Amaker named AVP for planning and assessment
Amaker comes to Southern Wesleyan with extensive experience in planning and assessment, most recently having served as director of assessment/institutional effectiveness at Benedict College, where he served for seven years. Prior to that, Amaker served as a faculty member and an administrator at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway. He has also served on the staff of USC Aiken and Midlands Technical College.
Amaker holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership, a M.Ed. in community agency counseling and a BA in psychology – all earned at Clemson University.
Amaker’s interest in research was sparked when, as a Clemson student, he did an attitudinal study about students’ attitudes toward AIDS. As he was completing his research, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a top professional basketball player, went public to announce that he had the AIDS virus. Amaker surveyed the students again – this time comparing attitudes before and after Johnson’s announcement – resulting in a study that impressed his professor and led to further opportunities in research and assessment.
An ordained minister, Amaker also serves as a jurisdictional bishop for Church of God in Christ International.
“I like the fact that I get an opportunity to practice both my faith and my profession – that’s a very rare opportunity,” Amaker said.
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