SMC Faculty and Staff Recognized during Annual Service Recognition and Awards Luncheon

Spartanburg Methodist College recently recognized dedicated faculty and  staff at their annual service and awards luncheon. Twenty-one employees have 340 years of combined service to SMC!

Employees were recognized for 5-year increments of service, including Megan Aiello, Head Volleyball Coach; Harry Bayne, Professor of English and Chairperson of the Division of English; Jeff Brookman, Head Men’s Basketball Coach; Amanda Cheek, Library Assistant; Sue Onken, Counselor; David Revan, Adjunct Professor of English; Chris Roberson, Financial Aid Counselor; Jonathan Sedberry, Professor of English; Kelly Tillinghast, Admissions Counselor; and Paula Williams, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Students, who celebrated five years with SMC. Jessica Harwood, Professor of Biology and Chairperson of the Division of Science and Health, was recognized for 10 years of service. Sherry Collins, Athletic Event and Budget Manager, and Johnny Worthy, Maintenance Technician, were recognized for 15 years of service. Steven Jeter, Tutor Coordinator for Student Support Services, and Dan Kenneally, Director of Soccer and Head Women’s Soccer Coach, celebrated 20 years of service; Jill Johnson, Registrar, and Barry Ward, Professor of Health and Physical Education, were recognized for their 30 years of service; Sharon Porter, Director of Student Support Services, and Mike Bowers, Director of Church Funding, celebrated 35 years of service and Harry Barnett, Senior Maintenance Technician, and David Gibson, Professor of Mathematics, were recognized for their unwavering 40 years of service to the College.

Janet Wilson, Professor of Mathematics and Chairperson of the Division of Business, Math, and Computer Science, was honored for her 37 years in the classroom that spanned the evolution from slide rulers to digital technology. Wilson is retiring from full-time responsibilities at SMC; but, she will return as an adjunct professor of mathematics.

Teresa Ferguson, Chief of Campus Safety, was awarded the J.L. Geddis Award for outstanding service to the College.  Geddis served admirably at SMC for 41 years, beginning in 1964 as a student at Spartanburg Junior College (present day SMC) and held many areas of responsibility during his 41 years here at SJC and SMC including: Business Manager, VP for Business Affairs, Faculty Member—teaching Accounting and Economics, and Men’s Golf Coach for 5 years. In 2007 the college established the J. L. Geddis Award to honor an outstanding SMC staff member each year.

Ferguson has been the Chief of Campus Safety for eight years and serves as one of only a few female chiefs in the State of South Carolina.  She has a M. S. degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from Limestone College. She has 20 years of  experience in law enforcement; six years as a School Resource Officer in a local public school district, and five years as a Community Patrol Officer.  Chief Ferguson is a graduate of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, is certified as a Class I Law Enforcement Officer, and is a State Constable.  In addition, she has extensive in-service training, is certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy including as a Basic Instructor, and FTO Manager and has received advanced certification as a School Resource Officer.  She also is an adjunct instructor of the Freshman Year Experience at Spartanburg Methodist College. She is secretary and member of the Spartanburg County Police Chiefs Association.

The Dr. James S. Barrett Award was presented by his son, Rob Barrett, partner with the Holcombe Bomar, P.A. law firm.  The annual award is presented each year to recognize an SMC member who demonstrates exemplary service to and support of the Department of Institutional Advancement. Dr. Barrett served as president of SMC for 10 years, and his son shared that he could think of no honor that would please his father more than having this award presented in his name. “My dad would say about the recipient of this award that they ‘get it’; they understand that the true mission of SMC calls people to service that goes above and beyond. Our 2015 recipient certainly exemplifies that spirit and her title is certainly indicative of the vast amount of turf that she covers here at SMC. I think family friend Fletcher Thompson, local attorney and a very proud alumnus of SMC summed it all up very well when he said, ‘I have never known anyone who could do more things at the same time – and do them all well – than Yvonne Harper.’”  Harper earned a double major with a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Merchandising and Paralegal/Pre-Law Studies from Virginia Intermont College. She has served as Public Information Director for SMC since 2013, and as the College’s Director of the Paralegal Certificate Evening Program since 2004. Harper previously served the Upstate business community for 14 years as a program manager with the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce.