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
Bluefield, WV
Brian Arnold, a screenwriter living in Los Angeles, is proof that your degree from CU can be a foundation for achieving your dreams. As a Communication Arts graduate, Brian worked in telecommunications and broadcast journalism before taking a chance with screenwriting. “I knew I wouldn’t be happy until I gave writing a real shot,” Brian says. And while his degree wasn’t in film study, he says the electives he took at Concord gave him practical production experience that has helped him in his current career. “I got to make live TV. I got to make my own short films. I got to study screenwriting and film. And, more than that, my time at Concord helped me grow into a more mature, professional person ready to give the real world a shot.”
Brian Arnold '09
Bluefield, WV
Miranda Martin '09
Director of Institutional Research & Data Services
Summer McElwain
Class of 2021
Dr. Samantha Byrd, DSW, MSW, LGSW, '16 '18
Assistant Professor/Training Manager
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.”
