Annie Blair, assistant vice president for operations and director of information technology, earned a master’s degree in business administration with a specialization in project management from Capella University in September 2009. Her final project was the development of a project management plan for the delivery of online services in higher education for a multi-national consortium.
Pete Dryer joined BC’s Athletics staff in January 2010 as the head coach for men’s soccer. Dryer came to BC after spending three seasons as an assistant coach for men’s soccer at Geneva College, an NCAA Division III college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. His experience also includes serving as director of coaching for the Pittsburgh Strikers Soccer Club.
Mark Hipes, traditional admissions counselor, was promoted in January 2010 to interim director of admissions. A 2003 graduate of Bluefield College, Hipes has served in the BC Admissions Office since 2006.
Danny Flores joined BC’s Athletics staff in January 2010 as the head coach for junior varsity baseball and assistant coach for varsity baseball. Flores came to BC after spending a year as a graduate assistant coach for West Virginia Tech. His experience also includes work as a baseball instructor and personal trainer at the Upper Deck Baseball Academy in Beckley, West Virginia. At BC, he also will serve as facilities manager for Athletics.
Ann Looney, an academic coordinator for degree completion programs, was promoted in January 2010 to director of academic programs. Looney, a 1990 graduate of Bluefield State College, joined the BC staff in 1999, having since worked as an administrative assistant for adult and continuing education and an administrative assistant and academic coordinator for degree completion programs.
Dr. Rob Merritt, professor of English, was appointed in January 2010 to chair BC’s Global Education Committee for the purpose of fostering an environment of global awareness and engagement for BC students. Among the committee’s objectives: to provide every student with a broader awareness of diverse cultures, to ensure every major has a component of global awareness in its curriculum, and to provide opportunities for connecting with global and glocal communities. Others serving on the committee with Dr. Merritt are Rebecca McCoy-Reese, instructor of theatre arts; David Taylor, interim vice president for student affairs, and Dr. Wayne Massey, director of International Programs.
Dr. Joe Saunders, associate professor of chemistry, received a $2,000 grant award in December 2009 from the Appalachian College Association and Project Kaleidoscope for “encouraging engaged pedagogies in STEM fields” for a proposal he had written entitled “ACA Science and Math Survey.”
Charolette Shelton, head coach for women’s softball, added to her duties in February 2010 the title of head coach for women’s volleyball following the departure of coach Jaime Bowman. Shelton played both volleyball and softball at Pikeville (KY) College, where she recently was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for both sports. She served as an assistant coach for softball and volleyball and a head coach for tennis at Pikeville before coming to BC.
Eric Wohlford, manager of network services, earned an executive master’s degree in business administration with a specialization in project management from the University of Texas at Dallas in December 2009. His work included an international study tour to the ESC Lille campus in Paris, France. Wohlford also earned a graduate certificate in project management. A 2002 graduate of Bluefield College, Wohlford has served the BC Information Technology staff since 2004.