SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Dr. Deirdre Ragan and Kester Melville were selected to represent The Citadel on the All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team that was released Wednesday.
While the selections were left up to each institution's discretion, the recipients all shared the common characteristics of demonstrated service to the institution and contributions to campus life and the local community. Faculty members selected have demonstrated strong contributions to teaching, research and/or service, while staff members are being recognized for bringing out the best in others and creating conditions for success.
Dr. Deirdre Ragan, The Citadel (faculty)
Dr. Deirdre Ragan is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering as well as the director of the Honors Program at The Citadel. Ragan delivers excellence through her unwavering passion and commitment to students and her faith in the mission of The Citadel. Students remark on her level of knowledge of her subject matter as well as an ability to teach and explain topics well. Although challenging, students appreciate Ragan's emphasis on reasoning through a problem and understanding the implications of a result. Ragan's dedication to students, her work ethic, and her love of teaching are celebrated by those who have had the privilege to work with her. Ragan previously worked for PPG Industries, a Fortune 500 company with specializations in glass, coatings and specialty chemicals, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. She holds five patents for ideas conceived and implemented while working in the industry. She previously received a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research on electrochromic materials at Uppsala University in Sweden and her research interests include materials science, nanotechnology and solar power.
Kester Melville, The Citadel (staff)
Kester Melville serves The Citadel as a Grounds Crew Leader within the Facilities and Engineering Department. Extremely knowledgeable in the disciplines of landscape development and maintenance, Melville inspires and mentors the other members of his team to improve their overall service to the college's buildings and grounds as well as highlighting The Citadel's campus. Melville also maintains the Sweet Grass along the Jay Beam Memorial Crosswalk on Lee Avenue. In addition to the challenging gardening and landscaping required to manicure this native species, he led the effort to donate the Sweet Grass cuttings to local basket weavers. His efforts ensure this Lowcountry cultural icon remains sustainable. Melville's professionalism, perseverance and untiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Facilities and Engineering Department and are in keeping with the highest traditions of The Citadel and the state of South Carolina.
