Vol. 6, No. 23 • December 10, 2021
President’s Points of Pride
It is my pleasure to announce that Stephen Spencer, Ph.D., has been selected as the University’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective June 1, 2022. Spencer currently serves as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Athens State University and executive director of the Alabama Center for the Arts. “I was drawn to Shepherd from the start,” Spencer said. “It is a public liberal arts university that is intensely focused on student learning and success.” Spencer has outlined several priorities as he prepares to join Shepherd University, including increasing access to higher education for underrepresented and first-generation students. “As a first-generation college student myself, I understand the impact of higher education on individuals, their families, and their communities,” Spencer said. He also noted faculty development and institutional partnerships as other key priorities, adding “as the new provost at Shepherd, I will not ask what we are doing wrong and how we can fix it, but what are we doing right and how we can build on that.” Spencer holds a Ph.D. in modern American literature and multi-ethnic literature of the United States from the University of Cincinnati, an M.A. in English, and a B.A. in English, with a minor in history, from the University of Dayton. Please help me in welcoming Dr. Spencer, his wife, Kelly, and their two sons, Jackson and Camden, to the Ram Family!
How to support the Rams’ run to the championship
Football team’s playoff success puts Shepherd in the national spotlight
Get your Region One Champion t-shirt today!
Hot off the t-shirt presses: Gear that celebrates Shepherd’s Super Region One football championship. Available in your choice of unisex and women’s shirt cuts emblazoned with the Super Region One Champion logo. Go online to purchase the shirt style, sleeve length, and color for your favorite Shepherd fan! Sorry, not available for sale at the Shepherd Bookstore.
PSAC academic success and graduation rates still among best in Division II
The NCAA National Office released the Division II Federal Graduation Rate and Academic Success Rate data. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), of which Shepherd is a member, totaled 6,890 graduates among its 8,425 student-athletes who enrolled during the 2011-14 span, showcasing an increase in graduates compared to the 2009-2012 study group. For the purposes of the study, student-athletes must earn their degree within six years of their initial enrollment to be considered a graduate. Overall, the PSAC produced an 82% Academic Success Rate and a 69% Federal Graduation Rate among student-athletes. From PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray: “Besides our remarkable on-field success, it is clear that our academic success as a conference is reflective of our collective priority and mission.” You can read the detailed statistics in the complete story on the PSAC website.
Ram Pantry: Helping the Shepherd community every day
The Ram Pantry opened at the end of 2019 to support students by providing access to food, toiletries, and school supplies. During the fall 2021 semester, the Ram Pantry was shopped 99 times by more than 80 clients. Donations from the Shepherd campus and local community are what keep this vital initiative available. For more information about the Ram Pantry, please visit the website. A list of accepted donations can be found here. If you would like to volunteer during the spring 2022 semester, please contact Danielle Stephenson at dstephen@shepherd.edu or call 304-876-5030. The Ram Pantry will operate on Mondays 9 a.m.-noon and Thursdays 3-6 p.m.
News
Dr. Stephen Spencer named new provost
Shepherd University President Mary J.C. Hendrix, Ph.D. announced that Stephen Spencer, Ph.D., has been selected as the University’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective June 1, 2022. Spencer currently serves as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Athens State University and executive director of the Alabama Center for the Arts.
Bagent, Fisher named to 2021 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Teams
Junior quarterback and Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Tyson Bagent and junior offensive tackle Joey Fisher of the Shepherd football team have been named to the 2021 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Teams as announced today by the American Football Coaches Association. Bagent gained first-team honors while Fisher was named to the second team.
Shepherd University dual enrollment students receive scholarships
Sixteen area high school students are receiving some financial help for classes they have been taking at Shepherd University as dual enrollment students this fall thanks to a $3,500 grant from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation Berkeley County Industrial Park Development Fund.
Shepherd receives $31K in grants from West Virginia Humanities Council
Shepherd University has received two grants from the West Virginia Humanities Council totaling $31,000 to support two programs that offer continuing education to West Virginia K-12 schoolteachers. The Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities received $13,303 for an institute titled “Voices from the Misty Mountains, Reclaiming Our Story for a New Appalachia” that will bring 20 K-12 teachers, librarians, and teacher education graduate students from across the state to Shepherd to explore the Appalachian story and take it back to their students. The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education received a $17,700 grant to continue its successful Teacher Institute program for West Virginia educators with a series of four in-person and additional virtual workshops in 2022. This will be the seventh annual Teacher Institute and the theme will be “Congress, Citizenship, and the World: Teaching about Congress and Foreign Policy in American History.”
Shepherd Student Affairs delivers toy donations to Salvation Army, Joys and Toys
Some children in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties will have a little merrier holiday thanks to donations Shepherd University students and employees made to the Salvation Army and The Martinsburg Initiative’s Joys and Toys program. The Journal covered the delivery in an article on December 7 (article may be behind paywall).
Shepherd receives gift from West Virginia Horticultural Society for scholarships, Tabler Farm
A $10,300 gift from the West Virginia State Horticultural Society to the Shepherd University Foundation will assist the Shepherd Department of Environmental and Physical Sciences and its students. A portion of the gift will be used to create the West Virginia State Horticultural Society Scholarship, with the remaining funds designated in support of the Agricultural Innovation Center at Tabler Farm.
Undefeated Shepherd women’s basketball team ranked 22nd in D2SIDA national poll, 3rd in region
Shepherd men down Clarion, fall to Gannon
Sophomore guard Daniel McClain-Corley scored 21 points to lead Shepherd to an 81-68 win over Clarion in PSAC men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Saturday, December 4. The win comes after a loss to Gannon on December 3. The team is back in action on December 11, playing host to Virginia Union. Tipoff is at 1 p.m.
Shepherd men's soccer to host ID Camp
The Shepherd University men's soccer team is hosting an ID Camp on January 8, 2022, from 12-3 p.m.at the Shepherd Soccer Complex. This ID camp will give prospective student-athletes the opportunity to experience what it would be like to attend Shepherd and play for the soccer team.
Upcoming Events
Friday, December 10
Last Day of Finals
Saturday, December 11
1 p.m.—Men’s basketball at Virginia Union
2 p.m.—Women’s basketball at Virginia State
Monday, December 13
First Semester Grades Due
Tuesday, December 14
Grades available on RAIL
3 p.m.—Board of Governors committee meeting: Finance and Facilities, Zoom
5:30 p.m.—Women’s basketball at Pitt-Johnstown
7:30 p.m.—Men’s basketball at Pitt-Johnstown
Thursday, December 16
3-4 p.m.—Board of Governors committee meeting: Academic Programs and Development, Storer Ballroom 302, Student Center
3-4 p.m.—Board of Governors committee meeting: Enrollment and Student and Community Affairs, Cumberland Room 223, Student Center
4:15 p.m.—Board of Governors meeting, Storer Ballroom 302, Student Center
Saturday, December 18
1 p.m.—Women’s basketball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
3 p.m.—Men’s basketball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Sunday, December 19
1 p.m.—Women’s basketball vs. Seton Hill (Greensburg, PA)
3 p.m.—Men’s basketball vs. Seton Hill (Greensburg, PA)
Friday, December 24
Winter Break—University Closed
No Friday Highlights
Saturday, December 25-30
Winter Break—University Closed
Friday, December 31
Winter Break—University Closed
No Friday Highlights
3 p.m.—Appalachian Chamber Music Festival Winter Residency: Fire and Ice, W.H. Shipley Recital Hall (tickets required)
Saturday, January 1
Winter Break—University Closed
Sunday, January 2
Winter Break—University Closed
Monday, January 3
University Re-opens
Shepherd University news and events are available here.
Athletics news and schedules are available here.
Dana L. Costa
Executive Director, University Communications
Shepherd University
P.O. Box 5000
Shepherdstown WV 25443-5000
