‘We Knew We Had Found a Home’: Ferrum Family Thrilled to be Part of Conference Carolinas

This is the continuation of a series of Body, Mind & Soul stories that highlights member student-athletes, coaches and administrators of Conference Carolinas.

“From the very beginning, we just knew there was something special about Conference Carolinas.”

Ferrum College President Dr. Mirta Martin is in her first full academic year at the institution after serving in an interim role for 10 months. 

Officially named the 13th President of Ferrum on Oct. 27, 2023, Martin and the Board of Trustees at the prestigious institution realized very quickly that Conference Carolinas was exactly what they wanted in a conference partner in NCAA Division II. 

Obviously this decision also meant leaving NCAA Division III and a great partner in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), but Conference Carolinas’ tagline of “Champions of Body, Mind and Soul” attracted Ferrum “because it aligns perfectly with Ferrum College’s beliefs and values.”

Conference Carolinas is built upon the idea of offering challenging NCAA competition in an environment that fosters both the academic and athletic achievements of its student-athletes, and that is exactly what Ferrum saw from the conference and everyone they talked to about the league behind the scenes. 

“It was evident this was an organization that cares deeply for its members and its athletes, and one that highlights both academic and athletic excellence and personal growth,” Martin noted. “This commitment made the conference stand out as did the competitive opportunities the conference provides for our student-athletes. We were excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded institutions who share our vision for competitive athletics, academic rigor, spiritual values and service.” 

Seeing is believing though, sometimes, and Conference Carolinas lived out their mission in person when they were on the Ferrum campus in early March of 2024. 

“The caring and genuine conversations between Commissioner (Chris) Colvin, (Lees-McRae) President (Dr.) Lee King and the site visit team made it clear to us that ‘family’ was a way of life for Conference Carolinas. We knew we had found a home. (Ferrum Board of Trustees) Chairman Scott Showalter said it best – ‘we were destined to be together.’”

Founded in 1913, Ferrum College is a private liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church, offering liberal arts and professional programs such as business, recreation leadership, musical theatre, agriculture, environmental science, teacher education and criminal justice. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, numerous lakes, rivers and state parks, Ferrum provides an outstanding educational experience in a setting of rich natural beauty.

All of the above speaks volumes about why the alignment makes so much sense with the now 16-member Conference Carolinas that has member schools located in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Member institutions for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year are Barton, Belmont Abbey, Chowan, Converse, Emmanuel, Erskine, Francis Marion, King, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville, Shorter, Southern Wesleyan and Young Harris. Ferrum will officially join the conference with the start of the 2025-26 academic year on July 1, 2025. 

Not too many understand the alignment better than Ferrum women’s soccer head coach Erin Saleeby, who was an All-Conference Carolinas selection her senior season at former league member, and now NCAA Division I school, Queens. 

“Ferrum is a school that really puts an emphasis on students being well-rounded individuals,” Saleeby relayed. “We’re a small school that wants our students to leave Ferrum being able to say they are better people for having been a part of our amazing community. The Conference Carolinas motto goes hand-in-hand with who we are. They have an understanding that college athletics isn’t just about the sport you play, but who you are as a person and who you will become when you leave your institution. That’s a very exciting partnership.”

It’s truly a family atmosphere at Ferrum for women’s basketball head coach Bryan Harvey with his wife, Karen, serving as the women’s lacrosse head coach. The Harveys have three children, including one Ferrum graduate, and know being a part of Conference Carolinas will be huge for their own family and also the Ferrum family. 

“I am excited to align with Conference Carolinas and the belief of ‘Champions in Body, Mind and Soul,” Bryan Harvey said. “As a coach, it is very important to me that our players know that it's bigger than just winning games. We are invested in their mental, physical and emotional health. We want to help them grow as people and help them develop skills through athletics that will help them long after they stop playing.”

A Ferrum Alumni Sports Hall of Fame member, Director of Athletics Cleive Adams knows the core of the partnership is what makes it truly special. 

“Anytime there is a spiritual component at the foundation of a partnership, it excites me,” Adams expressed. “I truly believe in the world we live in, institutions and organizations who are bold enough to stand on the importance of spirituality provide students with a choice that could be life-changing.”

Ferrum fields over 20 sports and has just over 400 student-athletes competing as Panthers. The athletics department is a diverse and inclusive family that promotes the student-athlete experience through education, leadership, competition and sportsmanship while fulfilling the college’s mission of entering with promise and leaving with purpose. 

Currently a member of NCAA Division III, Ferrum has officially accepted its invitation into Conference Carolinas and will begin competition in Conference Carolinas with the start of the 2025-26 academic year on the aforementioned July 1, 2025 as a provisional member contingent upon acceptance into the NCAA Division II membership process. Ferrum will be eligible for all conference awards and championships immediately. They will be eligible to compete in NCAA championships once they are accepted as an active member of Division II upon the successful completion of the membership process.

It’s going to take a committed approach, but Saleeby knows the best is yet to come. 

“This transition will come with difficulties. For many of us, we’re heading into uncharted waters with new rules, scholarships and new schedules. We will need to lean on our colleagues at other institutions to help us navigate this process, but I don’t doubt that there will be many that will be willing to assist us. Everyone has already been so welcoming to us.”

Bryan Harvey agrees with his colleague, but also knows #TheJourney to Division II is going to be a fantastic adventure for all. 

“As Coaches we will have so much to learn in terms of making the transition from DIII to DII,” Bryan Harvey said. “I'm really looking forward to meeting the other coaches in the league, as well as the administrative team in the league office and building strong relationships. I'm sure everyone will welcome us with open arms. You can already feel the love and support. I’m super excited to get to work and looking forward to this journey.”

In addition to being the current Director of Athletics at Ferrum, Adams is also a former football player and head coach at Ferrum, so he knows what it takes to have a great team. He believes he has just the group to make it all happen in collaboration with the support they have from all in Conference Carolinas. 

“The league office has already been incredibly helpful in the early stages, and it was very evident during the site visit that each individual involved was more than willing to share information and help in any way possible. I have received a warm welcome from the ADs around the league, offering their assistance as we move forward on what we are calling #TheJourney.

“The league office has already been incredibly helpful in the early stages, and it was very evident during the site visit that each individual involved was more than willing to share information and help in any way possible. I have received a warm welcome from the ADs around the league, offering their assistance as we move forward on what we are calling #TheJourney.

It’s, obviously, going to be a really busy next few years for Ferrum, but also a time that they are truly embracing. 

“We are actually looking forward to the work that lies ahead because we know, at the end, our students will be welcomed into a family that nurtures spiritual, academic, athletic and personal growth,” Martin said. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to lean on Conference Carolinas and its member institutions as we navigate #TheJourney to Division II. By tapping into the expertise, resources and network, we can achieve success to drive positive change and foster holistic development.”

Ferrum’s new family is there for them as they begin #TheJourney.  

“We know we can rely on Conference Carolinas and its member institutions to provide feedback, evaluation and support as we implement the path forward. Their insights and perspectives can help us refine our approach and make informed decisions ultimately setting high standards and fostering a foundation of success in a values-based environment for our student-athletes.”

External Relations Consultant Brian Hand, public relations legend Bob Rose and the entire Conference Carolinas office collaborate to help tell the stories of the tremendous student-athletes, coaches and administrators in Conference Carolinas.