August 8, 2006

Ferguson SMC’s New Chief of Campus Safety

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Spartanburg Methodist College named Teresa Ferguson as their new Chief of Campus Safety.

Ferguson has 11 years of experience as a police officer. For the past six years, she served as a School Resource Officer for Spartanburg County School District Five through the town of Duncan Police Department. Ferguson has also conducted educational programs on a variety of topics for students, parents, and teachers from the elementary level through high school. Prior to serving as a School Resource Officer, Ferguson served as a Community Patrol Officer for the Greer Police Department.

Ferguson would like to see her department grow while promoting student and faculty awareness of its resources. She also wants to educate students about how the law affects them.

“While there appears to be a recent trend toward more women in campus chief positions, Chief Ferguson is the first female chief among the six Spartanburg colleges, and only the second in the Upstate of South Carolina,” said Dr. Arthur Hartzog, Dean of Students. Ferguson began her work at the College August 7. 

Ferguson recently earned a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Cincinnati. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Limestone College. Ferguson is a graduate of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and has completed courses in several areas of specialization in law enforcement.

Ferguson resides in Lyman with her son, Shaun.

Also, Capt. Jimmy Fortner will continue to serve as Police Supervisor.  Fortner, who has been a patrol officer with SMC for two years, was promoted to the Supervisor position in June. Ferguson's predecessor, Greg Weisner, left SMC in May to become Chief of Public Safety at Coastal Carolina University in Conway.