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
Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Bean is excited to be part of Concord’s Education Department, working with students he describes as respectful and ready to learn. One lesson Dr. Bean and our other faculty members teach Concord students is the reality of the profession. Through a variety of placements and teaching opportunities, or “in the fire” opportunities as Dr. Bean describes them, our students are prepared to enter the field. “I have a passion for education. I see how that can open doors and create opportunities.”
Dr. Michael Bean
Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Samantha Byrd, DSW, MSW, LGSW, '16 '18
Assistant Professor/Training Manager
Dr. Tracy Luff
Professor of Sociology & Director of Honors Program
Dr. George Williams '11
Assistant Professor of English / Director of Veteran 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.”
