2024 TICUA Hall of Fame Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 8, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jasa West

jwest@crispcomm.com

Tennessee Private Colleges and Universities Association 

Unveils 5th Annual TICUA Hall of Fame Inductees

Leaders in Civic Engagement, Education, and the Arts are Among the 2024 Honorees 

NASHVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) is proud to announce the latest class of its annual Hall of Fame. The 2024 inductees are a diverse group of individuals whose work has made a lasting impact in Tennessee and worldwide.

This year’s class features Tennessee trailblazers from various sectors, including a prominent legal architect of the civil rights movement, pioneers in banking and finance, and leaders in the arts and healthcare. These individuals have built lasting legacies through their leadership, philanthropy, and dedicated service to their communities.

Each year, alumni are inducted into the Hall of Fame by their institutions to honor their achievements and showcase how a foundation in higher education from Tennessee’s private institutions shapes global leaders. These 23 honorees represent a variety of professions, but all share a common commitment to making a difference.

“As we welcome this new class of honorees, it’s inspiring to see the diverse ways TICUA institution alumni are shaping the world. Our Hall of Fame honorees have led exemplary lives of character and service and are well-deserving of recognition,” said TICUA President Dr. Cameron Conn. “Each inductee’s story underscores the profound impact private higher education can have, not only on personal success, but also on shaping communities and industries.”

The TICUA Hall of Fame, now in its fifth year, continues to highlight the contributions of alumni from Tennessee's 34 private nonprofit colleges and universities. These institutions have a longstanding history of educating individuals who go on to lead in fields ranging from business and education to public service and the arts.

The inductees of the TICUA Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are: 

• Jerry Adams | University of the South

• Yvonne Griggs Allen | Lane College

• Sister Christine Born | Aquinas College

• Gust Hubert Cachiaras | Johnson University

• Clarence Christian | LeMoyne-Owen College

• Debby Fleming | Baptist Health Sciences University

• John Hope Franklin | Fisk University

• Ashley Gorley | Belmont University

• Jeremy Harrell | Trevecca Nazarene University

• Ben Hooper | Carson-Newman University

• Myles Horton | Cumberland University

• Jeffrey Kuhlman | Southern Adventist University

• Marilyn Laszlo | Bryan College

• Robert Mahley | Maryville College

• Martha Morrow | Southern College of Optometry

• Warren Payne | King University

• Claude Pressnell | Vanderbilt University

• David Sampson | Lipscomb University

• Carla Sanderson | Union University

• Milton Sewell | Freed-Hardeman University

• Claire Tucker | Tennessee Wesleyan University

• Stanley R. Welty Jr. | Tusculum University

• Russell Wigginton | Rhodes College

Read more about each inductee on the 2024 Hall of Fame website or in our 2024 Hall of Fame publication.

###

ABOUT TICUA: 

TICUA engages Tennessee's 34 private, non-profit colleges and universities to work collaboratively in areas of public policy, cost containment, and professional development to better serve the state and its citizens. In fall 2023, TICUA member colleges and universities throughout the state enrolled more than 77,000 students and employed more than 20,000 faculty and staff. For more information about TICUA, please visit our website at www.ticua.org.