Meet Professor Lewis Hatcher

One of the newest additions to the growing list of Bluefield College faculty is Dr. Lewis Hatcher, an assistant professor of psychology, who also serves as dean of the Academic Center for Excellence.

Dr. Hatcher was born and raised in North Carolina; although he said he moved around a lot during his childhood. He was part of a two-parent household, and his parents he said taught him the importance of work and money early in life. In fact, he recalls how he was doing chores and was on a daily schedule by the age of six and was working with his dad on a paper route by the age of eight. Dr. Hatcher said he used the money he earned from work to help his family. He even helped buy gifts for his siblings during holidays.

When it came time for him to go to college, Dr. Hatcher said he was a bit hesitant because of a disagreement on his field of study. He wanted to be a marine biologist, but his parents wanted him to choose a different field of study. In the end, he chose North Carolina State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, before earning a scholarship to attend Wake Forrest University where he earned a master’s degree in counseling. For his doctorate, he narrowed his decision to the University of Florida and Idaho State University, both of which offered scholarships to cover his tuition.

“Despite what it may seem like, I didn’t really like school, so I chose the one that was shorter,” Dr. Hatcher said about his decision to attend Idaho State, where he would also meet his future wife, Dr. Chaka Ward. After graduating, they moved to her hometown in southern Georgia, where Dr. Hatcher found a job counseling and began his career helping people.

He and his wife both would later find jobs in Minneapolis, MN, but found it difficult because of the distance away from their families. Not long after beginning a new search for work closer to home, they both found opportunities at Bluefield College. Soon after traveling to BC and interviewing together, they each were offered and accepted positions as psychology professors, and he was offered and accepted the added duties of dean of the ACE.

Now at BC, Dr. Hatcher says he wants to make a difference by helping guide students both academically as well as in their personal lives. His goals for the ACE are to provide a place for students to better themselves and to feel comfortable knowing they have a place to go to for support on campus. 

Dr. Hatcher is currently spearheading an effort to bring national certification to the tutoring program with ACE from the College Reading and Learning Association. Other improvements he hopes to bring include getting on campus mental help programs, career services, and a program to further help student-athletes with academics.

Dr. Hatcher said he wants students to know that the ACE isn’t just some place tucked under Rish Hall, but a place where students can acquire resources and get academic coaching. He emphasized that the ACE isn’t just a place to come to when something bad happens, and that academic coaching isn’t just for students who are struggling.

“Most of the people who come down to get academic coaching voluntarily are A or B students who want somebody to keep them accountable,” Dr. Hatcher said. “If you want it to, the ACE can become a home away from home…You don’t just have to come here for homework; you can come down here for life.”