About Concord University
For more than 150 years, Concord University has served the southern region of West Virginia, southwest Virginia and beyond, educating teachers, business leaders, scientists, social workers, as well as future medical and legal professionals. With a 14:1 student to faculty ratio and over 70 programs of study, Concord provides you with a quality education no matter what you choose.
Featured Stories
Chair, Department of Social Work and Title IX Coordinator
When Dr. Pendergast was finishing her Ph.D. in Social Work Education at the University of South Carolina, she dreamed of teaching at a school like Concord. “I have wanted to live in the mountains for as long as I can remember,” she says. In 2007, she accepted a tenure-track position at CU and has found a home here. “The campus community is welcoming and accepting,” she says. Before completing her doctoral degree, Dr. Pendergast was a practicing social worker, valuable experience she shares with her students. “When I speak with students about social work, I explain that this is the best job and worst job you can have,” she says. “It’s very rewarding to see how people can change their lives, and it can be discouraging when these changes do not come.” Dr. Pendergast is dedicated to preparing her students for the realities they’ll face after graduation, and says she enjoys “being a small part of their journey.”
Dr. Joan Pendergast
Chair, Department of Social Work and Title IX Coordinator
Dr. Samantha Byrd, DSW, MSW, LGSW, '16 '18
Assistant Professor/Training Manager
Rachel Clay
Nursing Major
Josie Crawford '24
Biology Major with Biomedical Sciences Emphasis
Class of 2017
Michael Yost attended Concord University from 2014-2017, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in pre-professional biology. He was then accepted to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. He is currently in the Family Medicine residency program at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Lewisburg, WV. His most memorable experience while attending Concord is meeting his wife in University 101 on the first day of class. When asked about a unique story that many people don’t know about him, he related, “I won The WV State Arbor Day Poster competition in fourth grade and there is a tree planted in my honor in front of Athens Elementary School still today, less than a mile from Concord University.”
