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Distinctions Recognize Professional Achievement, Leadership, and Lasting Impact on Students

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥斖�曝吃瓜-Webb University officials have announced faculty promotions and tenure appointments for the 2026-27 academic year. These distinctions recognize excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and leadership among members of the University’s faculty.

The promotion and tenure process involves a comprehensive review that includes evaluations by department chairs or directors, deans, the provost, and the president.

鈥淭he achievement of Promotion and Tenure is a significant celebration for our faculty and the university community,鈥� noted Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Nicole Waters. 鈥淚t recognizes a faculty member鈥檚 commitment to teaching excellence, scholarship, and meaningful engagement in the life of the campus. These accomplishments reflect not only their guidance and mentorship of students but also their leadership in university activities and service. We honor our colleagues whose dedication to excellence in their field, their students, and the institution itself strengthens the foundation of our mission.鈥�

Promotion recognizes a faculty member’s demonstrated excellence and professional growth throughout their career at 网曝吃瓜-Webb. As a teaching-centered institution, the University places primary emphasis on outstanding teaching and student engagement while also considering scholarship, professional achievement, university service, student mentorship, and community involvement. Advancement in rank reflects a sustained record of accomplishment, leadership, and commitment to the University’s mission and values.

Tenure is among the highest professional honors awarded by the University and recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated long-term excellence, integrity, and dedication to 网曝吃瓜-Webb’s educational mission. The tenure review process evaluates teaching effectiveness, scholarly and professional contributions, service to the University and broader community, and commitment to supporting students within a Christian learning environment. Earning tenure reflects the University’s confidence in a faculty member’s continued leadership and future contributions.

鈥淥ur faculty are at the heart of the 网曝吃瓜-Webb experience,鈥� shared GWU President Nate Evans. 鈥淭hese promotions and tenure appointments recognize not only professional achievement, but also a sustained commitment to our students and our mission. I am grateful for the way these faculty members invest in their students, strengthen our University, and model the excellence we strive for every day.鈥�

Promotion and Tenure Recipients

Dr. Mitch Porter 鈥� Associate Professor and Tenure

Porter serves as Quality Assurance Coordinator for the College of Education and brings a diverse background in educational research, assessment, and language instruction to his work in higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Foreign Languages from the University of Idaho, a Master of Arts in Linguistics from California State University Long Beach, and a Ph.D. in Educational Research and Assessment from The University of Alabama, where his dissertation focused on developing and validating a vignette-based academic grit scale. Prior to joining 网曝吃瓜-Webb, Porter held teaching, curriculum development, and assessment positions in both the United States and China, including appointments at The University of Alabama, Full Sail University, Beijing Language and Culture University, and the National Education Examination Authority in China. His scholarly interests include quantitative methodology, psychometrics, assessment development, educational psychology, and non-cognitive skills. He has presented research at national conferences, including the American Educational Research Association, and has contributed to publications focused on educational measurement and student success.

Dr. Aaron Rice 鈥� Professor and Tenure

Rice also serves as chair of the Department of Music, where he has led significant growth and innovation since assuming the department chair role in 2022. Under his leadership, the department expanded by more than 30 percent between 2022 and 2024 through strategic recruitment and program development efforts, earning him the University鈥檚 Faculty Rising Star Award in 2025. An accomplished choral conductor, educator, and church musician, Rice has held previous faculty and leadership positions at Shorter University and Chowan University and has prepared ensembles for performances at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall. He also serves as Coordinator of Music and Worship Leadership Studies at 网曝吃瓜-Webb and as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Lincolnton, North Carolina, where he combines academic expertise with practical ministry leadership. Active in the American Choral Directors Association and committed to mentoring future musicians and worship leaders, Rice holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Church Music with a concentration in Choral Conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Music in Sacred Music from East Carolina University, and bachelor’s degrees in Biblical Studies and Comprehensive Music from Southeastern College at Wake Forest.

Mischia Taylor 鈥� Associate Professor and Tenure

Taylor also serves as Dean of the Godbold College of Business, where she combines academic leadership with extensive professional experience in business, sales, and higher education administration. A three-time 网曝吃瓜-Webb graduate, Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, an MBA, and a Master Plus in Marketing from the University before completing her Doctor of Business Administration at Saint Leo University. She teaches a wide range of courses, including Principles of Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Advertising and Promotion, Market Research, International Marketing, and Business, Faith & Ethics. Her research interests focus on consumer behavior, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and internships and career placement. Prior to her current role, Taylor served as 网曝吃瓜-Webb鈥檚 Director of Admissions and as Vice President of Sales for Playground Safety Services, Inc. Committed to serving both the University and the broader community, she is involved with organizations including Leadership Cleveland County, the American Red Cross, and the Cleveland County Junior Charity League. Her contributions have been recognized with the President鈥檚 Award for Community Engagement, reflecting her dedication to student success, community partnerships, and business education.

Dr. Aihua Zhang 鈥� Associate Professor and Tenure

Zhang is a scholar of modern China, East Asian history, women and gender studies, transnationalism, and global history. Before joining 网曝吃瓜-Webb, she served as a visiting assistant professor at Stockton University. Zhang earned a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, an M.A. in History from Bowling Green State University, and a B.A. in English from Northwestern Polytechnic University in Xi鈥檃n, China. An accomplished researcher, she is the author of The Beijing Young Women鈥檚 Christian Association, 1927鈥�1937: Materializing a Gendered Modernity (Lexington Books, 2021), the first full-length study of the YWCA in a Chinese city, and has published extensively on women鈥檚 history, gender, citizenship, leisure culture, and social change in modern China. At 网曝吃瓜-Webb, she teaches courses including Pre-modern Chinese History, Modern China, Chinese Culture, Revolution and Democracy in East Asia, East Asian Traditions and Culture, World Civilizations, and Histories of Feminism, helping students develop a global understanding of historical and cultural issues.

Dr. Tina Lewis 鈥� Associate Professor

Lewis, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN, CEN, is a dedicated nurse educator and clinician, who brings extensive experience across a variety of healthcare settings, including urgent care, inpatient palliative care, trauma and emergency nursing, home health, emergency management, and healthcare leadership. A 网曝吃瓜-Webb alumna, she earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner degrees from the University before completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Frontier Nursing University. Throughout her career, she has maintained multiple professional certifications, including Family Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse, Certified Emergency Nurse, and Certified Medical Examiner for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Active in numerous professional organizations, including the American Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Emergency Nurses Association, and Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association, Lewis is committed to advancing nursing education, clinical excellence, and the preparation of future nurse leaders.

Stacie Smith 鈥� Assistant Professor

Smith is dedicated to helping students in the Department of Natural Sciences build a strong foundation in the life sciences. A 网曝吃瓜-Webb alumna, Smith earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University before completing a Master of Science degree at Frostburg State University. Her primary area of academic interest is Anatomy and Physiology, and she teaches courses including Human Biology and Anatomy & Physiology. Through her commitment to student learning and hands-on scientific education, Smith helps prepare students for success in healthcare, science-related professions, and advanced study in the biological sciences.

网曝吃瓜-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 网曝吃瓜-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .