GREENEVILLE – Another year of active and experiential learning in a caring Christian environment has begun at Tusculum University, with students returning to the classroom for the start of the fall semester and faculty preparing them to be career-ready professionals.
Dr. Dennis Ashford, associate professor of chemistry, left, and Dr. Travis Williams, professor of religion, enter Pioneer Arena.
To formally celebrate the academic year’s launch, Tusculum held its annual Opening Convocation Wednesday, Aug. 28. It was an opportunity for the administration, the faculty chair and the Student Government Association’s president to share encouragement and words of wisdom for the faculty, staff and students in the audience.
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, touted Tusculum’s faculty members, who establish one-on-one connections with their students and demonstrate a concern for these Pioneers’ well-being.
“You are fortunate that they are your faculty,” Dr. Hummel told the students. “Not only are they great teachers and mentors, who want to help you learn, but they also make major contributions to their respective academic fields. You are going to get an outstanding education at Tusculum University because of these expert faculty members.”
He also highlighted the annual themes Tusculum has adopted for the last four years. Similar to his address to new students and their families on Thursday, Aug. 22, he spent considerable time discussing this year’s theme – “Pressing Forward” – which comes from Philippians 3:14.
“This is the time not just to equip yourself academically but also equip your character and your discipline,” Dr. Hummel told students. “It becomes easier to press forward when you keep your goal in mind, keep your calling in mind. That can be very motivating. In the midst of challenges, in the midst of criticism, sometimes what really motivates us is our goal and our mission. Avoid the distractions. When someone tries to keep you from your goal, press forward anyway.”
Opening Convocation began with a new tradition at Tusculum, started in 2023, in which all students walked through the Old Gym on their way to Pioneer Arena. As they made their way, faculty and staff members applauded and cheered for them as a sign of the university’s support for these Pioneers.
Celebrating success
Dr. Scott Hummel, left, Tusculum’s president, and Dr. David Cook, the university’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, enjoy a relaxing moment before the start of the Opening Convocation.
Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, reinforced the positive vibe by detailing the many ways Tusculum students, student-athletes and faculty members achieved in the last year.
For students, it included participating in an archaeological excavation at Tel Lachish in Israel and seeing research on new medications to fight cancer being published in the prestigious journal “Inorganic Chemistry.” Students and volunteers prepared more than 1,000 income tax returns for free for community members.
Multiple students have been accepted in graduate and professional schools, and many in the education division have landed teaching jobs in the region and elsewhere in Tennessee. Several of the university’s athletic teams received honors for their academic performance.
Faculty and students have presented papers at the American Chemical Society, the Joint Mathematics Meetings and the American Psychosomatic Society. Professors have mentored students in summer research projects and helped them obtain internships.
Students walk through Old Gym on their way to Pioneer Arena as faculty members clap.
Faculty members have demonstrated leadership in their fields with presentations, work on books and service as a referee in a USA Basketball tournament and in the organization of quiz bowl tournaments. Dr. Cook also recognized Dr. Faisal Al-khateeb and Joel Shelton for their promotions to full professor and assistant professor, respectively. Dr. Al-khateeb teaches computer science, and Shelton, teaches mathematics.
Academic growth continues to occur at Tusculum with the creation a bachelor’s degree in sport science pre-athletic training and a minor in game design in this academic year. The university also adopted a Mission Engagements program that enables students to better understand the principles that guide Tusculum.
“Wherever God calls you, you will be well-equipped to enter your chosen field and profession,” Dr. Cook told students. “You came here because at Tusculum University the faculty, staff, and coaches really care about you – personally and individually. What has set Tusculum apart for 230 years is that you the students, your struggles, your successes and your futures, matter to us. We have been praying for you as you arrived last week and we will continue to pray for you throughout your time at Tusculum.”
Thoughts from the SGA president
Evie Winfrey, the Student Government Association’s president, speaks during convocation.
Evie Winfrey, a senior, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting major, spoke in her role as SGA president. She noted that students are in different stages of their collegiate experience, but she said she is sure all of them have wondered at some point in their lives, “What is the next step?”
“Too many times I have fallen victim to the anxiety of trying to come up with the perfect answer at the varying stages in my life,” she said. “But when I finally stopped trying to answer the question was when I realized it’s simple. God will lead you where He needs you, and He won’t lead you wrong. Let the worry and fear of what may come this year roll off your back. Know that you are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you need to be doing, fulfilling the purpose you were made for.
“You may not see it now, and you may not even see it in five years. But one day, you’ll look back and understand that all of your hard work, all of your late nights and tears and all the coffee were to get you to where you needed to be. So, no matter whether this is your first year, last or somewhere in between, I hope you treasure each moment pressing forward, knowing that you’re working now for your future and the endless doors to open for you. Build your memories, experiences and excitement one day at a time.”
Faculty chair’s perspective
Dr. Joel Van Amberg, faculty chair, addresses the audience.
Dr. Joel Van Amberg, the faculty chair and professor of history, spoke primarily to the faculty but said his message is indirectly to everyone else as well. He focused his remarks on artificial intelligence and robotics.
“When we conjoin artificial intelligence with the rapidly advancing robotics revolution, we could be on the cusp of a true golden age of humanity,” Dr. Van Amberg said. “I fear that is not our future, but it could be, and if we don’t at least imagine what the world could be like if we humans started making really good choices about the use of technology, we certainly will never get there.”
He highlighted “The Jetsons,” the television cartoon that originated in the 1960s and even sang parts of the theme song from that show. He also talked about the ancient Greeks. In both cases, he discussed the lives of leisure the Greeks and the Jetsons led. With AI and robotics, people could enjoy the material comforts and leisure of those two groups to build a beautiful, creative and flourishing civilization that is committed to genuine human happiness, he said.
Talking to faculty members, Dr. Van Amberg said the students they are teaching will make critical decisions in the future about the use of these technologies.
“We need to equip them to make the right decisions,” he said. “Let me just encourage you – the time is short and the stakes are high. So, let’s get to it.”
To apply to the university, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/apply-visit/apply/. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu. People can also watch the episode about Tusculum on the national show “The College Tour” at https://site.tusculum.edu/the-college-tour/.