Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
| Executive Leadership Institute Class of 2022 |
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 John CarneyJohn Carney came to Belmont in April 2014 as a senior director, following 19 successful years with Nashville’s The Buntin Group, serving in increasingly senior roles and departing as executive vice president and managing director of account operations. In August 2019, then president, Dr. Bob Fisher, promoted John to vice president of marketing and communications. In this role John is responsible for leading Belmont’s marketing, branding, PR and communications efforts as well as countless institutional special projects. In addition, he will serve as a member of the President’s senior leadership cabinet. He holds a bachelor’s in marketing and communications from the University of Memphis, Tennessee. Close
 David CallandDr. David Calland joined Bryan College’s executive team as vice president of academics and provost on July 1, 2020. David holds a PhD in organizational management from Capella University in Minnesota, a master’s degree in business administration, and a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in psychology from Liberty University in Virginia. His experience in higher education includes traditional instruction in the classroom and development of curriculum for online platforms. He has held positions as department chair, associate dean and interim dean for the School of Business at Liberty University and most recently as administrative dean for Residential Programs and dean of the Graduate School at the university. Close
 Eric CummingsDr. Eric Cummings came to Cumberland University in 2007 as a faculty member teaching courses in Education and Public Service Management. Before being promoted to his current position as assistant vice president for academic affairs and dean of the School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts, Eric served as associate dean and dean of the School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts. Before returning to school to complete his masters and Ph.D., Eric worked for five years with adolescents as an outdoor educator and head climber at the North Carolina Outward Bound School. He holds a bachelor of arts from George Washington University, Washington D.C., a masters of education from Harvard University, Massachusetts, and a Ph.D. in educational theory and policy from Pennsylvania State University. Close
 James DonahueJim Donahue came to King University as director of information technology in 1992. In 1999, Jim was promoted to associate vice president for information services and in 2000 he assumed his current role as vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer. He holds a masters of business administration from Virginia Technology University's Pamplin College of Business and a bachelors of business administration from King University, Tennessee. Close
 Sandra RamawyDr. Sandra Ramawy came to Lane College as a faculty member in the department of music and has since been tapped to additionally serve as the institution's reaffirmation coordinator. Sandra holds a bachelor of music in piano performance from the Boston Conservatory where she studied with Jung-Ja Kim and a master of music in piano performance from the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Gregory Allen. She also holds a doctor of musical arts in piano performance from the University of Texas at Austin. A native of lndonesia, Sandra has performed professionally in Southeast Asia, Mexico, and the USA. Close
 Mike HayesA 1990 graduate of Lee University, Dr. Mike Hayes served for two years as a counselor in Lee’s Office of Counseling and Testing before moving to a position as director of student development in 1997. He then earned his position as the assistant vice president for student life before becoming vice president. In addition to his responsibilities as vice president, Mike currently teaches a student leadership development class, two graduate college student development courses, and an abnormal psychology course at Lee. He also is the coordinator for Lee’s college student development master’s program and oversees all internships. He holds a Ed.D. from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in educational administration and policy studies. Prior to this, he did graduate work at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in counseling and industrial/organizational psychology. Close
 Mike FernandezMike Fernandez serves as the founding dean of the College of Entertainment and the Arts at Lipscomb University. He received his bachelor of arts in theatre from Abilene Christian University and a master’s in playwriting from the University of Houston, Texas where he was trained by four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee. Since arriving at Lipscomb in 2014, Mike has successfully built a well-respected theatre department, started a graduate film program ranked #1 in Tennessee and founded the College of Entertainment and the Arts, which is the fastest growing college on Lipscomb’s campus. Close
 Alayne BowmanAlayne began her duties as Maryville College’s vice president for admissions and financial aid in 2018. Bowman joined the College’s staff in 2004 as an admissions counselor. In 2008, she was promoted to senior assistant director of admissions and transfer coordinator, then associate director of financial aid in 2009. In 2015, she was promoted to director of financial aid. Alayne oversees and manages all programs and initiatives related to the recruitment of new students, provides oversight for the financial aid office, and is responsible for new student enrollment management. She holds a master of education degree from Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee with a concentration in educational leadership. Her undergraduate degree in social work was earned at East Carolina University, North Carolina. Close
 Dexter SamuelsDr. A. Dexter Samuels currently serves as the senior vice president for student affairs and executive director of the center for health policy at Meharry Medical College. In this capacity he provides the direction and leadership of the office of admissions and records, registrar, student life, financial aid, counseling center, library, center for educational development and support as well as the health policy center. Dexter holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Michigan State University, a master of science degree in health care administration from Western Kentucky University, and has received his Ph.D. in public administration at Tennessee State University. Close
 Jon RonningJon Ronning was tapped to be the vice president for finance in 2020 where he oversees accounting, finance, and facility / plant operations. He joined the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia as assistant vice president for finance in 2013. He also was an office manager at Scooter J. Construction in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. He holds a bachelor of business administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and also studied at Union College, Nebraska and Andrews University, Michigan. Close
 Rhajon SmithRhajon Smith has served as Milligan University's vice president for institutional advancement director of development since 2019. Rhajon joined Milligan’s advancement office in 2008 and served as director of development since 2011. She has been instrumental in the university's ability to meet annual fundraising and comprehensive campaign goals. Rhajon graduated from Milligan in 1998 and earned a master of arts in professional communication from East Tennessee State University in 2005. She previously worked for six years as director of resource development and marketing for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport, Tennessee. Close
 Betsy SandlinIn 2004, Dr. Betsy Sandlin began teaching all levels of Spanish language and Latin American and Latino/a literature and culture at Sewanee: The University of the South. She is former co-director of the center for teaching and now serves as associate dean of the college for inclusion and faculty development. Betsy holds a bachelor of arts from Morehead State University, Kentucky; a master of arts in Spanish from Ohio University, and a Ph.D. in Spanish American literature from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Close
 Jason MerrymanSouthern Adventist University welcomed Jason Merryman as the vice president for Enrollment Management in June, 2020. Jason graduated from Southern in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in business; he then served as director of Financial Aid and Enrollment Services from 2005 to 2012. Merryman now holds a master’s degree in organizational management and brings more than 10 years of higher education leadership experience to this position. From October 2013 to June 2020, Jason ran Merryman Healthcare Operations Consulting. Close
 Janette PepperDr. Janette Dumas Pepper is an associate professor at Southern College of Optometry. She teaches optometry theory and methods IV and is involved with laboratories in pediatrics, vision therapy, strabismus, and amblyopia. Janette is the coordinator for student diversity & inclusion, the coordinator of minority recruitment, and advisor to the National Optometric Student Association and the Illinois Optometric Student Association at Southern College of Optometry. She holds a bachelor of science from Truman State University, Missouri, a doctor of optometry medicine from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and completed a residency in pediatric optometry at Southern College of Optometry, Tennessee. Close
 Stephanie SmallenDr. Stephanie Smallen joined Tennessee Wesleyan University in 2017 as the associate vice president for institutional effectiveness and research. She was promoted to vice president of this area in 2020. As vice president, Stephanie also serves as the university's SACSCOC accreditation liaison. Before joining Tennessee Wesleyan, Stephanie served as faculty with King University and South College in Tennessee. She also worked for the Lenoir City schools as coordinator for effective teaching and learning. She holds an Ed.S. in educational administration and supervision and Ed.D. in executive leadership from Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee as well as a master of science in education and bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Close
 LaMetrius DanielsDr. LaMetrius Daniels was promoted to dean of online learning and support services at Trevecca Nazarene University in July 2021. Upon joining Trevecca as director of online learning in 2014, LaMetrius worked with leadership to establish the Center for Innovative Instruction, broadening the scope of online learning to support all areas of the university. In 2017, she also was named program director for instructional design and technology. As Dean, LaMetrius has expanded responsibility in the areas of program design, strategy and compliance, while continuing to collaborate with faculty to build on Trevecca’s online instruction capabilities. She earned a Ph.D. in instructional systems and workforce development; a master’s degree in instructional technology; and bachelor’s degrees in information technology and business education, all from Mississippi State University. Close
 Tricia HunsaderDr. Tricia Hunsader was promoted to provost and vice president of academic affairs at Tusculum University in 2020 where she oversees all academic programs and collaborates with university leaders who enhance students’ personal and social development. Since she joined Tusculum in summer 2016, Tricia has served as dean of the college of education, supervising more than 50 faculty and staff members and managing its finances. She previously served at the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, from 2006-2016 as a visiting assistant professor, assistant professor, associate professor, and associate director of the college of education. Earlier in her career, she was a visiting instructor from 2005-2006 and a graduate assistant from 2001-2005 at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Before that, she taught in elementary school and high school. She earned her bachelor of arts in finance and her master of arts in elementary education from the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from University of South Florida in Tampa. Close
 Hunter BakerDr. Hunter Baker is the dean of arts and sciences and professor of political science at Union University where he has served since 2010. In addition to his work at Union, Hunter is a contributing editor for Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity and a research fellow of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He earned a bachelor of arts from Florida State University, and masters in public administration from the University of Georgia, a juris doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center, and a Ph.D. from Baylor University Houston Law Center; Ph.D., Baylor University. |
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