About Concord University
For more than 150 years, Concord University has served the southern region of West Virginia, southwest Virginia and beyond, educating teachers, business leaders, scientists, social workers, as well as future medical and legal professionals. With a 14:1 student to faculty ratio and over 70 programs of study, Concord provides you with a quality education no matter what you choose.
Featured Stories
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.”
Zoey Shamblin
Sociology Major with Criminology Emphasis
Dr. Tracy Luff
Professor of Sociology & Director of Honors Program
Summer McElwain
Class of 2021
Miranda Martin '09
Director of Institutional Research & Data Services
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.”
