Student Development Staff

Name: Amanda Slaughter

Title: Chief Retention Officer

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Degree: B.A., Journalism, Biola University; M.A., Higher Education, Geneva College, (2011)

Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, Poetry, Mentoring, and all things-facebook.

Favorite Music: Gospel, R&B, and Hip Hop

At Belhaven: Amanda leads campus-wide retention efforts and oversees the Office of Student Development. Through working with coaches, faculty, staff, students and parents, she helps create an environment that support student success. Amanda also serves as a mentor and coordinates the Success Mentorship Program, which connects incoming students with the mentors to aid in their transition to college.

Name: Ron Pirtle

Title: Dean of Student Development.

Hometown: Bolivar, TN

Degrees: B.S., Church Ministries, Crichton College; M.S., Higher Educational Leadership, The University of Memphis

Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my boys and wife, Reading, Fishing, Community Theater

Favorite Music: Worship music, jazz

At Belhaven: Ron Pirtle serves as the Dean of Student Development. Through his role, he coordinates MOSAIC (the freshmen seminar course), academic development, career development, and disability services. By helping students’ development, he strives to make sure students are prepared for the Belhaven experience and aid them as they work through issues they are having academically.

Name: Claire T. Langley

Title: Director of Career Services and Work Study Coordinator

Hometown: Yazoo City, MS

Degree: B.S., Business Administration, William Carey University; Master of Public Administration (2012)

Hobbies: Family, building mentoring relationships, do-it-yourself home renovation, and travel

At Belhaven: Claire makes a habit of building relationships that foster personal growth within students. In the Work Study program she helps students to develop job skills through interviews, accountability and time management. Through Career Services she offers students the opportunity to brainstorm and test out their personal and career goals and passions along with helping them to develop practical job seeking skills.

Name: Helen Martin

Title: Campus Student Advisor/Bible Instructor

Hometown: Patrocino, MG; Brasil, SA

Degrees: B.S., Bible & English, Belhaven University; M.E.B., Columbia Theological Seminary

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Good Videos, Good Music

At Belhaven: Helen Martin serves as the Campus Student Advisor and an adjunct professor for the Biblical Studies department. Through both roles, she prays with students, works with them to improve study habits, and makes herself available to listen to their concerns and problems. Through her work, she is able to connect students with other people on campus and resources like academic labs that will help them succeed.