K. Scott Drury
Vice President for Advancement
Southern Wesleyan University

Drury, a SWU graduate, brings a range of professional success encompassing law, fundraising and Christian service. He has robust experience in all aspects of fund development, including planned and major gifts, campaign planning, donor relations and building support within churches and faith-based networks.

Drury spent nearly a decade practicing law in Los Angeles serving litigation and estate planning clients, before becoming director of resource development at World Hope International, a Christian relief and development organization based in Washington, D.C. In recent years he has grown a diverse portfolio of fundraising and legal clients, serving as development advisor to the president of World Hope International, legal and technical advisor to the Last Well (a Liberia-focused non-governmental organization), managing director for Educational Services International (a missional teaching and outreach organization), stewardship professional and consultant for several church planned-giving programs, and private legal counsel for litigation, contract, non-profit, and estate planning clients.

Drury graduated from D. W. Daniel High School and went on to complete his BA in English at Southern Wesleyan University. He received a JD at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was inducted into its chapter of the Order of the Coif. He furthered his studies in the Philosophy of Christianity and Ethics at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.
Drury began his career with teaching appointments at the Budapest College of Foreign Trade in Hungary and at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in China.

Drury has strong ties to the SWU community. His father, Elmer, moved his family to serve as Director of Development at SWU in 1985. His mother, JoAn, later served in public relations at SWU. While he was a student at the university, Drury met his wife of 25 years, Elizabeth (Childs), whose family also has a long history of service and scholarship at SWU.

“It is such a delight to welcome a professional with this level of rich experience and deep historical connection to SWU as our next Vice President for Advancement,” said Dr. Todd Voss, Southern Wesleyan University president. “Scott’s impact on our mission and future will be significant and long lasting. We are so blessed and thankful to have him join our team for such a time as this!”

In 2007 Drury was honored by the Southern Wesleyan University Alumni Association with the Young Leader Award.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Drury has served with joy in churches wherever he has lived: teaching classes, serving on local administrative boards, and representing the church in regional and national governing bodies.

Drury and his family, including four teenaged sons (Ben, Joseph, Peter, and Jay), will be relocating from the D.C. metro area of Northern Virginia in August.

Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused, faith-filled community that offers inventive learning experiences. The university endeavors to prepare its students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. At the same time, it’s Southern Wesleyan’s desire to practice contagious generosity within the surrounding community. For details about degree programs, go online to swu.edu.

Dr. T. Walter and Christine Brashier

Brashier and his wife, Christine, have been two of the most generous and faithful supporters of NGU. Their generosity to the university has spanned over four decades.

Impact of Brashiers’ Support on NGU

Their first commitment was a downtown Greenville office building in the 1970s. Since that time, they have started an undergraduate scholarship fund, supported several capital projects, given the lead gift to launch the T. Walter Brashier Graduate School in 2005, and served on several university committees, boards, and councils.

Classes began at its first site, the former Fairview Baptist Church building in Greer, on February 6, 2006, offering two graduate degree programs in business and Christian studies. The graduate school now offers eight graduate and two doctoral programs, and is home to 450 graduate, online students, and the PA Medicine program at its Tim Brashier Campus at Greer.

“Dr. Brashier’s vision for supporting North Greenville University is unparalleled; his wisdom in recommending new programs, a new location like this one, and in his powerful prayers on our behalf have made a difference at this university where Christ Makes the Difference,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. at the unveiling. “We are on the edge of a campus that was birthed from a vision Dr. Brashier had.”

New Academic Initiatives and Scholarship Expansion

In addition to the unveiling, President Fant announced that the university will be launching new academic initiatives such as certificate and professional training programs and new degree programs that will launch this fall and in January of 2019. Also, Brashier has allowed the university to expand the Martin Timothy Brashier Scholars Program, announced last year, to include all of the programs offered in Greer.

“This program substantially subsidizes qualified and approved applicants as they start their degrees with NGU and have already been a great boon to these programs,” Fant said.

To be considered for the scholarship, a student must be a resident of any Upstate county or graduate of NGU, a first-time undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student, must have applied and been accepted to attend a qualifying program at the Tim Brashier Campus, and must earn and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Fant believes that both of these important announcements will help to “boost the turbos on Greer, on the Tim Brashier campus at Greer, and will help even more students to see how the Brashier’s vision has helped it to be clear that NGU is really a place where Christ, and Christ’s servants such as Walt and Christine Brashier, make a difference.”

The Tim Brashier Campus at Greer honors the memory of the Brashier’s beloved son, Tim, who passed away in 2012. A businessman and a 1976 North Greenville alumnus, Tim Brashier left many memories and significant impact in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

“We are grateful for the generosity of Walt and Christine in this legacy, which is now a landmark location here in Greer,” said Fant.

City of Greer Mayor Rick Danner says, “The City of Greer celebrates this well-deserved honor along with the North Greenville University community. The Brashier family has demonstrated a true passion for higher education. Its continued support of North Greenville University has helped make possible the university’s T. Walter Brashier Graduate School in Greer.”

Danner said, “Just as higher education transforms lives, North Greenville University is having a transformative impact on the City of Greer. The Brashiers’ commitment and service coupled with North Greenville University’s mission will serve students for generations to come.”

Scholarship application deadlines for Fall 1 Term is July 31, and September 30 for Fall 2 Term.

For more information about eligibility requirements for the Martin Timothy Brashier Scholars program, visit www.ngu.edu/martin-timothy-brashier-scholars-application. For NGU’s graduate and online degree opportunities, visit www.ngu.edu/academics.

Christopher M. Harris
Newberry College Dean of Enrollment Management
(August 1, 2018)

Harris will provide strategic leadership and planning for the recruitment and enrollment of both traditional undergraduate and online undergraduate degree-completion programs and financial aid. As a member of the College’s senior leadership team, Harris will advise the president and others on recruitment strategies and tactics for current enrollment and future growth.

“Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in enrollment management to this position,” said Newberry College president Dr. Maurice Scherrens. “He offers an infusion of energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas that will transform our enrollment efforts. I am pleased to welcome Chris as the newest member of our leadership team.”

Harris comes to Newberry College from Ohio-based University of Findlay, where he served as Director of Admission (2014-2018). He helped that university achieve record-breaking enrollment and supported year-to-year retention gains.

Previously, he served as Dean of Admission and Financial Aid (2010-2014) at Lake Erie College, where he provided strategic direction for the institution’s new student recruitment efforts, including undergraduate, graduate, transfer, dual enrollment and international student constituencies.

Prior to that, Harris served as Director of Financial Aid (2009-2010) at Hondros College of Nursing, where he developed and monitored financial aid processes across multiple departments. He served as Dean of Enrollment and Student Services (2003-2009) at MedCentral College of Nursing, where he led significant enrollment growth and increased student retention by 20 percent in four years. At Paul Smith’s College, where he served as Director of Admissions (2001-2003), he partnered with academic deans and program chairs to identify, develop and market new degree programs.

“I am excited and honored to be joining the Newberry College family,” Harris said. “From the moment I stepped onto the Newberry campus, it was obvious this is a truly special and unique institution deeply rooted in its mission of preparing students in the Lutheran liberal arts tradition. Newberry has great momentum and I look forward to partnering with our talented faculty and staff and dedicated alumni to attract and retain future graduates of our College.”

Harris completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from West Liberty University. He earned his Master of Arts in Education degree from Heidelberg University and is completing his doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Concordia University-Portland.

Harris has a long-held tradition of volunteer and community service and said he looks forward to getting involved in the local community once he is relocated in the area. Most recently, Harris served as a volunteer with the Miracle League of Hancock County Buddy for Baseball program, The Make It Fit Foundation and the Heart of Ohio Girls Softball Association.

Furman Biology professor Dr. Alison Roark with student Parker Murphy in the Furman labs.

Biology professors Adi Dubash (“Desmoplakin Harnesses Rho GTPase and p38 MAPK Signaling to Coordinate Cell Migration”), Linnea Freeman (“Sex Differences in Microgliosis: The Role of Gut Microbes”) and Alison Roark (“Interspecific communication between anemones and their algal symbionts”) each received competitive funding from the SC INBRE Developmental Research Program (DRP). Effective July 1, 2018, the awards will be applied to biomedical investigations conducted with undergraduate researchers on the Furman campus.

Connection With SCICU Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program

Dr. Dubash’s 2018-19 SC INBRE-supported research is related to Furman student Jacqueline Bendrick’s work on “Desmoplakin Promotes Cell Migration via Coordinated Control of p38 MAPK and RhoGTPase Signaling“, which received 2017 funding in the SCICU Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program. Bendrick presented the results of her 2017 research at the 2018 SCICU Research Symposium at Milliken & Company headquarters in Spartanburg on February 22, 2018. Highlights from the 2018 SCICU Research Symposium may be read here.

Among 14 South Carolina primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) eligible to submit applications, Freeman and Roark successfully competed for the two awards made during the 2018-19 award cycle. In addition, Dubash was renewed for a second year of funding following an initial award in July 2017.

Said John Wheeler, Associate Provost for Integrative Science and Principal Investigator of Furman’s INBRE program, “The SC INBRE DRP program has committed more than $730,000 in competitive research funding to Furman faculty since 2015. This is in addition to $1.3 million Furman will receive via the INBRE mechanism supporting undergraduate research access across all departments engaged in biomedical research between 2015 and 2020. The awards are a testament to the quality of professional scholarship conducted by Furman faculty and students contributing to the mission of the National Institutes of Health.”

SC INBRE is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the goal of increasing the biomedical research capacity of the state. The program office directly supports 13 network and four outreach institutions, and provides educational, workplace and career development, and hands-on research training.

For more information regarding Furman University research programs, please contact Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107 and vince.moore@furman.edu.

For more information on SCICU funding support for student research at its twenty member colleges and universities, please see scicu.org. The 2019 SCICU Research Symposium is scheduled for February 21, 2019 at the Milliken & Company RMC Campus Customer Center.

Funding opportunities are available for supporting SCICU student research. If you would like to support student and faculty research at SCICU’s twenty member colleges and universities, please contact Eddie Shannon, SCICU Executive Vice President, at 830-799-7122 or eddie@scicu.org.

ANDERSON, SC (courtesy andersonuniversity.edu) — The nation’s largest and oldest international film festival gave top marks to a team of five student filmmakers from Anderson University.

Garrett Black, Ashlyn Boudfolf, Parker Roberts, Ashley Smith and Mary Hunter Smittkamp won a Bronze Remi Award in the Student Film and Video Production category at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.

The students’ award came at the same festival that has awarded prizes to filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ang Lee and the Coen Brothers, among others.

Their short film, produced in Professor Gorman Woodfin’s corporate video production course, is a piece about Golden Harvest Food Bank (https://goldenharvest.org/), a poverty-alleviation program that serves disadvantaged people in north Georgia and Upstate South Carolina.

Woodfin said the film placed in the top 15 among 4,500 entries across 74 countries.

Woodfin hopes the AU filmmakers–Garrett Black, Ashlyn Boudolf, Parker Roberts, Ashley Smith, and Mary Hunter Smittkamp–become as well-known as Spielberg and Lucas in future years.

Black, Boudfolf, Roberts, Smith and Smittkamp are all AU students in Woodfin’s video production program who are making a name for themselves in the very place that helped launch A-list Hollywood directors.

Woodfin, a Hollywood-veteran-turned-professor who has won awards of his own at major film festivals, said the students’ Bronze Remi Award in the Student Film and Video Production category, is a big deal.

(Read more about Woodfin’s journey to AU here.)

“I am thrilled to see our students achieve recognition at an international film festival with more than 4,500 entries and 74 countries involved,” said Woodfin. who served as the supervising producer on the AU students’ entry. “For one of our pieces to place in the top 15 percent is incredible.”

“What really impressed me about the video project was that the people at Golden Harvest liked it so much, they immediately put it on their website,” Woodfin said. “Our students’ work was professional and emotionally moving. I am so proud of them.”

Woodfin said the student success can be attributed to the program at the AU College of Arts and Sciences. He said the support of Dr. Wayne Cox, dean of the college, and the Communications Department Chair Robert Reeves was instrumental in helping AU students compete at film festivals like WorldFest Houston.

“A clear departmental vision, combined with the talented young men and women here at Anderson University, is putting our digital media and video production program on the map,” Woodfin said. “To see our students win at a film festival that gave top honors to Spielberg, Lucas, Ang Lee and the Coen Brothers when they were beginning their career tells me we may very well have a future Lucas or Spielberg studying right here at AU.”

Dan Moore
New SWU Chief Technology Officer (Aug. 6)

“Dan brings a wealth of specific experience to SWU that will serve our campus and online students so wonderfully”, said Dr. Todd Voss, Southern Wesleyan University President. “He is a collaborator, an innovator, and is excited about SWU’s mission and impact. An amazing combination!”

Moore brings to Southern Wesleyan more than 20 years of experience in higher education information technology, grant acquisitions, personnel management and vendor negotiations. He has also served as an affiliate computer science faculty member and is active in the Army Reserve.

“With the emphasis on technology in our future, Moore will be joining the SWU Cabinet to increase connectivity and strategic planning opportunities,” Voss said.

Moore has a bachelor of science degree in computer science and an MBA, both from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He has years of experience with Jenzabar, understands Canvas, and has earned multiple certifications and commendations in information technology, including the Computer Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Moore has a heart for Christian service, using his percussion talent in worship and in the 395th Army Band, as well as providing foster care within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Moore will begin his new CTO duties at Southern Wesleyan Aug. 6.