Concord Student Life
In addition to its stellar academic programs, Concord University offers plenty of opportunities for students to grow while having fun! There are several student organizations & Greek organizations you can join, exciting activities you can participate in, and workshops aimed to help your academic & professional development.
Featured Stories
Chair, Department of Social Work and Title IX Coordinator
When Dr. Pendergast was finishing her Ph.D. in Social Work Education at the University of South Carolina, she dreamed of teaching at a school like Concord. “I have wanted to live in the mountains for as long as I can remember,” she says. In 2007, she accepted a tenure-track position at CU and has found a home here. “The campus community is welcoming and accepting,” she says. Before completing her doctoral degree, Dr. Pendergast was a practicing social worker, valuable experience she shares with her students. “When I speak with students about social work, I explain that this is the best job and worst job you can have,” she says. “It’s very rewarding to see how people can change their lives, and it can be discouraging when these changes do not come.” Dr. Pendergast is dedicated to preparing her students for the realities they’ll face after graduation, and says she enjoys “being a small part of their journey.”
Dr. Joan Pendergast
Chair, Department of Social Work and Title IX Coordinator
Josie Crawford '24
Biology Major with Biomedical Sciences Emphasis
Carli Dotson '16
Draper, VA
Dr. Allison Bean
Assistant Professor of Business
Sociology Major with Criminology Emphasis
Zoey Shamblin, class of 2027, is studying sociology with a criminology emphasis and a minor in substance abuse. She is the first-generation college student in her family, having graduated from Poca High School in 2023. She began her collegiate studies in August and quickly became immersed in campus life. She became an arbiter for Concord's Student Government Association, joined Alpha Psi Omega's theatre fraternity and served as Assistant Stage Manager for the 2023 production of The Thanksgiving Play. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in criminology, either as a correctional officer or as a police officer. She is grateful for the opportunities she’s had already on The Campus Beautiful, such as visiting Alderson prison, and meeting a federal magistrate judge. She credits her “amazing professor”, Lori Pace for opening doors to these experiences, which helped her discover her passion. Zoey is an avid traveler and loves to learn about unfamiliar cultures. She’s visited Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, and France. She names Swiss Alps as her favorite saying, “The beautiful mountains reminded me of my country roads home.”
