School of Education & Graduate Studies
Degrees & Programs
Meet the Dean
South Carolina poet James Dickey wrote, “And this is the house I pass through, on the way to power and light.”
I hope that you will find your studies at Converse to be that transition to power and light: the light of knowledge and learning that will empower you to go into your community and make a difference.

Dean of Education and Graduate Studies
Those of you who have chosen teaching as your profession know how valuable your contributions are to the future of our country. Educating the next generation is the most important job anyone can ever have. Your students’ futures and the future of our communities rest in your hands. Whether a bachelor’s degree, a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Music, a Master in Education or an Educational Specialist’s degree, all of you are invaluable to improving and enhancing life for your fellow citizens.
The increased content knowledge of those in our MLA programs, the creativity of those in our MFA program, and the enriching community support of those in our Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Leadership programs also improve lives. The light and power of knowing and caring shines out from all our graduates.
I wish you great success in your studies and in your careers. The experiences you gain at and through Converse will provide you with the tools you need to build a strong and productive future.
Lienne F. Medford, EdD
Dean of Education and Graduate Studies
Beyond the Classroom
Converse MFA Online Journal Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Converse’s semi-annual online literary journal, South 85, is celebrating its tenth year. The journal publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, book reviews and blog posts by new, emerging, and well-established writers, and is …
MFA Faculty is Finalist for Next Generation Indie Book Award
MFA faculty member Marlin Barton’s book Children of Dust was a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in their General Fiction category. The Next Generation Indie Book Awards …
Dr. Sealy Explores the Importance of Internship Mentors in Student Success
Dr. Shirley Sealy, Assistant Professor of Education & Director of Administration and Supervision, was recently published in the Palmetto Administrator and Medium.com. Her article explores the importance of the relationship …
Making a Difference: Libby Cuttino Tilson ’79
Libby graduated from Converse in 1979 with a Bachelor of Music in music education. Following graduation, she received a Master’s in Music with a concentration in Choral Conducting from Southern …
EdD Student Named District 6 Teacher of the Year
Melissa “Katie” Colwell ’07, currently a candidate for Converse’s Doctorate in Professional Leadership, has been named the Teacher of the Year for Spartanburg County School District 6. Colwell is an …