Belmont Abbey College

Roger Jones

Director of Admission and Transfer Coordinator

RogerLJones@bac.edu

Born in Erie , Pennsylvania , Roger spent the majority of his “growing pains” years in Erie , but his more formative teenage years were spent in the Carolinas as a Marine Corps dependent. He lived at both Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and at Camp Lejeune before graduating from Jacksonville High School . A graduate of Pembroke State University (now The University of North Carolina at Pembroke), he continued his time there as an Admissions Representative and Counselor. He has also served as an Assistant Director at UNC Charlotte as well as a recruiter at Central Piedmont Community College . Roger is very active within the Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. However, the most important daily tasks he has are being a husband to his wife Lori, and a father to his daughter Brenna.

Sharon Johns

Data Entry Specialist

SharonJohns@bac.edu

Sharon began working at the Abbey in July of 2006. She is also a self-employed artist and has had her own business, DreamStar Designs, for twenty years. Recently she has sculpted replicas of historic local buildings, including one of the Abbey Basilica.

When not sculpting or doing data entry, Sharon enjoys photography and international travel. In the last ten years she has island hopped in Greece and explored museums and churches in Italy , as well as other countries in Europe .  She has climbed Machu Picchu in Peru and ridden a camel near the pyramids in Egypt.  She is especially interested in Southeast Asian culture and and her favorite trip included Thailand , Cambodia , and Vietnam .

Sharon has a BA in History and Art from Gardner-Webb University and has lived in Belmont for the past twelve years.

Jon Blackwell

Assistant Director of Admissions

JonBlackwell@bac.edu

Jon is originally from Hartsville , South Carolina . He graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in 2000 where he received a degree in History. Following graduation he worked in the legal technology industry for several prominent law firms in the Charleston area. Jon received a second bachelors degree from Belmont Abbey College.  He earned a BA in Business Management and graduated in the inagural class of the Motorsports Management Program.

“It has been a dream of mine to work in NASCAR since I was a kid growing up in Darlington County . The demand for management in the racing industry has steadily increased along with the sport’s growth and popularity. I am truly blessed and thankful that I have been given the opportunity to follow my dream.”

Jon is a true South Carolina boy. He is an avid shag dancer and beach goer. If you come to visit our campus and spot a guy wearing a brightly colored seersucker suit and bowtie, that’s Jon!

Dawn Simmons

Office Manager of Admissions

DawnSimmons@bac.edu

A local native of Gaston County, Dawn is the Office Manager of Admissions at Belmont Abbey College and is here to support our team. Dawn has over 10 years of Administrative and Finance experience. Having worked in the corporate world, Dawn has found that working at the Abbey has proven to be rewarding and challenging!

When not overseeing the day-to-day operations of Admissions, Dawn enjoys traveling, spending time with friends & family, participation with church activities, however; her greatest enjoyment comes from being a mother and devoting all of her spare time with her 4 yr. old daughter Rylee. She loves being a part of the Abbey community!

Dawn has an AS in Office Administration and Medical Office Technology from Gaston College, and is currently pursuing her 4 yr. degree with the Adult Degree Program at Belmont Abbey College.

Cooper Gallimore

Admissions Counselor

CooperGallimore@bac.edu

While born just outside of Washington D.C., Cooper grew up next door to Belmont in Charlotte; the city that he still calls his home. He left to attend St. John's College in Annapolis, MD from which he graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. He then went on to spend the next two years at St. John's as an Admissions Counselor. After taking a hiatus from admissions to spend a year in law school at the University of Notre Dame, Cooper returned to admissions and joined the Belmont Abbey team in 2008.

A huge fan of traditional bluegrass music, Cooper divides his free time between writing music for and playing his guitar, hiking and rock climbing, playing golf (poorly), cooking, and reading anything he can get his hands on. Cooper is very excited to now be a part of the Belmont Abbey team.

Danielle Blanchard

Assistant Director of Admissions

DanielleBlanchard@bac.edu

A native of Louisiana, Danielle began working at the Abbey in July of 2007. Growing up, she split her time among family in Baton Rouge and New Orleans and eventually wound up graduating from the University of Louisiana – Monroe after a short stint as an LSU Tiger. During and after college Danielle worked in the marketing department of a book publisher until joining the admissions team at Belmont Abbey College. As a devoted Saints fan Danielle is clearly a glutton for punishment who also enjoys reading and exploring her new home state. Danielle loves to watch the Food Network and think about getting off of the sofa to cook.

Meagan Smith

Admissions Counselor

MeaganSmith@bac.edu

Meagan Smith is originally from Sparta, North Carolina which is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. She graduated from Appalachian State University in May of 2007, with a degree in Public/Organizational Communication. During Meagan’s time at Appalachian she had the opportunity to do many things including working in the Office of Admissions, spending her free time with her friends, working as an orientation leader and she also studied abroad in Costa Rica. After graduation Meagan was able to continue working for the ASU Admissions Office as a University Representative. After getting a little glimpse of all that goes into working in the world of higher education, specifically admissions. She realized it is a world in which she wanted to continue to work. Go BAC Crusaders!!!