Wayne Thomas named Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences at Tusculum College

Wayne Thomas has been named interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Tusculum College, effective July 1.

Thomas has served as chair of the Department of Fine Arts and as associate professor of English. He has served previously as the chair of the English Department. He joined Tusculum College in 2005 and has not only continuously worked to serve his students and grow his departments, but has built several strong arts and humanities programs that have become part of the College’s culture.

“Under the leadership of Mr. Thomas, many students have successfully published, graduated and been admitted to graduate programs,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of the College. “Through the guidance of Mr. Thomas and other faculty members, many Tusculum students  have received scholarships and built relationships to pursue master’s degrees at a wide array of universities including Columbia University, the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Central Florida, the University of Tennessee, the University of Tennessee the School of Law, East Tennessee State University, Chatham University, Eastern Kentucky University, Washington University in St. Louis, Tampa University, the University of Memphis, the Art Institute of California and the Pittsburgh School of Mortuary Science.”

Wayne Thomas

After being named the College’s first chair of the Fine Arts Department, Thomas was instrumental in the resurrection of the tradition of the Old Oak Festival, working to bring it back with a focus on fine arts, music, theater and writing.

During his time with the English Department, Thomas coordinated the annual Humanities Lecture Series, bringing guest authors to campus not only to share their works, but to meet with students and share their professional experiences through small panel sessions. He has previously served as editor of the Tusculum Review, overseeing the student-driven production of the College’s literary journal.

Professor Thomas’s essays, stories and plays have been seen in several literary journals and anthologies, including “Sudden Stories: The Mammoth Book of Miniscule Fiction” and “River Teeth.” In addition, he recently co-edited an anthology of Appalachian literature, “Red Holler.”

He has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre History and Literary Criticism from Georgia College, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing/Scriptwriting from Georgia College and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing/Fiction and Nonfiction from West Virginia University.

Thomas is the 2012 recipient of Tusculum College’s Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award. He also received the alumni-presented National Living Faculty Award for dedicated service to students in 2013.

Tusculum receives grant from Women’s Fund of East Tennessee

The Women’s Fund of East Tennessee has awarded an $11,000 grant to Tusculum College for a first generation college student mentoring program.

The grant was funded through the East Tennessee Foundation and was part of $80,000 in grants awarded by the Women’s Fund to six local organizations that work to improve the lives of women and girls.

The grant will provide for 18 rising high school juniors, who come from low income families and would be their family’s first generation to attend college, to participate in a six-day residential, mentored institute at Tusculum College. Students from Carter, Cocke, Greene and Unicoi counties will be eligible. The new program will be called the Women’s Search for Success and Self-Sufficiency.

“Tusculum College has a long history of serving first generation college students and that commitment is stronger than ever with the establishment of our summer institute,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College.

According to Dr. Moody, 75 percent of Tusculum College students call Appalachia home, and approximately 35 percent of Tusculum’s students are first-generation, with parents who have no college experience.

“These students need the mentoring and support a small college like Tusculum can provide,” said Moody.

Jeanne Stokes, director of the TRIO programs who will coordinate the new program said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce our students to different career options, teambuilding activities and cultural enrichment. We plan for the students to leave with a sense of self- sufficiency that will enable them to be successful as they complete high  school and enter and complete college.”

The Women’s Fund provided grants to Haven House, New Opportunity School for Women, Red Legacy Recovery, Servolution, The Next Door and Tusculum College.

“We selected these organizations with a process including letters of intent, workshops and on-site visits; and we invited membership to come in and walk through the agencies,” said Terry Morgan, director of the Women’s Fund of East Tennessee.

“After we did the research, we wanted to use the grant to focus on three priorities: women’s access to education and developing life and work skills,” said Morgan.

For more information or to donate to the Women’s Fund, visit www.womensfundetn.org or call 865-524-1223.

 

Representatives of the Women’s Fund of East Tennessee and Tusculum College celebrated on Tuesday the establishment of a new program at the college to assist high school girls who would be first-generation college students, which has been funded through a grant from the foundation. From left are Cynthia Burnley, a member of the Women’s Fund board; Michelle Arbogast, associate director of foundation and donor relations at Tusculum; Brenda Wood, a member of the Women’s Fund board; LeAnn Hughes, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at Tusculum; Carol Transou, a Women’s Fund board member; Heather Patchett, vice president for institutional advancement; Heather Tunnell, assistant director of the Talent Search program at Tusculum; Nikki Niswonger, founder of the Women’s Fund, and Kay Clayton, a member of the Women’s Fund board.

 

Rep. David Hawk discusses lawmaking with Upward Bound students

Tennessee representative David Hawk led a discussion on lawmaking with students enrolled in the Tusculum College Upward Bound program on Thursday, June 12.

Hawk explained to the students the legislative process and answered questions before leading the group through a bill development case study exercise. Students selected a topic and talked through each of the steps to creating a law from the process of developing the initial language to the requirements for passing the legislative bodies to be enacted into law.

Hawk, who attended Tusculum College, also discussed other related topics with the students, including the importance of registering to vote and career pathways in politics.

He explained to the students that the legislative term in the Tennessee House of Representatives is designed to provide for approximately 90 days every two years to work as a group to develop legislation. He explained that they are often going down to the wire to get everything done in the limited amount of time.

“In Tennessee, being a legislator is part-time,” he told the group, explaining that most legislators have another job in their home community.

Upward Bound made its debut at Tusculum in 1973 when it launched with a mission to aid first-generation college students and those challenged by socio-economic hardships. Upward Bound still strives to assist high school students in achieving success in a rigorous academic curriculum, as well as preparing them to excel in college and post-secondary education.

Tennessee representative David Hawk led a discussion on lawmaking with students enrolled in the Tusculum College Upward Bound program

Mark your calendar with these important dates for the 2014 fall semester

Although summer officially begins this month, it will not be long until students start returning for the beginning of the 2014 fall semester.

In preparation for the new semester, Advanced Registration Days for new and transfer students continue in June and July. Advance registration allows new students to Tusculum the opportunity to register for classes, pay bills, meet faculty and staff members and much more in one day. New students also receive their Tusculum College student email and network account information, have their Student ID Photos taken and register their vehicles with campus security during advanced registration. The next Advanced Registration Day is scheduled for Friday, June 20, and in July, it will be on Monday, July 28.

Students begin returning for the fall semester during the first full week of August. The first to return are resident assistants, orientation leaders and students in PALS training on Monday, Aug. 4.  On Friday, Aug. 8, students scheduled to move in are athletic training students, conditionally-admitted students return, as well as band and color guard members who will be attending band camp.

Members of the football team and student teachers return on Monday, Aug. 11. A large group of students will be moving back to campus on Wednesday, Aug. 13. They include members of the cross country, volleyball and soccer teams as well as members of student leadership groups, such as the President’s Society, Pioneer Ambassadors, Bonner Leaders and Student Government Association executive office holders.

Freshmen and transfer students will have move-in day on Friday, Aug. 15, and orientation activities will begin that day. New and transfer students who have not previously participated in an Advanced Registration Day will be able to register for classes that morning and take care of other necessary tasks during an abbreviated advanced registration session.  The remainder of returning students will return to campus on Monday, Aug. 18.

Monday, Aug. 18 is also the first day for the Tusculum Experience course, which is taken by all new and transfer students during their first semester at Tusculum.  The interactive course assists students in making the academic and social transitions associated with life at Tusculum. Skills and resources essential for students’ academic success and personal growth are emphasized during the course, which also serves as an introduction to the Tusculum community.

The first day of class for the fall semester will be Wednesday, Aug. 20, which will also be the beginning of Block One. Block one ends on September 12. Special “Orange Rush” activities are scheduled for new students during the block break.

Block Two will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 17 and end on Friday, Oct. 10.

Block Three begins Wednesday, Oct. 15 and ends Friday, Nov. 7. Homecoming and Family Weekend will both occur during this block. Homecoming will be Oct. 17-18 and Family Weekend will be Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Block Four will be Wednesday, Nov. 12 through Wed. Dec. 10. The College will be closed for Thanksgiving Nov. 26 – 28. Winter Commencement ceremonies will be Dec. 13.

Classes for the 2015 spring semester will begin on Monday, Jan. 12. The College will be closed to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19. Block Five will end on Thursday, Feb. 5.

Block Six will be Monday, Feb. 9, through Wednesday, March 4. Spring Break follows from March 5 -13.

Block Seven will be Monday, March 16 to Thursday, April 9. The College will be closed for Good Friday on April 3.

Block Eight will begin on Monday, April 13 and the block will end on Wednesday, May 6. Spring Commencement ceremonies will be Saturday, May 9.

193 student-athletes recognized for academic achievements

One-hundred and ninety-three student-athletes have been named to the 2014 Tusculum College Athletic Director’s Spring Honor Roll announced Frankie DeBusk, Tusculum College director of athletics.

To be selected to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, a student-athlete must accumulate either a semester or cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.

The Tusculum football team boasted the most student-athletes on the honor roll with 39 honorees.  The Pioneer baseball team was second on the list with 25 honorees, while the Pioneer women’s soccer team was third with 20.  The volleyball  team was fourth with 16 honorees, followed by softball (15), men’s soccer (15), men’s lacrosse (13), men’s golf (nine), men’s tennis (seven), women’s basketball (seven), men’s basketball (seven), women’s golf (six), women’s tennis (six), women’s cross country (six) and men’s cross country (two).

The Tusculum women’s cross country team had the highest cumulative grade point average of the 15 sports sponsored by the College with a 3.5716 team GPA, edging out volleyball who boasted a GPA of 3.5132.  Of Tusculum’s 15 athletic programs, 10 boasted team GPAs of 3.00 or better.  The women’s tennis team was third with a 3.5059 GPA, followed by men’s golf (3.4949), men’s tennis (3.4540), women’s golf (3.4133), softball (3.3465), women’s soccer (3.2571), men’s soccer (3.0733) and women’s basketball (3.0378).

Tusculum  is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference and sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, including women’s lacrosse, which will be competing in its first season during the 2014-2015 academic year.

 

2014 Tusculum College Athletic Director’s Spring Honor Roll

Student-Athlete               Sport(s)

Justin Albertson                   Men’s Lacrosse

Brian Alexander                    Football

Andrea Amettis                     Volleyball

Thomas Armstrong              Football

Alvin Arnold                           Football

Ben Arnold                              Men’s Basketball

Nikki Arthur                            Women’s Soccer

Victoria Ashley                     Volleyball

Kellen Asmundson               Men’s Lacrosse

Juan Avendano                     Men’s Soccer

Sarah Baker                             Women’s Tennis

Nicole Ball                               Softball

Mason Ballinger                    Men’s Soccer

Dalton Barrier                        Football

Seth Bartsel                            Football

Brad Barwick                         Baseball

Josh Beam                              Baseball

Miranda Beeler                     Softball

Patrick Benson                     Football

Hannah Berling                    Volleyball

Maggie Bernabei                 Women’s Cross Country

Paige Bible                             Women’s Cross Country

Tucker Bolton                       Football

Taylor Boone                        Volleyball

Sarah Bouley                        Volleyball

Ben Boyd                               Men’s Lacrosse

Katie Brennan                      Softball

Izzy Brito                              Baseball

Spencer Brothers              Baseball

Kim Brown                           Women’s Cross Country

Blakeley Burleson             Women’s Basketball

Lawson Burrow                  Men’s Cross Country

Lindsay Butler                    Women’s Golf

Devin Call                             Men’s Basketball

Katie Capel                          Women’s Soccer

Ethan Carpenter                Baseball

Ben Cash                               Baseball

Katie Chadwick                  Women’s Soccer

Mitch Chapman                 Men’s Lacrosse

Douglas Chappell              Football
Warren Cheney                 Men’s Golf

Elise Coberly                      Women’s Basketball

David Cooper                     Men’s Cross Country

Bo Cordell                            Football

Logan Cornelius                Football

Alec Cunningham             Women’s Golf

Maelyn Cutshaw                Volleyball/Women’s Basketball

Ricardo Da Silva                 Men’s Soccer

Mia Damico                          Women’s Soccer

David Davis                          Football

Eliza Davis                            Softball

Samuel Davis                      Men’s Golf

Zach Davis                           Men’s Basketball

CJ Dawson                            Football

Caitlyn Dean                       Volleyball

Jonathon Dennis               Football

Kyle Dickey                         Football

Kyle Dickson                       Men’s Soccer

Johnathan Diliberto        Football

Joe Elphingstone              Men’s Tennis

Brandon Evans                  Football

DJ Evans                               Men’s Lacrosse

Cory Fagan                          Men’s Basketball

David Fernandes              Men’s Lacrosse

B.J. Fisher                           Men’s Basketball

Nick Forsberg                   Men’s Golf

Taylor Foster                    Baseball

Nicole Fyffe                       Women’s Soccer

Rachel Garnett                 Volleyball

Nyssa Garrison                Women’s Soccer

Max Gaubert                     Football

Sean Gilbane                     Men’s Lacrosse

Gillem Giro                         Men’s Soccer

Coleman Glick                   Men’s Golf

Ashley Gregg                     Women’s Cross Country

Courtney Hackney           Women’s Soccer

Jessica Hairston                Women’s Basketball

Brock Hakalmazian          Baseball

Allison Hall                          Women’s Cross Country

Tyler Hall                             Baseball

Michala Hash                     Women’s Basketball

Megan Hasse                      Volleyball

Logan Haynes                    Football

George Hempenstall       Men’s Soccer

Dameon Herring               Football

Cameron High                   Baseball

Patrick Holleran               Baseball

Kelly Horrell                      Women’s Golf

Justin Houston                  Football

Sara Howard                      Women’s Golf

Kate Hutchinson               Women’s Tennis

Dominic James                  Football

Justin Jardeleza                Football/Men’s Lacrosse

Moriah Jones                     Volleyball

Patti Jordan                        Women’s Soccer

Martin Jorgensen            Men’s Basketball

Courtney Hutcherson    Softball

Chris Hutson                      Men’s Golf

Adrienne Kaye                  Women’s Tennis

Jaylynn Kesterson           Football

Alexander Kleinberg       Men’s Lacrosse

Alix Kruel                             Softball

Adam Kulbat                      Men’s Soccer

Pablo Laguno                     Men’s Soccer

Taylor Lambertsen         Women’s Golf

Dustin Lane                        Football

Zack Lane                            Football

Calley Lawson                   Women’s Golf

Guillermo Lazcano          Men’s Soccer

David Lee                            Baseball

Matt Levine                        Football

Ryan Logan                        Baseball

Trevor Lund                      Men’s Soccer

Moriah Martin                  Women’s Soccer

Kelli McCalla                      Women’s Soccer

Caleb McCormick             Football

Courtney McDevitt         Volleyball

Kristen McMillion           Women’s Basketball

Rachel Medley                  Softball

Jake Mendenhall             Men’s Golf

Erin Mills                            Women’s Tennis

Amy Morford                   Women’s Soccer

Aaron Morris                   Baseball

Chase Mounce                 Men’s Basketball

Amy Neltner                    Women’s Soccer

Dakota Norton                 Men’s Golf

Ian O’Grady                       Football

Victor Olin                         Men’s Soccer

Troy Owens                       Football

Tavi Parris                         Softball

Ross Parsons                    Men’s Lacrosse

Mark Patterson                Men’s Soccer

Monica Perez                    Women’s Soccer

Eddie Perkins                    Baseball

Akeem Peoples                 Football

John Perrucci                    Men’s Lacrosse

Roberto Pimentel             Men’s Soccer

Nicolas Planchard            Men’s Tennis

Leah Powell                         Softball

Alisha Pugh                         Women’s Soccer

Bryan Ransom                   Football

Ryan Ransom                     Football

Leif Ratliff                            Men’s Golf

Austin Raynor                   Football

Jenna Restivo                    Softball

Brooke Rhodes                 Softball

Hannah Riddle                  Women’s Soccer

Ally Rines                            Women’s Soccer

Nick Rodriguez                 Baseball

Ashley Sarmiento           Volleyball

Drew Schreder                 Football

Michael Scott                   Baseball

Leon Seiz                            Men’s Tennis

John-Austin Shepard    Baseball

Zach Shirah                        Baseball

Jalen Shuffler                    Baseball

David Siegle                       Men’s Tennis

Billy Sivyer                         Baseball

Zach Slagle                         Baseball

Jake Smith                          Men’s Lacrosse

Taylor Smith                      Men’s Golf

Terrence Smith                 Football

Paige Sneed                        Softball

Jonathan Spicher             Men’s Soccer

Danae Stauffer                   Volleyball

Robin Stoner                      Softball

Kaytlin Stroinski               Softball

Amanda Sumner               Women’s Tennis

Shannele Sunderland      Women’s Soccer

Jose Maria Talegon          Men’s Soccer

John Taylor                         Men’s Tennis

Jenique Thombs                Women’s Soccer

Jack Timerson                    Men’s Lacrosse

John Topoleski                  Baseball

Dana Van Dyck                  Volleyball

Kassie Voelker                  Volleyball

Samantha Vogt                 Women’s Cross Country

Jeremy Wagner                Football

Jason Ware                         Football

Justin Ware                        Football

Nick Wasylyk                    Football

Emily Waters                    Women’s Tennis

George Weber                  Baseball

Kaily Weiss                        Volleyball

Carly Whitman                 Women’s Soccer

Shynese Whitener           Women’s Basketball

Jackson Williams             Baseball

Marissa Williams             Women’s Soccer

Carolyn Williamson       Softball

Lukas Winkelmann        Men’s Tennis

Jonas Winkelmann        Men’s Tennis

Tusculum College students inducted into Psi Chi Honor Society

Tusculum College inducted 10 new students into the Psi Chi Honor Society in May.

Founded in 1927, Psi Chi recognizes psychology students whose diligent efforts have elevated them to the top 30 percent of their graduating class. This most recent induction ceremony focused on the accomplishments of Tusculum’s Graduate and Professional Studies students.

Inductees from the Morristown site included: Tracy Vandiver, Linda Burton and

Amanda Brooks. Inductees from the Greeneville campus were Jacquelyn Waddell, Toni Kingery, Nyki Bitton, Sara Cedillo, Tracy Ealey, Tara Cox and Lori Hull.

The ceremony, officiated by Dr. Brian Pope, professor of psychology and Dr. Bill Garris, associate professor of psychology, noted the importance of drawing from the social sciences to help solve complex human problems and celebrated the accomplishments of these students, inside and outside of the classroom.

Tusculum College seeking volunteers for RAM Clinic, Nov. 7-9

Volunteers are needed to assist with the Remote Area Medical (RAM) free-health care clinic, scheduled to be held at Tusculum College, Nov. 7-9.

RAM is a Knoxville-based organization providing free medical care for the uninsured and underinsured. Volunteers are needed for all three days. Tusculum College, which is hosting the event, and coordinators are recruiting volunteers to sign up to help.

According to Rachel Edens, director of the Center for Civic Advancement, general volunteers are needed to assist in setting up Friday afternoon, Nov. 7. On Saturday and Sunday, helpers are needed to register patients and work in the kitchen area, serving food, snacks and drinks to those who are working at the expedition. Others may be asked to direct traffic, help keep order in lines and do other duties.

Young adults under 18 may volunteer with some restrictions. Children under 14 are not allowed to work.

The RAM organization will also recruit skilled workers and students in the medical, dental and optometry fields to provide care to hundreds of people.

During the two-day, weekend clinics, commonly called expeditions, RAM provides basic medical services, dental work and optometry services and glasses on-site free that day. Health care services provided include comprehensive screening for diabetes and hypertension, procedures such as mammography, colon cancer screening, retinal screening using telemedicine technology, chest x-rays, pulmonary function studies and some gynecological procedures.

Volunteers for Saturday and Sunday will need to be at the college by 5:30 a.m. and plan to work all day, possibly 10-12 hours.

If you would like to be involved in event-planning and coordination, or if you would like to be a volunteer of any sort, please e-mail Edens at RAM@tusculum.edu, or call (423) 636-7450.

On both days, the parking lot will open at midnight and RAM will begin handing out numbers to patients at 3 a.m. The doors open at 6 am.

RAM, founded by adventurer Stan Brock in 1985, is dedicated to providing medical and veterinary access in rural and remote areas to anyone who needs it, both domestically and abroad.

For more information, visit RAM’s at http://www.ramusa.org/.

Dr. Benjamin Pearson published in German book

Tusculum College History Professor Benjamin Pearson contributed a chapter to the newly published German book, “Globalisierung der Kirchen. Der Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen und die Entdeckung der Dritten Welt in den 1960er und 1970er Jahren (Globalization of the Churches: The World Council of Churches and the Discovery of the Third World in the 1960s and 1970s).”

Dr. Pearson’s chapter, titled “A Divided Nation in a Divided World: The Kirchentag and the Globalization of German Protestantism from the 1950s to the 1970s” is based on a 2011 presentation at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland.

According to Dr. Pearson, the chapter examines changing attitudes toward the “Third World” in Germany’s Protestant churches, looking especially at the ways in which Germany’s unique experiences as a nation burdened by the guilt of the Nazi past and divided by the politics of the Cold War served as a stimulus to humanitarian global engagement.

The book addresses the role of churches in the larger transnational network of global governance, particularly looking at the World Council of Churches and its role in representing non-Roman Catholic Christianity. The book was edited by Katharina Kunter and Annegreth Schilling.

Class of 1964 honored as special participants in spring commencement

Thirteen members of the Class of 1964 celebrated their 50th anniversary as special participants in the spring commencement, leading the graduates in the procession during the ceremony. The weekend also included special events to welcome these newest Golden Pioneers back to campus, including a reception at the President’s House. One of those class members, James Southerland, shares his experiences with in the following article:

How could it possibly be half a century since walking across that stage to graduate from Tusculum?  A lot has happened in those 50 years, both personally and at Tusculum College. Marriages, births, deaths, more degrees and skills, successes, failures and a plethora of other events and memories on a personal level, Vietnam, September 11, a string of good and not so good presidents, a collage of national state and local events, from military involvements to weather disasters, heroes and dastardly individuals and deeds, all blurred in a collage of human destinies.

Yet, McCormick Hall and the Arch still stand as icons of Tusculum College. However, if you snap your fingers to bring you back to the present, you see many changes that have occurred on campus. There are more dorms, the faculty apartments in the Old College have been replaced by the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library, the Doak House has become a host of many events from school children and traditional music on Friday nights (but Frank Creek and the old spring still gurgle by), a new athletic complex involving baseball, football, tennis, the Niswonger Commons for basketball and other venues and buildings. Some of the old dorms no longer house students, but a plethora of teachers and administrative personnel. The old steam plant if gone, as are the old water tanks. The mighty oak at the Old College has reached new heights and has received recognition in the annals of “tree-dom” as one of the largest in the state.

A fairly new tradition of Golden Pioneers was launched a few years back; consequently us old dudes from the class of 1964 were summoned to these hallowed grounds the weekend of May 10 to reminisce and reenact some aspects of those earlier days.

 

Members of the Class of 1964 participating in the spring commencement ceremonies were, from left, Norman Wilhoit, John Peterson III, Roger Abramson, Gene Gaby, Jesse Brock, Marty Bass Bishop, Wade Nystrom, Leta Jo Ramsey Price, James Southerland, Shirley Ward Gregg, Joan Hirsch Werry, Cliff Ott and Linda Haun Plankenhorn.

Dr. Nancy B. Moody presents Linda Plankenhorn with her medallion during the reception at the President's House. The Tusculum President presented each of the Golden Pioneers with a medallion.

The Golden Pioneers’ schedule started with a reception at the President’s House. Dr. Nancy Moody and Mr. Tom Moody greeted the baker’s dozen or so that returned for the occasion, along with their spouses and others.  We were all shuttled to the door in a sprinkle of rain in a golf cart from parking at the bottom of the hill. After a period of getting reintroduced and reminiscing of the good old days,  and intervening events, a toast was proposed and amended by individual contributions, including a remembrance of those who were no longer among us.  Dr. Moody and Tom circulated among us getting acquainted and prying some stories from the class ventures from us as they progressed. They were very gracious hosts.

 

The group of Golden Pioneers, their spouses and family members posed with Dr. Moody for a group photo before heading to the Whistle Stop for dinner.

After an hour and a half or so allotted to catching up, we changed venue and regrouped at the Whistle Stop restaurant, which is now housed in the old Dobson’s Store structure, at the bottom of the hill, for a very nice dinner from the menu. The food and camaraderie were enjoyed by all. A special word of thanks to Joni Parker of the College staff, my “elbow mate” at Whistle Stop, who coordinated all the events for the Golden Pioneers over the weekend.

Cliff Ott and graduating senior Addie Hancock present Dr. Moody with a combined class gift of $3,128 during the commencement ceremony.

On graduation morning, (after parking in our reserved spots) we gathered at the Perk in Niswonger Commons, for breakfast and to receive golden gowns, mortars, tassels and instructions. We were lined up in alphabetical order and marched in to the graduation arena to our reserved seats with graduating students (only half of the class as the number of graduates has grown such that there are now two sessions of commencement) marching in behind us and faculty in front of us. It was a far cry from the 80-plus graduates in 1964. There were a total of just over 300 by the time the event was concluded in the afternoon. The Golden Pioneers were recognized as a group and then individuals were asked to stand when our names were called. The obligatory speeches were highlighted by an outstanding and enthusiastic talk from a graduating scholar and athlete. A graduation ceremony is pointless without the walk of the graduates to pick up their diplomas. To friends and family and to the individual graduates is the moment to be remembered for a lifetime. To a group of old dudes in the audience it is not only a highlight of enjoyment and reflection with these individuals, but also a seemingly endless time of the marching of feet across the stage with a plethora of foot wear, ranging from tennis shoes, flats, difficult to describe spikes and amazingly thick soles. We congratulate and salute all those new graduates and wish them well.

Following the ceremony, we retired back to the Perk so to leave our golden garb and have a lunch with the other Golden Pioneers, before returning to our mostly “retired” lives. I wish to give a special appreciation to Michelle Arbogast of the college staff who volunteered to escort my almost 93-year old mother to a special seat and retrieve her at the end of the event in the ensuing crowd. The event was flawless from where we sat, and Tusculum should be proud of Dr. Moody and all staff involved, including the hospitality assistants and the Presidents house, the security staff, the maintenance staff who set up the gymnasium, and all the others involved.

By James Southerland ’64

Tusculum College receives $5,000 grant from First Tennessee Foundation

Tusculum College will be a recipient of a $5,000 First Tennessee Foundation’s 150 Days of Giving grant.

First Tennessee is providing one $5,000 grant per day for 150 days as a way to celebrate their 150th anniversary. Supporters of Tusculum College have been voting daily in order to reach the highest spot and receive the grant.  The college is the winner for May 15.

The 150 Days of Giving campaign is First Tennessee Bank’s way of celebrating 150 years of service. A new nonprofit organization will be awarded $5,000 every day for the duration of the 150-day celebration. Winners are determined by the number of votes cast in their favor.

“We are so fortunate that Tusculum College has such avid supporters that we were able to get the number of votes necessary to secure one of the 150 grants,” said Michelle Arbogast, associate director of foundations and donor relations for the college. Arbogast said the grant will be used to support academic and student life programs at the college.

Tusculum College President Nancy B. Moody thanked everyone who supported the campaign and voted in the online competition. She added that First Tennessee has been a partner with Tusculum College in many ways throughout the years and has been a strong supporter of educational initiatives.

Potential new academic offerings discussed by Board of Trustees

Potential new academic offerings at Tusculum College were discussed by members of the Board of Trustees when the Board held their spring meeting at the Greeneville campus May 16-17.

The board met for two days, which included the annual President’s Dinner celebration held on Friday night to celebrate the college’s major donors.

The board approved the recommendation of the Academic Affairs Committee to proceed with research and due diligence in investigating new programs to potentially add to the college’s current academic offerings in both the residential and Graduate and Professional Studies programs.

“Tusculum College wants to continue to be the institution that is meeting the needs of its students and its future students. By continuously looking at our offerings and keeping up with what potential students are looking for in educational degrees and by anticipating what the job market will be, we will remain a relevant contributor to the economic well being of our region,” said President Nancy B. Moody.

The board also received an update on the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math from the Building and Grounds Committee. Construction is set to begin this summer, with a completion time set for January 2016.

The Meen Center for Science and Math will be a four-story structure of approximately 94,000 square feet. Interiors include wings for biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, environmental science and nursing. There will also be lab space and research areas for both faculty and students.

The ground floor features the environmental science wing with a loading dock, as well as larger general classroom spaces and classrooms equipped for distance learning programs. A large lecture hall will also be included on the ground floor. Additional space on the fourth floor is earmarked for a new yet to be determined academic program.

“We have been anxious for this facility to become a reality for a long time,” said Dr. Ken Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees and a 1970 graduate of Tusculum College. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of Tusculum College.”

The promotion of Dr. Troy Goodale to associate professor of political science was approved by the Board. Dr. Goodale joined Tusculum College in 2006 and is the author of a book, “Repealing State Legislative Term Limits: A Comparative Analysis of Legislative Statutes and Judicial Decision.”  In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Goodale serves the college as chair of the political science and criminal justice programs, as the pre-law advisor and as faculty sponsor of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

In other action, the board gave preliminary approval to the 2014-15 operating budget and received a report on academic and office space conducted on campus facilities. Several classrooms have been refurbished, including academic spaces in five buildings on the Greeneville campus.

The next meeting of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees is October 16-17, in conjunction with the college’s Homecoming festivities.

Dr. Nancy Moody celebrates five year anniversary as president; presented resolution

Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, right, chair of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees, presents a resolution from the Tennessee General Assembly of the State of Tennessee recognizing Dr. Nancy B. Moody for her contributions, hard work and dedication to the State of Tennessee and her community.

Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College, was recognized Friday, May 16, for marking her fifth year at Tusculum College and for her successful leadership during that time. She has served as president of Tusculum College since 2009.

In recognition, Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the board and 1970 alumnus of the college, presented her with a signed copy of a resolution for the Tennessee General Assembly recognizing her hard work and success.

Dr. Moody was honored for her contributions to education and to the community, state and region. The resolution was requested by freshman political science student Montreal Fisher of Springfield, to recognize her contributions and was presented at the college’s Board of Trustees meeting.

The resolution recognizes her for her “intense dedication and hard work that has had a significant impact on the State of Tennessee and her remarkable contributions to her community.”

Since assuming the college presidency as the first female in Tusculum’s history to hold the position, Dr. 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.

During her tenure, she has secured a $45 million Community Facilities direct loan for the construction of two new apartment style residence halls, a science and math facility and to refurbish an existing academic building.  Dr. Moody led efforts that secured a $3.875 million gift for the naming of the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math that will be completed in 2016.

The college’s board of trustees recognized Dr. Moody’s contributions to Tusculum by presenting her with the inaugural Founder’s Award in February 2013. 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. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees and 1970 alumnus of the college, 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 new academic programs have been systematically researched and implemented, including programs in nursing, chemistry and criminal justice. Additionally, a bachelor of psychology degree and a Master of Business Administration degree were added in the Graduate and Professional Studies program.

Among other significant accomplishments in her first five years, Dr. Moody was 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 is 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.

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 Dr. 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 Dr. Bowman.

Prior to joining Tusculum College, Dr. Moody was president of Lincoln Memorial University for seven years.  Under her leadership, LMU’s enrollment increased by 90 percent.  The university also initiated the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and expanded the Caylor School of Nursing to include a master of science in nursing degree program with family nurse practitioner and nurse anesthesia concentrations.  Other programs initiated under her leadership included a master’s degree program preparing physician’s assistants and a doctorate of education degree.

A registered nurse, Dr. Moody began her academic career as a nursing instructor for Lincoln Memorial University in 1974 and advanced to hold several academic leadership positions there – including dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health –  prior to being named LMU president.  Her career also includes serving as the executive director of the Tennessee Center for Nursing, as an assistant professor of nursing in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and as associate professor and department chair in the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University.

She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, chair of the NCAA DII South Atlantic Conference, and an advisory board member for the Northeast Tennessee College and Career Readiness Consortium funded through an Investing in Innovation (i3) grant funded by the U. S. Department of Education.  Previously Dr. Moody served on the NCAA DII President’s Council, was chair of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA), and a member of the Board of the Appalachian Colleges Association (ACA).

Dr. Moody received her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University and earned a master of science in nursing from the Texas Women’s University Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center in 1978.  She also received a doctorate in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Nursing.

In addition to the Founder’s Award, Dr. Moody has been awarded the Eastern Kentucky University’s Outstanding Alumna in the College of Health Sciences, the Hall of Distinguished Alumni, the Alma E. Gault Leadership Award from the Tennessee Nurses Association and the Texas Woman’s University Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award.