CoffeeBreak is an e-newsletter distributed to Averett faculty and staff to keep them up-to-date on campus activities and information. Please send information you would like included in CoffeeBreak via this form. For the next CoffeeBreak, please submit by Friday, May 24, for a Wednesday, May 29, publication.

Memorial Day Holiday

Averett will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27. It will reopen on Tuesday, May 28.

One-Man Show

A one-man show featuring crooner John Wilt will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, at The Historic North Theatre, 629 North Main St. Tickets are $20 for the front orchestra and $15 for the rear orchestra. The show is a benefit for the Salvation Army.

The performance will feature 33 Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra classic songs with the big band sound accompaniment. For more information email John Wilt at [email protected] or call (434) 770-8822.

Averett University’s Second Annual “Run for Justice”

Help is needed to register runners and walkers on the morning of Saturday, June 15, at the Angler’s Park/River Walk Trail area. Race details can be found at the Danville Running and Fitness Club website. Click here to see the flyer and click here to register. Proceeds from the Second Annual “Run for Justice” benefit Averett’s Criminal Justice Club/Alpha Upsilon Lambda chapter of ACJA-LAE. Event T-shirts will be provided to volunteers.

For more details and if you would like to volunteer to help with the run, call or email John Wilt, race director, at (434) 770-8822 or [email protected].

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!

Congratulations to Jason Ferrell and Rhonda Reavis on receiving their wellness prizes based on participation in our recent Stop Stress Now series!

Housekeeping Transitions to Summer Schedule

The Budd Group’s housekeeping unit has transitioned to its summer schedule to be able to focus on deep cleaning residence halls and attacking key annual projects across campus.

This means that there will be reduced frequency of general cleaning in administrative, faculty and classroom spaces. Please be assured that trash removal and bathroom cleaning will remain on its current schedule but tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, etc. will be occurring less frequently.

That being said, if you have an issue that needs to be addressed, please be sure to enter a maintenance request and either Maintenance or Housekeeping will ensure it is taken care of quickly for you!

Fourth of July Holiday plus One…

Hear ye! Hear ye! Good news! According to the Town Crier, so that everyone can have more time to enjoy their July 4 holiday with family and friends, Friday, July 5, this year will be a paid holiday for full-time staff. So enjoy the extra-long weekend and if you would like to brush up on your American history, click here!

Be safe and enjoy the holiday festivities!  To check out all the local Fourth of July activities, click here.

Golden Bagel Award

Congratulations to Drew Wilson, the winner of the Golden Bagel for the month of May! Drew’s two nominations read:

“Drew spends countless hours behind the scenes working events, nominating student-athletes for awards, creating website and social media content, often times sacrificing hours he could be spending with his family. He bleeds blue and gold to his core, promoting Averett in the way it should be promoted and always puts the school and its athletes ahead of his own needs. He’s an example of someone that could win this award on a regular basis, but is humble about what he does and what he has accomplished.

Often times referred to as the Godfather of the USA South Conference, Drew has helped build one of the largest Division III history databases by back-logging schedules, statistics, pictures and information all the way back to the 1970s here at Averett. Drew helped create the Averett Sports Network, one of the top broadcasting platforms in the USA South and Division III athletics. Lastly, Drew always goes above and beyond for the cause, looking to always improve his craft and help promote Averett student-athletes the best he can.”

“I would like to nominate Drew Wilson to receive the Golden Bagel! He is more than deserving. Most of what Drew does is behind the scenes that he never gets credit for. Drew is very dedicated to Averett, to the teams and most importantly to the student-athletes. He works EVERY home event, does student spotlights, controls the webcast  (which is the best in the country) so those parents and fans that can’t attend can still watch their people play and has a very impressive website to highlight our teams and their accomplishments. Most people just think those things are easy and appear out of the blue…..Drew spends countless hours so that our student-athletes have a better experience! Thanks, Drew!”

If you would like to nominate a co-worker for the Golden Bagel Award, please send your nomination to [email protected].

Faculty, Staff and Retiree Luncheon 2019

Averett University’s annual Faculty, Staff and Retiree Luncheon was held on Thursday, May 2, in the dining hall. Click here to read the full story.

This year the University honored six retirees:

• Dr. Sue Davis, professor and chair, Education
• Erma Neveu, academic advisor, GPS-Quantico
• Elaine Day, professor and director, Blount Library
• Dr. Pamela Riedel, professor, Education
• Dr. Richard Ferguson, professor and chair, Physical Education, Wellness and Sport Science
• Dr. Donald T. Ethington, professor and chair, Mathematics

During the event, Dr. Franks noted special recognitions.

Faculty who have been awarded tenure and promoted for the 2019-20 Academic Year include:

• Dr. Adrienne Brune, assistant professor, Sociology
• Dr. Jennifer Hughes, assistant professor, English

Faculty who have been awarded tenure for the 2019-20 Academic Year include:

• Stephen Davidson, instructor, Mathematics
• Dr. Sergey Samoilenko, associate professor, Computer and Information Science

Faculty who have been promoted for the 2019-20 Academic Year include:

• Meghan Byrne, assistant professor, Business
• Dr. Catherine Clark, associate professor, French
• Stephanie Smith, assistant professor, Biology

Faculty and staff who have earned degrees this past year include:

• Dustin Beck, assistant football coach – Master of Business Administration (MBA), Averett University
• Jeff Bentley, graduate assistant, Sports Information – MBA, Averett
• Shelbilyn Boelsche, graduate assistant, residence hall director and coordinator of housing operations – MBA, Averett
• Williane “Ann” Charles, graduate assistant, Student Engagement – MBA, Averett
• Jamal Forney, graduate assistant, residence hall director and coordinator of intramurals and recreation – MBA, Averett
• Dr. David Hanbury, assistant professor, Psychology – MBA, Averett
• Lindsay Hieronymus, assistant women’s basketball coach – MBA, Averett
• Penny Hudson, student financial counselor, GPS – Bachelor of Business Administration, Averett
• Toshina Jessamy, assistant women’s basketball coach – MBA, Averett
• Lee Roy Johnson, graduate assistant, residence hall director and coordinator of staff selection and development – MBA, Averett
• Jacqueline “Jacqui” Montague, assistant women’s lacrosse coach – MBA, Averett
• Lance Moore, graduate assistant, residence hall director and coordinator of diversity and inclusion – MBA, Averett
• Dr. William Moore, assistant professor, Biology, Doctorate of Philosophy, human nutrition, foods and exercise: molecular and cellular science, Virginia Polytechnic and State University
• Erin Murphy, assistant women’s lacrosse coach – MBA with a concentration in leadership, Averett
• Debbie Pike, administrative assistant, School of Nursing – Bachelor of Applied Science, Averett
• Alexandra “Allie” Reid, assistant softball coach – Master of Education (M.Ed.), Averett
• Blake Roulo, assistant men’s wrestling coach – MBA with a concentration in human resource management, Averett
• Mark Sheets, assistant to the vice president for business and finance and CFO – Associate of Science with a concentration in business, Averett
• Jawoin Williams, assistant director, Residence Life – MBA with a concentration in marketing, Averett
• Cecilia Yeager, graduate assistant, student counselor – M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction, Averett

Additional recognitions include:

• Danny Miller, associate director of Athletics and head women’s volleyball coach, Leadership Southside XXIV Program, Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce
• Faculty of the Year: Jackie Finney, professor, Theatre
• Staff of the Year: Brenda Taylor, director of operations, North Campus Grant Center

GPS Student Spotlight

Meet Marcus Johnson-Williams, a student pursuing his Master of Education in administration and supervision degree, expected to graduate in 2019. To read more about Marcus on the GPS blog, click here.

What is your motivation for obtaining your degree here at Averett? 

“My motivation was my desire to affect greater change within the school community.”