Cumberland Un
PHOENIX
RISING
CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX RISING | SPRING 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS Upcoming Events/ Jacqueline Cowden
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CU's Largest Graduating Class
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What's Next for the Class of 2019?
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Alumni Awards
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Athletics
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Year In Photos New & Noteworthy
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The Tennessee Promise & CU
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Rise & Impact Donor Spotlight
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Cover Photo: Capitol Theatre - Lebanon, TN Owners: Bob & Pam Black
On behalf of the students, faculty and staff, I would like to thank you for your commitment to and invaluable support of Cumberland University. The 2018-2019 academic year has been record-breaking for Cumberland in many ways. We celebrated our highest enrollment this fall, with more than 2,400 students; we welcomed many new faculty and staff to the Phoenix family; and we successfully hosted prominent on-campus
events such as the U.S. Senate Debate, the dedication of the Cliff Ellis basketball court and the Billy Dee Ross Softball Stadium, and our inaugural Founder’s Day celebration. This May, 594 new alumni graduated from Cumberland. This represents the largest graduating class in the University’s 177-year history, and we are excited to welcome the class of 2019 to our expanding network of successful alumni. As Cumberland continues to grow and transform young lives, it is a privilege to share some of our most significant achievements and milestones with valued alumni and friends of the university. With your help, we continue to rise (like the Phoenix) to new heights and have high hopes and aspirations for the future of Cumberland University.
Dr. Paul C. Stumb Cumberland University President PHOENIX RISING | SPRING 2019
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UPCOMING
EVENTS Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. All CU alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students and family are invited!
Symphony on the Lawn June 7th, 2019 Memorial Hall Lawn
Patrons' Party July 27th, 2019 Purcell Home
Football Home Season Opener September 7th, 2019 Nokes-Lasater Field
Party On The Patio October 25th, 2019 Catron Alumni House
Homecoming Football Game October 26th, 2019 Nokes-Lasater Field
Notes For Nurses
October 26th, 2019 Wilson County Expo Center
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Meet Jacqueline Cowden Ignite the Vision Chairman
Philanthropist and former CEO Jacqueline Cowden is a passionate Cumberland University alum and trustee as well as the Chairman of Ignite the Vision. Ms. Cowden has been an exemplary leader in the community and has served on many boards. She was named Cumberland University "Alumnus of the Year," and she shares her enthusiasm and experience in leadership with Cumberland students as an adjunct professor. Ms. Cowden is proud to stand with Cumberland and lead Cumberland University's Ignite the Vision major gifts initiative. With a working goal of $1.7 million, Ignite the Vision will work to enhance, transform, and inspire Cumberland University. This strategic program will focus on four key initiatives: The Phoenix Scholars, The Phoenix Marching Band, The Phillips Dining Hall Expansion, and The Memorial Lawn Enhancements. "By contributing to Ignite the Vision, you can help ensure students at Cumberland University have a positive and meaningful college experience," Ms. Cowden said.
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Congrats
GRADS! The Class of 2019 was the largest graduating class in school history with 594 graduates. This year, 263 bachelor's degrees, 182 associate degrees and 149 master's degrees were awarded. The record-high graduation figures reflect the continued growth of the University, both in terms of size and reputation. This milestone for the university is followed by the largest enrollment in school history with 2,405 students in Fall 2018.
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WHAT'S NEXT? MEET THE CLASS OF 2019 LOREL MORTON Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN Major: Sports Management, Bachelor of Science
Plans for after graduation: I will be an Administrative Assistant in the front office for the Nashville Soccer Club. I will be working in their new office which is exciting because they will be a MLS team next season. I will also be working directly with the CEO and the chief of staff.
"The people I met and the connections or close relationships I made while at Cumberland are my favorite part about being a student here. That is one of the things that I like about being at a smaller school, you can focus on those relationships and build on them."
ASHLEY KAMBEITZ Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Major: Accounting and Marketing, Bachelor of Business Administration
Plans for after graduation: I will have an Internal Audit internship with Nutrien in Saskatoon this summer. In the fall, I plan to attend Trinity College - Dublin to earn my MSc in Finance.
"My favorite memory at Cumberland was winning the first round of nationals on the women's soccer home field my sophomore year. The overwhelming support we had at that game was amazing and the win was celebrated by the entire campus, which was such an amazing feeling. The way campus and our CU family supported us and cheered us on was something I will never forget."
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JAKE YARBRO Hometown: Decaturville, TN Major: Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science
Plans for after graduation: I am looking for a job in applied science and research and I one day aim to earn my Ph.D. "Something that I love about my time at CU is being able to be a soccer student athlete. We have a very diverse team. I’ve been able to meet many people from different countries, and through this, I’ve gotten to experience different world views and perspectives."
CHLOE RANDLE Hometown: Old Hickory, TN Major: Criminal Justice, Associate of Arts
Plans for after graduation: After receiving my associate degree this semester, I will be taking the summer course in Disney World with CU. My plan is to continue my studies at Cumberland and obtain my Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice in 2021.
“The best part of CU is the friendships I have been able to make here. Now that I am able to take more major-related classes, I am in classes with a similar group. You get to hang out with the same people when you have smaller class sizes. I get to build close relationships with other Criminal Justice students, which is really nice."
HANNAH LEONARD
Hometown: Lebanon, TN Major: Biology with Chemistry minor, Bachelor of Science
Plans for after graduation: I am taking a gap year to save money, take the GRE, recharge, prepare, etc. for graduate school. Then, in 2020, I will go to physical therapy school.
"I met new people who have become like family at Cumberland. I have met some of my closest friends here, and I wouldn’t trade a moment of stress, sleepy studying, trips, food runs, bugging professors or laughter for anything."
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2019 Alumni Award winners (pictured left to right) Misty Woodward, John Fanning and Dr. Autumn Blackburn.
Alumni Awards
During Commencement, multiple Cumberland University alumni were honored for their outstanding accomplishments as professionals in their respective fields. The Distinguished Alumni Award was awarded to Tiffany K. Street, DNP, ACNP-BC, ('00). Dr. Street is currently the Administrative Director for Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute Ambulatory Practices and Ambulatory Advanced Practice.
Leon Henderson ('01) received the Award of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Business. He is currently the Senior Director of Financial Reporting at Dollar General. In April, A.C. Agee ('13) was elected President of the Cumberland University Alumni Association. Agee is an Assistant District Attorney in the 20th Judicial District (Davidson County) of Tennessee. As an ADA, she works specifically in Division 5 of Davidson County's criminal court and is also in charge of Arson for her office.
This year's Rising Phoenix Recipient is Dr. Autumn Blackburn ('09); she has been the doctor and owner of Explore Chiropractic since 2014. Misty Woodward ('98) received the Award of Excellence in Nursing and Health Professions. Woodward currently serves as the Chief Nursing Officer at Duke LifePoint’s Maria Parham Health and Maria Parham Franklin facilities just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. The Award of Excellence in Humanities, Education, and the Arts was awarded to John Fanning ('94). Fanning is currently Assistant to the Director of School and Supervisor of Secondary Education for Lincoln County Schools.
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Cumberland University Alumni Association President AC Agee was elected in April 2019.
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2019 Spring Semester
CUMBERLAND
ATHLETICS Cumberland University Athletics had an exciting semester. Check out some of our accomplishments from Spring 2019 below or visit gocumberlandathletics.com for full stories and coverage on all athletics. The men’s volleyball team completed its first season on campus. In January, CU hosted teams from USC, Lindenwood and more for the Grow The Game Challenge tournament. The men’s tennis team completed five consecutive singles wins to earn a share of the Mid-South Conference regular season championship with a 5-4 victory over Lindsey Wilson on April 15. Axel Lucich (pictured left) won the deciding match at No. 5 singles in CU's win. Cumberland Athletics hosted a dedication ceremony for the renovated and expanded softball facility on April 6. The dedication caps the $500K Athletics Investment initiative, which was started by CU last spring. Elevated and chairback seating, a new press box and a 30-foot netting area around home plate and down both base lines have been installed. The men’s golf team claimed its third straight Mid-South Conference Championships title and the women’s team secured a third-place finish at the Mid-South Conference Championships on May 1. Men’s track runner Charles Shimukowa won the national championship in the 800-meters on March 2 at the 54th Annual NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Shimukowa becomes the first track national champion in Cumberland history and the fourth individual to win a national title at CU. Photo Credit Bob Tamboli
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YEAR IN
Look Back At The Best Moments U.S. Senate Debate Cumberland hosted senate candidates Marsha Blackburn and Phil Bredesen on Sept. 25. The two participated in a debate in Baird Chapel during their senatorial campaigns.
Don Cochran Lecture
Record Enrollment
U.S. Attorney Don Cochran shared his experience of successfully prosecuting the 16th Street Baptist Church bomber Bobby Frank Cherry. He spoke to a large group of attendees on Feb. 7 in Baird Chapel.
Cumberland welcomed the largest class in school history with 2,405 students in fall 2018. The class is composed of students from 33 states and 38 countries. The 2018 growth continues from previous record enrollment.
New Mascot Athletics introduced CU's new mascot, Phelix the Phoenix, during the football team's home opener on Sept. 1. The Phoenix mascot was inspired 9 by CU's creed of "rising from the ashes."
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PHOTOS
From The 2018-19 Academic Year
New Baseball Scoreboard Installed
Colloquium Students, faculty and staff presented over 100 presentations during the 2018 fall semester Colloquium held on November 14. Topics ranged from digital marketing to beekeeping.
On April 5, CU unveiled its new baseball scoreboard provided by Wilson Bank & Trust. Wilson Bank & Trust's CEO Randall Clemons and President John McDearman were present at the unveiling ceremony.
Founder's Day CU celebrated Founder's Day on April 18. During the inaugural celebration, various honor societies were recognized and CU faculty, staff and students gave tribute to the University's rich heritage.
Dr. Robert C. Bone Science Labs Unveiled
MBA Program Hosts Networking Event
CU hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony April 22 in Memorial Hall honoring Dr. Robert Bone and Mrs. Connie Bone for their gift to renovate science laboratories.
Over 100 MBA program alumni, current students, faculty and staff connected at a networking event hosted at the Omni Hotel in Nashville on May 1.
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NEW &
Noteworthy
The 2019 Spring Semester at Cumberland was full of many developments and accomplishments from our students, faculty and staff. Check out our news site, cumberland.edu/news, for full stories and more current campus news.
Construction Begins On New Gateway Entrance and McClain Circle Construction of the new campus gateway entrance and McClain Circle began in May 2019.
International Student Organization Hosts Diversity and Cultural Fair The Cumberland University International Student Organization hosted a Diversity and Cultural Fair on April 11 in Baird Chapel. Attendees were able to interact with different table presentations on various cultures. Presentations were hosted by students and staff as they shared their cultural perspectives. The event concluded with a thirty-minute dance lesson led by FUTURO. Event coordinator Ashley Kambeitz said attendees were able to learn about the diversity present on the Cumberland campus. “This was an excellent opportunity to engage with other students, faculty, and staff who have diverse perspectives in addition to learning about how these perspectives add value to our community at Cumberland,” Kambeitz said. “Often, we think of Cumberland as a small Southern university, but it is so much more than that. We all bring something to Cumberland’s culture, and I think it is incredibly important for our students, faculty, and staff to see exactly how important diversity and inclusion are.”
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A recent gift from Mrs. Carrie “McClain” Hatfield funded the initiative to establish the gateway entrance and McClain Circle. In 1892, a portion of the McClain family’s farmland, which spanned 55 acres, became the current site of Cumberland University. Located at the northside of campus on W. Spring Street, the new gateway entrance will serve as the primary access point to Cumberland University. McClain Circle will be comprised of new parking, green space with landscaping and sidewalks. Construction is expected to be completed in Fall 2019.
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Tennessee's First Creative Writing Degree Established At Cumberland Cumberland University has created a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing that will be available to students beginning Fall 2019.
Greek Life Grows , Adds New Fraternity To Campus Cumberland Greek Life is growing with the addition of a new fraternity on campus and an increase in the number of students being inducted into the academic Greek honor society, Gamma Sigma Alpha. In March, Greek Life added the Kappa Alpha Psi – Xi Nu colony to campus as the fifth fraternity available for membership at Cumberland.
The program is the first of its kind in Tennessee and will be housed in the School of Humanities, Education and the Arts. This addition comes from a growing interest in students wanting to pursue writing as a career. The new program will focus specifically on fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and playwriting as well as give students hands-on editorial and publishing experience. Eric Cummings, Dean of the School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts credits the recent rapid growth of the university as being a major factor behind the creation of the new program.
Director of Residence Life and Greek Affairs Catie Straube said the activation of the Kappa Alpha Psi colony at CU was due to an increased interest in the fraternity on campus. Additionally, the Cumberland chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha, a national Greek honor society, inducted the largest initiation class in school history with 14 new members.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. John Markert After 30 years of teaching, Dr. John Markert retired at the end of the 2019 Spring semester. Since assuming his role of Associate Professor of Sociology at Cumberland in 1989, Dr. Markert taught courses and conducted research on sociology. With a focus on media sociology, Dr. Markert has made many contributions to publications and research. He has written and published several books, including: “Hooked in Film: Substance Abuse on the Big Screen” and “Post-9/11 Cinema: Through a Lens Darkly,” among various other publications. Dr. Markert’s work made an impact on his students and colleagues and he will always be valued at Cumberland. Currently, Dr. Markert is working on his next book “Making Music in Music City,” which he plans to complete in June 2019.
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THE TENNESSEE PROMISE & CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY A study published in March by the University of Tennessee – Knoxville found that Tennessee Promise students attending Cumberland are exceeding the state average for degree completions. The University of Tennessee’s Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) study outlines Cumberland University’s performance since beginning to accept Tennessee Promise students in 2015. After examining the 2015-2018 Tennessee Promise cohorts at the University, the study shows Cumberland provided access for 1,067 Tennessee Promise students.
By providing a full college experience on a diverse campus with engaged mentoring, we are taking the Tennessee Promise experience to the next level. - Dr. Paul Stumb, University President
The study, Pathways to Success: How Cumberland University Increases College Access, Retention and Completion through Tennessee Promise, 2015-2018 can be found online at https://perc.utk.edu/reports/.
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Since its launch,
2X Cumberland students are twice as likely to complete their associate degree on the TN Promise than the statewide average.
84%
of first-year TN Promise students say they would not be able to attend CU without the TN Promise.
1,067 additional students were provided access to higher education with the TN Promise at Cumberland.
$0.00
The amount of tuition paid by TN Promise students obtaining an Associates Degree at Cumberland. 08
RISE & IMPACT THE POWER OF MANY DONORS MAKES A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON CAMPUS
"I am a proud BSN graduate of Cumberland University. I have spent my entire career in the field of nursing, from critical care flight nursing to my current role as a surgical nurse practitioner. I am convinced that I would not be where I am professionally today without the foundations and education I received from the CU baccalaureate nursing program. I give back because I believe in the excellent educational opportunities Cumberland University continues to give to the next generations of nurses."
Rachel Deffendall CU Class of 2003 MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CEN, Paramedic Nurse Practitioner, The Surgical Clinic
We have the opportunity to enhance the Cumberland experience for all students through Ignite the Vision, a major gifts initiative, with a working goal of $1.7 million to enhance, transform, and inspire Cumberland University. CUMBERLAND.EDU/IGNITETHEVISION
PHOENIX SCHOLARS
This strategic program will focus on four key initiatives:
PHOENIX MARCHING BAND
PHOENIX RISING | SPRING 2019
PHILLIPS DINING HALL EXPANSION
MEMORIAL LAWN ENHANCEMENTS
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