Robert Arrowood speaks to psychology majors about his experiences in graduate school and how Tusculum prepared him for continuing his education.
Many alumni were back on campus during the recent Homecoming festivities and graduate Robert Arrowood ’14 took time to encourage students currently in the Tusculum College Psychology Department. Arrowood spoke to students in the current program at the invitation of the psychology faculty.
Arrowood is a currently graduate student working under Dr. Ralph W. Hood, Jr. in the Psychology of Religion Lab at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Tusculum College and is currently working on his Master of Science in research psychology.
During his visit he talked with students about his research, including work in Terror Management Theory, in which he seeks to examine the interaction between death awareness and religious orientation to affect worldview defense. Additionally, he seeks to examine death awareness’s influence on larger aspects such as optimism, sexual interest and cognitive resources. He also has broader interests in social psychology and successful teaching practices.
While on campus for Homecoming, Arrowood was also one of the alumni who joined the Tusculum Marching Band for the Homecoming parade and performance during the game.
Additionally, Arrowood encouraged students to stay with the Tusculum College program, which he said prepared students exceptionally for the graduate school experience. He encouraged them to take a variety of courses and to start right aware exploring which fields hold the greatest interest for them as a career path.
Upon completion of his master’s degree, Arrowood seeks to further his graduate education in a doctoral program in social psychology.
’70s
Alumnus Tommy Turner ’76 of Georgia recently visited campus for the first time since leaving college. While vacationing with his wife in the East Tennessee area, Tommy decided to look up classmate and alumnus Larry Bible ’75. Both returned to campus to visit and recall memories from their time here. At right are Turner and Bible in front of Rankin Hall.
’80s
Dr. Gerald Miller ’85 retired from the Greene County School System and State of Tennessee in June after serving as an educator and administrator. In July, he accepted a position as principal of Glade Creek Elementary School in Alleghany County in North Carolina. Gerald’s son, Holden, graduated from high school in May and is now a freshman at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.
’00s
Libby Housewright ’05 has joined Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson City, TN, as a sixth grade teacher. She previously taught at Alpha Elementary School in Hamblen County.
’10s
Jessica Lee ’12 will graduate with her doctorate in physical therapy in December from East Tennessee State University.
Melina Villarreal Adkins ’07 of Bradenton, FL, welcomed the birth of a baby boy, Bronson James Adkins, on June 26, 2015.
’50s
Harold J. Waddle ’50 of Tusculum, TN, passed away October 22, 2015. Mr. Waddle was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his military service, he became an educator. He served as principal and teacher at Midway School for a year and taught two years at Baileyton High School. Mr. Waddle’s career path then changed as he took a position at Magnavox, where he worked 30 years before his retirement. He served two terms on the Greene County Quarterly Court (now known as the County Commission). Mr. Waddle was an active member of the First Christian Church for many years and had served as an elder and Sunday school teacher. In recent years, he had attended Central Christian Church and Greenwood United Methodist Church. A sports enthusiast, he was a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers and the St. Louis Cardinals. For 25 years, he served as a high school basketball referee and was coordinator of the East Tennessee District for several years. His survivors include Tusculum alumni brother, the Rev. Richard Waddle ’57 and sister Marjorie Waddle Kruckeburg ’53.
Mrs. Beverly Hague McLaren ’55 of Edinboro, PA, passed away on August 14, 2015. She had been a longtime resident of Knoxville and Kingsport, TN, and later of Cocoa Beach, FL. Mrs. McLaren was employed for 20 years by the Department of Employment Security of the State of Tennessee at its Bristol office. She had retired in 1998. Her survivors include her husband of 61 years, Kenneth McLaren ’54.
’60s
Frank Wolpert ’61 of Social Circle, GA, passed away October 25, 2015 after a long battle with cancer. He was a long-time resident of New Jersey. He had served as CEO of Premier Packaging Consultants, Inc. of Holmdel, NJ.
Donald Lee Carter ’63 of Greeneville, TN, passed away October 18, 2015. A veteran, Mr. Carter had served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He had been retired for several years after having been involved in various businesses in Florida and in Greene County, including the former Towne Gate Motors in Greeneville, where he served as sales manager. Survivors include granddaughter and Tusculum alumna Jessica Wilhoit ’04.
’80s
Edith Greta Cockrum ’82 of Afton, TN, passed away October 10, 2015. She had returned to school later in life. Mrs. Cockrum was a member of First Baptist Church, where she was involved with the Women’s Missionary Union. She taught Bible study and served as voluntary missionary in Africa, where she was also involved in drought- and hunger-relief efforts and teaching literacy.
Faculty
Dr. Josephine Boyd Bradley of Atlanta, GA, passed away on September 15, 2015. Born in Greenbsoro, NC, she was the first African-American to integrate Greensboro High School and graduated with honors. After earning her doctorate in African-American Studies from Emory University, she went on to a distinguished professional life as a writer, board member, department head and educator for six institutions of higher education, including Tusculum. She loved traveling, reading and writing.
Dr. Carol Hartman of Greeneville, TN, passed away October 5, 2015. Dr. Hartman had served as a teacher and principal in the Union, Grainger, Kingsport and Greeneville City School Systems. She had retired as a professor at Tusculum, where she taught in the School of Education. During her career, she had also been. affiliated with United Methodist Holston Home for Children. Dr. Hartman was a member of Hardin’s Chapel United Methodist Church. She was the first woman to be installed as a member of the Rotary Club in Greeneville. She had been a member of the Greene County Democrat Women’s Club, and in past years was a member of several professional organizations.