Catawba College

SALISBURY — Catawba College’s Ketner School of Business has appointed two new academic department chairmen and made other administrative changes.

Darin Spencer will be chairmain of the newly formed accounting department. Joshua Smicker will be the new chairman of the communications department, effective with the start of the spring semester.

“We are pleased to announce these two new faculty appointments in the Ketner School of Business,” said Eric Hake, interim dean of the school. “These administrative changes are the result of steady growth in the accounting and communication programs and a conscious decision to focus our administrative structure at the program and department level.

“This will help the School of Business continue to improve where it matters most — in the classroom and educational experience of our students,” Hake said. “My colleagues in the Ketner School of Business are inspirational professors who are committed to offering their students transformative educational experiences that will help them achieve their highest potential, and I am delighted to work with them during these exciting times.”

Spencer, an assistant professor of accounting, joined the School of Business faculty in 2005. He earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, his master of accountancy degree from UNCC, his master of business administration degree from Pfeiffer University and his Ph.D. in business administration with advanced accounting specialization from Northcentral University.

He is licensed as a certified public accountant and is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Smicker, a visiting assistant professor of communication, joined the Ketner School of Business faculty in 2017. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in English and philosophy with a minor in American studies from Pennsylvania State University, his master of arts degree in communication studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and his Ph.D. in communication studies from UNCCH.

He also holds a certificate in cultural studies from UNCCH.

Before joining Catawba, Smicker was a visiting assistant professor of communication and interim director of communication at Philadelphia University, a lecturer and graduate instructor in the department of communication at UNC-Chapel Hill, and an adjunct professor of communications at Durham Technical Community College.