A graduate of the Pfeiffer College Class of 1963, Grady built a respected career in the practice of law, conducting his work in a manner that enhanced the reputation of his alma mater and reflected deep integrity. Over the course of many decades, he remained a steadfast advocate for 黑料专区, devoting more than fifty years as a member of the Board of Trustees. After becoming one of the youngest board members in Pfeiffer鈥檚 history in 1972 鈥� less than a decade after his graduation 鈥� Grady鈥檚 leadership was especially notable during his tenure as Chair of the 黑料专区 Board of Trustees from 1996 to 1999, a period marked by significant growth and prosperity for the institution.

鈥淭om Grady was an exceptionally intelligent man who never lost his desire to learn and grow. For those fortunate enough to know him, he exemplified the values of faithful living, deep love for family, and a deep love for 黑料专区. His gift of humor and joy lifted those around him, even during life’s most difficult moments, and his influence will continue to be felt by all who knew and loved him. I am among those who felt Tom鈥檚 influence nearly every day. Over more than 60 years of friendship, he taught me the true meaning of loyalty, kindness, generosity, and unwavering support.  Tom was a gift to me that can never be replaced.鈥� said Bob Brietz, Grady鈥檚 Pfeiffer College roommate and former chair of the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees.

Known for his unwavering commitment, Grady championed educational advancement and community development, representing Pfeiffer at professional gatherings and public forums across North Carolina for many years. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, the Grady Board Room at 黑料专区 was named in his honor, ensuring that his legacy of service and dedication continues to inspire future generations. The naming of the board room as well as improvements to the space was a project initiated by The Cannon Foundation, another deeply impactful non-profit organization that Grady served as a board member.

鈥淭om Grady will be remembered for his enduring impact, his generosity of spirit, his great and sometimes self-effacing sense of humor, and his lifelong commitment to the institutions and communities he served. He made an incredible difference for 黑料专区, and in the lives of everyone who knew him. He served as an advisor and mentor to me, and Pfeiffer presidents from decades past have said the same thing. Simply put, there was no topic that was off limits, and there was no hour of the night that he would not answer my call.听 I will miss him, he will be deeply missed by so many others associated with Pfeiffer, and he will be deeply missed by so many in our region who are not associated with Pfeiffer,鈥� said President Scott Bullard.

A will be held at St. James Lutheran Church in Concord, NC, on June 13, 2026, at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cannon Foundation, 黑料专区, or St. James Lutheran Church in Grady鈥檚 memory.

This public event will take place on Friday, March 20^th from 10 鈥� 11 a.m. in Merner Gymnasium on the campus of 黑料专区 at 48380 US Hwy 52 N, Misenheimer, NC 28109. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and large bags and backpacks will not be allowed.

Senator Tillis has represented North Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2015 and is currently the state鈥檚 senior senator. His Senate service spans nearly a decade in the North Carolina House of Representatives, including four years as Speaker of the House. Known for his pragmatic and solutions鈥慺ocused approach, Tillis has played key roles in areas ranging from judiciary matters and veterans鈥� affairs to banking, housing, and international trade. He has also served on several Senate committees that shape major national policies. Throughout his Senate tenure, Senator Tillis has built a reputation for working across the aisle on issues such as mental health, infrastructure, veterans鈥� services, and bipartisan legislative initiatives. His willingness to engage thoughtfully with complex policy challenges and to do so in ways that invite discussion rather than division aligns with the values of Pfeiffer.

Senator Tillis鈥檚 personal story also embodies themes that resonate with the Pfeiffer community. Raised in a working鈥慶lass family that moved frequently as his parents sought work, he began his career earning minimum wage before completing his college degree as an adult and rising to executive leadership roles in the private sector. His trajectory from modest beginnings to national leadership offers a compelling platform for reflection on perseverance, civic responsibility, and service.

黑料专区 is honored to welcome Senator Tillis as the 2026 Eugene I. Earnhardt Speaker Series guest. His experiences in public life and commitment to respectful dialogue promise to inspire meaningful engagement for the campus community and guests.

The 黑料专区 community mourns the loss of Dr. James L. Pazun, a longtime and deeply respected member of the 黑料专区 faculty. Dr. Pazun passed away on January 13, 2026.

Dr. Pazun joined the University in 1994 as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Physics. Through his dedication to teaching, scholarship, and service, he advanced steadily through the academic ranks, ultimately earning promotion to Associate Professor and later Professor of Chemistry and Physics, the rank from which he retired.

During his years at Pfeiffer, Dr. Pazun held several key leadership roles, including service as Head of the School of Natural and Health Sciences, Chair of the Chemistry and Physics Department, and Director of Online Learning, where he helped guide academic programs, strengthen departmental initiatives, and shape the University鈥檚 early efforts in digital education.

鈥淚 had the fortune to begin my career at 黑料专区 in August of 1994 with Jim Pazun. He became a valued and trusted colleague who was willing to embrace innovative ideas and practices in his classes. His leadership of the Southern Piedmont Educational Consortium for more than a decade helped challenge and prepare students as well as expose them to new experiences in a college setting,鈥� reflected Dr. Mark McCallum, Professor of Biology and Director of Academic Initiatives.

In May 2013, Dr. Pazun took medical retirement. In a message to colleagues dated May 8, 2013, he expressed his hope to continue contributing by teaching an occasional online course, even though he could no longer serve full-time. His dedication to his students and to the University remained strong throughout this transition.

Dr. Pazun鈥檚 academic background reflected the same commitment to excellence that marked his time at Pfeiffer. He earned his B.S. from Gannon University in 1985 and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991.

Former students remember Dr. Pazun not only for his academic rigor, but also for his compassion and mentorship.

鈥淒r. Pazun was more than just a professor at 黑料专区, he was my mentor, confidant, counselor, and friend. Dr. Pazun鈥檚 door was always open for any student needing help in science classes or just needing prayer. He would pray with me often and he truly helped shape me as a student and leader on campus. His leadership, guidance, and friendship was one-of-a-kind and helped me during my college years and beyond,鈥� recalls Wynter Sexton 鈥�99.

Echoing Sexton鈥檚 sentiment, Dr. Cathy Benson Laws 鈥�02 said, 鈥淒r. Pazun was a rare and remarkable example of a brilliant professor and scientist whose intellectual rigor was matched by genuine kindness as a mentor. His unwavering faith in God shaped not only his scholarship, but also the way he cared for us as students.鈥�

The Pfeiffer community will remember Dr. Pazun as a thoughtful teacher, a steady leader, and a generous colleague whose work strengthened the University鈥檚 academic mission in countless ways. We are grateful for his nearly two decades of service and the lasting impact he made on students, faculty, and the broader campus community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Pazun鈥檚 family, friends, former students, and all who knew him. At this time, arrangements have not been announced.

听A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, February 15 in the chapel at Hickory Grove Baptist Church (Charlotte, NC Harris Campus), with visitation at 3 p.m. and a service at 4 p.m.:听

Thompson retired in 2011 after 43 years of service as pastor and District Superintendent of the Charlotte District of the North Carolia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served many parishes in Western NC, including Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte, before serving as District Superintendent. In 2014, Thompson wrote a moving exploration of God and the nature of human suffering entitled God Is Not Fair, Thank God: Biblical Paradox in the Life and Worship of the Parish. 

In 2022, he wrote his memoir, which included his pursuit of an education at Pfeiffer College and the transformative relationships found during that experience. He majored in History and worked in the library during his student years, and he wrote extensively about tough but caring professors, evening dinners in professors鈥� homes, and a unified student body.  

“George Thompson was a friend and advisor to many Pfeiffer presidents, and I am fortunate to have been in leadership alongside him. He was a wise and gentle spirit who cared deeply for his parishioners, friends, colleagues and family. He will be deeply missed,” said Dr. Scott Bullard, 黑料专区 president.

A Celebration of Life will be held on March 1, 2025, at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC, at 2 pm.  Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is serving the family: .

鈥淚 assumed my writing would stay trapped where nobody could read it,鈥� said Ruppe, who is double-majoring in Psychology and in Counseling and Human Services. 鈥淲hen students think of writing, they often think, 鈥極h, I have a history essay or a lab report to write up.鈥� There are not too many places to express your creativity and things that make you vulnerable.鈥�

Ruppe鈥檚 view of the literary universe and her role in it has changed dramatically, thanks to — Pfeiffer鈥檚 literary journal — which has featured two of her pieces, each an example of creative nonfiction. In Ode to Laika, which ran during Ruppe鈥檚 sophomore year, she illuminates her take on who died aboard Sputnik 2 in 1958.

Graveyards, published when Ruppe was a freshman, proposes that the grave of her late mother 鈥渋s just a piece of stone鈥� and that 鈥渉er spirit is with me all the time.鈥� Ruppe said that writing Graveyards helped her 鈥渃ome to terms with not feeling obligated to visit my mother’s grave and put flowers down and follow all the social cues.鈥�

The Phoenix, a print publication that comes out once a year each spring, includes fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, artwork, and photography. Founded in 1958, it is the principal creation of the longest-running student-led organization at Pfeiffer. That it provides Ruppe and many other students (and non-Pfeiffer contributors from as far away as Ireland and India) with an outlet for their non-academic work certainly helps explain why it鈥檚 been going strong for 64 years. But many other factors account for the publication鈥檚 staying power.

Dr. Edward Royston, an Assistant Professor of English at Pfeiffer, serves as the faculty advisor for The Phoenix. His students and others continually gravitate to the publication because it is something over which 鈥渢hey can take full ownership,鈥� he said. Student staffers make all editorial decisions, from determining the content of The Phoenix after considering blind submissions to shaping how the magazine鈥檚 cover and layout will look. 

鈥淎t the end of a year working on it, the students have created a tangible product that they can put in their hands and show off to family members and friends,鈥� he said. 鈥淓specially in our day and age, when it鈥檚 fashionable to question the utility of studying or majoring in English, the ability to create an actual object that you can give to people to flip through really gives the students a sense of pride and a sense of meaning to their accomplishments.鈥�

Putting together a magazine requires a lot of know-how — so much, in fact, that the staff of The Phoenix learns it not as part of an extracurricular activity but during a for-credit course that meets three hours each week. The course covers many technical skills, including how to use Submittable.com to manage submissions and how to use Wix.com to manage the publication鈥檚 website. Students also master software programs such as Canvas, which is used to create posters and other promotional materials, and InDesign, which is used to create the magazine itself.

Louisa Parrish 鈥�23, the Editor-in-Chief of The Phoenix, wants to land a job in publishing after she graduates next spring, and she recently made her debut as a novelist (see related story in this edition of The Falcon Connection). In addition to having mastered the nuts and bolts of publishing a magazine, she鈥檚 developed in many other ways that will benefit her in the workplace: 鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to get projects done on time, and I now know how to work successfully with other people, how to navigate when an issue comes up, and how to promote things.鈥�

Each student who takes the Phoenix course is required to take on what Royston described as 鈥渟ome kind of project that will help promote or grow or build out the journal in some way.鈥�

The projects run the gamut. Recently, for example, several new sections have been added to what the Phoenix鈥檚 website offers, each designed to appeal to different interests. In a section called 鈥淭he Music Note,鈥� there鈥檚 an appreciation of David Bowie鈥檚 music that includes a Spotify selection of his work. There are also reviews of coffee (in 鈥淭he Coffee Bean with Hannah Dean鈥�); reviews of upscale dining establishments by Alayna Eure (鈥淎layna Eats鈥�); and a section that considers the artistic side of athletes (鈥淎rt of Athletes鈥�).

The Phoenix is also bullish on having students organize and present such events as writers鈥� workshops, launch parties and play readings. Cortney Queen 鈥�23, who has published her poetry in The Phoenix, now serves as one of the publication鈥檚 editors. She has organized and participated in several Phoenix-sponsored poetry slams on Pfeiffer鈥檚 Misenheimer campus.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how many things our organization does,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so glad I became a member of it.鈥�

In 2018, Ritchie earned a Master of Arts in special education from 黑料专区, from which he also holds two bachelor鈥檚 degrees. The lab, the first of its kind in the Rowan-Salisbury Schools, aims to counter what he sees as an over-emphasis on traditional academic subjects in school programs for students with special needs; as such, it was inspired by his brother, a person with special needs who should have spent more time in school learning how to live independently.  

鈥淚t didn鈥檛 make sense to me why they focused so much on doing math,鈥� Ritchie said. 鈥淥r, why they focused so much on reading stories to be able to tell who the main characters were. He needed to know how to read a recipe and follow instructions, how to go grocery shopping on a budget, how to cook a meal properly, how to keep an apartment orderly and clean, how to do laundry.鈥� 

At South Rowan, Ritchie works with students whose intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and other issues put them at or below the third-grade level. He鈥檚 creating a life skills curriculum for them in which the lab serves as a backdrop that includes a bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a small market.   

So far, the life skills curriculum has developed to point where the students are learning how to perform such household tasks as making a bed, folding laundry and putting it away. They鈥檙e becoming adept at making grocery lists, buying groceries and cooking meals. They鈥檙e mastering occupational skills and behaviors that will help them gain employment.  

The lab, which was funded with donations from nearby churches and includes groceries donated by Food Lion, is the larger of two rooms at South Rowan that are available to Ritchie; in the smaller room, Ritchie teaches the reading and math that the students need to master life skills. The teaching of life skills will 鈥渁dd to instruction鈥� Ritchie provides for each to student to meet IEP goals. He envisions a kind of synthesis of life skills and academic subjects; for example, learning to read and follow a recipe (life skills) can be incorporated into the reading goals of an IEP (academic), just as creating and keeping to a budget (life skills) can help fulfill an IEP鈥檚 math portion (academic).  

鈥淚鈥檓 trying to change the look of special education,鈥� Ritchie said. 鈥淩owan-Salisbury Schools is a renewal district, so we have a lot of freedom. I鈥檓 jumping on board the renewal cycle and trying to change as much in the Exceptional Children Department as I can. Our approach is not working for every student; education needs to work for every student. We, therefore,听are听changing what we need to change in order to make it more successful.鈥澨�

Ritchie allows that a life skills lab is still a novel concept in special education, that there is not a lot of research on labs. He plans to write a thesis on life skills labs when he pursues his doctorate in special education. 

So far, though, the reviews of Ritchie鈥檚 lab have been positive. Dr. Christopher Boe, dean of Pfeiffer鈥檚 Division of Education, said it 鈥渉as made a significant difference in the teaching and learning process for the exceptional learners with whom Mr. Ritchie works.鈥�  

And Amy Wise, an assistant principal at South Rowan, said that Ritchie has made great progress with his lab. 

鈥淭he life鈥痵kills the lab has allowed his students to learn and experience has already made a positive difference in their lives,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ach student has achieved growth and expanded their adaptive skills in tremendous ways.鈥�