ACU sends off Dr. George Pendergrass, director of multicultural enrichment, as he moves to Nashville to pursue his love for music.
Pendergrass, whose last day was April 29, plans to move to the Tennessee capital to devote more time to singing with his group, Merging Blue.
“We’ve received some opportunities to take our endeavors to another level, and so I’m going to go, and I plan on making that happen,” Pendergrass said.
Pendergrass said he frequently had traveled to Nashville to be with the group, which has been singing together on-and-off for three years.
Pendergrass has served as a leader and mentor to many students at ACU for the last four years.
“I love connecting with young people from around the world and interesting parts of life,” Pendergrass said. “I just know that whatever I’m doing, I’ll always be connected with students in some form or fashion.”
While in Nashville, Pendergrass said he and his wife will dedicate their time to the business, Troubadours Educating Through the Performance and the Arts. TEPA educates and informs organizations on a variety of issues by utilizing the performing arts to enhance the effect, Pendergrass said.
Pendergrass said he thinks it is important for people to take time out of their lives to show others how important they are.
As director of multicultural enrichment, Pendergrass was the sole full-time staff member of the Office of Multicultural Enrichment and led a team of five students who represent the diversity of the ACU campus.
“I think the students really need to have a louder and a more prominent voice in making sure that the campus is totally diversified,” Pendergrass said.
Pendergrass said he believes the student body needs to develop an equity that reaches far beyond ethnicity and race.
“There needs to be a greater awareness of the social, gender and religious diversity on campus,” Pendergrass said. “Diversity brings balance, and it heightens our world view. We become better citizens of the world because of it.”
Pendergrass said he believes college is the perfect environment to challenge students to become those citizens.
“We need to continue to demand continual diversity and allow ACU students to get a true multicultural experience because it is ultimately making us a better people,” Pendergrass said. “When we live that life out, we get the best display of who God really is.”
Jane Palmer, graduate student of social work from Bronx, New York, works with Pendergrass as the team leader for the Keystone Team of the Office of Multicultural Enrichment.
Palmer said Pendergrass has a special gift for making students feel right at home.
“He does everything 100 percent and always goes out of his way to help students, especially international students,” Palmer said. “He loves students. That’s his passion.”
