North Greenville University honors Dr. Melissa L. Cruver, an associate professor of education, as its 2019 SCICU Excellence in Teaching award recipient. Dr. Cruver has served on the North Greenville faculty for thirteen years. She holds an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from Bob Jones University. Dr. Gruver earned an M.A. in Reading Instruction from fellow SCICU member institution Furman University and a B.S. in elementary education from Bob Jones University.

Dr. Cruver teaches education courses at all levels, including introductory courses, Read to Succeed courses, methods courses, and adult education courses. She mentors teacher candidates in their field experiences and student teaching placements and works one-on-one with students to establish high expectations and promote growth toward teaching success. As North Greenville’s CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) Coordinator, Dr. Cruver coordinates and oversees accreditation compliance and reporting measures. She also serves on university committees and is the liaison for the College of Education library holdings and webpage updates.

Dr. Cruver is the secretary of NGU’s Beta Kappa, a local chapter of the women educators’ honor society Delta Kappa Gamma International. As a member of the North Greenville Speakers’ Bureau, she recently presented “Success in the Trauma-Informed Classroom.”

Cruver’s passion for young people extends beyond the classroom. She ministers with her husband as a mentor for the youth and college students in her local church. As a teacher, her desire is to share her passion for God and for teaching with her students so that they will flourish as they go out to make a difference in their future classrooms.