E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year for Extra Mile Service

Jan Reed, executive assistant to the dean of the College of Humanities and Social
Sciences, was named E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year for Extra Mile Service at the
annual employee appreciation luncheon. Reed also received her 15-year service
pin.

Reed was nominated for consistently going above and beyond in her work. She is
described as kind, patient, joyfully committed, always stepping in to help students
and faculty and was honored for her compassion, initiative, and willingness to
serve.

In addition, the university’s marketing and communication office will report to Greene, further aligning advancement and the university brand with strategic priorities. 

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Greene to ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University in this new leadership role that ensures we are well-positioned to grow our impact and fulfill the calling God has placed on this university,” CSU President B. Keith Faulkner said. “As we advance the vision of CSU Rise, Shelley’s leadership will play a vital role in inspiring greater philanthropic investment, deepeningrelationships with alumni and friends, and expanding the community of supporters who believe in the transformative power of Christian higher education.” 

Greene previously served as vice president for enrollment and advancement at Chowan University, a role she assumed in April 2024. She led and supported capital and comprehensive fundraising initiatives aligned with institutional priorities and facilities development. She led institution-wide change management initiatives, integrating data systems, communication workflows, and performance tracking to improve ROI and decision-making and helped lead growth strategies that contributed to a 13% increase in new student enrollment and a 4% increase in retention within her first year. 

Prior to joining Chowan, Greene dedicated 15 years to Randolph Community College, where she served in various leadership capacities, including vice president for institutional advancement and effectiveness and executive director of the foundation. Her major gift and endowment strategy resulted in the doubling of the college foundation from $7M to $14M, positioning the foundation for long-term philanthropic growth and sustainability.  

Known for building strong institutional partnerships and aligning advancement strategies with long-term institutional priorities, Greene brings experience in fundraising, enrollment growth, strategic communications, and organizational leadership. 
 
“I am honored to join ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University at such a pivotal moment in its history,” Greene said. “CSU’s commitment to academic excellence, Christian mission, and transformational student experiences deeply resonates with me. I’m excited to be part of a university community that is passionate about investing in students and advancing the vision of CSU Rise — creating lasting impact for generations to come.” 

Greene earned a Doctor of Strategic Leadership at Liberty University, a Master of Science in integrated marketing communication at West Virginia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication/marketing at Campbell University. She is married to Kyle and is the proud mother of two children, Noah and Lily. 

Faye Wood, executive assistant to the president, has worked at CSU since 2005. She worked in the College of Science and Mathematics and moved to the president’s office in 2007 where she went on to assist three of CSU’s four presidents.

President B. Keith Faulkner said, “Faye is irreplaceable. She serves God first and has a way about her; she nudges at exactly the right time.” He said, “The beauty of CSU is its stickiness. It says a lot that people stick around for decades.”

Faulkner praised Luke Blackmon, vice president for business, for his persistence and being an advocate for his team. He said Jennifer Welch, executive assistant for Blackmon, is full of life and patient and kind.

Dr. Dondi Costin, former CSU president and current president of Liberty University, thanked Wood for being a woman of God. He said he has heard her praying many an angry parent off the ledge.

Costin said, “There was nothing you could ask Bulldog Blackmon to do that he wasn’t already doing.” He called Welch Joyful Jennifer and said most people on campus had no idea how much work passed over Blackmon and Welch’s desks.

President Emeritus Jairy Hunter also praised the three. He said, “All three of you, your influence does not retire. Well done good and faithful servants.”

Wood summed up the day for all by quoting the favorite phrase of each president:

• Press on [Hunter]
• Be encouraged [Faulkner]
• Because the best is yet to come [Costin]

Press on and be encouraged, because the best is yet to come, Bucs!

Fellow employees had this to say about Grummer in nominating him: 

• Daniel goes the extra mile in his role by thinking not only of what a good short-term fix would be, but how we can do better in the long-term. 

• On more than one occasion, I have watched as he sweeps, cleans, fixes, and ensures a project is done the right way. As a director, he could tell others to do this kind of work or even tell people it’s not possible. But that’s not who he is. 

• He always looks at the big picture and how he can improve processes to be more efficient and beneficial for the campus community. He is willing to look at the budget in a way that smartly invests in our facilities rather than taking the cheap way out. 

• Daniel also looks for innovative processes that help progress our university forward. Take all of this and wrap it up in a nice bow with the fact that he treats others with respect and the kindness of Jesus. We very much appreciate Daniel and his passion for CSU!

President B. Keith Faulkner announced Grummer as the E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year at the annual faculty/staff luncheon. He said, “Being the E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year means you go the extra mile for everybody, have a passion for what we are doing at CSU, and are innovative in the way you approach your job and fulfilling CSU’s mission. I’m very proud to give the award to Daniel; he goes above and beyond. He is always a step ahead of me and has a passion for CSU.”

A former Buccaneer has returned to ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University to lead the undergraduate enrollment team as executive director.

Bryan Ayer graduated from ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern in 2011 and spent 10 years as an employee in the registrar’s and enrollment offices. He then worked for the City of North ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ for two years.

Ayer felt the Lord drawing him back to ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern. He said, “I had heard of the incredible momentum of President Faulkner’s arrival, and I wanted to know more.” He said being part of a student’s story is a privilege, and he is committed to lead the enrollment team in helping students encounter Jesus during their admittance journey to CSU.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bryan Ayer back to CSU as the executive director of undergraduate admissions,” said Dr. Tony Turner, vice president for enrollment management. “Bryan’s love for CSU and his passion for helping prospective students realize their potential here are evident. I can’t think of a better person to lead a talented team in achieving CSU’s ambitious goals than someone who is committed to our mission and follows Christ.

 “I look forward to seeing the positive impact of Bryan’s work and to seeing what the Lord will do through it,” said Turner.

Ayer quickly adapted to the life of student recruitment as the head of the undergraduate enrollment team. “We don’t admit students just to be numbers in a classroom,” said Ayer. “Professors and staff know your name and care. The love of Christ is demonstrated in a way on this campus that is undeniable and attractive. Our academics are top notch, and our athletic programs are played at the highest level. Jesus is glorified, and that’s what matters most.”

He also serves as the pastor of Holmes Avenue Baptist Church in North ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ. “We’re seeing the Lord do some amazing things,” he said. Ayer holds a Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Miranda, a 2017 CSU Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate, have been married for 15 years and have two children: Adeline, 10, and Noah, 6.

It is especially rewarding, she said, to earn such recognition through her vocation of teaching; being nominated by a student in particular “means the world” to Rogers and affirms her devotion to teaching and cultivating an environment that helps students “become better readers and writers but also maybe better people as well.”

Her research interests in African American studies chiefly revolve around representations of identity, including boyhood, trauma, race, and community, especially involving African American youth representation in Children’s and Young Adult Literature. With emphases on “the Black experience in America” and “the Black experience in Children’s literature and how it’s represented,” Rogers strives to help her students interact with an immensely diverse body of works that highlight all perspectives, particularly around the representation of race and the discussions that arise from such interactions: for example, “what it means to be a protagonist and if you have to address race – what does it mean if you don’t talk about it, what is lost and what is gained.” 

These themes and interests extend through many different textual styles, from plays to graphic novels, as well as between genres, from fiction and nonfiction to fantasy and science fiction. With consideration and grace for students always, her classroom is meant to be a space where students feel heard and seen.  She strives to provide them “with perspectives where they might find themselves in a text.” Befitting of a winner of the MLK Humanitarian award, Rogers’ overall goal for students is to make them think.  “My goal is to help them see that other people exist in this world that aren’t like themselves and to see the similarities in people that they may not think they have,” said Rogers.

For Rogers, this award represents an important part of the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. that she strives to follow in life, research, and vocation: “He tried to bring people together; I would only hope to live up to that type of life to leave a legacy behind where I brought people together rather than showing them how different they are and tearing them apart.”

Rogers will be honored at the Black History Intercollegiate Consortium’s MLK Jr. remembrance in February. The event, delayed for weather, brings together students from ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University, College of ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ, Medical University of South Carolina, The Citadel, and Trident Technical College, and will be held this year on MUSC’s campus.

With over 33 years of ministerial experience, Self has also contributed to higher education as an administrator and faculty member at institutions such as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Simmons College of Kentucky, Arkansas Baptist College, and the Kiev Theological Seminary. 

The Rev. Rob Dewey, and his wife, Kathy, contributed funding to establish the Dewey Center for Chaplaincy in 2020. He said, “Kathy and I are delighted Rev. Self has been appointed to this position. We have full confidence by the Lord Jesus Christ that Rev. Self will lead us into a great new time of chaplaincy at ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern as new chaplaincy students are trained to go out into the world.”

Self has facilitated countless field education and practicum experiences for undergraduates and seminarians, preparing the next generation of ministry leaders as part of his passion to bridge the gap between academic learning and ministry.

“Chaplaincy is often a forgotten profession,” Self said. “Chaplains are frequently overlooked until something tragic happens. Many are not serving in large urban medical centers or military bases with structured support. Instead, they are working in smaller hospitals, local law enforcement precincts, individual firehouses, or responding to disasters. Often, these chaplains hold part-time roles, work bivocationally, or volunteer, and they can feel overwhelmed, isolated, and unprepared.”

He said, “My vision for the Dewey Center is to go beyond providing training and conferences. I want us to be a place that focuses on the men and women who are faithfully following God’s call—reminding them they are loved, valued, and supported. I envision a community dedicated to faithfully serving those who serve others.”

At the heart of Self’s philosophy of ministry is the principle found in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Self said, “That is what I would like to see the Dewey Center do.”

He said, “Often these faithful ministers feel isolated, and they struggle to get training and support. That is what attracted me to the Dewey Center. I want to invest in those chaplains. I want to promote the profession as well as support those who are out there being faithful in ministry, empowering them as they continue to serve.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University, a Master of Divinity in philosophy with postgraduate studies in philosophy and ethics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently in the doctoral program at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Self is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. He and his wife, Tiffany, look forward to partnering with local chaplains and churches, enriching the ministry landscape of ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University and beyond. Tiffany, a trauma coordinator with over 30 years of nursing experience, is passionate about grief and trauma recovery. They have four adult children and one grandchild.

President B. Keith Faulkner said, “We are fortunate to have someone with Shannon’s expertise in finance to lead the university in best practices that impact our students, their families, and our CSU employees.”

Morrison has more than 20 years of experience in finance leadership roles in the banking industry and municipal government. Her banking career focused on management roles in finance, accounting, and operations with community and regional banks in Georgia and South Carolina. Additionally, she served as CFO for her hometown of Hartsville, South Carolina, from 2012-2016. Most recently she worked with financial institutions across the country as a consultant, implementing complex financial models and accounting standards.

She said, “My role at CSU is to provide financial stability and strategic vision to ensure CSU will be able to carry out its mission for generations to come. The decisions we make today have generational impacts on our children and our children’s children. We must be intentional to give them the greatest opportunity for success even when we are no longer here to drive it.”

She holds a BA in business administration from Furman University and an MBA from the University of South Carolina.

Morrison and her husband, Luke, live in Summerville with their five children. In 2018, the Morrisons created The Well, a nonprofit mission organization, which focuses on outreach to homeless, low-income families, and international missions.

The senior officer team selected Brittney Greer, assistant dean of students for residence life, as the 2024 E.P.I.C. Employee of the Year, in the program’s inaugural year.

Greer was selected from the 12 monthly E.P.I.C. winners for the grand prize. One of the submissions regarding Greer was from Krystal Guntinas, who said, “She is a good leader. She leads ResLife to an excellent direction and she has been inspiring not only to RAs but also to all of the residents. She has a very kind heart and very caring attitude.” 

No stranger to CSU, Greer earned a BS in kinesiology in 2011, an MS in organizational management in 2016, and is currently in the EdD in leadership program. As a student, she was a member of the women’s track and field team and was an alternate for the 2009 4×100 relay team that finished in the top eight at NCAA nationals and earned All American status. She has worked in residence life, career services, and enrollment.

Each month, one employee was selected for the E.P.I.C. award. Winners are:

• Shelley Zeigler
• Charlotte Plemmons
• Dr. Nicholas Holland
• Chrissie Miller
• Hannah Sullivan
• Ashley Ramsey
• Antonio Rivers
• Kathryn Dougherty
• Shallon Mims
• Kevin Jones 
• Susan Gresh
• Brittney Greer

E.P.I.C. Values are based on Colossians 3:23-24 and are the basis for employee accountability: Extra-Mile Service, Passion for Student Success, Innovation Across Campus, and Christian Community. 

• Brittney Greer ’11, ’16 MS, is the assistant dean of student life in charge of residence life at CSU.
• Christopher Makowski ’20 is the public information officer and drone program manager for the Town of Summerville.
• Brantley Meier ’13 is the owner of The Bridge Chiropractic in ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ.
• Tevin Proctor ’21 MBA, is the diversity, equity, and inclusion program manager for Wellstar Health System.
• Jaimee Salone ’16 is the global marketing communications specialist for Ingevity.