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
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
Zoey Shamblin
Sociology Major with Criminology Emphasis
Josi Ervin
Health Science Major
Allen Smith '05
Director of Admissions
Director of Institutional Research & Data Services
Miranda has been at Concord for 21 years, having begun as a first-generation college student. She loved student life so much that she double majored in Comprehensive Mathematics and Business Administration. During her junior and senior years, she was involved with several research projects in the Math Department, which led to attending and presenting at two different international conferences (The Netherlands and Cyprus). Upon graduating in 2009, she worked part-time in the Human Resources office, and then accepted a full-time position in the IT Department as SQL Developer in 2013. She then took over the federal and state data reporting and is now the Director of Institutional Research & Data Services. She says of her experience at CU, “I love my job and love working with other departments for their data needs! I also have wonderful co-workers and feel proud to be part of such a great team. CU is truly my family. It is my home and always will be.”
