Mentoring the Mentors with Dr. Jennifer Putnam

Every strong classroom is shaped by a teacher. Every strong school is shaped by leadership. And behind both are the mentors who prepare those educators in the first place.

In this episode of The Bulldog Mindset, host Dr. Greg Pillar sits down with Dr. Jennifer Putnam, Associate Dean in the College of Education and Coordinator of the Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Gardner-Webb University.

With nearly two decades of experience in K–12 education before transitioning into higher education leadership, Putnam now mentors master’s and doctoral candidates who are leading classrooms, schools, and districts across the region. From dissertation chairing and cohort development to accreditation support and educator mentoring, her work operates at a level many never see — yet its ripple effect reaches far beyond campus.

This conversation explores the hidden infrastructure of educator preparation, the realities of doctoral mentoring, the challenges facing educators in the post-COVID landscape, and the steady leadership required to build programs that truly serve students and schools.

It’s an honest and thoughtful dialogue about formation, mentorship, and the multiplying impact of investing deeply in others.

Tune in to learn more about the people and programs shaping learning and leadership at Gardner-Webb University.

Learn more at gardner-webb.edu/podcast.

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WebbChat: Sound Stories is a companion series within the WebbChat podcast, bringing written stories from Gardner-Webb University’s NewsCenter to life through sound.

In this episode, we spotlight Dr. Aaron Rice, Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Gardner-Webb University. Honored with the University’s Rising Star Award, Rice reflects on music as a form of connection, creativity, and leadership — both in the classroom and beyond.

Reported by Jeff Powell and Jackie Bridges, this immersive audio story offers a deeper look at the people, like Rice, who are shaping life at Gardner-Webb.

Discover more stories from across campus at Gardner-Webb.edu/News, and you can find connections to all GWU podcasts at gardner-webb.edu/podcast.

Music on this episode:

Yehezkel Raz - Flight of the Inner Bird

Yotam Agam - Spectral Type O

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One year can change everything.

In this episode of The Bulldog Mindset, host Greg Pillar sits down with Gardner-Webb University President Nate Evans at a pivotal moment in the life of the institution. In Feb. 2025, Evans stepped into the presidency during a season of transition at interim. Today, with a longer horizon ahead, and as the 14th President of Gardner-Webb, Evans reflects on what it means to lead with steadiness when clarity is still forming.

This dialogue goes beneath the surface of titles and timelines, exploring trust, communication, faith, and the work required to hold a university steady in changing times. Evans shares how his background in the military and advancement shaped his leadership approach, how he thinks about the academic experience Gardner-Webb must deliver for today’s students, and why unity, mission, and people remain at the center of every decision.

It’s an honest, thoughtful dialogue about leadership rooted in care, conviction, and long-term purpose.

Theme music: “Honey for Nothing” by Ikoliks

Tune in now to explore how curiosity, mentorship, and hands-on experience are shaping student success at Gardner-Webb. Learn more about GWU’s podcast series at gardner-webb.edu/podcast.

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