Averett University’s Faculty, Staff and Retiree Luncheon 2019

Posted on May 3rd, 2019 by Danielle Staub

Averett University’s annual Faculty, Staff and Retiree Luncheon was held on Thursday, May 2, in the dining hall. This year the University honored six retirees.

During her time at Averett, Dr. Sue Davis, served as an assistant professor, director of teacher education, department chair, education and division chair. Davis earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in education from Averett and her Doctorate in Education from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, and advanced graduate studies at the University of Virginia.

Davis soon became a full-time faculty member after joining Averett and has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level, supervised and evaluated preservice teachers in practicums and internships and led seminars for preservice teachers.

“My six-year tenure as an adjunct and full-time employee has been rewarding, enlightening and enjoyable. I just immensely enjoy the process of education and working with students-regardless of their age,” Davis said.

Erma Neveu has been the academic advisor to Averett’s Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) students serving at the Quantico Marine Base Higher Education Center and Northern Virginia community since 1996.

Neveu began her career in the education field in 1986 with the Arkansas Department of Education’s School Food Service. When her husband and family were reassigned to Royal Air Force Alconbury, United Kingdom, she served as an academic advisor for the University of Maryland. Then upon returning to the United States, Neveu worked for Park University as an academic records administrator for about a year. In December 2005, Neveu earned her bachelors in business administration from Averett.

Elaine Day is a tenured associate professor who has served Averett from 1990-1996 and then again from 2000-2019, totaling 25 years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Syracuse University and Master of Science in library science at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Day returned to campus as Averett’s library director and since 2000 she has enhanced digital collections, strengthened ties with the Virtual Library of Virginia and empowered her highly talented colleagues, rendering herself virtually superfluous on entering a joyful retirement in 2019. She not only enhanced Averett’s digital collections, but was the impetus behind their inception, adoption and implementation. She developed Library Satisfaction Surveys and sought solutions based on the outcomes and data from those surveys.

Dr. Pamela Riedel was a professor in the Department of Education from 1994-2019. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Averett College; her Master of Education with a reading specialization from Averett College; and her Doctorate in Education in administration and special education from the College of William & Mary.

For 25 years, Riedel has been teaching at Averett while developing teachers for their careers in education. In that time, thousands of educators and administrators were taught how to be the best teachers they can be when in Riedel’s pre-service courses. In fact, her student teachers appreciated the skills learned from her and agree that they were better prepared because of her experience with school systems, competency requirements and her leadership. Their comments validate Riedel’s commitment to elementary education noting her expertise and knowledge as the most meaningful aspects in her classes.

Dr. Richard Ferguson was a professor and the chair of the Department of Physical Education, Wellness and Sport Science. Ferguson earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in physical education (sport psychology) and Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Madison College, now James Madison University (cum laude) in physical education and his post graduate study at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

He has distinguished himself as a teacher, counselor, role mode and scholar. He’s an American Associaiton of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP) certified sport psychology consultant, a USA Track & Field psychological performance consultant and sports psychology consultant for open class athletes. Ferguson is an active runner and while not yet documented in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Averett Family is fairly certain he has run the most miles within and around the city of Danville and possibly in France.

Dr. Donald T. Ethington was a professor and department chair of mathematics at Averett. Ethington earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in mathematics from the University of Georgia. His Master of Science in mathematics degree from Mississippi State University, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics/English is from Centre College of Kentucky. Ethington earned tenure in 1979 and he taught the full range of math courses from fundamentals to set theory.

For Ethington, it’s always been about the faculty, staff and administration working together to provide the best possible education for our students. Ethington says he stayed at Averett because he felt that he and his students and colleagues were valued.

Then, 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