Tusculum alum finds investment in education has huge returns

LeAnne Anderson

A Tusculum alumna has found her decision to return to school has had huge dividends as she earns promotion to a district post by the Tennessee Department of Correction.

LeAnne Anderson ’07 has been promoted to district director of community supervision with the state Department of Correction. Additionally, she was selected to be one of six representatives from TDOC to be part of LEAD TN in 2017.

LEAD Tennessee is a statewide, 12-month development initiative for current and emerging leaders from all branches of government. It consists of six one-day summits of intense, high impact learning focused on eight leadership core competencies. The goal of LEAD Tennessee is to increase the state’s leadership bench strength by providing agencies a continuous pipeline of motivated and prepared leaders who share a common language and mindset about great leadership.

Anderson is a resident of Sneedville and is a 2007 graduate of Tusculum College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in organizational management. She also holds two associate’s degrees from Walters State Community College and she is a graduate of the Police Academy program there as well.

Professionally, she previously served as probation and parole manager for the State of Tennessee and as a 911 dispatcher.

“When I realized I had to go back to school so I could have more options, I began looking for a school that would work with my schedule,” said Anderson. “Needless to say my options were few and far between. I wanted a good education, but I had to continue working. Tusculum was my school. The hours were perfect for me and the classes were awesome.

“I was able to work during the day and do my class at night. I didn’t miss any of my kids activities and finished with my degree really fast.”

According to Lindsey Seal, director of GPS enrollment at Tusculum College, “While the return isn’t always immediate, with dedication the investment in a college education does pay off. LeAnne’s story is proof of that.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

’60s

 

Seymour "Sy" Marsh and his wife Lyn (Siter) '69 '70 of York, PA, visited campus in November. While in Greeneville, they also visited WGRV-Radio where Sy had worked as a Tusculum student, left. During the visit, Sy was interviewed on air during the "Ray and Ron" morning show, right.

 

’70s

John Eiskamp ’75, the girls soccer coach for Greeneville (TN) High School, has been honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as the 2016 Fall Small School National Coach of the Year. Coach Eiskamp led the GHS team to a 26-1 record this past season and the program’s second consecutive TSSAA Class A-AA state championship.

 

’80s

Robert Sarden ’85 is the proud father of a graduate of Universitaet Mannheim Philisophical in Germany. His daughter, Sarah, is part of the university’s graduating class of 2016, earning a bachelor’s degree in Anglo-American Studies and Sociology. After graduating from Tusculum, Robert enrolled at East Tennessee State University and received an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant. Subsequently, he began a career in the U.S. Army, working in various areas in the social services. Robert has lived in Germany since 1986. He married Andrea Haut in 1987, and the couple has four children – three girls and a boy.

 

Allana Hamilton ’87 has been appointed president of Jackson State Community College by the Tennessee Board of Regents. She began her tenure as president on January 10, 2017. Hamilton was serving as vice president for academic affairs at Northeast State Community College, a position she had held since 2010. She had served in that role on an interim basis from 2008 to 2010. Hamilton joined Northeast State in 1991 as an adjunct faculty instruct tor in biology. She became a faculty member on a full-time basis in 1992 and worked her way up from instructor, assistant professor and associate professor to tenured professor and biology department curriculum coordinator. From 2001 to 2008, she served as academic division chair and dean before her appointment as vice president for academic affairs. In that role, she led the faculty, staff and administration in support of the college’s instructional program. She helped develop new academic programs based on the community’s needs, including, for example, an industrial operations technical certificate and a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) initiative involving K-12 schools, public and private colleges and universities, employers, and community members. She also provided oversight and guidance to academic deans and for evening and distance education, learning support, the library, honors program, and teaching and learning resources at Northeast. She continuously evaluated the effectiveness of existing academic programs; participated in institutional strategic planning, and developed and managed a $19 million instructional budget.

 

State Rep. David Hawk ’89 (R-5th of Greeneville) has begun the 110th Tennessee General Assembly with a new responsibility, assistant majority leader in the Republican Caucus. He was elected to the position by his legislative peers.

 

’90s

Rodney Taylor ’92 has been named to head the baseball program at his high school alma mater, Port Charlotte High School in Florida. Taylor served as head coach of the high school’s softball team for 10 years and is the boy’s golf coach at the high school. He has served as an assistant for the school and at Charlotte High School. Taylor has also coached volleyball.

 

Angela Warden Buckles ’96 has been named assistant director of schools for the Sullivan County Department of Education. She began her new role Jan. 3. Buckles was appointed Sullivan County’s special education supervisor in June 2013 and will continue to serve in that position. She previously served as principal of Sullivan East High School for eight years and as a special education teacher.

 

Brad Jenkins ’99 of Johnson City, TN, has been named executive director at Mountain Region Speech and Hearing Center. The center provides infants, children and adults in about 10 counties across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia high quality and cost effective evaluation, treatment and education for speech, language, hearing and swallowing disorders, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.

 

’00s

Chris Wilson ’03 was named one of the members of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” annual list. Individuals chosen for the recognition “share a passion for making Knoxville and its surrounding areas better communities” and are “young leaders who are leaving their mark . . . through their professional and philanthropic efforts.” Wilson is director of sales, South Pacific and Canada, for DeRoyal Industries, Inc.

 

Corey Shipley ’08 has opened a new law firm with partner, Curt Collins, in downtown Greeneville, TN, offering services in a wide range of areas including state criminal law, federal criminal law, civil law, family law, divorces, custody issues, property management, wills and general legal advice. Shipley came to Tusculum on a football scholarship and completed his studies at the University of Tennessee. He went to Charleston, S.C., for law school to pursue an interest in maritime and admiralty law. Shipley interned in Manhattan, NY, and was editor in chief of the school’s maritime law journal. After earning his law degree, Shipley joined the Terry Law Firm in Morristown, where he worked as an associate attorney until February 2015. Most recently, he has served as a special assistant United States attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office, and was involved in approximately 150 federal criminal prosecutions.

 

’10s

Michael Miles ’13 has written his first book, “Dominion.” Miles, who has been writing since fourth grade, is a substitute school teacher for the Sullivan County School System and a jeweler in Johnson City, TN. While teaching history for a couple of years at Jellico High school in Campbell County, TN, he discovered that teens are craving another series like the “Hunger Games.” Miles novel is crafted in that vein for an audience between ages 16 and 30, and tells the story of two war veterans who are fighting back against the Dominion — a secretive shadow group in their town, and, in time, these veterans learn that this is part of an international fight. After recently serving a brief stint in the U.S. Marines, Miles had to take a medical discharge due to a problem with his knees. While leaving the Marines was disappointing and depressing, Miles used the opportunity to finish writing his novel and make plans to turn it into a trilogy.

 

Justin Phillip Reed ’13 was selected as a runner-up for the 2016 Iowa Review Awards for his original poetry.

 

 

 

 

Joyce Mae Dobson Freeman ’58 of Greeneville, TN, passed away on January, 16, 2017. Mrs. Freeman had worked at Glamour Tans LLC for 12 years. She spent her free time with her daughter and grandchildren, living life to the fullest.

 

Roger Williams Krase ’61 of Afton, TN, passed away on January 12, 2017. Mr. Krase was retired from Philips Consumer Electronics and attended Hermon United Methodist Church. He was  a member of Greeneville Masonic Lodge No. 3, F&AM, and the Greeneville Moose Lodge.

 

The Rev. Curtis D. Williams ’61 of Morristown, TN, passed away January 18, 2017. Rev. Williams was a member of Antioch Baptist Church.

 

Thomas Edward Bitner ’72 of Greeneville, TN, passed away January 9, 2017. Mr. Bitner worked in the construction industry and was a member of Notre Dame Catholic Church.

 

Edward Boyd ’83 of Greensboro, NC, passed away December 23, 2016. Mr. Boyd was owner of Boyd’s Automotive Services in Greensboro.

 

Kevin Joesph Canning ’86 of Wilton, CT, passed away October 4, 2016.

 

Vivian Gallimore Jones ’90 of Chattanooga, TN, passed away December 15, 2016. Mrs. Jones was a longtime member of Second Missionary Baptist Church, where she expressed her love of singing as a member of the Women’s Choir. In her later years, she was a dedicated member of Olivet Baptist Church, never missing a Wednesday noonday bible study.

 

John D. Broyles ’93 of Greeneville, TN, passed away December 3, 2017, after suffering a massive heart attack while on the golf course. He was a materials control manager at Delfort Group, formerly Mudet. Mr. Broyles was a long time member of Mount Hebron United Methodist Church where he was active in all activities of the church. He was an avid golfer and a dedicated Vols fan.

 

Timothy Andrew Frankford ’01 of Knoxville, TN, passed away December 2, 2016. He loved to work and had 16 years of service with GC Services. Mr. Frankford was a devoted husband and loved his family, Tennessee Football, Penn State (WE ARE), Texas Hold-em, golf, fantasy football, basketball, animals, and travel, especially trips to the beach.