Professor Lindsay Dilbeck has too many precious Piedmont memories to pick just one

This summer, we asked Piedmont faculty to answer a simple prompt: tell a story that matters to you. Today we highlight Professor Lindsay Dilbeck, whose smile and spirit brighten the athletic training program every day. She has so many moments to share — read on to enjoy her stories!

Disaster Drill teaches preparedness, collaboration, and “adulting”

It is really cool to have an event like this primarily for our students but also for the university and greater community. This ranks pretty high up there in one of my favorite moments at Piedmont because it brings so many different entities together and that's what we are all about as a University! Disaster drill day is a day full of chaos but in that chaos brings bonding. It is incredible to see these young people interested in healthcare careers come together and work as a cohesive allied healthcare team that mimics the events they will go on to perform daily in the working work. We always joke departmentally that we are teaching adulting along with health sciences and this was one of those moments where you see all of the puzzle pieces come together from educational components, to communication, as well as sorrow for the injury and incidences in the eyes of the students who found a critically injured patient to the joy in students eyes when they genuinely helped a patient. In addition to the student component of this interprofessional education (IPE) we have an incredible college (The CONHS), while each of our departments inside of the college have a different specialty it is always so fun to spend time with our brother and sister teams (nursing and SLP) to come together and brainstorm and work in unison. I really enjoy not only my colleagues but the students we get to teach so a day of working together as a team with those people is impactful on so many levels.  

Summer cohort connections

sad because I have really grown to adore the cohort that we brought in as first year MSAT students but also have a little relief that okay … summer is here …. as much as I like these people I can go to my office where it is dark and quiet now. This is the second year I have gone to my office and no less than an hour later I looked up to find my office full. My office is not large by any means, and I do not exaggerate when I say full … pictures attached for proof. The fact that these incredible young people choose to come to Piedmont never surprises me, there is so much good happening on this campus and between the walls in Daniel Hall, but I am regularly surprised at the fact that they feel as at home and cared for as members of our department as they do elsewhere. The last day of summer classes when they also mourn the closing of a difficult but fun semester will always fill my heart.

Our community comes together during a crisis

We had an unfortunate departmental emergency early in the spring semester. Everyone and everything are fine, but needless to say the first day of Spring classes didn't go as planned. I hate to consider this one of my favorite memories since joining the Piedmont faculty team but there was so much beauty inside of this day once we found out everyone would be okay! Obviously, we work in the college of nursing and health sciences, but I think one thing that no one talks about enough is that the vast majority of our faculty inside of this college was practicing clinically at one point. We all used a code system and worked under emergency action plans. We had our feet on the ground and saw some things. This practical knowledge is such an asset when teaching but also to our students. Well, that knowledge for each of us came in so handy on the first day of classes in Spring! A health sciences professor identified the emergency and started the emergency response process; she called me for a second set of hands. On my way I was able to grab a few nursing professors, and the team assembled from there. Everyone jumped in feet first to do a job that is deeply ingrained in each of us. We did that job, and we did it so well. Seeing how our department came together was beautiful. One of our college focuses is unity and this charge is led by Dean Huff. Since joining this faculty team, I have felt like we are one team and one college but no more so than in this moment when it was all on the line. That team mentality continued through the following days and weeks as the Piedmont Community as a whole followed up to support everyone involved in that emergency situation. This situation, while terrible, really embodied the heart of Piedmont University, which to me is community. 

Supporting one of our own through her cancer battle

Many know that our fearless leader Jaime Johnson-Huff has been fighting her cancer battle. She has done this with so much strength and grace all while continuing her teaching and leading her college. In May the nursing department organized a celebration of Jaime's last day of chemo. Friends, family, colleges, and students had the opportunity to gather outside of Jaime's doctor's office to hold signs, pray, dance, and sing to celebrate her and her battle. This outpouring of love and support not only spoke volumes of Jaime as a person but also of the Piedmont University community and the CONHS. 

Personal connections with our students

Being a faculty member at Piedmont University provides a unique opportunity to interact with students both inside and outside the classroom, fostering relationships that align with the university's core values. This is why the memory of being present for Erin Donovan's baptism is a favorite, as it perfectly encapsulates the mission of the institution.

In the classroom, you lay the foundation for these relationships, but it's outside of academics where they truly flourish. My role as the character coach for the women's golf team through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is a prime example.  I have been able to connect with these athletes on a personal level, offering mentorship that extends beyond coursework and into their lives. Character coaches become part of the team, and assist in guiding students through challenges and celebrating their successes. 

The memory of Erin's baptism is so meaningful because it ties directly into Piedmont's mission. The university's values emphasize creating a supportive community where every individual is seen and valued. Being present for such a significant life event for a student I would not have otherwise met highlights how these bonds transcend the traditional student-teacher dynamic. It's a testament to the university's commitment to fostering a holistic environment where faculty can genuinely invest in their students' personal and spiritual journeys. This experience isn't just about teaching; it's about being part of a student's life and demonstrating the core belief that education is about more than just knowledge—it's about character, community, and personal growth.