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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
Taylor Brown
Psychology Major with Business Administration minor
Dr. Michael Bean
Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Thomas McKenna
Professor of Philosophy and History
Psychology Major
Madison Dye, class of 2024, went to Oak Hill High School. Her main activities in addition to her studies include cheerleading, walking her dog, and working. She began attending Concord University in 2021, and chose a psychology major with an emphasis in criminology. Madison chose CU because it’s a legacy in her family, following in the footsteps of her father, grandparents, and beyond, who all attended Concord. Some of her favorite memories of her time at Concord revolve around competing at Disney with the cheer team! When asked about something many don’t know about her, she relates, “In high school, I took a four-year course and completed various trainings for an aerospace engineering program learning how to operate a flight simulator!”
