be achieved. They may have been skeptical. We never were. Our physics faculty, led by the late Dr. David Petersen, were sure they had built the foundation to establish this new program. And they were right. There were hurdles to overcome. But we resolved those issues and developed a growing program with dozens of successful alumni, two very different fields of study, a new lab, and equipment.
Our industry partners in the region, and across the state, are hiring our engineers faster than we can turn them out. The future is bright. We anticipate adding a third engineering degree as the numbers continue to grow. The FMU family is proud of both these professional programs, but their success should come as no surprise.
This is what we’re supposed to do.
Dr. Fred Carter, President
BRIGHT FUTURE
A decade ago FMU leaders saw the need for an engineering program. The result exceeds all expectations.
CONCIERGE MBA
The educational needs of developing businesses changes with the team. FMU’s School of Business is moving to meet them.
ON A MEDICAL MISSION
FMU’s Advanced Practice Nursing programs have grown and prospered since their inception 15 years ago. Community healthcare — and the careers of our grads — have been transformed.
NET ADVANTAGE
FMU volleyballer Caroline Lucas has excelled on the court, in the lab, and on the river.
Francis Marion Focus Magazine
SPRING/SUMMER 2025
CONTRIBUTORS
Tucker Mitchell
Anna Todd
Betty Suggs
DESIGNER
Tori Payne
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Breanna Lisenby
Betty Suggs
The FMU Focus Magazine is a semi-annual publication of Francis Marion University. It is distributed digitally to University alumni, donors, and friends. Print copies can be requested. The magazine is published by FMU’s University Communications office.
Cover photo: FMU's very own Bishop Donald Jackson poses in the Donald Jackson Courtyard in the Stokes Administration Building. Jackson is retiring after 30-plus years at the University.
By TUCKER MITCHELL
These days, it can be hard for Dr. Lorna CintronGonzalez to imagine it was 10 years ago when she sat in her office at Francis Marion University, the only engineering professor on campus, wondering if she could do it, if she could get the fledgling program off the ground and launch a medium-sized state university into a shiny new future.
It was her first job. The school was counting on her. The community was counting on her. She knew what needed to be done, but there was just so much to do and …who knew what the future really held?
“It was nerve-wracking,” says Cintron-Gonzalez. “I wanted to succeed so badly. I wanted the program to succeed, for the university to succeed, and most of all for the students, who, we shouldn’t forget, were stepping out a bit,
too, to do well. It was exciting, but, oooh … all these tasks, all these worries. What would happen?”
What would happen is that the program would take off, just as Cintron-Gonzalez and so many others hoped, just as leaders like FMU President Fred Carter, and the late Dr. David Peterson, chair of the Physics Department at the time, predicted. Students would graduate and flourish. Critical jobs that local industries were struggling to fill would be occupied by FMU’s brand new grads. A second major (Mechanical Engineering) would join Industrial Engineering, FMU’s original degree program. New faculty would arrive, an on-campus engineering lab would be constructed and the future would be — is — bright.
“Engineering is one of the foundational pieces of Francis Marion’s growth and maturation in the past decade,” says Carter. “Building quality, professional programs like this is critical to the well-being of our students, our state, and our community. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with the
faculty we had on hand to do the job, I was sure we could get it done.”
Says Cintron-Gonzalez, “Once we got started, it was just a blur in some ways. There’s story upon story that makes the history of this program so enjoyable, so rewarding. I was teaching courses I never thought I'd teach. The administration was so involved. Industry was so involved. There were so many people working together to make sure this program was a big success … And then we started graduating students. To see that first class felt unreal. They graduated and they all had jobs and all were successful. It was amazing and then that lasted like two seconds because here comes the accreditation and the next class and…off we go.”
ENGINEERS NEEDED
Francis Marion has a history, particularly under Carter’s lengthy reign, of adding programs that meet the needs of its community; by creating promising career paths for Pee Dee-area students, and in meeting workforce requirements. None of its many startups have been any more connected to those goals than engineering.
It was clear as the 21st century dawned that a door was opening for the Pee Dee Region, and the state, to flourish as a center for advanced manufacturing. Many elements were in place, but a critical piece was missing. Existing and new companies to the area could not find enough homegrown engineers to fill their rosters.
“We had a number of companies in the region, a lot of political and business leaders, coming to us and asking if we could get something going,” recalls Carter. “The exciting part of this is that the idea fit well with the direction in which we were moving. Our physics department had a long history of excellence, especially in areas like health physics, and that gave us a base to build from. We also knew it would be attractive to a certain percentage of our students, so it was just a matter of putting all that together.”
Years of study followed. Based on conversations with colleagues at other universities, FMU decided to begin with Industrial Engineering, a broad-based
degree that would help fill needs in a lot of industries.
The approach worked. “IE” offered a nice runway for the first-time engineers to travel. And, a variety of local businesses quickly signed on as partners, providing places for engineering interns and special projects, as well as financial support and, of course, jobs for newly minted engineers.
Those industry partnerships, says Dr. Derek Jokisch, David Peterson’s successor as chair of the Physics and Engineering Department, remain one of the most remarkable aspects of the program. Better than 90 percent of FMU’s 50-plus engineering grads have completed at least one paid internship during their academic career. Several have completed more than one. And, every engineering graduate to date is either employed as an engineer, or is in grad school.
“I don't know of other institutions that can say they have a record that’s better than that when it comes to internships and industry connections,” says Jokisch. “It speaks to how involved industry is during the students' education, and how they’ve been involved since day one. Our students are being educated in ways that are not always listed in the catalog and that's so important. Once they graduate, they're getting hired — all of them — and yet…we're nowhere close to meeting the demand that we started out to meet. There’s a lot of room to grow.”
As was hoped, most of FMU’s engineers are working in the Pee Dee Region. All but a handful are employed in the state of South Carolina.
Eryne McLaughlin, a sophomore student in mechanical engineering, is involved in an innovative new program with Schaeffler AG, an international manufacturer of ball bearings and other motion industry specialty parts. Schaeffler has a plant in McLaughlin’s hometown of Cheraw, S.C., and is providing McLaughlin with extensive scholarship support at FMU. She’s already worked one internship at the plant and has another planned in the near future. A job awaits when she completes her degree, and she’s already looking forward to it.
“I like where I live and this way I
can stay here with a good job,” says McLaughlin. “I’ll be needed there and I’ll get the degree I need at FMU. It’s great how this has worked out.”
THE FUTURE OF WORK
Dr. Michael Potter, director of the Mechanical Engineering program at FMU, is a big sports fan. And like most sports fans these days, he is amazed at the avalanche of analytical data that is coursing through the veins of almost every athletic competition.
“Everything that an athlete does is being measured,” says Potter. “The level of detail is stunning, really.”
Unlike most other sports fans, however, Potter is working hard to apply the best principles and ideas from sports science to his day job. One significant example: with the help of some of his upper level engineering students, Potter is working on a project, funded by a grant from the South Carolina Research Authority, to improve the skills, efficiency, and hireability of the state’s manufacturing workforce. The grant for the multiyear award was obtained by Potter’s predecessor, Dr. Rahul Renu. Potter and company are now busy developing the necessary tools, techniques, and formulas to turn Renu’s ideas into reality.
At the core of the project is the idea that “wearables” — sensor-laden devices attached to the human body — can be used to improve the training and advancement of employees in the manufacturing field.
“Manufacturing is becoming more automated, of course,” says Potter, “but there are still plenty of tasks that need to be done by humans. They need to be done well, and they need to be taught well, and there should be some follow up to ensure that the quality of the work continues. Developing effective wearables can go a long way in making that happen.”
Potter and his students are borrowing technology from sports, movies and even video games to develop workforce wearables. Their initial focus was on devices to measure movement of hands and arms. They have branched out from there, moving to other body parts — and to different ideas.
For instance, they are developing an online program, a “digital twin module,” that could allow workers to familiarize themselves with products and assembly procedures before they ever hit the factory floor. As they develop the wearables to assist with training, they are also looking at ways to monitor future performance. That would mean wearables that would be worn on the job … which means developing wearables that are light, durable, and unobtrusive.
Potter, whose doctorate is from the University of Michigan, specializes in biomechanics. He says using devices like those already in place in big-time sports, in the workplace, have more potential applications than can be counted. For example, an employee in an advanced manufacturing plant might develop shortcuts for a process once they have mastered it, which might be a good thing, and which might not.
“I think there's this question about exactly what happens as they reach a certain point with regards to their skills and
their experience,” says Potter. “Can we track the movement to understand if a new path for their hands is saving or losing energy? During the process, is their head going to be tilted up because they are looking up at instructions more and away from the part, or will they be looking down at the part more often as they get trained? I don’t know the answer to that, but I think we can find out (with wearable-based measurements).
“Sports today have so many measures and new ways of determining performance,” says Potter. “I don't see anything like that in the workplace, but there's a lot of potential with a project like this to understand that and make a real difference. And we’re a part of that at FMU.”
Even though the FMU project is essentially a preliminary study of the feasibility of workplace wearables, it’s an important step, and invaluable experience for the university’s engineering students.
“The program here is small, intimate,” says Potter. “That means every student here has the opportunity to work on something like this. It’s really exciting. I wish I had an opportunity like this when I was coming through.”
MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FIELD
FMU’s engineering graduates have fanned out across the Pee Dee and the state, populating a variety of jobs in diverse industries.
Devin Warren (’22) is currently on a team at the Fluor Corporations’s Greenville, S.C., office, designing a massive piping project for GE Turbines.
“It’s one of the largest projects they’ve ever done,” says Warren. “It’s cool to be a part of it, although at first, you kind of wonder if you can do it. But once you get going, get some experience, you find out you can. I discovered I was pretty well-prepared.”
Dylan Anderson (’18) was the first engineer hired at McCall Farms, a major agri-business in southern Florence County. Anderson has worked on projects tied to efficiency and product safety — and paved the way for more engineers at the company. He’s one of several FMU-trained engineers who is now hosting student projects by FMU engineering students.
FMU engineer Mark Taylor (’23) works at Southeast Express, the logistics partner for Honda’s large manufacturing facility in Timmonsville, S.C. He helps manage the supply chain that sends parts at just the right time to the heavily automated assembly floor.
Lauryn Bush (’20) is an asset manager with RWE, a Texas company focused on clean energy, particularly solar energy.
Dante Ahquin (’20), a McNair Scholar who obtained a masters in Management from the University of Arkansas, is now climbing the career ladder at GE Healthcare. He actually started at GE as an undergraduate.
“The program at FMU — it’s a small, intimate program, which is why it’s great,” says Ahquin. “The time and attention I got from professors … I hadn’t been there a week when they asked ‘what do you want in four years at FMU?’ I told them I wanted to be on track to be a leader, to take on challenges. They were back in a week with an idea on an internship and that’s how I got into GE. I
had an internship there my first year and did my senior research project with GE in 2020. It was a great start.”
Says Jokisch, “The reasons we brought these two programs to FMU was all about supporting local and state manufacturing, and the demand that they had for highly competent, ethical engineers. But the neat part is seeing our students grow, and graduate, and fill those roles, and start on what I’m sure will be successful careers. They’re in demand. It’s a great time to be an engineering student at FMU.”
NEXT STEPS
The COVID pandemic was a hurdle for the program. It unsettled academics across the FMU campus, and across campuses everywhere, and it slowed the program’s growth. That momentum is building again, but challenges remain.
Higher education in general is facing a demographic valley — fewer collegeaged students of all stripes are in the pipeline for the next few years — and attracting students to rigorous disciplines like engineering, and shepherding them through, is always a chore. Students must be competent in higher mathematics — calculus at least — and that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. FMU has done better than most at finding ways to support its students.
“Catch up — that's necessary and that may mean it takes a little longer to go through the program,” says Potter. “But we're seeing students do well in the program which is the important thing. If they're willing to put in the time, we'll support them, and when that happens, they do well. Most are very dedicated to it.”
The new Engineering Workshop on campus (see story, page 9) continues to be filled with equipment that will enable students to perform high-tech machine tooling for prototype work, and to perform aerodynamic and even engine emission tests. The workshop was essential to provide space for the work that was appropriately segregated from the rest of campus.
Education partners stepped up here, too. Duke Energy gave the university $250,000, most of it for lab equipment. More than $2.1 million in federal grants, secured in large part by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), funded still more equipment for Physics and Engineering, as well as for other sciences.
Department leaders are proud of that, but also excited about not filling some of the lab’s 5,000 square feet. Open areas will be reserved for future student projects, an important part of the engineering curriculum.
Industry partners are helping to shape the program as well. Some early feedback from the industry suggested that students would benefit from better presentational
ENGINEERING ADVISORY BOARDS
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
James Haselden - Clarios
Rob Ardis ('98, '16) - Santee Electric Cooperative
Randy Fails - Sonoco
Charles Yarborough - GE Healthcare
Joel Graham - Harbor Freight Tools
Taylor Shelley ('I5 '19) - Otis
and team-working skills. Additional emphasis was added.
“Those are areas where our tradition (at FMU) with the liberal arts pays big dividends,” says Jokisch. “We have a lot of strong departments, excellent professors. That’s a great tool for us.”
Joksich says additional engineering specialties are likely down the road. Nothing is planned for the immediate future, however. Instead, the program’s leaders are looking forward to a few years of ongoing maturation and growth. The future is unknown, but it is undoubtedly promising.
“It’s neat to look back at where we’ve been, all we’ve accomplished, but it’s more exciting to look at where we might go,” says Jokisch. “I think the infrastructure is here for the university to do great things. I don't know exactly what it'll look like in 5-10 years — it can go in multiple directions and I think our faculty and students will have a big say in that — but I have no doubt it’s going to be great.”
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Bob Edwards, Chair - Cummins
John Barrera - GE Healthcare
Mike Padgett - M. Padgett Engineering & Construction LLC
ROWELL TURNED HER HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE INTO A UNIQUE RESEARCH PROJECT.
By ANNA TODD
Victoria Rowell (’25) made hundreds of saves during her career as a goalie for the Andrews (S.C.) High School soccer team.
It was obvious to her that some were better than others.
But how much better and … which ones were the best?
There was no objective way to know.
Fast forward four years and one completed senior project by goalie-turned-engineer Victoria Rowell and now, maybe there is — or one day will be.
Working with Dr. Michael Potter, director of FMU’s Mechanical Engineering program, Rowell completed a preliminary study on the feasibility of building “wearables” into soccer goalie gloves that could measure the difficulty of the save based on the speed and angle of the shot that was caught or deflected.
“For my senior Honors thesis, I knew I wanted to do research related to IMUs (inertial measurement units) due to my work the past few years with Dr. Potter,” says Rowell. “Combining my interest in soccer, experience as a goalkeeper in high school, and my engineering background for my project seemed like the perfect fit.”
Rowell worked with Potter, an expert in the field of wearables for sports and workforce measurement, for nearly two years. The point of the project, says Potter, was to introduce the idea and determine whether or not it could be done. That meant creating a working prototype, but not necessarily building one that was ready for use in the field, or for production.
“People may not realize it, but there’s so much that goes into just figuring out if something can be done,” says Potter. “Victoria did a great job answering some of those questions.”
Rowell began by focusing on measuring how IMUs are used to analyze walker data. That’s how devices like smart watches and phones are able to measure an individual’s steps and isolate where and when they happen. Studying existing wearables, albeit aimed at a different activity and measurement, served as
the precursor to researching using IMUs in a soccer setting.
Next, Rowell spent a semester designing a prototype that would mimic a goalkeeper’s glove. To create the prototype, Rowell designed a three-dimensional forearm, wrist, and hand model, then “printed” it using one of FMU’s 3-D printers. She put the pieces together using torsional springs and hinges. Her next semester was spent conducting the experiment and analyzing the results.
For her research, Rowell sought to collect three pieces of experimental data: the speed at which the soccer ball was moving, the point of contact on the goalie’s hand (in this case, the contact point on the prototype “arm” she built), and the wrist deflection of the goalkeeper’s hand (again, the prototype) while making a save.
The experiment entailed placing IMUs on the model hand and arm, and covering portions with athletic tape to simulate the padding of a goalkeeper’s glove. The model was secured to the leg of a table. Rowell and “research assistants” then launched a soccer ball at the model repeatedly, using a simple slingshot made of exercise bands. The slingshot launched the ball at distances of three, six, nine, 12, and 15 inches to simulate different speeds. 25 trials were conducted at each distance. A video recording was made of each of the 125 trials and IMU data was collected for each trial as well.
Rowell analyzed the data using programs she’d learned through her engineering courses including Kinovea and Spyder. The programs helped interpret and determine the angle of hand deflection, ball speed, and point of contact on the hand.
The results of Rowell’s data proved that IMUs can be used to accurately analyze and assess goalkeeper performance.
Rowell says she’d love to see a “creation” based on her work actually worn on the field by a real, live goalie, instead of by a table leg. Her work on it may have to wait a bit. She recently graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering and is considering job offers.
Rowell says she’s grateful for the hands-on experiences she has had as well as the support she’s received from the engineering faculty. Besides working with Potter on two different research projects, she also completed a paid internship at GE Healthcare and graduated with FMU Honors.
“I love industrial engineering because it’s so versatile,” says Rowell. “This field of engineering looks at how to make processes better and more efficient, something that I enjoy doing in my daily life. Industrial engineering is the perfect field for me because I truly like to find better and more efficient ways to do everything and the fact that I can make a career out of it is exciting.
“I love all of the engineering faculty,” says Rowell. “They are all extremely helpful and want to see you succeed. Being able to learn from them and also conduct research beside and under them makes me know that I am prepared for my next step.”
SPACE, THE FINAL FRONTIER
FMU’s Engineering Workshop has room to grow
Francis Marion University’s new Engineering Workshop is designed to accommodate the needs of the fast-growing programming in that field. That means the almost 5,000-square foot building is mostly about space.
Not aerospace, though. Just plain old space.
Dr. Derek Jokisch, chairman of the Department of Physics & Engineering at FMU, says that he and his colleagues are doing all they can to avoid the temptation to immediately fill the cavernous building right away.
“It looks like a big place because it is big, and, for now, open” says Jokisch. “We’re going to try to keep it that way so that our students have room for projects down the road. That’s one resource in engineering that you never have enough of — space. Some of the projects, especially in mechanical engineering, can get pretty big. We’re thrilled to have all this space. I think everyone wants to maintain at least some of it for as long as we can.”
The workshop features a simple design: it consists mostly of one large, highceilinged room. That space is accessible through a massive garage door that allows for easy load in, even for big items like a car or truck. The open space can be cordoned off to house a number of group projects. The building also contains several office and work spaces separated by permanent walls, and a concrete “patio” that will be used for engine testing. Combustion engines that the engineering students will use will be mounted on wheels and rolled outside when the engine needs to be fired up.
The workshop is also home to several other large pieces of equipment including a wind tunnel and a metal tooling machine that will allow students to build prototypes of machined parts they design.
“A lot of thought went into the equipment,” says Jokisch. “Our students are going to have everything they need.”
The equipment was funded by two federal grants totaling more than $2.1 million, with additional support from Duke Energy. The federal grants, engineered by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, funded equipment across FMU’s science departments.
GOING UP!
OTIS SUPPORT HAS LIFTED FMU ENGINEERING FROM THE START
Otis Worldwide’s Florence plant has been a staunch supporter of FMU’s engineering program since its inception 10 years ago. The renowned elevator builder has hired dozens of students for internships and cooperative experiences. Many of those have resulted in full-time positions after graduation. With FMU’s program specialties a good fit for Otis’ needs, and the plant less than 10 miles from campus, it’s been a match made in heaven. There are currently seven FMU alums and two interns at Otis. Here’s a look at a few of them and their experiences.
AUSTIN STAFFORD
CURRENT POSITION: MANUFACTURING ENGINEER
Major: Mechanical Engineering, 2024
Why engineering?
I’ve known since I was a teenager that I wanted to be an engineer. I originally started in the electrical engineering technology program, but after talking with a mechanical engineering professor, I decided to switch my major. Being an engineer gives you the freedom to make decisions from a design standpoint, which is something that was really appealing to me. … In my day-to-day work, I ensure that the designs and systems we use are feasible and can be produced. There can be a design that works perfectly in simulation, but isn’t feasible in practice. I work with other teams of people to ensure that what we’re designing will work.
Experience with FMU and Otis: The professors at FMU really gave me a foundation in the classroom for what I would need to know to be a successful engineer, but outside of the classroom, they showed that they really cared about who I am as a person and wanted to help me become the best I can be.
I was able to do an internship at Otis while I was a student at FMU. I liked being able to see what I learned in class come to life in the plant. For me, this was really instrumental in the learning process because I could clearly see how what I was learning in class mattered in practice.
MASON OXENDINE
CURRENT POSITION: MANUFACTURING ENGINEER
Major: Industrial Engineering/Math, 2022
Why engineering?
Since I was a middle schooler, I’ve known I wanted to be an engineer. I joined a STEM club where we worked on different projects and competed. It exposed me to so many principles in STEM… As a manufacturing engineer at Otis, I support the manufacturing lines I’m assigned to which deal with what the end user sees and uses such as the buttons and screens within the elevator. If a change needs to be made on my line, I am responsible for ensuring everything is done correctly and meets the customer's expectations. I also work collaboratively with other managers on large-scale projects.
Experience with FMU and Otis:
FMU prepared me well for my current position at Otis. Encouraging students to have internships during school made a big impact on my ability to be prepared for my job. I learned how to manage my time, keep a positive attitude, and how to work with a team both on classroom projects and in my internship. I’m appreciative of the way FMU structures its upper level engineering classes to allow students to take part in internships because gaining that experience while still in school is invaluable.
TAYLOR SHELLEY LAMAR, SC
CURRENT POSITION: SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER
Major: Industrial Engineering/Math, 2019
Why engineering?
When I started at FMU, I was a nursing major. Two years later, I decided to switch to engineering near the end of my sophomore year. I love math and love working with my hands - I farmed hay with my granddad growing up - and engineering was a
GUYTON HICKS HANNAH,
SC
CURRENT POSITION: TEST ENGINEER
Major: Industrial Engineering/Math, 2017
Why engineering?
After high school graduation, I went to FlorenceDarlington Tech where I stumbled across electronics engineering technology. During this time, I began working at Otis as an intern and knew I wanted to have a career there. I needed an engineering degree to do what I wanted to do, so I enrolled in FMU to earn my bachelors in industrial engineering. I love problem-solving and really
way to combine those two. … At Otis, I work on the warehouse side where I handle transformation, automation, and continuous improvement.
Experience with FMU and Otis:
My first experience with Otis was in my senior design project which is a project to help with the transition from school to real-world application. I really enjoyed this project as well as my internships because they really taught me how to apply what I was learning in the classroom to the field. I am eternally grateful for the faculty who work to secure internship opportunities and encourage the students to do them.
enjoy the technical aspect of solving problems in engineering.…As a test engineer, I develop and maintain factory test equipment and processes for elevator control units.
Experience with FMU and Otis: I have spent over ten years at Otis at this point and really love what I do. From starting as an intern in 2013 to becoming a part-time employee while a student at FMU to beginning full-time in 2018, Otis has become a second home. I learned so many things at FMU that I have taken with me into my job at Otis. FMU prepared me not only with engineering knowledge, but also taught me how to think through problems for myself and use the skills I’ve learned to solve them.
Why Engineering?
CARLOS VALENZUELA FLORENCE, SC
CURRENT POSITION: INTERN
Why Engineering?
CURRENT POSITION: INTERN
I have always wanted to be an engineer. My dad is an industrial engineer and growing up, hearing what he did, was always interesting to me. He has worked for Otis for over 25 years which is why we moved to Florence about 12 years ago.
Why FMU?
I chose to attend Francis Marion because I knew I wanted a college that was smaller so I could get more one-on-one attention from my professors. I also like the amenities we have on campus like the tutoring center.
Internship Experience:
I started as a summer intern at Otis in May 2024 which was extended to a co-op position in August 2024. I will stay in this position until I graduate in May 2026. I really love the environment at Otis and hope to work there when I graduate. My experience at Otis has really improved my engineering skills, time management, problem-solving, and ability to work with a team. Working at Otis is very different from being in the classroom. I really appreciate the opportunity that Otis gives FMU students to work before graduation and the faculty at FMU who encourage us to get internships. My knowledge and understanding of engineering has grown so much during this past year at Otis.
JAMES MORRIS
TURBEVILLE, SC
CURRENT POSITION: MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Why engineering?
At FMU, I didn’t major in engineering, but chose to study physics and math. This combination has allowed me to be successful in my career as a mechanical engineer for Otis and also as an upcoming student in NC State’s Master of Mechanical Engineering program. While a student at FMU, I had the opportunity to be engaged in a number of research projects working with professors in areas like electricity and magnetism. I also conducted research as part of a program at LSU during the summer of 2020 that dealt with coding. All of these things prepared me for my current role as an engineer at Otis.
Experience with FMU and Otis: FMU offers students so many opportunities to participate in research and hands-on learning experiences. These helped prepare me for my role at Otis where I work in the Product Life Cycle Management area. In my role, I work to ensure that existing components function how they should. If issues arise, I am responsible for developing a new design that eliminates the problem.
I’ve always enjoyed working on cars and knew I wanted to do something with my hands. My parents encouraged me to look at engineering, so I did. When I toured FMU during an Open House, I met one of the engineering professors and he sold me on engineering.
Why FMU?
FMU felt comfortable to me the first time I visited. I knew I wanted to go some place small where I could really get to know my professors and also be involved on campus. FMU was the right fit for me. I’m involved in intramurals, the Institute of Industrial and System Engineers, and am in the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Internship Experience:
I’ve co-oped at Otis since January 2023 and will be there through December 2025. I really hope I can work there after I graduate. Some of the things I do at Otis are reworks and time studies. In a rework, we integrate a different part or build a new part to use in the assembly. In time studies, I video an assembly station and determine how to make it more efficient. I also replace cables, 3-D print, and troubleshoot elevators.
Otis has given me such a great experience. When I started working there, I was really able to see so clearly how the things I was learning in class correlate to the field, especially as I’ve taken upper engineering and electronics courses. The flipside is true as well as the things I’m learning at Otis make the concepts I’m learning in class so much easier to understand. Everything I learn in class has an example at work.
“MY JOB IS REWARDING BECAUSE I GET TO BE A CONDUCTOR OF CHANGE. BEING ABLE TO MAKE A COOL DESIGN THAT IS USED OR WORK ON A PROCESS CHANGE AND SEE IT COME TO FRUITION IS REALLY REWARDING TO ME.”
— AUSTIN STAFFORD
JONATHAN ELLISON FLORENCE, SC
CURRENT POSITION: CNC APPLICATIONS ENGINEER
Major: Industrial Engineering, 2021
Why engineering?
I’ve always been a creative person who loves building and experimenting. Engineering is all I’ve ever wanted to do. Industrial Engineering, to me, is the best field because it allows you to dabble in different areas of engineering. At Otis, I work to optimize material usage and create programs to assist in run-time for production.
Experience with FMU and Otis: The education I received at FMU really prepared me for my career today. All the professors were super helpful and always found time to help with anything, answer questions, and explain more. I’m glad that FMU really encourages co-ops and internships from an early point. I was fortunate to start working at Otis in a co-op position in 2018. While I worked a few other places as well during college and when I first graduated, the relationships I made at Otis and my experience there brought me back as a full-time employee in 2022.
GARRETT BROWN
HARTSVILLE, SC
CURRENT POSITION: MANUFACTURING PROCESS ENGINEER
Why engineering?
I chose to major in engineering because I love math and problem-solving. Industrial engineering was the right fit for me because it combines many of the things I enjoy as I work to optimize processes. … At Otis, I work with line operators to see how the process can be improved and throughput increased while maintaining quality. I also work on new product integrations as well as bring in parts from suppliers and set them up in a way that is most optimal for the facility.
Experience with FMU and Otis: FMU was a great place to earn my engineering degree. As a smaller program, I feel like I got more personal attention from my professors than I would have somewhere else. I also loved the ability to do internships and really see how the knowledge I was learning translated to the field. FMU certainly prepared me for what I do at Otis.
Major: Physics/Math, 2019
Major: Industrial Engineering/Math, 2019
New forestry program will meet regional needs for land management, open up research opportunities
By TUCKER MITCHELL
Roughly two thirds of the 20.5 million acres in the state of South Carolina are covered by forests.
It’s a tremendous resource that requires thoughtful care and management. In the years to come, some of that management will emanate from Francis Marion University.
FMU is preparing to launch its Forestry program in the fall of 2026. An academic framework for the new field of study has been put together. University leaders are in the process of hiring a program director. And site work is underway at the 45,000-square foot forestry and environmental sciences building that will rise later this year on the western edge of campus, near the new SLED Regional Headquarters (see story, page 23).
The new program has been placed in FMU’s storied Department of Biology administratively, with long-time FMU Professor Dr. Vernon Bauer as its interim director.
Dr. Fred Carter, FMU’s president, says Forestry has been on FMU’s radar for some time, but came to the fore in recent years
when industry and community leaders contacted the university about the acute need for professional forestry management in the area.
“There were individuals with broad perspectives and interests who called this to our attention,” says Carter. “The forests and unspoiled lands in the Pee Dee are tremendous resources, both for industry and ecology. As this region grows, they need to be managed properly and frankly, the professionals required just aren't available.”
Carter says the timing is propitious. The need for forestry professionals arrived just as FMU had begun to dig into the field of environmental sciences. That, in turn, was built on FMU’s strong foundation in the natural sciences.
“The recent growth of programs in freshwater ecology, environmental sciences, and forestry join other majors that we have developed in the health sciences and engineering over the past 15-20 years,” says Carter. “It’s a nice complement to our
core liberal arts curriculum and other successful programs in the sciences, the arts, the humanities, business, and education, and I’m sure, in time, will be a real boon, both to this region, and the state.”
Bauer says the impetus to create the program rolled “downstream” from recent flood events in the area, like Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and the storm that caused catastrophic small dam failures during a storm the fall before that.
“There were a lot of issues experienced across the board coming out of Hurricane Matthew and other storms,” says Bauer. “We had lots of water issues, an infrastructure mess, power outages, etc., and the ability to manage land, water, and natural resources in relation to that received a lot of attention. FMU was already moving in that direction with the Freshwater Ecology Center and our Environmental Studies program. It just seemed like FMU should play a part with regard to forestry, too. It all fits together.”
Bauer designed a basic curriculum for the program, based on what was in use by other forestry programs in the southeast, and the licensure requirements within the profession. That included weighing in on the general design for the new building. It will include four laboratory spaces and some of those will be used for Forestry-specific work, such as soil tests.
Future FMU foresters will have access to a lot of forested land in the area, including two small tracts already owned by the university. A greenhouse for trees might be useful in the future.
“Forestry certainly requires a grounding in biology,” says Bauer, “but it’s its own animal, with its own very specific set of skills. It requires some mathematics, professional writing, probably even some engineering. The good news is we’re in a position to provide all of that, once we have some Forestry faculty.”
Once a program director and faculty are hired, FMU’s curriculum will be refined to match the courses being taught — and even the particular forests being studied — labs and field work. The forests of the Pee Dee, which often lie, in whole or in part, in wetland areas, are unique, says Bauer.
“That could actually be another advantage, one of the things that might make FMU unique,” says Bauer. “Foresters from other places may not know what to do with our swampbased, lowland forests. So, if someone comes down here from Clemson (the only other forestry program in South Carolina), it may well be that they have never seen this before. Our position in the southeast will be one-of-a-kind. We’ll train foresters, we’ll begin to understand what it takes to manage this kind of land. I think it will be a great opportunity for our students and will open up different areas of research in which our faculty will be able to compete for grants and research dollars from around the world.”
Bauer says the program has already generated interest and excitement among existing students, and he’s expecting a good-sized class when the program begins in 2026.
Prospective majors can find out more at www.fmarion.edu/ biology/, or by contacting Bauer at vbauer@fmarion.edu.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES:
FMU introduces a concierge MBA Program aimed at working professionals; HopeHealth is its first participant
By BETTY SUGGS
A growing, forward-thinking company wants its cadre of executives to continue their education and professional development, but … it’s a growing company with plenty for those executives to do.
How, and when, to add that piece to the flow of work?
It’s a sticky problem that confronts plenty of businesses, but as Francis Marion University and HopeHealth are demonstrating, there is a solution.
The two institutions in Florence, S.C., are partnering on a concierge Master of Business Administration (MBA) program that enables HopeHealth staff to pursue graduate-level courses while remaining active in the workforce. The concierge program is hosted face-to-face at FMU’s downtown campus, just a few blocks
from HopeHealth’s main campus.
The first group of students from HopeHealth — there are eight in this cohort — will graduate in December. Students range from their mid-20s to late 50s.
FMU leaders expect this partnership will serve as a model, and that other businesses and institutions in the area will follow. Indeed, as HopeHealth’s first cohort nears the end of its studies, a second partnership has already been launched at ACS Technologies. Twelve students are enrolled in that class.
“I’m hoping, and expecting, more and more organizations to be interested in the program so we can potentially have a new cohort every two years,” says Dr. Hubert Setzler, director of FMU’s Master of Business Administration program. “It has a huge
Assistant VP of Strategy and Innovation at HopeHealth
amount of value, it gets the reputation of Francis Marion out, and it allows our professors to go out and see how the curriculum they are teaching applies in the organization.”
Andrea Chewning, Assistant Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at HopeHealth, believes the new program offers several advantages to HopeHealth’s staff, including personal growth and enhanced loyalty.
“It has been phenomenal to watch the development of the staff here,” says Chewning. “Not only are they developing in their learning, making better business decisions, and learning about the company, but they now have loyalty to HopeHealth for investing in them.
“Not only are students learning in class, but we also apply it to real life. HopeHealth benefits by receiving usable information, marketing plans, and more.”
The concierge MBA program builds on a standing relationship between FMU and HopeHealth. The university has been providing HopeHealth with a steady stream of healthcare professionals for more than a decade now, and HopeHealth is one of the top locations for internships and required practicum placements for FMU’s nursing and advanced practice health students.
This isn’t the first attempt at delivering FMU educational services to HopeHealth employees either. Prior to the start of this concierge MBA program, some HopeHealth employees were enrolled in Six Sigma certificate programs through FMU. Six Sigma is a business process methodology aimed at improving efficiency.
“It is nice to have that ongoing relationship where FMU and HopeHealth are both benefiting and everyone is in the same community,”
says Chewning. “It is a great way for employers to invest in their people.”
HopeHealth leaders have also been part of the FMU School of Business’s advisory board, and it has “helped us out with research opportunities,” says Setzler.
The HopeHealth MBA program resembles a traditional MBA with a modification that allows the student’s research work to focus on the business where they are employed. The first half of the program features tests, quizzes, and projects. In the second half, students collaborate on projects at HopeHealth. They're able to use HopeHealth data, services, and locations.
Setzler says the students received a well-structured course of study that is respectful of their time, and their status as full-time employees. It will not overwhelm them. At the same time, it maintains the quality and rigor that is a hallmark of FMU’s MBA program.
“Curriculum is manageable, but top quality,” says Setzler. “We are accredited at the highest levels of Schools of Businesses at both the undergraduate and graduate level.”
The specificity of the program, and the fact that the students all work together, creates a unique, and highly beneficial dynamic, too.
“With this program, there is a certain level of accountability because the students do not want to perform poorly, as they are surrounded by their colleagues,” says Setzler. “Their performance increases. We are directing the content specifically to HopeHealth. If there is an accounting class, we are going to work on accounting projects based on what the students are learning with HopeHealth. A lot of the upper level managers are seeing that application of the MBA program into things they are actually doing.”
Dr. Hubert Setzler Director of FMU's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program and Professor of Management
Andrea Chewning
FMU’s latest international educational exchange venture is in Thailand
By BETTY SUGGS
A 35-hour trip, an up-close elephant experience, and a group of new friends half a world away.
It was all part of the first trip by Francis Marion University students and faculty to Chiang Mai Rajabhat University (CMRU) in northern Thailand. Ten students and three FMU faculty members traveled to the city of Chiang Mai during their 2025 spring break.
Lillian Williamson, a junior from Sumter, S.C., says she’d made a promise to herself to travel as much as possible while she was in her 20s. The trip to Chiang Mai was one she couldn’t pass up.
“I learned a lot about Thai culture and religion,” says Williamson. “Chiang Mai is such a unique place with a rich history. I was amazed to learn the history of the city and just how old it truly is. I also learned a few cultural dances and how to make some of the region’s most popular dishes.”
With the link now established between CMRU and FMU — a group of professors from Thailand traveled to Florence and FMU for a summer learning session several years ago — the connection is expected to flourish. It’s the newest part of FMU’s growing International Programs department.
The Thailand connection began with
Dr. Sampong Kraikit, a longtime FMU benefactor and friend, who is also a graduate of Chiang Mai University.
Kraikit, who has practiced nephrology in Florence for more than four decades, wanted to give back to his hometown in Thailand. His wife, Suwanee, suggested inviting professors from Thailand to FMU to learn active teaching methods, with the idea that they would return and share the knowledge they gained. They worked with their friend, FMU President Fred Carter, to initiate a study-abroad program in Asia.
As part of the program, a group of 10 Thai educators came to Francis Marion, where they studied under Dr. Kathryn Haselden, a Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Center of Excellence for College and Career Readiness.
More recently, the Thai project, including a possible trip by FMU students and faculty to Thailand, was added as an exploratory program through FMU’s International Studies Center.
Dr. J. Mark Blackwell, Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies and Director of International Programs, says the participating faculty and students set up the curriculum and programs. Blackwell’s office, as usual, developed plans that made the trip viable and safe.
FMU sent a team of faculty members to Thailand in 2024 to prepare the way. That delegation, consisting of Dr. Haselden, Dr. Matthew Turner (Associate Professor of Philosophy and Coordinator of the Philosophy and Religious Studies Program), and his wife, Dr. Lorianne Turner (Professor of Biology, James B. Gray Chair of Microbiology, Coordinator of the Pre-Physical/ Occupational Therapy Program, and Co-coordinator of the
Medical Laboratory Science Program), looked to establish a partnership with a university in Asia. The group targeted a number of universities, but after careful consideration, CMRU was selected. CMRU was viewed as the most fitting partner because it shared similar goals and, like FMU, served a large population of first-generation college students. Chiang Mai's international airport also made it a convenient location for travel.
Haselden says that Dr. Carter worked to create a budget that the Thailand group could work with that would make the trip affordable for FMU students.
“That was wonderful,” says Haselden.
Both Drs. Turner and Dr. Haselden presented lectures on Thai history and culture, on travel logistics, and on presenting cultural conversations once they arrived.
Dr. Lori Turner says, “In addition to the work on the ground, one of the biggest things we took seriously was talking to the students before we went on the trip. We really wanted to hit on different points that we needed the students to be prepared for. Everything from food, to temperature, etiquette, and other cultural moments.”
The trip was not a simple one. It included a drive to Charlotte followed by 24 hours and 28 minutes of flying time, plus 10 hours and 56 minutes of layovers.
In Thailand, the group toured Doi Inthanon National Park, the “roof of Thailand” in the Thanon Thong Chai mountain range, and the Royal Chedis and gardens. They also participated in a cooking class at Zabb-E-Lee Thai Cooking School, watched a cultural dance demonstration, and used free time to roam around the city.
Everyone in the group agreed that their favorite experience was visiting the elephant sanctuary supported by Daughters Rising, a nonprofit organization working to combat human trafficking. The sanctuary is run by members of the Karen Village, who not only care for the elephants, but also operate small restaurants and lodging huts, where they gain tourism and hospitality skills. These opportunities provide villagers with sustainable employment, helping to break the cycle of poverty and lessen their vulnerability to trafficking. Notably, the sanctuary follows strict ethical guidelines — no one rides the elephants.
grow — academically, socially, and personally.
Dr. Lori Turner says, “The goal of the cultural experience was met. I think all students gained an appreciation and an understanding of their culture.”
Makalya Sheppard, a psychology major with a minor in biology from Coward, S.C., and Lillian Williamson’s FMU roommate, also attended the spring break trip to Chiang Mai. It was Sheppard’s first time flying and traveling abroad. She says she’s thankful for the life-changing experience FMU gave her.
During their visit to CMRU, the students delivered their cultural presentations. A university vice president invited them to attend his class later that day and present it again to his students. That led to an extended interaction between the FMU students and the students from Chiang Mai. Conversations were had, social media handles were exchanged.
Ten days after the students and staff returned from the spring break trip, an earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand. Some of the FMU students reached out to their new friends in Thailand via social media to ensure they were safe.
The trip’s faculty leaders say the highlight of the trip was seeing students
“The professors were very knowledgeable about Thailand and were prepared for everything,” says Sheppard. “It made the whole experience much less stressful for me. I also had free time to explore and do things I wanted. I would absolutely recommend traveling abroad with FMU—especially for anyone who’s never been on a plane or left the country. It’s an affordable way to have an amazing experience. I mean, when would I ever get another opportunity like this?”
Clockwise from top: FMU group with elephants at Karen Village; Enjoying traditional Thai cuisine; Group visit to the Royal Chedis and gardens in Doi Inthanon National Park.
By TUCKER MITCHELL
Among the procession of professional degree programs Francis Marion University has rolled out the past few decades, none has been clearer in purpose or sharper in focus than advanced practice nursing.
The program, which educates nurse practitioners and now, doctors of nursing practice, was an obvious accompaniment to FMU’s acclaimed nursing program. And it met the most critical of needs in the region and state the university serves — improving the health of its people. The Pee Dee Region, particularly its poorest, most rural areas, has long struggled to find the resources needed — first-rate practitioners in particular — to deliver high quality healthcare.
“There’s nothing more important to the health of a community than healthcare,” says Dr. Fred Carter, FMU’s president. “That may seem obvious, and it is, but it is a vital concern that still doesn’t receive the attention it needs and deserves. Since I’ve been here, one of FMU’s primary missions has been improving the health of the community, to the extent that it’s become a part of the very fabric of this place and what it does.”
FMU, and its partners in the legislature and in the community, have poured resources into healthcare programs. FMU now offers
13 different degree programs across six specialties.
None has had more impact than advanced practice nursing. As the program nears its 15th anniversary, it will soon celebrate its 300th graduate. Those professionals have fanned out across clinics and hospitals and other institutions across the Pee Dee, improving outcomes and raising hope in that most vital of spheres, life itself.
“It’s nice to look back and see all the wonderful people who have come through our program,” says Dr. Deborah Hopla, the director of the program since it began. “It’s really amazing to think back to when I came on board and there were four nurse practitioners in the Pee Dee area, including me. Now they’re everywhere around here and so many of them are our grads. This has really made a big difference.”
ON THE RECRUITING TRAIL
Hopla is a pioneer in nursing practice. She was in the first wave of nurse practitioners in the state of South Carolina, and is a longtime advocate for the profession. She was already well-known in the state, and in the Florence area, and was a practicing nurse practitioner in Timmonsville, S.C., when Carter tapped her to build FMU’s program. Such was Hopla’s reputation that her mere
presence as the new program head was enough to bring some early students into the fold.
“My wife was a (nurse practitioner) and I was working in nursing, and I was thinking about doing it, too, when FMU picked up the ball and started a program,” says Darren Smith, a member of the first FNP class at FMU. “But when we heard Dr. Hopla was going to lead it — everybody knew who she was — I was almost compelled to enter the program.”
Plenty of hard work was still required. Hopla says for several years she “went everywhere, talked to anyone willing to listen — doctor’s offices, clinics, nursing meetings, hospitals, the state medical association — to build support for the program.
“You know, there was just so much to do,” she says. “We had to obtain practice partners for clinical experience. We needed faculty. And, of course, we wanted prospective students to know what we were doing. One positive was I had worked at McLeod (Medical Center) and at the old Bruce Hospital. I knew the medical community. And, for the most part, everybody was on board. We were able to get the people we needed, create the necessary partnerships, and of course, Dr. Carter provided tremendous support. It wasn’t easy, but we got off to a good start.”
EIGHT TIL EIGHT
The program started a few years before online education really took off across the nation. Hence, the program began with 100 percent inperson instruction. To accommodate working schedules — both for the students and the faculty, all of whom continued to practice medicine — Hopla and company set up a bruising all day regimen.
to FMU’s baccalaureate degree program in nursing which began a decade before. Accreditations by industry-leading organizations were meticulously maintained and additional credentials were added when appropriate. For instance, FMU has been named a Center of Excellence in Pedagogical Expertise by the National League of Nursing for 10 years running.
The program exuded pride in the profession, and from the beginning, its leaders were looking toward the future. They anticipated the addition of a doctoral program that would bring high-level research, and still higher standards, to the program.
Hopla and university leaders insisted that faculty be both superb teachers and skilled, active practitioners in the field. Everyone who taught was a nurse practitioner who worked, at least parttime, in frontline healthcare. That’s still the standard today. Even Hopla, who, theoretically at least, is nearing retirement, practices one day a week at HopeHealth.
“You can’t put a value on that experience, on staying active,” says Hopla. “Our students see it. It’s a model for them. And it keeps us going as well.”
“What I remember mostly from FMU was being in class for one long day,” says Dr. Krystal Cooley, who graduated in the first class of nurse practitioners then later obtained her doctorate in nursing practice. “We were there from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It was one class after another, or one lab after another. Most of us would go out to lunch together in the middle of the day at this diner down the road (from FMU’s main campus). …
“… Because of all that, we formed a bond,” says Cooley. “It was a very tight-knit group. I still keep up with many of them.”
Says Smith, “It was a very, very long day — for us and for the professors. We would see some of the same professors throughout the day — they often taught more than one class. We were stressed. I think the profs were, too. There was some shock value. A fair amount of us (in the class) were in our 40s and in grad school. I know I’d gone from being sort of an expert (in his nursing position) to being a new student who didn’t know anything. But what the heck — we all volunteered for this and it turned out great.”
The program began with high standards, a certain connection
Four years in, FMU added the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) program, the first doctoral degree in university history. The new degree, which equipped nurse practitioners to work in research, executive positions, and to teach at the highest level, was developed to meet changing industry standards. It was clear, says Hopla, that the field of nursing practice was headed in the direction of a doctorate becoming the standard for a terminal degree. But it also made sense for students.
“It really caps your education,” says Hopla. “It puts you in a place where you have a different perspective, a broader view. It makes all the difference.”
Advanced practice nursing at FMU now encompasses six different tracks: a master’s to doctorate program, a bachelor’s to doctorate program, a bachelor’s to psychiatric/mental health DNP degree, a masters in psychiatric/mental health practice, a post-masters psychiatric/mental health certificate, and master’s for nurse educators.
A FLEXIBLE WORLD
Just a few words into any career conversation with a nurse practitioner will produce a reference — several usually — to the word “flexibility.” NPs practice across a variety of healthcare disciplines and work every imaginable shift. Most are full-time, but part-time employment is always available for professionals seeking to accommodate different phases of their personal lives, so great is the demand for NPs.
Krystal Cooley, for example, has worked as a hospitalist, as an occupational health provider, and now as provider at a geriatric center, in the less-than-a-decade since she graduated. During
that same period, she and her husband, David, have also started a family. And more new experiences are on the way. She obtained her doctorate several years ago with the idea of teaching somewhere, some day, at the top of her mind.
“It’s not the right time for (teaching) now,” says Cooley, “but someday, I will do that. And that’s the beauty of this (profession). It’s so flexible. You can do almost anything you want, and as far as I can tell, the need will always be there.”
That is a bit different from when Cooley first graduated. She says she experienced a brief panic attack upon
Median pay in the profession has climbed too, to more than $125,000 per year, and it was recently ranked as the best job for the future by Money Magazine because of the remuneration and projected job stability.
Hopla thinks the picture will continue to improve as the profession grows and gains more autonomy. By law, nurse practitioners practice under the direction of a medical doctor, but 28 states allow complete, or some additional autonomy for NPs who have 2,000 hours (about a year’s worth) of clinical practice under their belt.
Hopla has been one of the chief voices advocating for a similar standard to South Carolina, frequently testifying before legislative committees on the matter. It just makes sense, she says, both for the profession and the state of healthcare in South Carolina, which still lags most of the country in practitioners of all kinds per capita.
to practice. That’s important because the program’s mission, from day one, was to prepare healthcare professionals to stay in the region or state, in a place, in other words, where they were desperately needed.
“Our program does attract students from other places, other states, and that’s great,” says Hopla, “but our mission statement is to provide this education to serve this area. I’m so happy we’ve done that, and continue to do that.
graduation because there didn’t appear to be any jobs for nurse practitioners in Florence.
“But that was mostly because there weren’t any nurse practitioners around,” says Cooley. “You just had to look, to ask a few questions. Employers were eager to hire as soon as they found out we existed. It fills a real need.”
Nurse practitioners are one of the fastest-growing fields according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a projected increase of 135,000 jobs nationwide by 2033. There are currently about 285,000 active nurse practitioners in the United States, or not quite three times the number there were when FMU’s program began.
“It would allow nurse practitioners to go out into rural areas without having doctor oversight, places where it is so hard to find doctors to go and practice,” she says. “I don’t know what people are afraid of. Look, here’s the thing I know — nobody (in healthcare) works in a vacuum. When my husband (Dan Hopla, a noted otolaryngologist in Florence) was at his (ear, nose, and throat) practice, if someone came in with a lung lesion, he called a pulmonologist. No one works by themselves anymore. No one practices in a vacuum. Nurse practitioners wouldn’t either.”
EXECUTIVES & ENTREPRENEURS
Like the leaders of many academic departments, Hopla enjoys graduation day, the joy, the emotion, the oncein-a-lifetime family moments. But she says there’s a greater sense of accomplishment when she takes a moment to consider all the nurse practitioners FMU has produced and where they have gone.
She tracks them closely. Of the almost 300 grads, she says, none have left the profession and all but 12 have remained in the state of South Carolina
“I look around and there are students from our program everywhere,” she says. “A family nurse practitioner can really care for any population, from cradle to grave, and that’s what you see our graduates doing. They’re in every kind of setting you can imagine, from schools, to nursing homes, to prisons, to factories. … We have graduates who have gone out and started their own businesses (see “A Sweet Idea” page 22) and who have hired other graduates to form new practices. It’s great to see and to feel that impact on the community, on people.
That impact, and those people, includes the students Hopla and others taught — students like Darren Smith, the son of a sharecropper from Dillon County who now travels across the southeast, providing quality emergency room services where needed (see story page, 21).
He and his wife, also a nurse practitioner, have a son who’s about to go to med school, and other close relatives who are already doctors. The whole long story is all but unbelievable to Smith, considering where he started.
“It’s been an amazing journey and I couldn’t have done it without FMU,” says Smith. “The university took that impoverished, poor kid from Dillon County and helped him secure a comfortable, purposeful life.”
“Hey, I’m on the positive side of the statistical ledger now and this education …that’s what put me there.”
A TRAVELING MAN
Darren Smith's (BS ’00, MSN ’14) path was long and winding. FMU helped him find his way to where he needed to be.
When he was a boy way back when, Darren Smith never imagined he would wind up a traveling nurse practitioner, moving about the southeastern United States, filling staffing holes in emergency rooms and, in his words, “being where I needed to be when I needed to be there.”
He never imagined that, but then why would he? He was the son — again, his words — of a “sharecropper and a domestic.” Just another poor kid from the sticks, from a small town in Dillon County, South Carolina, with no real plan, no real road map.
Well, except this one uncertain line on a seemingly trivial piece of paper.
Sometime while he was in middle school, a guidance counselor dragged him to a special program put on by the local college down the road; Francis Marion University, it was called. People from the college came to Smith’s school each week, different people each time, and shared news about the various academic departments at the university.
It wasn’t much, but it made an impression. When the time came, it brought Smith to FMU, not once, not twice, but three different times as he slowly and methodically pieced together an education that led him to his current place in the world of healthcare, and slowly, carefully changed his life.
“The person I am now was right there, hidden in plain sight, all the time,” says Smith. “I was just a poor boy from a small town in the Pee Dee. Ordinary for around here. I’m one of the people FMU was made for. I’m local, first generation (in his family to attend college) and with no real hope or idea except ‘go to FMU.’ Thank goodness it was there.”
Smith’s academic career and professional journey was arduous and anything but a straight line. He enrolled at FMU, but dropped out to take care of his new family. He obtained a two-year nursing degree, came back to FMU and finished a bachelor’s in biology, went back to work, went to nursing school online to acquire a bachelor of science in nursing, and then back to work and life again. Inspired by his wife, who was a nurse-turned-nurse practitioner, Smith enrolled in the first class of FMU’s new nurse practitioner program in 2012.
After graduating, he found a position at the emergency room at McLeod Health Dillon. It was another case of being where he needed to be. His mother, after long years of toil, was suffering from dementia, and on her last legs. Smith went home to Dillon to
care for her and to start his career as a nurse practitioner.
Smith actually worked for a staffing agency that supplied personnel for Dillon’s ER and other sites. He spent most of his time there, but after his mother passed, he began rotating through a series of emergency rooms around the Low Country. Smith has worked in ERs for almost his entire career. It’s in his healthcare DNA he thinks.
“I was an ER nurse, too,” he says. “ER personnel … are just different. Critical care, on a floor, that’s more about the minutiae. The ER is a more broad stroke. ‘Okay, Mr. Jones is alive. That’s the first mission. … Not sure about the last bowel movement, but he’s still with us.’ That kind of felt like the right thing to me. There’s a tremendous sense of accomplishment there, of helping people quickly.”
Smith has moved up the ladder of TeamHealth, the Knoxvillebased healthcare staffing firm that acquired the Dillon contract while he was there. He’s now on TeamHealth’s Traveling Advanced Practice Team for the southeast region. It means more pay, but also more extensive travel, including some unexpected assignments.
For instance, he was on assignment at a hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, last fall when a storm blew in. Hurricane Helene it was called.
You may have heard of it.
“I was there at my apartment, watching the rain come down, wondering if I should get out or not,” says Smith. “I didn’t realize the scope of what was happening. No one did, really. But a day later, I’m on the phone with my supervisor and he’s telling me, ‘I’m going to need to get you to McDowell County (Marion, North Carolina, one of the areas hardest hit by Helene’s generational flood event). I’m not sure how we’ll get you there. Might be a chopper, or might be a cargo plane of some kind out of Atlanta and then by tracked vehicle or boat to the site. …’ Well, that’s all pretty crazy, I thought, but I signed up to be a traveler so …”
Smith wound up working at hospitals and standalone ERs across the North Carolina mountains. It was grueling at times, but it was rewarding, too.
“I had the pleasure of meeting some of the best people ever,” says Smith. “Just the salt of the earth. They were constantly ferrying stuff up, trying to get to people who might be in need. And there were so many people along the way who’d say, ‘No, I’m fine. Give that to someone else,’ It kind of gives you faith that not everyone is out to get what’s in it for them.
“It wasn’t what I was expecting,” says Smith, “but it was where I was supposed to be. That’s kind of a recurring theme with me.”
A SWEET IDEA
Dr. Hillery Dolford's (DNP ’18) Diabetic Spa delivers specialized care for those who need it most
Complications related to diabetic wound and skin care are not everybody’s cup of tea, but it’s been front of mind for Dr. Hillery Dolford (DNP, ’18) for a long, long time.
It’s why she toiled away in the wound care unit at McLeod Regional Medical Center during her nursing days. It was the subject of her doctoral thesis in Francis Marion University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
And it’s the reason she started Sweet Feet Diabetic Spa in Florence. Sweet Feet offers patients medically focused skin and nail care.
“Diabetics are just like any of us,” says Dolford. “They enjoy good foot care, a pedicure, nail treatments, and more. But diabetes can make that difficult. We help our patients get the care they want and we make sure they understand the medical aspects of that care.”
Dolford says the spa helps eliminate some of the stigma surrounding diabetes. Patients often avoid services, like pedicures, manicures and some podiatric services because “they don’t want to feel or look odd. We offer them a welcoming atmosphere that’s also safe.”
Dolford, a member of the first graduating class of the DNP program at FMU, provides medical oversight. She can make diagnoses, explain treatment plans already in place, and even prescribe drugs through her relationship with her supervising physician. All nurse practitioners work with a medical doctor.
The spa has been a success since it opened four years ago. Dolford and company see about 100 patients per week. All are private pay. Sweet Feet does not bill insurance.
Dolford says the work is rewarding because the spa improves both the physical and mental health of its patients.
“They look better and they feel better (when they leave),” she says. “As a result, we do, too.”
Dolford says that aspect of dealing with diabetic skin issues attracted her from her nursing days. She liked helping people in both the long and short term. Her doctoral thesis looked at how diabetic footcare affected the salvaging of limbs. Her research showed that good footcare made a difference.
Dolford says her thesis work, and her studies at FMU, “were and are absolutely the foundation of my career, of what I’m doing now and what I will be doing in the future.
“It added a layer of science and knowledge that I didn’t have before,” she says. “I can’t tell you how important that is. You can never have too much education.”
Employees at Sweet Feet hear that message all the time. Dolford is constantly pushing them to move along the educational path, and several of them are, in fact, on the move.
Two nail techs at Sweet Feet are in nursing school, and her office assistant is currently enrolled in a physical therapy program.
That means she’ll likely have some openings in the future, but that’s just fine, Dolford says.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
SLED’S NEW HQ AT FMU
By BETTY SUGGS
Regional office building will be located on Francis Marion
campus
The newest addition to Francis Marion University’s ever-growing physical plant is the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)’s Pee Dee Regional Office.
The approximately 9,960 square foot building sits on the westernmost portion of the FMU campus, in a cluster near the existing S.C. Department of Natural Resources office and the site of the new Forestry and Environmental Sciences building, and just south of the Griffin Athletic Complex. The facility is currently operational and is the permanent location for 15 SLED agents, plus a four person command staff and some administrative personnel, says Regional Captain Glenn Wood.
The structure is the latest in FMU’s long line of partnerships with fellow state agencies, and is a milestone for SLED. The new facility is the first standalone regional office for the state’s top law enforcement organization, and is expected to serve as a model for future offices around the state.
new building is more than just an office. It's designed to facilitate collaboration, whether with FMU or when assisting other local law enforcement agencies. It offers space for small trainings, and can function as an emergency operations center during hurricanes and other natural disasters.”
Wood says the building can accommodate a large number of agents, or colleagues from other law enforcement agencies, during an emergency. And, it is designed with public safety operations in mind. It’s far more secure and private than a typical office building.
South Carolina is divided into four regions — the Pee Dee, the Midlands, the Lowcountry, and the Piedmont, and each region has its own unique structure, says Wood. The Midlands office operates out of state SLED headquarters in Columbia, but the other three regional offices are housed in facilities that were not designed specifically for SLED operations.
Wood says the Florence facility stands out among other regional offices because it has been designed to the exact specifications needed for the law enforcement agency.
“We have designed and are building this with plans to replicate it in the Lowcountry and in the Piedmont region,” says Wood. “This
The proximity of the office to FMU will also boost campus security, and it will offer easy access to FMU students. Wood, a 2000 graduate of FMU, says the Florence regional office has already hosted a number of FMU students as interns. That connection is likely to increase with the advent of FMU’s new Criminal Justice major which began last fall. Wood, a native of Mullins, S.C., did not expect to enter law enforcement. He majored in computer science and double-minored in chemistry and applied mathematics, but after a few years in the work world, he was recruited to the field. He began as a narcotics investigator in Marion County. A few years later, in 2014, he moved to SLED. He was promoted to Pee Dee Regional Captain in 2021.
The 90-year-old South Carolina Law Enforcement Division fills the role of a statewide policing and investigatory division. It’s nearly 600 employees assist local law enforcement agencies with quality manpower and technical assistance, maintains the state’s crime lab, and conducts investigations on behalf of the state as directed by the Governor and Attorney General.
A MAN who COUNTS
DONALD JACKSON, FMU’S VERY OWN BISHOP, HAS LED AN INTERESTING LIFE. HIS MANY FRIENDS AT THE UNIVERSITY ARE GLAD HE SPENT SO MUCH OF IT HERE.
By TUCKER MITCHELL
His dream job was accounting. No, really.
That’s what he remembers from school. Elementary school even. The familiar question. What do you want to be when you grow up?
And little Donald Jackson said … no, not astronaut or football star or doctor or fireman … he said, “I want to be an accountant.”
And his next memory, later on, in high school, where the dream continued, with other kids teasing him was: What do you want to do that for? You want to count things?
It is funny thinking about it now, and it was a little preposterous even then. How could a young black man from Hartsville, S.C., with no real parents, bouncing from relative to relative while he was growing up, dream up that career? Accountants were professionals. They needed a college degree. How was he going to do that?
But he did it.
It wasn’t easy. He tried right out of high school, at the new college down in Florence, Francis Marion College, but he couldn’t make it work. After a couple years, he dropped out and went back home to start a family, to go to work. Odds and ends. Janitor, assistant at a Head Start center, taxi driver, store clerk.
Time passed. Relatives chided him: are you going to be a taxi driver all your life? No, he was not. More motivation, his oldest son was getting old enough to go to college himself. Can’t let him beat me, Jackson thought.
But how to do it? He didn’t want to go to night school, and online education was still a few years away. So, he took a third shift job at an all-night convenience store and enrolled in regular classes at Coker College, in his hometown.
It was a grind. Eight hours, sometimes more, at the Handy Mart, then off to class. He was tired and sometimes nodded off. A friend who was in most of his classes tried to help, nudging him from time to time to keep him awake, but it was hard to stay on duty all the time. It was an accounting class, after all. The eyelids drooped.
One day, in Dr. Shaffi’s class, the professor noticed Jackson dozing off, so, in time-honored professorial tradition, he tossed a question his way. “Mr. Jackson, can you tell us the answer?” Jackson woke with a start … and answered the question.
“I guess some of what I learned at FMU kind of stayed with me,” says Jackson. “I don’t know. I certainly hadn’t heard what he (Shaffi) said. But I answered it. And the professor was kind of amazed, kind of flustered, and he said, ‘now you’re answering my
questions in your sleep?! … class dismissed!’”
Jackson passed that class — in his sleep you might say — and graduated with an accounting degree. A few months later, he landed a job in FMU’s accounting department. Strangely, he was assigned to do what he always imagined he’d do: work in accounts payable, writing checks, making sure the bills were paid on time.
It seemed like an important thing to do. It was a task that brought order and finality to the world. It suited Jackson to a T.
A year or so later, Jackson recalls walking down the hall in the Stokes Administration Building, carrying a handful of checks to a senior administrator for a signature.
“Those checks were, combined, worth more than $1 million,” says Jackson, “and there they were in my hand. They were entrusted to my care. And I thought, ‘well, isn’t that something?’ And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since, and it’s something I just love. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve never worked a day in my life because what I do isn’t work to me.”
THE LAST CHECK
Later this summer, Jackson will cut his last check, close out his last Accounts Payable statement, and head out the door for the last time.
After 31 years at FMU, the man known as “The Bishop” — because he actually is one — will retire.
To say he will be missed is an understatement.
He really is a good accountant — careful, conscientious, genial, endlessly patient with university faculty and staff who, perhaps, are not quite as attentive to i-dotting and t-crossing as he is — but more importantly, he’s a piece of the FMU firmament. He’s one of the founders of the university’s African American Faculty and Staff Coalition, the longtime mentor and advisor for FMU’s Young Gifted and Blessed gospel choir, and friend and advisor to dozens.
FMU President Fred Carter calls Jackson an “indispensable part of campus.”
“He gives his all to everything he’s done here — and he’s done a lot,” says Carter. “We’re all the better for it.”
Linda Sullen, a payroll analyst at FMU and a longtime work colleague, says Jackson is one of a kind.
“He’s a person of few words, but by that I mean he’s a listener, a great listener, which is so rare,” says Sullen. “When he speaks, people listen. And when you get into an in-depth conversation with him, it’s full of meaning. He’s such a good person to talk to and he’s meant so much
to so many people here on this campus.
“Him retiring, that’s going to be a real bittersweet thing,” she says. “I suspect it will be that way for him. I know it will be for all of us.”
Says Jackson, “It’s time. I thought I might go another year or two, but this just seems right. I don’t know how I’m going to feel about it. I know I will miss it some because this is where I’ve been most of my life and I do love this place.”
LIFE IN THE KEY OF C
Jackson, now 68, was born in Hartsville, but grew up in New York City, Brooklyn to be more exact. He and his mom moved to the Big Apple to live with an aunt when he was a toddler, so young that the change didn’t register in his young brain. For the longest time, he just assumed he was from New York. It was all he had ever known.
Mom and Dad weren’t around much, so Anna Middleton, his aunt, did most of the raising. She taught him many useful things, but she was, Jackson says, a stern disciplinary who “did not believe in rod sparing.” Jackson was not a fan of the rigor, so as he got older — seven, eight, nine — he learned to hide when he needed to, until the coast was clear again. Sometimes, this was under the apartment stairs. Sometimes, it was in the alley next door. Sometimes, it was around the block, maybe for a day at a time. Just before Jackson reached his teens, Auntie Anna surrendered. She couldn’t take the stress of a child who was constantly disappearing into the city. So, she put him on a train to Hartsville
with news that some “relatives” were going to care for him now.
Jackson bounced from house to house when he got to South Carolina, from this uncle, to that aunt, to a something-or-other a few blocks down. Somewhere along the way, he was fortunate enough to bounce into Household of Faith Church of the Living God Pillar and Ground of Truth House of Prayer for all People. The church, a Hartsville institution, was as long on nurture as it was on nomenclature. Jackson found a home there as both a member and a musician, the latter despite a decided lack of training, formal or otherwise. A friend of his aunt’s had taught him to find and play the C Major chord on a piano in her Brooklyn flat. And that was it.
“And so for a long time, everything our choir sang had to be in ‘C Major,’” says Jackson. “It was the only chord I knew. But they adapted to me. It was probably comical to them, but I was doing the best I could do.”
Jackson eventually taught himself other keys by trial and error. Practicing at nights on the piano at the Head Start building where he worked, he’d sing a new chord and then work to match it on the piano. In time, he developed into a competent church musician, capable of helping to lead a large gospel choir at FMU, of directing church choirs and music programs, and inspiring his family to excel in music.
Jackson’s children are all talented musicians and serve as the core of the band at Fellowship of Christians Movement, the church that Jackson founded in 2005 and where he is bishop. His sons, Ahmad (piano) and Kwanza (drums), provide the background for his daughter Arthenius' vocals.
“Music, it was a calling that I felt,” says Jackson. “I had a little knowledge of music, but really I started from scratch. I asked the preacher (at Household of Faith) to pray over my hands and he did, and you know, bit by bit (the piano) came to me. It’s been a great influence in my life. My whole family plays something, or sings, and I’m very happy about all that.”
Arthenius Jackson (’09) says her father’s experiences as a child, his lack of a real parent, shaped him as a person. He is, she says, “a special person.”
“He’s just been the best dad, never pressuring us, not overbearing,” she says. “But the best thing is he’s always been present, for extracurriculars, for everything. Because he knew what it was like not to have both parents, any parents, he was determined he wasn’t going to raise us that way. That was one of the things we always heard. I didn’t appreciate that until I got a little older.
“It’s shaped my outlook, too,” Arthenius Jackson says. “No one has an excuse in life. Look at my dad. Look at all he’s done. Some people say I took after dad. I sure hope I did.”
THE HAND OF GOD
Jackson has helped build and foster the work of numerous organizations, both at FMU and beyond. He helped get YGB off the ground, mentoring it in a variety of roles for nearly three decades. He is one of the founders of the African American Faculty and Staff Coalition, a 30-year-old campus organization that has transformed FMU’s campus and culture through its encouragement of diversity. And he’s been a key cog in making sure an assortment of vendors at FMU, external and internal, are paid correctly and on time.
All of that pales in comparison to his work at the churches where he’s served.
Jackson toiled long hours at Household of Faith, making the music programs hum for its meetings, and, oftentimes, at the meetings of its seven affiliate congregations around the Pee Dee and beyond. He also pitched in various other ministries, including the church’s youth program.
As he matured in his faith, Jackson began contemplating a different ministry. On his five day-a-week drives from his home in Hartsville to FMU and back, his mind kept turning to something new.
“I just had this idea that kept popping into my head,” says Jackson. “I’d made some connections with some of the youth at the university, mostly through YGB, and thought that was an area where I might do some good. … And then, as I was driving every day (along Highway 76), there was this building, kind of across from the airport, that kept catching my eye. It had been a nightclub, or something like that, and it was shut down and wasn’t much to look at, just an old (cinder) block building, but I was just drawn to it. I’d look every day. I guess it was fate, or the Lord’s will, or whatever you’d call it. But there it was, my building.”
Jackson eventually told his pastor in Hartsville about his dream – and his dream building. By coincidence – or perhaps something else was afoot – the pastor knew the woman who owned the property. Jackson made contact with her and before long, was leasing the space for his new church, the Fellowship of Christians Movement (FCM).
That was in 2005. A few years later, Jackson found another space not far away, an actual former church building, and moved FCM there. The ministry turns 20 this year, and while never large – 50 is a big attendance day – Jackson believes it has made an
impact. He’s had a half dozen or so young people who came through the church go out into ministries of their own. He and his family have ministered to everyone from college students, to the church’s neighbors, to a woman from a local homeless shelter looking for a church that meets on Saturdays (FCM and Household of Faith are part of the Adventist tradition, which views Saturday as the true Sabbath).
And, he’s seen the hand of fate, or God, or whatever, move in mysterious ways. The homeless woman — Angie — was referred to FCM by one of Jackson’s college classmates who was a social worker at the shelter. Angie was part of the Adventist, or Holiness, tradition in Philadelphia. She connected Jackson with her former pastor. The two men hit it off and eventually, FCM became an affiliate of that church and Jackson was ordained a bishop.
“It’s not what I ever imagined happening, but it’s what happened,” Jackson says.
“God,” he says, “often works like that.”
ANOTHER DREAM
Jackson is proud of the work he’s done, the time he’s spent at FMU. He’s happy that YGB is going strong, and thrilled that the African American Faculty and Staff Coalition had another good year this year (with Jackson finally as president after years of turning down the job because of work concerns). He will carry many memories with him into retirement.
None will be sweeter than one associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, of all things.
When FMU graduated its students, in masks, and with their seats far apart, that first year, the regular chaplain couldn’t make it to campus for the opening prayer because of the virus. President Carter and then-provost Dr. Peter King turned to Jackson, the accounting department’s very own bishop, as a pinch hitter. He delivered and has been the university’s chaplain and commencement preacher ever since.
It was, says Jackson, a dream come true.
“Once, years ago, I dreamed of being before this vast crowd,” he says. “I didn't tell anybody about that, but I had a dream. Now, I'm not sure in the dream if I was speaking to them or not, or if it was commencement, or if I was there for some other reason, but I used to think about that. I used to think about it a lot. I came to believe that I was supposed to be someplace like that… and then one day Dr. Carter called and there I was. What an honor. I still can’t believe it.”
Dreams, it turns out, can come true.
FR OM ALUMNA TO ARTFIELDS
Jamison Kerr’s journey from a Francis Marion student to Art Town Development for ArtFields
By BETTY SUGGS
Some choose the conventional career. Jamison Kerr (’14) chose to make art her field.
Literally, almost.
Kerr is the Director of Art Town Development for ArtFields, the world famous arts festival and ongoing celebration of the arts in Lake City, S.C.
So far, it’s been a career that’s fulfilling and rewarding. “It is a dream come true,” Kerr says.
Despite originally planning to move far from Florence, S.C., after graduating from Francis Marion University in 2014, the Florence native found herself moving just 30 minutes away to little ole Lake City, all due to her career in arts management.
Kerr always recognized her creativity, but she never felt a clear pull in any artistic direction, and wasn't certain where that would lead her. Once she reached college, her fascination with art history led her to major in history and minor in art history, and that ultimately led to her career choice.
After graduation, Kerr leveraged her connections with FMU’s Fine Arts Department into an internship in arts management with ArtFields in Lake City. Eventually, that opportunity launched her career with ArtFields. She started the internship during her final semester in 2014 and has worked with the organization since.
“Dr. (Sam) Howell in the Fine Arts Department at FMU was a huge mentor to me,” says Kerr. “When I was starting to gather materials to apply for graduate school to continue studying art history, he told me about an internship with ArtFields in my final semester in the Spring of 2014. So, I drove to Lake City (for a meeting). I had no idea what to expect. In the ArtFields office, there were a group of women who were accomplishing things that I was blown away by. I was like ‘Can I please come and be an intern?’ I would basically not leave them alone until they gave me a paying position.”
The internship changed Kerr’s perspective. She saw the ways ArtFields was giving back to the Lake City community, and uncovered a new potential career path. This inspired her to stay committed and see where it would lead.
Kerr explains that Dr. Howell wanted all students who were engaged in art to have the opportunity to travel and see art
around the states. She believes being able to travel really changed her perspective on life. She credits Dr. Howell as a mentor and is thankful to share ArtFields with him post graduation.
When she began taking art history classes, everything began to matter to her. She says, “Whenever I could look at things through the lens of art, it suddenly became interesting.”
Kerr was given opportunities to travel to Boston, Massachusetts, and California while in college. Those types of experiences coupled with the education she received, truly primed her to take on the world in an unconventional way. She believes her university experience as a whole is a huge, crucial component to the life she lives today.
ArtFields is a cash prize arts competition and festival held in Lake City, South Carolina, every spring. It promotes art, while at the same time, promoting the town of Lake City. Thousands of artists, art lovers, and festival enthusiasts gather for a good time and to judge artwork from a dozen Southeastern states. Out of thousands of entries submitted, 400 pieces are selected for display in Lake City businesses and special art venues during the festival.
At the end of the festival, the art deemed best by judges and a popular vote of the “people,” receives cash prizes of over $100,000. The festival boosts the arts and has been a real boon to Lake City as well.
Lake City native (and FMU donor) Darla Moore is the driving force behind the festival, which connects with her personal mission of turning the former “bean market” of the Pee Dee into a vibrant, 21st century city.
Explains Kerr, “The goal of ArtFields was to bring commerce, energy, and hope back to Lake City. … There are now about 50 competition venues. We very purposefully put pieces of art into businesses around the town. It all started as a way to give back to our business community and to make Lake City a place where small businesses could survive.”
Kerr points to the opening of the artist studios in Lake City, Acline Studios, as an example of the magical connections that the festival is making with the town.
Acline Studios, an arts venue, brings together a diverse group of people from the Lake City area, many of whom may never have had a space like it. The Studios hosts individuals who have found themselves in Lake City because of ArtFields as well as locals who have lived there forever. Kerr says it has been incredible to watch the two groups come together and find a community in that space. “To see Acline Studios come together has been a dream. To see it come to fruition has been more than rewarding.”
Acline Studios features individual studio spaces rented to ten artists, a gallery space, and an outdoor space with a soda kiln.
They offer studio rentals, workshops, and host a variety of events throughout the year.
Originally, Kerr commuted back and forth to Lake City for work, but eventually, she and her husband, Emmett, moved to the city they fell in love with. They’ve called it home for the past seven years and are raising their family there. Emmett has also opened his own business, Sip Co. Wine & Beer, in Lake City.
Kerr is a big believer in “don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk.” She believes if she is trying to convince people that Lake City is a place you should want to live and work, then she should live and work there.
Another significant accomplishment Kerr has been a part of is not only helping launch Acline Studios, but also helping with the public art program, specifically managing the major art projects like the murals in the town. She believes it allows her to form deeper connections with the artists, which is significant and needed.
“Every year there is so much hustle and bustle with ArtFields, but I have been really lucky as my position has changed when thinking about building a year-around art town versus pulling off a festival. One of the things I have been able to do throughout my career with ArtFields is the public art program. Managing major projects like the murals and sculptures allows me to form deeper connections with those artists. You end up getting to watch people grow and mature, and they have watched me grow up. I think that opening the studios is my biggest accomplishment, but the experience as a whole over the last eleven years has been so rich with opportunities. Every year, what we put into the festival, we get back, not just for ourselves, but for the people here.”
Even though Kerr initially had plans to move far from her hometown, she has come to realize that life’s plans often change for the better. She says, “As someone who grew up in Florence, I had circumstances that prevented me from leaving, so I ended up at Francis Marion. I learned that just because something is accessible to you or is from where you are from does not mean it does not have value. FMU is such a testament to that. I am so grateful for what FMU did to prepare me for life.”
Kerr reflects on her career trajectory and the lasting impact she’s made not only in Lake City, but also in her own personal growth. “I love ArtFields. I love Lake City. I love seeing Florence County and South Carolina growing beyond what I grew up thinking it was. Not only has Lake City grown, but so have I.”
Middle and bottom photos: Acline Studios has a gallery space, individual art studios, and soda kiln.
Top photo: Alba Triana wins Artfields 2024's grand prize. Photo by Second Floor Media.
FMU’S OUTREACH ON THE GROW
LGLI, NPLI CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS
NPLI TURNS
More than 400 non-profit leaders from 200-plus organizations across the state have graduated from the Fred R. Sheheen Non-Profit Leadership Institute (NPLI) at Francis Marion University. The NPLI program enrolls participants in a rigorous, six-month series of classes delivered by industry experts on a variety of topics including resource management, fundraising, external relations and communication, legal issues, budgetary and financial management, and public policy issues, among others.
20 ◀ ◀
NPLI was born through a collaboration between FMU President Fred Carter and the late Fred Sheheen, former South Carolina Commissioner of Higher Education. Their vision: to equip a generation of nonprofit leaders with skills and tools to be successful. Initial funding was provided by a grant from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation. The Institute is now sponsored by Francis Marion University and the Darla Moore Foundation.
LATEST LGLI CLASS IS ALSO THE LARGEST
The Local Government Leadership Institute (LGLI) has experienced remarkable growth since it began in 2016. This year’s class was the largest ever and required two cohorts, each with nearly 30 students.
“The LGLI is one of FMU’s most impactful outreach programs,” says Dr. Jennifer Titanski-Hooper, Director of the Governor Robert E. McNair Institute for Research and Service which oversees LGLI. “It began as a response to local government needs for training and support, and a decade later, the LGLI has grown an engaged alumni network that is our greatest measure of success.
“Program participants tell us that the networking and training opportunities have been invaluable, and they recommend the LGLI to their organizations and colleagues, who consistently bring new insight to the program’s development. As a faculty member, it has been an
absolute honor to serve this program and provide support to individuals who work every day to improve communities across South Carolina.”
The LGLI is a collaborative partnership that includes Francis Marion University, Coastal Carolina University, the College of Charleston, the Darla Moore Foundation, and the South Carolina City/County Management Association.
Five sessions are held from October to April at The Continuum in Lake City. During the program, participants receive expert presentations, analyze case-studies, and engage with panel discussions through individual and small group assignments. Topics include: intergovernmental relations in South Carolina; budget, finance, and human resource management; planning, economic development and public safety; and governance, leadership and politics.
For as long as she can remember, the Pickens, S.C., native has dreamed of being a veterinarian. She grew up with dogs, cats, and chickens, and her father, who worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, would often show her animals. He even let her hold a baby alligator a time or two.
It’s no surprise then that her academic career at Francis Marion University, where she’s a Darla Moore Scholar and a member of the Patriot volleyball team, has been immersed in the world of biology.
She’s already engaged in a detailed individual research project, and has
“I was recruited to FMU to play volleyball, but instantly fell in love with the campus and the programs offered here,” says Lucas. “The opportunities available in the Biology program for students to work with professors are unmatched. I knew I couldn’t get that anywhere else.”
Lucas’ research project began in the spring of 2024 when enrolled in a fisheries class with Dr. Jason Doll, associate professor of Fisheries Biology and Coordinator of the Environmental Science Program. Lucas liked fishing and thought the course would be fun. It was that and more, opening up a world of
Doll and Dr. Tim Shannon, another member of FMU’s Biology faculty.
Her project is entitled, “Ichthyoplankton in the Great Pee Dee River,” and is the first of its kind examining ichthyoplankton, or larval fish, in this part of the Pee Dee.
Lucas sampled ichthyoplankton using a plankton net that was towed behind a research vessel for 30 minutes at each site selected for the project. She initially identified the ichthyoplankton using morphological characteristics and later confirmed the identification with DNA barcoding. To use DNA barcoding, Lucas extracted and purified DNA from the
ichthyoplankton with a Qiagen DNeasy Blood and tissue kit. Sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene were amplified and examined using agarose gel electrophoresis. From that, PCR fragments were sequenced and then compared to known COI gene sequences using BLAST to determine the likely identity of ichthyoplankton fish larvae and eggs.
Lucas’ research yielded 399 larvae and eggs. Species sampled included the Ictiobus species which could not be separated due to the similarities in their COI gene, American Shad, Spotted Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, Common Carp, and the Tessellated Darter. The Ictiobus species peaked in mid to late April, likely due to their spawning event typically associated with group migration. Followed by Ictiobus, American Shad and Spotted Sucker were most abundant.
If that sounds complicated, and perhaps a bit more ambitious than the usual undergraduate research work, well, it is. But it’s what Lucas wanted to do, and what her faculty pushed her to accomplish.
“The ability to do real, hands-on research alongside two faculty members was a great experience,” says Lucas. “I was able to apply the knowledge I have been learning in the classroom to a real world project — one that’s the first of its kind in this part of our state. Being able to be on the forefront of that was an experience I’m so grateful for.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of teaching Caroline in multiple courses and working with her on a research project,” says Doll. “Her intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, and team-oriented mindset make her a truly remarkable individual.”
While her research was conducted close to home, Lucas also landed the opportunity to travel across the globe to present her poster at the American Fisheries Society conference held in Hawaii. This experience, says Lucas, was eye opening.
“At the American Fisheries Society conference in Honolulu, I was honored to present the poster on my research of ichthyoplankton,” says Lucas. “Being able to interact with so many people who work in the fisheries field as well as professors and other students was such a great experience.”
Lucas’ work will continue next when she completes a manuscript on her work that Doll plans to submit to a peer-reviewed publication in the field.
“This is a testament to both her scholarly potential and commitment to excellence,” says Doll.
Lucas, a biology major, has excelled across the board at FMU. The 6-0 middle blocker was named to the Conference Carolinas All Conference Team in 2023 (second team) and 2024 (first team) and has been on the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor
roll during every semester at FMU.
For Lucas, Francis Marion is a place where she has grown both as a student and an athlete and excelled in both areas. As she looks to the future, she can’t help but be thankful that FMU has been on her path.
“Francis Marion has already given me so much,” says Lucas. “The athletic department is incredible and I love working with my coaches and teammates. On the academic side, I continue to be stretched to learn more and do more. The campus environment truly feels like a family, and I’m surrounded by professors who want to do all they can to help me grow and become all that I can be. I’m so thankful to be a part of a school that values who I am not only as a student, but an athlete and a person with so many dreams for the future.”
Caroline Lucas excels on the court and in the lab.
Better than a dream
FMU students combined travel and study in two bio-diversity hotspots.
By ANNA TODD
International travel is a cool addition to the college experience for many Francis Marion University students, but there’s a lot more to travel at FMU than just … well, traveling.
As an example, consider the unique biology course offered last May, during the space between the end of the spring term and the beginning of summer school. During that three-week period, a group of students from FMU and Western Carolina University spent time in North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains and in an Ecuadorian rainforest at FMU’s Wildsumaco Biological Station. It was all part of a unique biology course, Comparative Temperate Tropical Ecology and Biogeography, taught by FMU professor, Travis Knowles, Director of the Wildsumaco station, and his colleague,
Dr. James Costa, a professor of Biology at Western Carolina University (WCU). WCU is in Cullowhee, N.C., in the mountains near the Smokies. Last spring was the third time the two have teamed up to teach the course.
The course is based on the writings of Alexander von Humboldt, a German biologist known as the “father of biogeography.” Von Humboldt himself spent time in both climates during his research career in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Students at FMU and WCU now have the opportunity to replicate von Humboldt’s travels between the two bio “hotspots” — areas that are known for their incredible biodiversity. It’s a rare opportunity, says Knowles.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this course is that students are learning about
different concepts in the classroom, and then getting to experience them first-hand in real time,” says Knowles. “We’ll spend a few hours talking about something before heading out in the field to see what we’ve been lecturing on inside. This is just one of the many things that makes this experience unique.”
Most participants in the course are biology majors. For some, this course is their first travel experience out of the country. FMU students are typically able to receive some funding for the trip through REAL (Ready to Experience Applied Learning) grants.
The combined travel and learning aspects of the class are transformational. Four students who were on last year’s trip recently sat down with FMU FOCUS to share their experiences.
Justin Bartolon
Junior, Latta, SC
Major: Biology
Sophomore, Johnsonville, SC
Major: Environmental Science
Deeya Khambhaita
Why did you participate? At freshman orientation, I heard about the Wildsumaco Biological Station and put it on my college bucket list to travel there. At the time, I didn’t know anything about this course, but after taking one of Professor Knowles’ classes and learning about it, I knew I wanted to take this class.
What was your favorite part? I really loved everything about this course. I enjoyed all of the biogeography at the Highlands Station in North Carolina, hiking on trails with amazing views, and visiting a fossil site. Ecuador was just beautiful. This was my first time out of the country that I can remember, and being able to experience a new culture while learning in the field I’m studying was priceless.
What is one lesson you brought back with you? One thing this travel/study course taught me is that I need to just say yes to new opportunities and let go and be present instead of worrying about everything. It also taught me that I am more capable than I think I am. It opened my eyes to more career paths that are out there in environmental science like eco tourism and showed me that conservation is not just an academic thing.
Why did you participate? I first heard about this travel study course in Professor Knowles’ BIOL 106 course. It sounded really interesting, but was also expensive. I talked with Prof. Knowles about it and found out I could apply for funding through FMU. When I received news that I would get funding, I couldn’t wait to go.
What was your favorite part? I loved experiencing so many things for the first time. This was my first time on a plane and out of the state, so just those things were brand new to me. It was interesting to see how vastly different both of the environments were, from the mountains of North Carolina to the vibrant rainforest in Ecuador. I also enjoyed getting to hold the Bush snake in Ecuador, camera trapping, and bird watching.
What is one lesson you brought back with you? This experience taught me that I am capable of so many things and I cannot box myself in. I learned to be more extroverted and enjoyed the lasting friendships I made.
Jameel Montgomery
Junior, Washington, D.C.
Major: Biology
Sophomore, Myrtle Beach, SC
Major: Biology - Pre-Med
Preston Smith
Why did you participate? Professor Knowles shared about this course opportunity in a freshman biology class I took. It sounded really interesting and when I found out I could have most of it paid for with funding from FMU, I decided I wanted to go.
What was your favorite part? I enjoyed getting to learn about two different environments during the trip. As a pre-med major who wants to go into radiology or orthopedics, environmental science is not something that I have to study, so having the opportunity to learn about a different area within biology in another country was really cool.
What is one lesson you brought back with you? One thing this travel study course taught me is that I am able to do so many things, even if they are not necessarily in my realm of study. While I enjoyed the beauty and the biodiversity I was able to learn about, it also helped me to solidify that I am studying the right area of biology for me in pre-med.
Why did you participate? Professor Knowles talked about this course and how it allows students to travel and study in some of the most bio-diverse hotspots in the world and I decided I wanted to be a part of it. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve wanted to go to a rainforest. The chance to do that as part of this class really drew me in.
What was your favorite part? There were too many things to count that I loved about Ecuador. There was something astonishing everyday. We were able to see so many adaptations of life. In the Smokies, I really enjoyed reaching the apex of the Black Mountains. It was surreal.
What is one lesson you brought back with you? I learned so many things on this trip. The idea of how the world is organized and how the various factors of our world have influenced ecology really stood out to me.
WE’RE NO. 2! FMU’S SPEECHLANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PROGRAM RANKED AMONG STATE’S BEST
FMU’s Master of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program earned the distinction of being ranked second among SLP programs in South Carolina by Research.com, a premier university ranking platform that assists students in making informed educational choices.
OCTOBER
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL PEE DEE FICTION AND POETRY FESTIVAL
FMU hosted the 17th annual Pee Dee Fiction and Poetry Festival on campus in Lowrimore Auditorium. The two-day festival featured panel discussions, lectures, book signings and more. The event was free and open to the public. This year’s authors included Jamila Minnicks, Santiago García, and Jo Angela Edwins
NOVEMBER
PAGE WINS SWAILS AWARD
W. Hughes Page (’09) received the Lawrence F. Swails Biology Award at the 2024 Biology Alumni Reception held at the FMU Freshwater Ecology Center.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI AND OYSTERS!
Lifetime Alumni Association Members were treated to an oyster roast held at the Freshwater Ecology Center.
DECEMBER
BSN NURSES RECEIVE PINS
The Fall 2024 undergraduate nursing students received their pins during the Nursing Pinning Ceremony, symbolizing the transition from the classroom into the practical realm of nursing.
Fall 2024 commencement ceremonies were held on December 13th and 14th. South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette spoke at Friday’s ceremony and Senior United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell delivered the commencement address on Saturday. Evette and Harwell were also presented with Honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees from the University. DECEMBER 2024 COMMENCEMENT
SNOW DAYS!
The FMU campus (and the Pee Dee) received its first snow in 3 years.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
26TH ANNUAL MLK CELEBRATION
The 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration featured Florence Mayor Lethonia Barnes as the keynote speaker. The program was emceed by members of the FMU Student Government Association and the Campus Activities Board.
The FMU Performing Arts Center hosted Step Afrika!, highlighting the evolution and art form of stepping. STEP AFRIKA!
AAFSC BANQUET
The annual African American Faculty and Staff Coalition (AAFSC) marked thirty years at its annual scholarship reception held at the FMU Performing Arts Center. Dr. Kiley Molinari, assistant professor of anthropology, received this year’s Diversity Award. Dr. Timothy B. Hunter ('96) was the event’s keynote speaker and recipient of the annual “Together We Can” award in recognition of his civic involvement.
Scott Kaufman, professor of history, presented a program entitled “Remembering Jimmy Carter” at the Carter Center’s Porter Auditorium.
Dr.
FMU HOSTS "REMEMBERING JIMMY CARTER"
TKE TAKES THE PRESIDENT'S CUP
FMU frat Tau Kappa Epsilon captures the annual quiz bowl.
The 14th annual Marion Medallion award recipients were Debbie Wall and the Miracle League of Florence County This award, named in honor of General Francis Marion, is given each year to Pee Dee area citizens who have made sustained and significant contributions to improve the region and the lives of its residents.
MARCH
WORLD WATER DAY
Francis Marion hosted the World Water Day Celebration at the Freshwater Ecology Center. This event featured STEAM activities for kids, fishing demos by SC DNR, live animals with Black Creek Wildlife Center, food trucks, and more.
ALUMNI AWARDS
Four distinguished alumni were honored at the annual Alumni Awards ceremony. This year’s recipients were Debbie Pollock-Berry (’88), 2025 Outstanding Alumnus; Brooke Thibodaux (’16), Benjamin Wall Ingram III Young Alumnus; Col. Jay McElveen (’94), Professional Industry Award for Public Service and Law; and Dr. Tim Hunter (’96), Professional Industry Award for Education and the Arts.
SCHOLARSHIP DONOR/ RECIPIENT RECEPTION
The Education Foundation hosted a scholarship reception for donors and students receiving scholarships. This annual event provides an opportunity for students to recognize and thank donors for their support.
MARION MEDALLION
SPRING CAREER FAIR
The Career Fair was held on campus in the University Center during the spring semester. Employers from across the state attended to recruit students and alumni for jobs and internships across a variety of industries.
MORAN ADDRESS
Dr. Ben Kyer, professor emeritus, delivered the 16th annual William C. Moran Address at the FMU Performing Arts Center. The Moran Address is a platform for retiring or recently retired faculty to reflect on their academic journey and share insights from their field and life experiences.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ALUMNI AWARDS
Hope Mullinax (’12, ’20) was awarded the 2025 Morgan B. Coker Outstanding Alumni Award from the School of Business. Mullinax is the NAM Cluster Director at Schneider Electric where she oversees operations in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS DAY
FMU welcomed incoming scholarship recipients to campus for Scholarship Awards Day. Students who will begin their work at FMU this fall were recognized for their academic achievements and completed orientation.
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Students from all areas of study were recognized for academic excellence during the Academic Awards Ceremony. Farouk Chatila (above) received the President's Undergraduate Research Award.
APRIL
Arts International, featuring music, dance, artisans, a children’s area, and international cuisine, took place at the FMU Performing Arts Center.
ENGLISH ALUMNI AWARDS
Natalie Mahaffey received the Peter Whelan Alumni Award at the 2025 English Alumni Award Reception.
EDWINS NAMED MASON DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR
Dr. Jo Angela Edwins, professor of English, was named FMU’s J. Lorin Mason Distinguished Professor for the 2024-2025 academic year. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon a faculty member at the university.
CARLIE PIVER WAS CROWNED MS. FMU 2025. .
STUDENT LIFE AWARDS
The 2025 Student Life Awards recognized student organizations across campus for their work over the past academic year.
RED DAY
The 11th FMU Research & Exhibition Day (RED Day) featured 101 student participants presenting 63 posters.
SUMMER SENDOFF
The 4th annual Summer Sendoff, hosted by Student Life and celebrating the end of the semester, included the Swampfox 200 Pedal Kart Race, Summer Sendoff Games & Greek Games, and a party held on the UC Lawn.
MAY
SUPER SOFTBALL!
FMU’s sensational women‘s softball team went 53-6 and won Conference Carolinas and Southeast Regional titles. The 53 victories are a school record.
SPRING 2025 COMMENCEMENT
332 graduates received their degrees during the Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies. On May 2, students from the School of Business and School of Health Sciences were awarded their degrees. Carl Humphries, CEO of HopeHealth, served as commencement speaker. Students from the College of Liberal Arts and School of Education received their degrees during Saturday’s ceremony. Governor Henry Dargan McMaster delivered Saturday’s commencement address. Humphries and Governor McMaster were each awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities from the university.
