PEG Staff

PEG Office
Phone: 540-887-7039 -- Fax: 540-887-7187 -- E-mail: peg@mbc.edu

Stephanie Ferguson, PhD Stephanie Ferguson
PEG Director
After earning her bachelor’s degree in education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Ferguson (formerly Nugent) began teaching middle and high school reading and English, both in Pennsylvania and in Louisiana. Six years into her teaching career, she found a position working with gifted children grades 6–8 and got her first glimpse of Mary Baldwin’s Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. Dr. Ferguson was working on her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Southeastern Louisiana University at the time, and she investigated PEG while she focused on gifted studies as a concentration for her degree. She completed her doctorate — with a concentration in gifted studies — at The University of Southern Mississippi. Her dissertation on moral development and self-concept among gifted residential high school students explored many of the elements present in MBC’s Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. She has done extensive research on social and emotional issues of gifted students, about which she has published a book, Social and Emotional Teaching Strategies, a textbook chapter, “Affective Education: Addressing the Social and Emotional needs of Gifted Students in the Classroom,” and several journal and newsletter articles. In her spare time, she enjoys entertaining her three cats, Neko, Joss, and Jain, writing (both for work and pleasure), reading, needlework, and riding motorcycles with her husband, Bruce.

Christy Baker
Associate Director of Student Life
Christy Baker graduated from James Madison University with a BA in speech communication and minors in Spanish and English. She began working with PEG in 2000 as a Residence Life Coordinator, transitioning to Assistant Director of PEG Student Life in 2003. Christy is a member of the Administrative Processes Improvement Team at Mary Baldwin College. She also represents PEG and MBC on the Boarding Schools Social Activities Committee. One of Christy’s favorite aspects of working with PEG is collaborating with students and staff to create a varied and exciting activities calendar each month. In her spare time, Christy enjoys shopping, reading, and traveling with her husband Mike, and she is currently learning to play tennis and racquetball.

Candice Barnack
Assistant Director of Operations
Candice Barnack graduated from Mary Baldwin with a B.A. in Business Administration and a minor in Management in 2007. Prior to coming to PEG she worked as Faculty Resource Coordinator in Pearce Science Center. Candice was a Capstone participant for her Senior project on Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro's Habitat for Humanity for which she volunteered for many years. She is also an active volunteer with several other community organizations. When she has free time, she enjoys spending it with her husband and two children.

Michelle Hurdle
Assistant Director of Admissions
Michelle Hurdle graduated from Mary Baldwin College with a BA in History and a minor in Leadership Studies. She is also a graduate of the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL) at Mary Baldwin College. Michelle has a love for education, as she spent seven years teaching Language Arts and History in Baltimore, Maryland. She began working with PEG in 2008 as a Resident Staff Assistant and Admissions Counselor, transitioning to Assistant Director of PEG Admissions. Michelle has a love for football that can be best summed up in two words, Go Ravens!

Charly Gilliam
RLC 2nd Floor
Originally from the rural heart of Appalachia known as Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Charly is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College with a BA in political science and a minor in leadership studies. She has a diverse work history, including internships with two U.S. Congressmen. Charly is entering her 4th year with PEG, and also her 4th year working in Residence Life. She is very invested in the greater MBC community, particularly in service leadership opportunities for students. She is delighted by the opportunity within the unique dynamic of the Program for the Exceptionally Gifted to assist talented young women in discovering successful, productive outlets for their creative and intellectual energies. Charly's interests include bluegrass, rousing political debate, riding roller coasters barefoot, running, and drinking copious quantities of coffee.

Hillary Cook
RSA 2nd Floor
I am so excited to be working at Mary Baldwin College this year, especially in the PEG Center! I’m originally from Richmond, VA but spent the last four years in Harrisonburg attending James Madison University. I graduated in May 2009 with a double major in psychology and art history, and I’m looking to pursue a career in higher education. While I was at JMU my twin sister spent her four years at Virginia Tech, and is now back in Richmond looking to pursue a career in nursing. My parents as well as my brother and sister-in-law are also in Richmond, so I go back every chance I get! I’m looking forward to a fantastic year in Staunton!

Kate James:
RLC 3rd Floor
Kate James was born and raised in Louisiana, and she attended Louisiana State University for two years. She then moved to California to join a music education/performing arts group called The Young Americans. For three years, she taught music, acting, and dance to children and adults of all ages throughout Japan, Germany, Sweden, Holland, Poland, England, Ireland, Scotland, and the southern states of America. She then worked in Hollywood for CBS and Pie Town Productions for various shows. While traveling and teaching overseas, however, Kate realized her true passion is educating children and watching them learn, grow, and believe in themselves! Kate is a senior at Mary Baldwin, with a major in psychology and minor in education. This is her 2nd year working as Residence Life Coordinator at PEG. She loves music, traveling, and experiencing new cultures, and Kate also calls herself a true animal lover and thrill seeker.

Veronica Watts:
RSA 3rd Floor
Veronica Watts is a second year graduate student pursuing her master's degree in Shakespearean Text and Renaissance Theater in Performance. She has returned to school following 15 years as a high school English teacher. She looks forward to returning to Florida following completion of her MFA and one day hopes to be the director of the education department of a major Shakespeare theater. She will also be working in the MBC Writing Center. In her spare time (like she really remembers what that is) she enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and traveling, especially to the beach.

Tempest Jones
RSA 3rd Floor
Tempest Jones is an enthusiastic student entering into her senior year at Mary Baldwin College. She was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Although a city girl at heart she takes peace in living and studying in the beautiful mountains of the Shenandoah Valley. While attending Mary Baldwin she has been studying Social Work with a minor in Ministry. Tempest loves to get involved in various community service opportunities and Christian ministry. She is currently the chairwoman of Campus Crusade for Christ, MBC Chapter, artistic director of Greater Things Dance Ministry, campus resource officer of the Office of African American and Multicultural Affairs, a member of the Sociology/ Social Work Club, and a member of Divine Unity Righteously Applying God Ministries. Tempest has and continues to excel in her academics by obtaining a spot on the Honor’s and Dean’s List, receiving various scholarships and memberships in various honor’s fraternities. She has a love for people and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Her future goal is to open up a Christian based empowerment center for women and follow the purpose that God has given to her.

Clara Giebel:
RSA 4th Floor
Freshly armed with a BA from Houghton College in music and English, Clara Giebel comes to Staunton to spend some quality time with William Shakespeare earning an MLitt in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance. When not studying, she is most likely to be found hunting down chamber music partners, getting involved with her church, writing good old fashioned letters, musing philosophically, going on long walks, reading picture books or making good soup. She hopes to live her life teaching the love of the arts, maybe in London.