Benco, which is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., focuses on building residential apartment complexes. It鈥檚 a good fit for Jackson, who notes that 鈥渃onstruction, especially in the Charlotte area, has just really exploded over the last couple years.鈥�

Jackson鈥檚 principal charge at Benco is keeping projects, some worth as much as $50 million, on schedule and within budget constraints. It can be quite a challenge.

鈥淐onstruction can be very volatile in terms of all the things that can go wrong and all the things that have to be tracked before a project begins,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen projects where one change alone can cost a couple hundred thousand dollars in extra work that wasn鈥檛 originally accounted for. It鈥檚 very important to try to capture as much risk and as many variables as possible before a project starts.鈥�

Jackson, 26, aspires to become a Chief Financial Officer. If he achieves that goal, he鈥檒l have likely followed a work ethic that took hold during his time at Pfeiffer: 鈥渢he more you put in, the more you engage and the more willing you are to learn, the better your results will be in anything.鈥�

Jackson鈥檚 also bullish on building relationships and communicating his ideas effectively. He notes that the business programs at Pfeiffer, which often required him to make presentations, helped him develop these skills.

Dr. Susan Luck is Professor of Business at Pfeiffer and Program Director of its Graduate Schools of Business. She served as Jackson鈥檚 advisor, and Jackson took several courses she taught, including Organizational Communication, Business Agility, and Strategic Management.

Luck isn鈥檛 surprised that Jackson has found success in the workforce.

鈥淭anner was always a solid student,鈥� Luck said. 鈥淗e paid close attention to details鈥攁 trait that is certainly a key in his success鈥攁nd was almost always a step ahead of me. He could see where I was going with the coursework and why I wanted what I wanted from students as clearly as I could. That made him a joy to teach, but it also showed me how well honed his critical thinking skills were.鈥�

Luck also praised Jackson鈥檚 work ethic: 鈥淚 knew that he knew what he wanted, and that he knew that his success would depend totally on himself and his drive and work ethic. It showed a maturity beyond his years and a promise of a really terrific student.鈥�

Jackson grew up near Pfeiffer鈥檚 Misenheimer, N.C. campus in Rockwell, N.C., where he still lives. His wife Lauren also followed the same path earning bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in business from Pfeiffer.

Jackson said he 鈥渋nstantly鈥� fell in love with Pfeiffer during a visit to the University: 鈥淚 liked the smaller school environment. I liked the fact that students enjoyed personal relationships with caring professors.鈥�

One of those professors was Dr. Christopher 鈥淒oc鈥� Howard. Howard, now Guest Lecturer at Hochschule Weserbergland in Hameln, Germany, was on the Business Management and Leadership faculty when the Jacksons were students at Pfeiffer. He also officiated at their wedding.

Jackson enthusiastically recommends Pfeiffer to prospective business students. The University 鈥済ives you practical knowledge,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 left there with an understanding of concepts that I could actually apply in the real world, and that has served me well.鈥�

Three generations of the Cook family have studied at Pfeiffer. Cook graduated in 1977. Her late father, A. Wayne Cook, graduated in 1958, and her daughter Jessica Cook, earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Music from Pfeiffer and an MBA in 2007.

鈥淎ll were so grateful for what Pfeiffer offered them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to afford other students with a similar opportunity for the University to make a positive impact on their lives. The scholarships will help ensure that.鈥�

The scholarships each memorialize one of Cook鈥檚 parents. One, for Strategic Communication and Social Media students, is named for her mother, Frances Ann Garver Cook, who died in 2023 following a courageous battle with cancer.

In her obituary, Cook described her mother as 鈥渁 beloved mother and grandmother, a pioneer for professional women, and a person of deep faith.鈥� Cook鈥檚 mother excelled at the now-defunct Cannon Mills Company, in Kannapolis, N.C., where in 1984, she became the company鈥檚 first female vice president. Among other things, she served as Director of Public Relations at Cannon Mills, edited The Cannon News,and worked as the Corporate Secretary for Cannon Mills and its subsidiaries.

The other scholarship, for Environment and Sustainability Studies majors who want to make the world a better place by caring for the environment and the land, is named for Cook鈥檚 father, A. Wayne Cook (d. 2020). He excelled in business but lived for stewarding his New Moon Farm and raising Black Angus cattle on farmland that was tended by his ancestors for 200 years.

In the obituary Cook penned, she says her father 鈥減ossessed the soul of a poet, the spirit of a cowboy, and the heart of a hero. He loved his children immeasurably, teaching them the 鈥楪ood Morning Song,鈥� and to listen to the words of his favorite country songs 鈥� the sadder, the better.鈥�

The words she used to memorialize each of her parents reveals Cook鈥檚 giftedness as a storyteller. And each of the major stops in her life can somehow be tied to her writing, be it for newspaper articles, devotionals or sermons. She has served as Senior Pastor of several United Methodist Churches. Her first job was as a writer of obituaries. Since 2010, Cook has authored three books: Once Upon A Speech (Kendall-Hunt Publishers), along with two Amethyst Fire Publishing titles: The Beagle and his Boy and The 11-Fingered Jesus.

She is a recipient of the Francis Asbury Preaching Award and the Denman Evangelism Award from the United Methodist Church. As a communications college teacher and scholar, she has received Excellence in Teaching state recognition for her public speaking classes. She鈥檚 presented at regional, national, and international conferences, including the National Communication Association, the Southeastern Women鈥檚 Studies Association, and the International Clergywoman鈥檚 Consultation.

Cook鈥檚 gifts as a writer were refined at Pfeiffer, where she majored in English and minored in French. She was particularly interested in poetry, which heightened her interest in choosing just the right word or title.

鈥淚 believe an English or communication-based degree is one of the best foundations that a student can have,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n every single profession, or in every single advanced degree that one might pursue, a communication foundation is essential.鈥�

Cook says that a form of storytelling even enters into the scholarships she has established at Pfeiffer.

鈥淚 always love meeting the students who receive the scholarships. And when I do, I bring a picture of my parent, and I tell them a little bit about their story. And in that way, it connects my parent鈥檚 story to the student鈥檚. It鈥檚 a legacy of love.鈥�

The A. Wayne Cook Endowed Scholarship鈥檚 first recipient, in 2025-26, was Alim Coleman, a rising junior from Harrisburg, NC, who is a member of Pfeiffer鈥檚 cross country, track & field, and debate teams. He enjoyed meeting Rev. Cook and learning about the family鈥檚 Pfeiffer legacy at the University鈥檚 scholarship dinner in March. 鈥淚t was a great experience to meet an alumnus who is investing in my future, allowing me to follow what I am personally passionate about,鈥� said Coleman. 鈥淭he magnitude of this family鈥檚 generosity has made a real difference for me.鈥�

During his childhood in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., he auditioned for children鈥檚 roles in movies and television shows. When work in show business failed to materialize, he decided, at age 8, that baseball would become his thing.

After becoming a fixture on the travel ball circuit, he came to the attention of recruiters from Pfeiffer, on scholarship when the University competed at the Division II level. Along the way, Peters majored in Computer Information Systems at Pfeiffer — an experience that helped him land his current contractor job as a Senior Cybersecurity Software Engineer for the Department of Defense.

Speaking on the telephone from Boston, where he now lives, Peters touched on a lot of topics, from the growing importance of cybersecurity to his time as a student-athlete at Pfeiffer. He praised his parents for instilling in him the importance of academics. 鈥淎t some point you鈥檙e going to play your last game, whether you鈥檙e in the pros or not,鈥� Peters remembers them saying to him and his brothers, who also played baseball.

Peters, and , stated that his current job entails protecting the warfighter along with the nation鈥檚 assets but couldn鈥檛 elaborate further due to confidentiality and security reasons. He was, however, able to offer his stance on the future of Cybersecurity in a world driven by AI: 鈥淎s we implement AI and have these autonomous agents working on our behalf, we have to grow in terms of security.鈥�

Peters received an excellent education in CIS at Pfeiffer, but he has had to learn cybersecurity on the job. No matter: 鈥淚 was prepared to learn after I graduated from Pfeiffer and transferred into the workplace. I was prepared to ask questions. I was prepared to have tough conversations. I was prepared to figure out my spot within the industry.鈥�

Peters praised Dr. Ali Sever, a Professor of Computer Information Systems at Pfeiffer, for serving as his 鈥渧ery important advisor.鈥� Sever gave Peters books on programming to read, updated him on industry trends, and wrote recommendation letters for him.

Sever also introduced Peters to the University鈥檚 Help Desk, where Peters eventually helped students with computer-related issues. Peters also tutored students in CIS subjects.

Sever called Peters鈥� success 鈥渋ncredibly rewarding.鈥� He said his former student 鈥渃onsistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, curiosity, and a willingness to learn beyond the classroom.鈥� He added that Peters鈥� 鈥渆arly experiences, whether working in IT support, engaging in internships, or building technical skills, laid out a solid foundation.鈥�

What truly sets Brandall apart, Sever says, is his initiative and professionalism.

鈥淐ybersecurity is a field that often requires continuous, self-driven learning, and Brandall embraced that mindset early on,鈥� Sever said. 鈥淗is success is a great example of how combining academic preparation with real-world experience and determination can lead to outstanding career outcomes.鈥�

When Peters wasn鈥檛 working on academics, he did all he could to establish himself on the diamond. He didn鈥檛 become a starter until his junior and senior years — an experience that taught him the importance of patience and determination.

鈥淚 was a speedy center field guy,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think my defense was one of the things that separated me from the pack. My hitting was kind of on par. Sometimes I would get into a hitting slump, but what always saved me was my defense.鈥�

Peters鈥� future looks bright. He is thinking of establishing his own cybersecurity firm or of starting a fund dedicated to investing in cybersecurity and defense startups.

He credits Pfeiffer for giving him an opportunity to pursue these and other options. 鈥淭he University was a great place for me to develop into an adult,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a safe, nurturing school environment where teachers and coaches cared about you.鈥�

Barbato also showed great leadership and other important intangibles on the field and in the locker room during her career as a lacrosse player. This helps explain why, in 2025, less than a year after graduating, she was named Interim Head Coach of the women鈥檚 lacrosse program at Pfeiffer. She this season.

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that I got the Head Coach job,鈥� Barbato said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a dream come true to lead a team on which I once played.鈥�

Barbato says she lobbied , her predecessor, for a chance to 鈥渂e a volunteer assistant and just come back and help because I loved coaching.鈥� She also coached for travel lacrosse teams on fall weekends during her student days at Pfeiffer.

Barbato, 23, is one of the youngest head coaches in NCAA history. Her current Pfeiffer appointment is similar to the one secured by , the former field hockey superstar at UNC Chapel Hill who became Head Coach of the Tarheels鈥� field hockey program in 2023, shortly after graduating. Both Barbato and Matson began their head-coaching careers without the seasoning that most players of any collegiate sport gain as assistant coaches for several years, often bouncing from team to team until an opportunity to run a program emerges.

Jeff Childress 鈥�89, a former Falcon athlete who now serves as Special Assistant to the President and Interim Athletic Director at Pfeiffer, suggested that Barbato was more than up to the challenges of a head-coaching role, pointing out that Barbato鈥檚 Falcons have gotten off to a 4-0 start this season.  Roster numbers on her team are also on the rise, arguably the most critical factor in ensuring that the women鈥檚 lacrosse program at Pfeiffer thrives.

鈥淛ulia played for and gained insights from several coaches while she was on the women鈥檚 lacrosse team at Pfeiffer,鈥� Childress said. 鈥淚 think she gained a lot of valuable experience learning first-hand what she felt was important as a player and now she relates very well with our players and parents.鈥�

Childress added that Barbato leads by example: 鈥淭he players on her team know that she only wants the best for them and the team. Julia does a very good job of planning ahead. She has let the team members know her expectations and holds them accountable. She is a player鈥檚 coach.鈥�

Like Matson, Barbato has been coaching several former teammates, including Analise Robinson 鈥�26, a midfielder who played with Barbato from 2022 through 2024.

Robinson suggested that the change in her relationship with Barbato has gone smoothly.

鈥淚 always respected Julia when we were teammates, so the transition was seamless,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淪he knows me and my playing style more than anyone, so she truly does know how to coach to my strengths and how to challenge me to be better every day.鈥�

As Barbato settles in as Head Coach, she continues tackling what she views as her biggest challenge: 鈥渟eeing the bigger picture.鈥�

鈥淎s players, we focus mainly on what our role is and winning the game,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut as a coach, you have to strategize all at once on the plans, logistics, culture, and winning.鈥�

The top 鈥渃ulture鈥� priority for Barbato is recruiting. As Interim Head Coach, she inherited a team of about 12 players, the number needed to field a complete side in lacrosse, including a goalkeeper. She now has 17 players and wants to have at least 24 in order to a) ensure two sides of 12 can scrimmage against each other in practice and b) enlarge the pool of substitutes at her disposal during games.

As a recruiter, Barbato looks forward to 鈥渢alking up鈥� Pfeiffer and the role of women鈥檚 lacrosse on campus, over a coaching tenure she wants to last for many years to come. 鈥淚 love to tell people how great Pfeiffer is,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 could talk about it all day long.鈥�

Students enter the program with an average of 3,125 direct patient care hours, acquired through positions including medical assistant, scribe, EMT/paramedic, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, patient care technician, and athletic trainer. The cohort also averaged 180 physician assistant shadowing hours.

Students range in age from 22 to 31, with anaverage age of 25. The class is 72% female and 28% maleand includes six first-generation college students. One student is a 黑料专区 graduate.

The cohort reflects both strong in-state representation and national reach. Twenty-three of the 28 students are North Carolina residents, with others coming from California, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan. Twenty students earned undergraduate degrees from North Carolina institutions, and the program received applications from 40 of the 50 U.S. states during the most recent admissions cycle.

Common undergraduate majors include Biology, Health Science, Exercise Science, Biological Sciences, and Psychology, with one student entering the program holding a master鈥檚 degree. Top feeder institutions represented include UNC鈥揅hapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University, and UNC Wilmington. UNC Charlotte has historically been the program鈥檚 leading feeder institution.

Caylee Clayton, from Norwood, NC, and a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, stated, 鈥淚 chose 黑料专区鈥檚 Physician Assistant program for its strong community and excellence in PA education, and I look forward to expanding my clinical knowledge as I grow to become a capable and compassionate provider for my future patients”

鈥淭his class reflects the academic strength, depth of character, clinical readiness, and commitment to service that defines Pfeiffer鈥檚 Physician Assistant Program,鈥� said Dr. Christopher Boe, Dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淲e are proud to welcome these students and look forward to supporting them as they prepare to serve patients in and around the community.鈥� The 黑料专区 Physician Assistant Program is based in Albemarle, NC, at the Center for Health Sciences, and prepares graduates for patient-centered clinical practice through rigorous academics, hands-on training, and a mission-driven approach to healthcare education.

With an M.Div. degree in hand, Smith could take steps to become a United Methodist pastor, serving a denomination he鈥檇 been a part of since his childhood on a family farm in rural Alamance (N.C.) County. There was just one problem: As his time at Vanderbilt was winding down, in the early 1970s, Smith had come to doubt whether a career in Christian ministry was really for him. When the late Ruth Fussell Smith 鈥�66, a fellow Pfeiffer alumna and Smith鈥檚 wife at the time, realized her husband was frozen by indecision, she proposed a radical solution.

鈥淪he said, 鈥榃ell, we could join the , and during our time with them, you could think about your future,鈥欌�� Smith recalled during a break at , which he and Nancy Joyner, his current wife, have owned and managed since 2009. 鈥淎fter looking into it, that鈥檚 exactly what we did.鈥� This was back in 1971, when the Peace Corps was about 10 years old, having been established by of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963).

As a presidential candidate, Kennedy had challenged young people like Smith to devote 鈥渁 part of their lives to living and working in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.鈥� It was a noble call that appealed to their idealism, their adventurism, and, often, their willingness to adapt to the most challenging of circumstances as they provided sorely needed assistance.

The Peace Corps assignment for Smith and his wife certainly bore this out. It charged them with working on a multifaceted development project in the western Indian state of . Between June of 1971 and October of 1973, the couple lived and worked amid the stark poverty of a small village where there was no running water and subsistence farming was the norm.

After receiving several months of training in farming techniques and in learning Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra (he still speaks it to Indian immigrants he meets in N.C.), Smith helped introduce new varieties of rice that would produce considerably greater yields than the type locals had traditionally planted during the summer monsoon season. 

Smith also helped increase levels of irrigation needed for planting 鈥渁ll kinds of stuff鈥� other than rice during the non-monsoon months, when temperatures never dipped below 60 degrees. This meant digging a deep well that wouldn鈥檛 go dry — something a village leader supported if local workers were strong enough to do the work involved.

鈥淢y folks can鈥檛 do that work because they don鈥檛 have enough food to keep them healthy enough,鈥� Smith recalls the leader telling him. 鈥淚f you can find enough grain that I can give these people, we can dig a well.鈥�

Smith would do just that, and 20 village workers, fortified with a sufficient number of calories from grain Smith had provided them, came up with the requisite well.

So, what happened after Smith concluded his stint in the Peace Corps? His outlook changed: 鈥淚t gave me an appreciation for all that being a citizen of the world entailed,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I gained first-hand knowledge of the struggles that many people go through. When you work for the Peace Corps, you gain a whole new perspective. You don鈥檛 get worried if egg prices go up.鈥�

Shortly after returning to the United States, Smith began the process of becoming a United Methodist minister. The initial doubts he had about entering that line of work were replaced with a clarity of focus: Having addressed the challenges faced by rural India, he would do similar work in rural North Carolina and nearby states, first by pastoring United Methodist churches and, then, directing a United Methodist Church-affiliated mission/service organization called the in Hayesville, N.C.

Smith worked for 25 years at Hinton before taking on his current work at Redbud Organic Farm which sits on what was part of the family farm where he grew up. From the beginning, organic practices were used, and the process to become certified organic was completed in 2009. Smith and Joyner sell their produce and plants at area farmers markets and to local co-ops and a few local restaurants.

That he鈥檚 lived a full, often adventurous life of service owes much to his time at Pfeiffer.

鈥淚t was just a really great place,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so glad I was there.鈥�

During her sophomore year, as she was pursuing a B.S. degree in Health and Exercise Science, Mueller 鈥�05 learned that her mother had developed a serious neurological condition that dramatically affected her mobility. This was awful news, of course, but it would also have a profoundly positive effect on the trajectory of Mueller鈥檚 current career in Chicago as a clinical exercise physiologist, wellness coach and personal trainer.

Initially, Mueller envisioned putting her Pfeiffer major to use in ways that might enhance the strength and conditioning of fellow athletes and movement enthusiasts. She started as a midfielder over four years on the women鈥檚 soccer team, and when she wasn鈥檛 on the pitch, she liked to keep moving.  

However, as she observed her mother鈥檚 rehabilitation and the limited resources available once formal rehab ended, her perspective and aspirations in the exercise space shifted.

鈥淚 realized that there was a whole other population that I was completely overlooking,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n time, I developed a passion for working with special populations, which include individuals with physical disabilities, neurological conditions, chronic illness, and those who may require modified or highly individualized approaches to exercise.鈥�

Her clientele in Chicago, where she鈥檚 lived since 2008, has included many people drawn from special populations, in addition to , corporate executives and soccer moms. She works as a part-time exercise physiologist at and as a personal trainer at , a high-tech business she started in 2018 with the goal of offering a personal-training package to suit every taste, lifestyle and location, including some internationally-based clients.

During a recent interview, Mueller described how Pfeiffer planted the seeds for the professional she would become. She illuminated her approach with special populations and how it has influenced the way she works with all kinds of clients. And she described her life in Chicago.

Carolyn, thank you for granting us an interview. Pfeiffer was pretty much always on your radar as you grew up. Why did you decide to attend the University?

My family鈥檚 connection to the school played a role, as did the fact that I often watched Peiffer鈥檚 soccer teams play and attended soccer camps on campus. Knowing Coach Chad Miller, who was a family friend, also influenced my decision to choose Pfeiffer. In short, Pfeiffer was familiar, it offered exactly what I was looking for, and it already felt like home.

Who were your most important professors at Pfeiffer and how did they influence you?

Two professors stand out as especially influential during my time at Pfeiffer. One of my most memorable was Dr. Don Jackman 鈥�78 (Hon.), now a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Pfeiffer. Chemistry was not my strongest subject and apparently not a strength for my dad or older brother either. When I first met Dr. Jackman, he joked, 鈥淥h鈥� another Mueller. I hope you鈥檒l be the first in your family to pass my course!鈥� That comment motivated me to work incredibly hard, and while all of us like to say we 鈥渂arely passed,鈥� it was a meaningful lesson in perseverance and rising to a challenge.

The professor I would especially like to thank is Dr. Vins Sutlive (now at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY). He taught many of my science-based courses and served as a wonderful advisor. Beyond being an excellent professor, he was a genuinely kind and supportive person. He listened, encouraged me academically, and helped me stay motivated during challenging times. I鈥檓 particularly grateful for his support of my family, including helping connect us with resources to assist my mom with home exercise following her injury. He truly went beyond the role of a teacher, and I remain very thankful for his impact on my life.

How did Pfeiffer plant the seeds for the kind of exercise physiologist and personal trainer you have become today?

Sports and movement were always a big part of my life and helped keep me motivated and moving forward from a young age. When I arrived at Pfeiffer, that interest was given structure and depth. As an Exercise Science major, I learned the science behind movement, not just that the body moves, but how and why it does. Learning anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics made the human body endlessly fascinating to me and sparked a desire to keep learning. In short, Pfeiffer helped me connect my love of sport and movement with evidence-based practices, a philosophy that I follow to this day. I hasten to add, though, that other important experiences beyond Pfeiffer also shaped the exercise physiologist and personal trainer I am today.

How so?

Well, two important experiences come to mind, and they鈥檙e both related to my work with special populations. The first grew out of field work that Dr. Sutlive arranged for me to do at the . After teaching a women鈥檚 sports conditioning class there, Y director John Fields took me under his wing and gave me opportunities that shaped my career path. The most impactful was working with individuals who had intellectual and physical disabilities. That population pushed me to think differently about movement, to be creative, adaptable, and open to alternative ways of accomplishing goals when the 鈥渢raditional鈥� approach didn鈥檛 work. It taught me patience and empathy, but more importantly, how to truly motivate, support, and meet someone where they are.

My work at the Stanly County Y would pave the way for my doing an unpaid internship in summer 2007 at what is now the (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago). Thanks to the support of my family, I spent my first summer in Chicago at what is widely considered one of the best physical rehabilitation hospitals in the country. That experience confirmed that this was the environment where I wanted to continue learning and growing.

And after I earned my master鈥檚 degree in kinesiology, nutrition and physical activity from James Madison University in 2008, I became the Manager of Adaptive Fitness Services at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a post I held until 2013. In that role, I worked closely with physical therapists and a team of exercise physiologists to help maximize each patient鈥檚 care and ensure carryover beyond formal rehabilitation. That collaborative mindset strongly influences how I work today. I鈥檓 always thinking about appropriate modifications and progressions, adjusting in real time, and making sure each program aligns with an individual鈥檚 needs and goals. Whether in a clinical setting or a personal training environment, my focus is on helping people move forward with confidence. I call it 鈥淢odify and Progress,鈥� and I鈥檝e compiled a that illustrates how I approach modifying and progressing, using a common exercise, namely the push up.

It appears, then, that Chicago has been a good place for you to further your career.

Absolutely. The city offers extensive resources, multiple healthcare systems, and a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. Being in an environment where physicians, physical therapists, and other clinicians actively seek out qualified exercise professionals has allowed me to build meaningful connections and provide continuity of care for many patients. I鈥檝e also been fortunate to work with wonderful clients, and over time my practice has grown largely through word of mouth, which speaks to the strength of the professional community here.

What about the winters?

While my first Chicago winter was intimidating, I鈥檝e since grown to love the city, no matter how cold it gets. The professional experience I gained early in my career was transformative, and Chicago became home, helped along by meeting a wonderful Canadian who is now my husband: Dr. Levi Hargrove. He at Shirley Ryan: he leads the Regenstein Foundation Center for Bionic Medicine, and serves as Director of the Neural Engineering for Prosthetics and Orthotics Lab. And he taught me how to survive the colder months.  

Dr. Steve Shelton, a 1987 graduate of Pfeiffer College, uttered these words with disarming matter-of-factness on Jan. 23 in Columbia, S.C. He did so on the telephone during a work break at , his employer, where those 鈥渇ew chaotic days鈥� would morph into several more of readiness, thanks to his able skills as an Emergency Manager for the health system. He鈥檚 been an Emergency Manager and an Academic Emergency Physician at Prisma Health for more than 30 years. 

Shelton devised plans detailing how three hospitals in Columbia and another just outside that city would cope with the fallout from a then-imminent ice storm and from an outbreak of measles. This was quite the challenge, with Shelton taking into account everything from the 1,000 beds spread across the four hospitals to the 12,000 employees working at a 24/7 business that has to stay open, no matter what.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got to make sure that everyone鈥檚 prepared,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淗ow do we get staff in and support them, things like that.鈥�

Shelton鈥檚 duties as Emergency Manager last month also included providing updates and counsel for the public as a spokesperson for Prisma Health. It was a role he had undertaken several times before, one of the most notable happening in early 2022, when South Carolina experienced a rapid spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant that strained healthcare systems across the state. Shelton also shared clinical updates about the status of Prisma Health鈥檚 hospitals and made healthcare recommendations at press conferences that South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster called in 2020, when COVID-19 was new. He served as leader (Incident Commander) for Prisma Health鈥檚 COVID response from beginning to end.

Shelton said that although his work as Emergency Manager has made him feel 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥� at times, 鈥淚鈥檝e been doing this for a long time and I鈥檝e been lucky enough to surround myself with some really sharp people.鈥� He said he鈥檚 a big believer in listening to his colleagues鈥� concerns and making course corrections in response. 鈥淲e adapt and overcome,鈥� he said.

Shelton鈥檚 people skills began to develop at Pfeiffer, with which he was long familiar, having been raised in Stanly County. A chemistry major who minored in biology and math, he also took advantage of the many extracurricular activities on offer, particularly those that entailed serving in student government and various organizations. As President of the Male Student Association, to cite one example, he learned how to work through a range of issues with everyone from faculty to students. 

鈥淭hat experience was invaluable,鈥� Shelton recalled. 鈥淚 was able to build on it throughout my career.鈥�

As for Shelton鈥檚 work as an Academic Emergency Physician, this, too, is rooted in his time at Pfeiffer, which he attended on scholarship. As a pre-med student, Shelton took a requisite course on Biochemistry, which was taught by Dr. Mike Riemann 鈥�70 (Hon.) 鈥�10 (Hon.), Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Pfeiffer.

鈥淪teve was serious about his academics,鈥� said Riemann, who also served as Shelton鈥檚 advisor. 鈥淗e asked the kind of questions that gave this professor confidence that he would do well no matter the endeavor.鈥�

In Riemann, Shelton saw 鈥渁 mentor and somebody I definitely respected.鈥�  He recalled that Riemann always went the extra mile for him and his fellow students: The door to the professor鈥檚 office – and even his faculty housing on campus! –  always seemed to be open to anyone who needed help with overcoming the more daunting challenges of chemistry. Also, Shelton recalled that when it came to the campus lab, Riemann 鈥渨ould be there weekends or evenings making sure you had what you needed to complete the task you were given.鈥�

After Pfeiffer, Shelton attended the East Carolina University School of Medicine, then, in 1994, completed an Emergency Medicine Residency at Richland Memorial Hospital/University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia. At East Carolina, 鈥渢he material wasn鈥檛 crazy-difficult,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淏ut the volume of the material was a lot greater and came at me a lot faster than was the case at Pfeiffer. Still, I felt that Pfeiffer had given me the skills to succeed.鈥�

In time, Shelton would gravitate to emergency medicine as a specialty, having found 鈥渢he opportunity to make quick fixes and to make an immediate impact on people鈥檚 lives鈥� more to his liking than, say, managing a chronic condition over time.

He also came to feel energized by working with medical students (from the University of South Carolina), calling them 鈥渢he best of the medical students who come to us.鈥� And he has liked absorbing the new approaches and thinking that the residents under his supervision bring to the ER environment as he guides them not so much with orders but with questions (e.g., 鈥淒id you think about this?鈥�).

In Shelton鈥檚 eyes, all this and more can be traced back to Pfeiffer, which he says provided him with a great foundation for what followed.  鈥淚t got me where I needed to go,鈥� he said.

His experiences at Pfeiffer, where he played soccer and baseball, helped pave the way for this success. A few years ago, he decided it was time to give back. But the way he chose to do so had nothing to do with athletics.

He established the Sparks SGA Annual Scholarship, through which the current President of the Student Government Association receives a $1,000 scholarship each year. Sparks, who held the SGA presidency in 1965, started the fund in March of 2022 with a commitment to underwrite the award for 10 years.

Sparks said the aid helps the SGA President lead 鈥渨ithout having to worry about financial burdens鈥� they might otherwise have to address. Gabby Edwards 鈥�26, the current SGA President, said the scholarship helps her parents because of 鈥渢he burden they took on to pay for her Pfeiffer education.鈥�

Sparks, who grew up in Pennsville, N.J., had known of Pfeiffer for some time before he enrolled, having heard about it from a retired United Methodist minister who helped attract a large contingent of students from New Jersey to Pfeiffer. He entered Pfeiffer as a sophomore after serving in the military and earning credits from several colleges along the way.

He described himself as a poor student who had to work his way through school. He worked as a head-counter in the cafeteria; that job, which he did five days a week, earned him $.85 cents an hour. It wasn鈥檛 much but he says those wages, along with an annual stipend of $350 and the money he earned from working at the now-defunct Fraley鈥檚 Bar near campus, managed to keep him afloat financially and allowed him to embrace much of what Pfeiffer could offer, in addition to academics.

鈥淚 had a good experience at Pfeiffer,鈥� said Sparks, who pursued graduate studies at Azusa Pacific University after earning an M.A. degree in physical education from Appalachian State University. 鈥淭hat was what I needed.鈥�

Sparks described campaigning creatively in a contest that pitted him against his opponent, whom he鈥檇 defeat by just 12 votes. In addition to wooing a base that included New Jersey residents, Sparks took advantage of his name to 鈥渟park鈥� some catchy campaign slogans. 鈥淪parks for Progress鈥� morphed into a sign that read 鈥淚gnite the Flow of Progress with Sparks,鈥� which was placed on a small island on Gibson Lake, one of the most attractive features of Pfeiffer鈥檚 campus in Misenheimer, N.C.

Once Sparks was elected, he did what all SGA presidents do, namely 鈥渂ridged the gap鈥� between his fellow students and the College鈥檚 faculty and administration. Edwards described several ways that is happening currently: Through a suggestion that landed in a comment box, for example, the SGA was able to secure more gluten-free dessert options in the cafeteria. And the SGA is working with the administration to develop a caregiver policy among students who must miss time to care for a sick child.

The SGA plays an important role in the presentation of various events on campus. Sparks spoke of organizing a concert on campus by The Shirelles, which became one of the first times that black artists performed at Pfeiffer.

鈥淭hey packed the place,鈥� Sparks said, describing the enthusiasm the performance generated. 鈥淎nd we broke down some barriers in the process.鈥�

Edwards said that SGA still helps manage campus events. Making the Homecoming Court presentation run smoothly during halftime of a Homecoming soccer game is just one example. All the court鈥檚 flowers, crowns, and sashes are secured by the SGA, which is also in charge of getting alumni royalty of past courts back on campus.

Both Edwards, a star on Pfeiffer鈥檚 volleyball team who aspires to become an attorney, and Sparks plugged the virtues of joining the SGA — whether students plan to go into politics after graduating or not. Edwards said she鈥檚 considering becoming a judge or an elected official, but even if that doesn鈥檛 happen, she said her work for the SGA has made her a better public speaker and 鈥渕ore comfortable speaking on my feet, speaking on the fly鈥� — as when, for example, she briefed Pfeiffer Trustee chairman Roger Dick on the organization鈥檚 work during a dinner for Pfeiffer鈥檚 scholarship recipients.

As for Sparks, he never went into politics after leaving Pfeiffer but feels his time as SGA president strengthened his leadership skills, which he brought to his career in coaching. 鈥淚 was able to bring people together behind a common goal,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nybody can be successful if they can do that.鈥�

鈥淚 have just clung to that verse,鈥� said Mauldin, a devout Christian who lives in Norwood, N.C. 鈥淓very time I get discouraged, I think to myself, 鈥業t鈥檚 okay to have emotions and it鈥檚 okay to be down, but you just can鈥檛 stay down.鈥欌��

Mauldin has persevered through treatments, and her prognosis is good. Having earned a B.S. degree in Nursing from Pfeiffer, she now works as a Circulator in the OR at Atrium Health Stanly, in Albemarle, N.C. Before she graduated in May 2025, she learned that the organization would award her one of its annual , for which she was formally recognized on Oct. 11 during the organization鈥檚 annual gala in Goldsboro, N.C.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge honor,鈥� Mauldin said. 鈥淚 just feel very thankful. I had no idea this was even a thing before now, and it just makes me feel like I made a good impression on somebody at some point in time, so that鈥檚 wonderful.鈥�

Since its founding in 1985, the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina has honored registered nurses for their contributions to the nursing profession. The organization also makes scholarship funds available to nursing programs at colleges and universities, which, in turn, choose the recipients of scholarships.

Dr. Dana Martin, a Professor and Interim Department Chair of Pfeiffer鈥檚 Nursing program, said that Pfeiffer鈥檚 nursing faculty unanimously selected Mauldin as the recipient of the Great 100 scholarship 鈥渂ecause of her motivation to pursue her bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing and her dedication to the profession of nursing.鈥�

Mauldin, 30, feels called to continue serving her native Stanly (N.C.) County as a nurse for the long haul. She arrived at Pfeiffer as a registered nurse, having earned an associate鈥檚 degree from Stanly Community College. She enrolled in Pfeiffer鈥檚 online RN-to-BSN program because it was in her price range and because she could drive to its offices if she needed in-person assistance. Her practical experience includes stints as a CNA at a local nursing home and as a nurse in surgical and intensive care units. She鈥檚 considering resuming her former role as a House Supervisor for Atrium Health Stanly (an appointment that required her to earn her BSN degree within three years).

She feels that her current nursing position affords her an optimal work-life balance, which includes everything from addressing her health and spiritual needs to being a wife to her husband, Tyler, and a mother to Josie, her seven-year-old daughter.

鈥淚 work full-time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 the youth leader at our church and I coach my daughter鈥檚 cheerleading squad. I鈥檓 a busy gal.鈥� 鈥漈aylor is a resilient, caring, and compassionate nurse,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淪he will positively represent the Great 100 Student Scholarship Award, as well as 黑料专区.鈥�