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
Director of Student Activities & Student Center
Students at CU go to Carolyn Worley for help with their student ID, when they want to join or start an organization on campus, if they need to hang a poster or flyer, or even if they just need a listening ear. Carolyn says she wants to make a student’s college experience the best years of their lives. Carolyn has worked on campus since 2004, and in her time here as an employee of several different departments and as a student, she has gained valuable knowledge of the university that makes her an important resource for students. “Each position has allowed me to develop a new set of skills,” Carolyn says. “I enjoy learning and pushing to be the best version of myself.” In 2017, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Concord and in 2020, she graduated with her Masters of Health Promotion.
Carolyn Worley '17
Director of Student Activities & Student Center
Jade Gravely '18
Beckley, WV
Carli Dotson '16
Draper, VA
Allen Smith '05
Director of Admissions
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.”
