Campbell University’s School of Education has implemented a new leadership team administrative structure, announcing the promotions of three faculty members this summer.
Dr. Sam Engel has been promoted to associate dean, Dr. Chris Godwin is now assistant dean and chair of the Professional Education department, and Dr. Laura Lunsford is assistant dean, in addition to her current role as chair of the Psychology and Social Work department.
The announcements were made by Dean Dr. Alfred Bryant, who is entering his second year in the head role for the School of Education, and Dr. Mark Hammond, vice president for academic affairs and provost.
“I am delighted with the administrative promotions of Sam, Chris and Laura,” Hammond said. “ Dean Bryant obviously has a knack for identifying and cultivating leadership talent. The restructuring of the School of Education’s leadership team honors its past while at the same time creating an even stronger foundation for further improvements in the future.”
Engel began his teaching career at Campbell in 1999 and was named assistant dean in 2004. Prior to his new role, Engel’s primary responsibilities at Campbell included coordinating the graduate programs. He also teaches the school’s law course, which many graduate candidates are required to complete.
“Sam has been an integral part of the School of Education for a long time, and his leadership and knowledge is greatly valued,” Bryant said, adding Engle will continue to lead all graduate programs as associate dean.
Godwin earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Campbell in 1984 and 1986 before earning his Ph.D. from NC State two years later. His primary areas of interest are teacher preparation, differentiated instruction and student engagement. Godwin has spent 29 years as an educator and administrator for public schools in North Carolina, and he served as the North Carolina state director for academically/intellectually gifted students at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
“Dr. Godwin is the ultimate team player and is constantly building bridges between our School of Education and our surrounding school districts and community partners,” Bryant said. “His leadership skills are an asset to our ability to move the School forward.”
Lunsford has been chair of the Psychology department since arriving at Campbell in 2018. She wrote the definitive Handbook for Managing Mentoring Programs and co-edited the Sage Handbook of Mentoring, in addition to having published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles, chapters and books on mentoring and leadership development.
In 2009 she was honored with the International Mentoring Association’s Dissertation Award. She previously was a tenured associate professor at the University of Arizona, directed the Swain Center for executive education in the Cameron School of Business at UNC Wilmington, served as the alumni director at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and was the founding full-time director of the Park Scholarships at NC State.
“Dr. Lunsford is a gifted educator who thrives in the classroom and enjoys every one of her students,” Bryant said. “She is a strong scholar with a broad administrative background that will benefit the school and institution.”