Dr. Nancy B. Moody

The Tusculum College Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of current president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody, during its meeting on Saturday, May 18.

Dr. Moody has completed four years as president. The contract extension is for six years.

“Tusculum College is at a very exciting time in its history. I am extremely pleased to have the support of the Board of Trustees as we move together toward long-term planning, the growth of our academic programs and continued and expanded success of our graduates,” said Dr. Moody.

Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees, praised Moody’s efforts in directing the college. “The Board is very, very pleased with the recent history of the college and excited about the leadership she has brought to the institution. We want to see that continue.”

He added, “Having a longer, multi-year contract is a strong signal to the internal and external communities that the Board both appreciates and supports her. It also goes a long way in providing long-term stability for the college.”

Since assuming the college presidency in April 2009 as the first female in Tusculum’s history to hold the position, Moody has faced several challenges. She led the college through a successful reaffirmation of accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and guided the college towards greater financial stability.

Dr. Moody was recognized by the Board of Trustees in February when she was named the first recipient of the Founders Award, presented by the Tusculum College Board of Trustees. The Founders’ Award, named in memory of Rev. Samuel Doak, Rev. Samuel Witherspoon Doak and Rev. Hezekiah Balch, is presented by the Tusculum College Board of Trustees to recognize those who with integrity, tenacity, commitment, ingenuity and drive have moved Tusculum College forward in serving its students, its community and the world at large.

According to Dr. Bowman, Dr. Moody has embraced the opportunity to encourage faculty, staff, students and volunteers to push Tusculum College forward through creative teaching and learning, responsible stewardship and a renewed commitment to service and civic engagement. She has led Tusculum College into a new era of growth and expansion, in terms of bricks and mortar, academic programs and opportunities, and fiscal responsibility.

Under her leadership programs have been systematically researched and implemented, including programs in nursing, chemistry, criminal justice and a new site in Madison County, N.C. additionally a bachelor of psychology degree and a Master of Business Administration degree were added in the Graduate and Professional Studies program.

The new nursing degree program currently has 24 students and these numbers are expected to grow, with the more than 520 inquiries about next year’s nursing class. Fall semester’s class is expected to be at least 40 students. The fall semester will also see the first class of registered nurses in the RN to BSN program. The BS and RN to BSN degree program in nursing have been incorporated in the scope of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Dr. Moody was also instrumental in obtaining a $263,996 grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation for the acquisition of a simulation laboratory for use in the nursing program and other health-related programs by Tusculum College students and staff and area community partners.

The simulation lab will be used to produce highly-qualified BSN graduates skilled at clinical decision-making, who will provide safe, competent and improved health care for future generations of Tennesseans

The college, under her leadership, is in an accelerated growth stage. Construction of two new apartment-style residence halls is nearing completion. These facilities are a direct result of a $6 million Community Facilities direct loan from the USDA’s Rural Development Office.  Residence hall space has been a pressing need for the college for the past few years due to more than 100 percent occupancy rates in residential housing.

Dr. Moody led efforts to fund a new math and science facility on campus. To that end, a $3.875 million gift towards funding its construction has allowed plans to move forward. The Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math will be a three-story 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art science and math facility with an estimated total project cost in excess of $15 million.

An additional $39 million Community Facilities direct loan to allow for renovation of current space and construction of the new science and math building has been secured and construction and renovations are expected to begin in the fall.

Partnerships with other institutions are at an all-time high. Tusculum College has arranged articulation and affiliation agreements with regional community colleges and professional schools to both increase enrollment in the bachelor’s degree programs, as well as afford expedited graduate school opportunities for alumni of Tusculum College.

According to Bowman, Dr. Moody has successfully sought new gifts, donors and partnerships in order to ensure the success of the new and existing programs. Working with donors, foundations and government agencies, she has encouraged the investment of millions of dollars into Tusculum College’s growth over the past four years.

“She has engaged with alumni and friends of the College, encouraging their continued interest and support in the institution. She has reminded all of the Tusculum community what it means to be a Tusculum Pioneer,” said Bowman.

Dr. Moody came to Tusculum from Lincoln Memorial University (LMU), where she served as president. She began her career in higher education at LMU as an instructor of nursing. She subsequently served in several roles at LMU, culminating as the dean of the School of Professional Studies before joining the faculty of East Tennessee State University where she was tenured and served as department chair. She served as an associate professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville before returning to LMU to assume its presidency. In terms of leadership, Dr. Moody has served as executive director of the Tennessee Center of Nursing, which was funded initially through a grant that she co-authored from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Dr. Moody is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, chair-elect of the NCAA DII South Atlantic Conference, and past member of the NCAA DII President’s Council. She is the past chair of the executive committee for the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.

Verna June Eshelman Meen (center) was awarded with the Tusculum College Distinguished Service Award on Friday evening at the college’s annual President’s Dinner. On left is Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees. At right is Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College.

Tusculum College presented Verna June Eshelman Meen the Distinguished Service Award during the annual Tusculum College President’s Dinner on Friday, May 17. She was recognized for her service and support of Tusculum College.

Tusculum President Dr. Nancy B. Moody and Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees and 1970 alumnus of the college, presented the award.

The Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual or individuals who have a history of outstanding support of Tusculum College. The award is presented at the President’s Dinner, which honors the college’s major donors.

A pioneer from the start, Meen was born in Indiana with a strong sense of how education could change a person’s life. At a time when few women attended college, Meen set her sights on earning an accounting degree at Indiana University.

With $80 and a merit scholarship, she set out to finance her education. Meen worked her way through school, earning top marks. She worked hard, eventually graduating in just two and two-thirds years. Following graduation, she was highly recruited, receiving three job offers before even earning her degree. Of the offers, she was most interested in one from Eastman Chemical Company, which she knew to be a good company. She accepted and found herself transplanted to East Tennessee.

Still a pioneer, as not many women were working in professional fields in that day, she also purchased land, designed the house she would live in to the present day and paid for its construction. She was independent and a woman of her own means.

She met Dr. Ron Meen early in her years at Eastman. The two shared a life together that included summer trips to Canada, reading on the back deck and taking boat rides on Muskoka Lake. Their marriage lasted until his death in 2008.

In 2012, she gifted Tusculum College with $3.875 million to name the planned math and science facility the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math as a way to honor her beloved husband. Dr. Meen worked for Eastman Chemical Company and held numerous patents for chemical compounds developed for the company.

“Through her generosity, Mrs. Meen has chosen to create a living memorial to her husband at Tusculum College that will have a significant impact on the education of Tusculum students,” said Dr. Moody. “She is an amazing person in her own right, and the gift she has given will impact the lives of thousands of students for many, many years to come.”

High school students have the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit through a new dual enrollment program at Tusculum College.

Through the new program, high school students can take a variety of courses. Offerings of courses will begin this summer with more courses slated for the fall and spring.

Students are eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program beginning the summer before their junior year in high school. Individuals must have a 3.0 grade point average or a 21 on the ACT.

The courses will be offered online, a convenience for students in not having to drive to campus during the school day.

Offerings will include composition, college algebra, U.S. history, psychology, sociology, art history, probability and statistics and world literature.

Financial assistance may be available for students through the lottery scholarships. Students should visit their high school guidance counselors for more information about assistance.

For more information about the new program or to apply, please visit the Dual Enrollment page on the website. Individuals may also call 423-636-7374  or email mripley@tusuclum.edu to learn more about the program.

Dr. Paul Fox

Dr. Paul Fox of Greeneville was recently appointed the first Dean of the School of Education at Tusculum College.

Dr. Fox also serves as assistant professor of education.

“I am confident that Dr. Fox will provide key leadership to move Tusculum College forward and that he will guide our School of Education to continue to be a model for teacher education. He will be a strong mentor to our faculty in the program,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College.

A 1977 graduate of Tusculum College, Dr. Fox has served as interim director of the School of Education since 2011. Fox has 25 years of administrative experience in education, including serving as school improvement specialist and supervisor for the Greene County School System.

Dr. Fox’s education background and experience includes licensure in elementary education, secondary biology, reading specialist and school administration. He has led the Teacher Education Unit at Tusculum College in preparing for and hosting an on-site Continuing Accreditation visit by the Tennessee Department of Education and has experience serving on Quality Assurance Review Teams for public schools seeking AdvancED or SACS CASI accreditation.

Dr. Fox currently serves on the boards of directors for the local YMCA and Washington College Academy.  He has served as President of the Greeneville/Greene County Retired Teachers Association as well as on numerous faculty and administrator search committees at Tusculum College. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Service to Students award from the Greene County Partnership in 2007.

Fox has served as president of the Greeneville-Greene County Retired Teachers Association and has taught at Union College in Kentucky and at East Tennessee State University, and has taught in the Tusculum Graduate and Professional Studies program as an adjunct professor.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Tusculum College and holds a master’s degree in reading and an Ed.D in educational administration, both from ETSU.

He and his wife, Melinda Matherly, attend Cedar Grove United Methodist Church and enjoy five grandchildren.

Tusculum College will begin hosting classes at the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College’s Madison campus in June.

Tusculum has forged a partnership with A-B Technical Community College at Madison to offer a Master of Arts in Education Curriculum and Instruction Degree program for licensed teachers.

“Tusculum is expanding the way it serves both students and the community,” said Dr. Melinda Dukes, vice president of academic affairs at Tusculum College. “This partnership allows us to provide high quality programs in an area of high demand in the most convenient way for our students.”

The program has been offered from Tennessee-based sites previously and fourteen individuals from the area recently completed the Graduate and Professional Studies Master of Arts in education degree program and graduated in 2012. There is also a documented additional demand for a master’s degree program from educators in the region. As a result of this success, the program will now be offered on-site at the A-B Tech campus.

Tusculum College offers flexible scheduling, convenient locations, reasonable tuition and quality programs that help students meet their goals. The unique class structure blends academics with application in a collaborative environment.

Tusculum’s uniquely focused and practical program has enabled thousands of men and women to obtain the degrees they need to succeed professionally and personally. For more information, call 888-488-7285.

Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation, is a liberal arts institution committed to utilizing the civic arts in developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. Approximately twenty-one hundred students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and three off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.

Tusculum College has received a $12,000 grant from the Appalachian College Association for the purpose of implementing a Latino student success program.

The ACA’s Access, Retention and Completion for Latino Student Success in Appalachia program was created in response to the changing demographic landscape of Appalachia. Colleges and Universities were provided the opportunity to submit proposals describing new programs or expansion of previous programs regarding Latino student access, retention and completion.

Tusculum College is implementing a new program to increase the enrollment rate of first-time freshmen Latino students by 30 percent at the institution. Additionally, the plan is to increase the retention rate of Latino students to 45 percent and to increase the graduation rates of Latino students by 25 percent.

The grant programs will be implemented by Deborah Gietema, instructor of mathematics, and Jeanne Stokes, director of TRIO programs at the College.

According to the grant proposal there are resources and activities available for the population, including academic support services through free tutoring, personal academic counseling through the Academic Resources Center, recognition through the Student Affairs Office with diversity activities and other multi-cultural activities.

Through the new program, Tusculum College will create a Latino Living Learning Community on campus. Students in the program will enroll in four of the same classes throughout the academic year as well as share housing on campus.  As part of the freshmen orientation process, students participate in teambuilding activities that include sessions on conflict resolution, cultural diversity, social skill development and adaptability. These activities would include a Spanish-speaking mentor if needed.

“We are very excited about the implementation of this grant,” said Stokes. “Tusculum has had positive experiences with Living Learning communities and this grant will enable us to provide needed support to aid in the success of our Latino population.”

Added Gietema, “I have had the privilege of teaching several of our current Latino students, and I am always impressed by their dedication to their academic studies as well as their abilities in mathematics.”

Tusculum College has had a successful history implementing the Living Learning Community model and has maintained four groups for the past four years.  Evidence of the improved retention of students in a LLC is most prevalent with the Hurley Society, with a freshmen-to-sophomore retention rate in 2010 of 65 percent.

The Hurley Society is for students from low-income and first generation families (another population that tends to have lower retention and graduation rates).

Housing will include living on a designated floor or wing of a building primarily for Latino students and other international students.  This will offer students’ opportunities to develop relationships as well as providing an environment that focuses on cultural differences. Not only will there be a focus on Latino communities but other nationalities which can offer a rich awareness and appreciation of cultural heritages.

At the Tennessee Association of Museum’s annual conference, March 20-22, the Museums of Tusculum College received an Award of Commendation for the Civil War Ball,  “Heritage and Hoopskirts” and an Award of Excellence for the exhibit “Scholars then Soldiers: Tusculum College and the American Civil War.”

At “Heritage and Hoopskirts,” the Doak House Museum partnered with the 1860s Living History and Dance Society to demonstrate dances of the period and taught the dances to the audience. Olde Towne Brass, a group of professional musicians who perform in the manner of early American and Civil War bands, provided the music for “Heritage and Hoopskirts.”

This event was a part of the 2012 Greene County History Week and was made possible by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Builds Communities program, which receives funds through the sales of specialty license plates.

The new “Scholars then Soldiers: Tusculum College and the American Civil War” exhibit at the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library received an Award of Excellence. The student-created exhibit features information about the 19 alumni who fought during the war and the effect that the Civil War had on Tusculum College, including the merger with Greeneville College that had most of its assets destroyed due to the conflicts.

The exhibit will be on display through the remainder of the Civil War Sesquicentennial in 2015. The awards committee was very impressed with the quality of work and the involvement of Museum Studies students in this exhibit.

As the academic year at Tusculum College comes to a close, students participating as mentors in The Chance Program wrapped up another year with their Hal Henard Elementary School buddies.

The Chance Program is a mentoring program at Tusculum College, in which third graders from Hal-Henard visit Tusculum College to be mentored by volunteer college students.

According to Megan Buczek, a freshman education major from Chattanooga, mentoring is letting the younger students know that someone cares about them and wants the best for them and letting them know that they are not alone throughout their journey in their education and future career paths.

Because the program is located on the college campus it gives the third graders a glimpse of the college world and something to strive toward and achieve—a college education.

“Not only does the program show that to the children, but it also can be a way for parents or guardians who are considering going back to school or furthering their education to be on the college campus and see if it is something they want in their life again,” said Buczek.

The Chance Program focuses on a variety of topics, including healthy lifestyles, culture and diversity and reading and literacy. Students are introduced to healthy snacks and during reading time are encouraged to read about characters with cultural differences. The program also provides the child with a book that they get to choose and read while on campus with the college students that is theirs to keep.

According to Buczek, the program would not be possible without the generous financial support from The John Deere Foundation, who are committed to the promotion of reading and literacy.

“Hal-Henard and Tusculum College share a special relationship when it comes to this program because it would not be possible for this program to occur without the time and willingness of faculty and staff from both schools,” said Buczek.

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to work with the third graders of Hal-Henard and their faculty and staff. I am truly blessed to work with such an amazing mentoring program where I can individually make a difference in a child’s life. I, and the rest of The Chance Program team, cannot wait to see what this program holds for the future and how it can make an impact on the lives of the third graders and their families.”

Developed in 2009 as a project of the Tusculum College Student Alumni Association and supported by the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement, the program operated under the student alumni association until 2011, when it was adopted as a service project for the teacher education program at the college.

The goal of the program is to motivate youth to achieve their potential by fostering inspiration to transform lives, education to change attitudes and connections to increase opportunities by pairing elementary students with Tusculum College students for weekly activities that expose the youth to the opportunities of higher education.

Through the years, the program has been locally, regionally and nationally recognized and has served more than 200 third grade students from Hal Henard Elementary School.

The Tusculum College band program will conclude its performance season Thursday, May 2, with a concert featuring a variety of music from American standards to jazz arrangements of well known tunes of popular artists.

The band concert’s spring concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building. The concert is also part of Tusculum College Arts Outreach’s 2012-13 Acts, Arts, Academia performance and lecture series.

Performing will be the Concert Band, Handbell Choir and Jazz Band with special guest performers Amy Saxonmeyer and John Brown.

The Concert Band will present familiar tunes in some new arrangements. “Tennessee Salute” will pay homage to five melodies that are ingrained into America’s musical landscape – “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Wabash Cannonball,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Tennessee Waltz” and “Rocky Top.” “An American Fanfare” will incorporate strains of “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)” into an energetic fanfare.

The ever-popular “Amazing Grace” as well as Sousa march “The Black Horse Troop” and “American Barndance” will also be performed by the Concert Band.

The Pioneer Jazz Band previewed some of its repertoire for the Tusculum College Band program’s spring concert during the Old Oak Festival.

Arrangements of pieces by popular artists such as the Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock will be among those performed by the Jazz Band. “Something,” “Sir Duke,” “Watermelon Man,” “Rock This Town” and the traditional “Tuxedo Junction” are on the program for the Jazz Band.

Two hymns will be performed by the Handbell Choir, “Immortal Invisible” and “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

The spring concert will wrap up another successful year for the band program, which began in 2010. The program performs three concerts per academic year, a Christmas, winter and spring concert. The band program also includes the Marching Band, which performs primarily during football season, the Pep Band that performs during basketball season and various small ensembles that perform for Tusculum and community events.

On Sunday, April 28, First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville will celebrate Tusculum College Sunday.  Please join the church and members of the Tusculum community in celebrating our  long history together.

The early service begins at 8:30 a.m. in Christ Chapel across Main Street from the General Morgan Inn.  Dr. Melinda Dukes will deliver the Moment for Mission.  Mark Stokes will preach at both this service and at 10:45.  Sunday school offerings will follow for all ages and interests at 9:30.

The 10:45 a.m. service in the sanctuary will feature members of the Pioneer Band, the Tusculum handbell choir and remarks by President Nancy Moody.  A lunch will follow in the fellowship hall.  All are invited!

First Presbyterian Church, the parent church of Tusculum College,  was founded in 1780, the first church in Greeneville and one of the first in Tennessee.  Rev. Samuel Doak, who later established Tusculum Academy (1818), preached the first services.  Rev. Hezekiah Balch, founder of Greeneville College (1794), became the first settled minister.  The current minister, Dr. Daniel Donaldson, is a member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees.

The East Tennessee College Alliance hosted the 14^th Annual Lifelong Learning awards ceremony and luncheon on Wednesday, April 17, at the Foundry on the World’s Fair Site in Knoxville.

Dr. Eva Cowell, assistant professor of management at Tusculum College, received the Adult Educator of the Year award, and Ms. Annie Wright of Tennessee Wesleyan College was chosen Adult Learner of the Year.

Dr. Cowell has 23 years of organization, departmental and personnel development and training experience, including previous employment as human resource manager at Sears Roebuck and Company and as operations manager at TJ Maxx.

She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in sociology, a Master’s of Science degree in human resource development and is currently working on completion of her doctorate in human resource development, all at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Dr. Cowell has been published in “Educational Gerontology” and the “Journal of Business Communication.” She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society.

Professionally, she is a member of the Academy of Human Resource Development, the American Society of Training and Development and the Southern Management Association.

Dr. William Lyons, deputy to the mayor and chief policy officer, represented Mayor Madeline Rogero, and proclaimed April 17 as Lifelong Learning Day for the City of Knoxville. Dr. William Lyons was the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Corporate awards were presented to businesses that have provided higher education opportunities for their employees. This year’s recipients include AT&T, Enrichment Federal Credit Union, Iron Mountain and Life Care Center of Jefferson City.

ETCA is a consortium of 11 regionally accredited colleges and universities dedicated to providing educational opportunities for non-traditional, working adults.

The East Tennessee College Alliance member institutions are: Carson-Newman University, Cleveland State Community College, Johnson University, King University, Lincoln Memorial University, Milligan College, Pellissippi State Community College, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Wesleyan College, Tusculum College and Walters State Community College.

The Old Oak Festival kicks off on the Tusculum College campus at noon on Friday, April 19. The arts and music festival will be held April 19-21 and will feature something for everyone, including music, art, theater and creative writing, as well as gallery and museum exhibits, children’s activities and storytelling.

There is no fee to attend the festival. Hours will be Friday from noon until 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303.

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the entertainment. Service animals are welcome; however, no pets allowed. Coolers and alcohol are also prohibited.

A parade and welcome ceremony will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Rankin Hall stage, and at 2 p.m., officials from the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council will be on hand to recognize the Tusculum College old oak tree as an official historic tree. The large, white-oak tree that the festival is named for has officially been added to the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s Tennessee Landmark and Historic Tree Register.

Scheduled bands include local favorites such as the Threetles, a Beatles tribute band, Tusculum College rock band Original Copy, as well as Jimmy D, playing blues, straight up. Also in the lineup are soul and R&B group the Scat Cats and Bootleg Turn, playing their version of hillbilly rock. The Tusculum College Jazz Band will take the stage, as will the Stoney Creek Cloggers and protégé fiddler Carson Peters.

For the younger crowd, there will be two nights of dancing. Friday night will feature a Silent Disco and Saturday a Dubstep concert. Both will be held from 7-10 p.m. in Chalmers Conference Center in the Niswonger Commons.

The arts and crafts show will offer everything from watercolor paintings to handmade quilts.

Other items include barn wood frames, walking sticks, handmade children’s clothing, baskets, candles and many handmade items. Vendors will be both indoors and outside.

Many other groups, individual artists, storytellers, performers and other activities are on the schedule at a variety of venues. For a full music, performance and activity schedule, visit www.oldoakfestival.org.

Sponsors for this year’s event include The Greeneville Sun, Greeneville Federal Bank, Hometown Realty, Coca-Cola, WQUT-Radio, WXSM Radio, WIVK Radio, WNML Radio, WOKI Radio, 106.1 The River, Holston Valley Broadcasting, WJHL Daytime Tri-Cities, Morristown Radio Group, Merle FM Radio, WVEK Radio, WKPT, WTFM, Kingsport Times-News, WGRV Radio, WIKQ Radio, WSMG Radio and WCYB-TV.

For updates and more information, visit the website at www.oldoakfestival.org or on Facebook at www.facebook/OldOakFestival.