ETSU Today - Winter 2023

This past semester, I had the pleasure of delivering one of the most exciting State of the University addresses of my tenure at East Tennessee State University. During the presentation, I shared many of our campus community’s outstanding accomplishments of the past year. Despite a global health crisis, we recorded our highest graduation rate in the university’s history. We outpaced most public universities in Tennessee in enrollment growth and welcomed the most diverse class in the institution’s history this fall.

Even as we struggled against burnout from the pandemic, we recorded our highest levels of employee satisfaction and surpassed national benchmarks on the Great Colleges to Work For survey. We also hit a historic high in research funding. We even soared past the $120 million fundraising goal for our comprehensive campaign, raising more than $163 million.

We are just getting started.

I have long said that our region is not properly recognized across the state of Tennessee. There is far greater potential on our campus and in our communities than we have recognized. So, also this past fall, I unveiled a new call to action for ETSU. It is a simple phrase, which serves as both a rallying cry and a challenge to take our work to the next level: “Go Beyond.”

Our campus is undertaking a series of exciting initiatives that will help us go beyond barriers to achieve new heights. We are implementing an academic Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is focused on community-engaged learning. Through this effort, we will go beyond classrooms to communities. We recently launched the Moon Shot for Equity initiative, which aims to go beyond merely closing equity gaps to eliminating them. Our provost, Dr. Kimberly McCorkle, is working with faculty members and stakeholders across our colleges to redesign our general education curriculum, helping us go beyond the basics to build curricula that keep pace with our modern knowledge and innovation-focused world. Meanwhile, faculty, staff, and students are striving to go beyond traditional organizational boundaries. ETSU is working daily to build more collaborative partnerships with representatives from PK-12, community colleges, as well as economic development, community, and business leaders.

But we cannot do any of it without you, our alumni and supporters. Our success relies on the support and engagement of our entire campus community. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas and embarking on this journey with you. I cannot wait to see where we will go next.

Brian Noland President

Sincerely,

WATCH THE 2022-23 STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Since the early 1900s, when the future campus was farmland, the people of the Appalachian region have been campaigning for ETSU.

It was that farmland, in fact, that served as the first gift to the university, a gift made by railroad giant George L. Carter, who offered his land to serve as the campus for East Tennessee State Normal School. Carter was among many East Tennesseans who championed for Johnson City to be the site for one of three normal schools newly authorized by the state to strengthen the preparation of public school teachers.

A campaign for better education led to the creation of East Tennessee State University and also set the course for other campaigns to follow – campaigns driven by the people of this region and a profound belief in the power of higher education and the dreams that ETSU could make possible.

Such monumental campaigns resulted in the return of football, the launch of new academic programs, the renovation of the D.P. Culp Student Center, and, of course, the creation of the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy and the Quillen College of Medicine, one of the nation’s top schools for preparing rural primary care physicians.

So in late 2016 when the ETSU Foundation tossed around possible themes for its upcoming comprehensive capital campaign, it was a brief conversation. History had dictated the answer.

A silent phase of The Campaign for ETSU began in January 2017 with the ultimate goal of raising $120 million by the close of the campaign in 2022. Fast-forward two years later. President Brian Noland stood before ETSU’s top donors in

April 2019 to publicly unveil The Campaign for ETSU, which had $50 million in commitments.

At the 2022 Distinguished President’s Trust (DPT) dinner on October 7, ETSU leaders provided an update on The Campaign for ETSU. Not only did the university reach its $120 million goal, but it surpassed it, raising just over $163 million.

“There is tremendous faith and respect for East Tennessee State University and for our mission to improve the quality of life of others,” said Pamela Ritter, Vice President for University Advancement and President/CEO of the ETSU Foundation.

“With The Campaign for ETSU, we invited each donor to reflect upon their dreams and aspirations for ETSU and to write their own story for what they want the future of our institution to be.

“Our initial goal of $120 million was certainly ambitious, and the fact that we not only met that goal but surpassed it by such a distinct margin – and did so during a global pandemic – demonstrates the confidence and support our alumni and this community have for ETSU,” Ritter added.

The Campaign for ETSU established four primary pillars, or goals, that would transform the ETSU campus in a number of ways, noted Lt. Gen. Ron Hite, who chaired the campaign. These included creating new opportunities for students, launching additional academic programs, supporting enhancements to campus and new building projects, and generating opportunities for ETSU faculty.

“A major focus of our work has always been to build opportunities for our students,” Hite said. “The success of The Campaign for ETSU will allow us to fund scholarships, graduate student stipends, and travel abroad experiences and

also support the participation of our students at national conferences. These scholarships and other types of financial assistance make it possible for our students to pursue higher education, and we are grateful to our donors for paving the pathway to a college degree.”

“Tonight we celebrate the new chapters that will be written through this latest campaign,” Noland said during the DPT dinner. “Most importantly, we say thank you to those who made this possible.”

Noland also reported that generous funding from Ballad Health has been used to create a number of new centers on campus that will provide enhanced research and teaching opportunities for ETSU faculty. These include the Center for Rural Health Research; the Strong BRAIN Institute; the Center for Pharmacy Education, Advocacy, and Outreach; and the Appalachian Highlands Center for Nursing Advancement.

The Campaign for ETSU has also supported some of the major building projects on campus, including the renovation of Lamb Hall and the creation of the new Greene Stadium, the Martin Center for the Arts, and a new academic building, which is currently in the design phase.

“The Campaign for ETSU was a tremendous success – a success made possible by our alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and members of the community and their collective dream for the future of ETSU,” Ritter said.

Joe Smith is Executive Director of Advancement Communications. | Photo by Charlie Warden

MORE STUDENTS ARE CHOOSING ETSU

ETSU IS A DESTINATION COLLEGE

This fall, ETSU celebrated its largest incoming class in a decade at 2,056 students — a 25 percent increase over the past two years. Overall enrollment increased by 195 students over the 2021 fall semester, with total headcount enrollment, including undergraduate, graduate, pharmacy, and medical students, reaching 13,738.

“Increasingly, people across the country are recognizing ETSU as a destination institution, with worldclass faculty, affordable tuition rates, stellar employment outcomes, and a rich student experience — all within the breathtaking mountains of the Appalachian Highlands,” said ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland.

ETSU’s student body includes students from all 50 states and 62 countries. New student enrollment from the Virginia and North Carolina counties bordering the region is up 75 percent over last year. Much of the university’s growth has been driven by enrollment by out-of-state students. Nearly 16 percent of the fall 2022 incoming class came from out of state compared to just 12 percent in 2019 prior to the pandemic.

Additionally, many high school students are getting a jump start on college at ETSU. Dual enrollment increased by 40

percent over last year. The most recent incoming class had the highest high school grade point average (GPA) in recent years, a 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.

ETSU also welcomed its most ethnically and racially diverse student body in the history of the institution in fall 2022. Nearly 26 percent of this year’s maincampus students identified as non-white — a seven percentage point increase over the past five years.

“We still have a great deal of work to do to eliminate equity gaps and ensure equal access to educational opportunities,” Noland said. “However, we are pleased to be moving in the right direction.”

The most popular undergraduate programs of study include nursing, psychology, management, computer science, and biology. At the graduate level, the programs with the highest

enrollment include public health, educational leadership, nursing, social work, and physical therapy.

“We are thrilled with the growth in enrollment,” said Dr. Joe Sherlin, Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment. “But it is not enough to just get them through the door. We are equally focused on ensuring students’ long-term success.”

The university has instituted a number of initiatives focused on supporting students’ academic, social, emotional, physical, and financial well-being. These efforts include launching a one-stop advising center, adding additional mental health counseling services, developing new living-learning communities, coordinating campuswide healthy lifestyles campaigns, and addressing degree affordability.

This work is beginning to yield significant dividends. The university’s graduation rate last year was the highest in the school’s history, with 55 percent of students graduating within six years. Retention rates also began to rebound following a dip during the pandemic. Additionally, U.S. News and World Report recently ranked ETSU in the top 100 colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of student debt.

Jessica Vodden is Chief Marketing and Communications Officer in ETSU’s Office of Marketing and Communications.

PHOTO BY RON CAMPBELL

IN 1982, LEGENDARY BLUEGRASS MUSICIAN JACK TOTTLE set out to accomplish something that had never been attempted at any other four-year university.

What Tottle did: Initiate what is today the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies Department at East Tennessee State University.

GETTING STARTED

When Tottle pitched the idea of starting a bluegrass program, many education officials across the United States dismissed the notion. Such musical styles were simply not appropriate for university-level study, they said.

Tottle and others persevered nevertheless.

In the early 1980s, university officials realized that there was a profound education gap when it came to students and their understanding of country and bluegrass music.

One student asked: “Oh, did Hank Williams, Jr.’s daddy play music, too?”

As a result, the department launched what became a popular course titled “History of Country Music.”

MOVING FORWARD

As ETSU professors moved to educate students and the community about the history and cultures surrounding country and bluegrass music, graduates of the program were performing well – an important reality that helped elevate the status of the program.

In the 1980s and 1990s, writers mentioned ETSU alumni in a range of publications, including the New York Times and Chronicle of Higher Education

Warner Brothers Records signed alumna Jennifer McCarter and her twin sisters. Between 1987 and 1990, they enjoyed

considerable fame with three songs on their first album showing up on the national Billboard Country Music charts. They appeared on Dolly Parton’s television show and toured as an opening act for Kenny Rogers.

ELEVATED STATUS

Only a few years after the program was formed, ETSU students began appearing at a range of prestigious venues. ETSU bands performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Folklife Festival, and NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, among many other locations.

Graduates, including star Kenny Chesney, have captured major awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and the Country Music Association.

CELEBRATORY CONCERT

In October 2022, the department held a concert celebrating the anniversary at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts. The festivities featured a reunion of alumni bands from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, along with current ETSU faculty and students. Some of the performers included former program director Raymond McLain, J.P. and Leona Mathes, Becky Buller, current program director Dan Boner, artist-in-residence and mandolinist Mike Compton, Roy Andrade, Beth Lawrence, and the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band.

Two big names – Tottle and Chesney – received honorary doctorates.

Chesney, one of the most well-known names in country music and a 1990 graduate of ETSU, accepted the honor from ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland.

“It cannot be overstated the influence ETSU has had on American music over these past 40 years,” said Boner. “ETSU students and alumni have impacted the music world, performing on the largest international stages and garnering hundreds of industry awards.”

To learn more about the department, visit etsu.edu/bluegrass.

O.J. Early is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications.

INSTITUTE FOR APPALACHIAN MUSIC AND CULTURE ANNOUNCED

East Tennessee State University has announced the creation of the Institute for Appalachian Music and Culture as part of the university’s Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services.

The Institute will become the Center’s fourth component. It joins the Regional Resources Institute, the Archives of Appalachia, and the Reece Museum.

“ETSU was founded in 1911 to improve the quality of life for the people of this region and beyond, a goal that remains at the heart of the university mission. It is therefore fitting that today

ETSU offers the leading program in Appalachian Studies. No other university offers so many resources in this field,” said Dr. Ron Roach, Chair of the Department of Appalachian Studies and the Center’s Director. “While ETSU has long been a leader in producing research, scholarship, and creative materials about Appalachian music and culture, this institute will unify those activities and serve as a catalyst for innovative project generation, funding, and grant acquisition.”

The mission of the new institute is to highlight, preserve, and extend the rich and diverse music and cultural heritage of the unique Appalachian mountain region.

A TOUCH OF TENNESSEE IN SOUTH KOREA

“A girl from Gap Creek, Carter County, goes to an island in Korea, opens up a Tennessee-themed burger restaurant, and becomes famous.”

True story.

And it is a story that is being told around the world on the documentary film festival circuit in “Ten by Ten,” an award-winning film created by the restaurateur’s sister.

Jessica Bennett graduated from ETSU in 2002 with a double major in French and mass communication. After graduation,

she headed to Japan to teach English in 2004. While there, she traveled throughout Asia. “I fell in love with Korea on that trip,” she said, adding that she moved there in 2008, and after five days, met her Korean husband, Dongseop. “We moved to Jeju and have been working on building our dreams together since.”

While she loved Korea, though, Jessica found herself homesick.

“Cooking was one of the ways I could truly feel comforted,” she said. “I wanted

to link my two worlds, and food became a way to do that. I made burgers and invited friends over, who were from all over the world. Some said, ‘When I come to your house and eat, I feel like I’m in Tennessee.’ After more and more told me they just felt so much better after coming over and eating, I decided to open Tennessee Table in 2018. Now, people from all over the world come to my house, and I get to cook for them and talk with them every day.”

In the meantime, Jami Bennett graduated in 2014 from ETSU with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a minor in film studies. Upon Jessica’s encouragement, she too went to Jeju Island and taught English for a multicultural center’s afterschool program. She returned to the U.S. in 2018 and did health care advocacy work for uninsured and underinsured patients. During that time, she followed a dream she’d held since her sophomore year at ETSU and applied to graduate school at the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology at the University of Manchester, England.

For her thesis, Jami conducted extensive research in preparation for a documentary on Chuseok, a Korean fall harvest festival that she likens to Mexico’s Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. But she found herself at a complete loss when the pandemic derailed her travel plans and she could not get to Korea in time to film.

Her fortune soon changed.

“My sister and brother-in-law had been filming a TV show that was going to premiere while I was there,” Jami said. “So I picked up a camera and started recording them watching themselves on TV. We had no idea that they would experience overnight fame by being on this show, but that same morning, people were coming up to their restaurant, looking in the windows, and trying to get a peek at them in their house and restaurant.”

“Ten by Ten,” the resulting documentary with the title reflective of the size of Jessica and Dongseop’s Tennesseethemed restaurant, premiered in Paris and has been shown at film festivals in Ireland, Switzerland, Macedonia, Slovakia, Greece, and the U.S. Jami and Jessica visited their family in Elizabethton in the fall and together attended the Nashville Film

Festival, where “Ten by Ten” received the Reel South SHORT Award. As the winner of that award, the film will air as part of the Reel South series on PBS this spring.

Both sisters are amazed at the film’s reception.

“My sister’s story is interesting, but it’s also quite silly,” said Jami, who plans to begin a Ph.D. program soon.

“The authenticity of how bizarre that situation was and how this East Tennessee country girl tried to get through it is what makes people feel connected to the film,” Jessica added. “As the restaurant grows, I’m learning how to grow with it. We have another TV show lined up for summer and are looking at potential locations for more Tennessee Table restaurants on the Korean mainland. Eventually, I would love

READ MORE ABOUT ‘TEN BY TEN’ AND WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!

to have one near ETSU and feed some hardworking students!”

Hill is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications. |

Jennifer

Photos contributed

PHOTO BY CHARLIE WARDEN

BUCS BOOGIE AT HOMECOMING 2022

It may have been the year 2022, but the vibe was totally circa 1970s.

ETSU’s 2022 Homecoming celebration, “Let’s Boogie, Bucs,” took alumni and students back to an era of funky disco and bold styles. As always, there was something for everyone, noted Sadie King, Student Government Association Secretary of State who chaired Homecoming for the second consecutive year.

Homecoming ran October 17-23 and included beloved traditional events such as the Canned Food Creations, Skit Night, banner painting, the Homecoming football game, and the Gospel Choir Concert. Prior to the start of Homecoming, rapper Yung Gravy performed to a sold-out crowd during the SGA Fall Concert.

In keeping with the disco theme, students were invited to participate in Roller Skate Night following the Monday pep rally, a Disco Cardio Dance Party and Mixer, and the Boogie in Brooks Homecoming Dance.

Several groups, classes, and organizations also held reunions, including the ETSU Black Alumni Society, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, College of Nursing, Quillen College of Medicine, Sigma Kappa sorority, Sigma Nu fraternity, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, the Bluegrass program, and the graduating classes of 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2017.

A SHAKESPEAREAN DRAMA: THE CHRISTINE BURLESON STORY

In the final act of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet — a tragedy Christine Burleson taught for over four decades at ETSU — the protagonist lies sprawled on the floor of Elsinore Castle clinging to life. Just as his friend Horatio is about to commit suicide to follow him in death, Hamlet cries out: “If thou did ever hold me in thy heart, / Absent thee from felicity a while, / And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain / To tell my story.”

I begin with this literary allusion to tell an important, nearly Shakespearean story in the history of East Tennessee State University: the life and death of a professor who taught in the English department for most of the first 40 years of the university’s existence, beginning in 1925 and continuing until her death in 1967. Like the plot of Hamlet, Burleson’s tale is allegedly fraught with unrequited love, despondent suicide, and ghostly visitations. A number of books refer to her and her alleged haunting of Burleson Hall, a building named after her father, where I have taught for 20 years.

In each version of her life and suicide, the legend always goes something like

this: She was distraught over her slowly debilitating health and her thwarted love affair with T. S. Stribling, a Tennessee writer she had met in the 1920s. Following her tragic death, her ghost began to haunt Burleson Hall. On the second floor, her eyes allegedly stare out from the portrait of her father. She supposedly groans and shrieks when in pain, and there have been reports of her apparition floating through the halls.

What these tales fail to note is that she was the first woman to receive the ETSU Distinguished Faculty Award and that she also published numerous articles, as well as a series of English textbooks, some with her father.

Her star-crossed story gained more currency when a local writer and her psychologist husband penned a play about her in 1988 called Cancell’d Destiny, the title borrowed from Shakespeare’s narrative poem The Rape of Lucrece

In the 20 years following her death, there is no record of ghost stories or incidents related to Burleson. That changed in 1988. A couple who had moved to Johnson City in 1983 rented and later purchased the home where Burleson ended her life. They discovered that Christine had committed suicide in the upstairs bathroom. Pat Arnow, a writer, and her husband, Steve Giles, who worked at the VA hospital near ETSU, decided to conduct a “psychological autopsy” of Burleson’s death. With help from local actors, Arnow composed the one-woman, one-act play Cancell’d Destiny, much of it based on a passionate exchange of letters between Burleson and Stribling.

While the motives of the three writers were worthy, the resulting drama produced unintended consequences. Word spread about the jilting

lover, the numerous novel rejection slips Burleson had received, and the determined suicide.

But how does Stribling’s literary achievement relate to the real story? First, the female protagonist in Stribling’s Bright Metal, originally titled “Agatha Goes South” (1928), was at least loosely based on Christine. He even calls her “Christatha” at one point. The novel tells the story of an educated and sophisticated woman who marries a Tennessee farmer and attempts to reform him and turn the local populace away from the “subjection of women, rampant political corruption, and religious backwardness.”

While the effect on Christine from the praise of this fairly famous writer, 18 years her senior, was palpable, she also influenced him. Not only did she provide a prototype for the novel’s protagonist, she was instrumental in the revision of the novel’s title. She had been encouraging Stribling to read Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, and his revised title comes from that play.

Burleson assigned Stribling’s work to her students, and she continued to champion his writing while critiquing it in her letters. Her role as his correspondent and personal “editor” partly shaped Stribling’s later fiction and may have even helped him win the Pulitzer Prize in 1933. The two struck up a profound relationship, writing hundreds of letters to one another from the mid-1920s through the early part of 1931, continuing even after Tom had married Louella Kloss in 1930.

Christine accepted the news with grace and dignity, although obviously with hurt feelings, and even said she hoped to meet the new bride. From this point forward, Christine began to focus more on her own career. Her relationship with Stribling did not, as the legend and play suggest, stunt her growth.

Burleson succeeded as a scholar and teacher for the next 37 years after her breakup with Stribling. During those four decades, she studied Italian in Italy, receiving a certificate from the University of Siena in 1932. She

PHOTO FROM

published numerous essays and, with her father, a series of textbooks. And she served as Dean of Women and Professor of English at Bethany College in West Virginia. After returning to Johnson City in 1936 to care for her ailing father, she was invited to play in the newly formed orchestra. She was elected President of the Ladies Auxiliary. She attended and participated in Shakespeare summer festivals in Antioch, Ohio, and Stratford, Ontario. And she taught thousands of graduate and undergraduate students.

Her skills as a Shakespearean critic reveal themselves in a letter from late 1930 focusing on her recent study of Hamlet She confesses that “it catches me anew every time I read it.” Her summary of the philosophical contradictions in the play are particularly insightful:

There is nothing else that lays the soul and mind of man bare so genuinely as [Hamlet]. One great tragic experience – and a world created through it, without bathos and flim-flam. Essentially a masculine experience, yet universalized to fit any human being of any sex or condition.

The following month she ventured from Oxford to London to see John Gielgud’s lead performance in Antony and Cleopatra. She notes first that she “enjoyed [the performance] from several new angles,” including the fact that the “beautifully spoken” dialogue “yielded more poetry than when read.” But she thought Gielgud had too “fleshly [a] physique for Antony, not at all Herculean as Plutarch depicts him.” Many critics, and Gielgud himself, believed he was “miscast” in the role.

Burleson’s own attempts at novel writing were not successful. According to one rejection letter, the writing is “impersonal” and “abstract.” But the letter did give her advice she took to heart: “stick with what you know rather than what you read.” Perhaps as a means of compensating for the rejection letters, she threw herself even more energetically into her teaching for the next 15 years. Colleagues

commented about her love of teaching and her efforts to make her classroom more than just a sterile learning environment. Several noted how she would pick fresh flowers from her garden and bring them to her classroom.

In the 1950s, her plan of self-improvement became even more focused on Shakespeare. In one memo in her private papers, she noted that Dean Beasley had made “clear the college’s urging of us to improve ourselves.” She therefore offered a “five-year plan of attendance upon [sic] Shakespeare Festivals, largely at Antioch in Ohio, where all of the Bard’s plays have now been produced.”

Her syllabi show she led classes on Shakespearean romances, Shakespeare’s histories, and, most often, Shakespeare’s tragedies. The only M.A. thesis she directed and saved in her collected papers was titled “Some Functional Uses of Puns in Hamlet” (1957), which shows her ability to focus on humor even in tragic situations. Her final exams for the Shakespeare courses were extremely rigorous, asking questions on every aspect of the plays – from versification, to sources, to themes.

One of the most prominent points in this final act of Burleson’s life is that her engagement with Shakespeare and Renaissance literature may have contributed to her decision to commit suicide. Although Renaissance views of such deaths were complicated, many scholars believed that “death before dishonor” was an acceptable solution for ending one’s life. A number of them also pointed back to Seneca — father of revenge tragedy and Shakespeare’s model for plays such as Titus Andronicus and Hamlet — and his death

by self-inflicted wounds as a perfect example of such dignified demise.

In the early 1950s, the health of Burleson’s father began to fail. After serving as his caretaker for many years, Christine committed him to Takoma Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Greeneville, Tennessee. He had been suffering from what was most likely Parkinson’s Disease. Christine, time and again, told her closest associates, “I will never let someone have to treat me the last days of my life if I become an invalid.”

By the fall of 1967, she was confined to a wheelchair and could not accept the thought of depending on others to care for her. Early in the morning of November 1, she disconnected the intercom system she had installed to communicate with her next-door neighbor. She then covered herself in a dry-cleaning bag, put a gun to her head, and attempted to fire it. After the gun failed to discharge, her second shot ended her life.

Earlier that fall, in accepting the ETSU Distinguished Faculty Award, she had said:

“. . . our profession is one of maximum challenge and opportunity. No other could provide anyone with more opportunities for personal growth and enrichment. Every period spent in a classroom has given me a sense of exhilaration, of enjoying human fellowship, and of getting inspiration from the finest possible sources. Furthermore, nowhere in the world could one enjoy better associations than with a group of teachers.”

Dr. Robert Sawyer teaches in the Department of Literature and Language at ETSU.

Author’s note: I want to express my gratitude to the ETSU Huffman Foundation for the grant that allowed me to conduct this research. I thank Jeremy Smith in the Archives of Appalachia, as well as Fred Sauceman, Tom Burton, and Bridget Garland. And I am grateful to Danielle Byington, for her help in researching Stribling’s letters at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Burleson Hall, named after Christine’s father, David, is home to ETSU’s Department of Literature and Language. | Photo by Ron Campbell

AT THE MARTIN CENTER

It’s a reality that leaders at East Tennessee State University have been quietly working toward for more than a decade.

In late summer 2022, it finally happened. The university landed a Broadway series at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts.

The Appalachian Highlands responded quickly when the university announced the Broadway shows. Season ticket sales have been strong, and individual show tickets went on sale in November.

“Some announcements are a decade in the making, and this unveiling of our inaugural Broadway series has been anticipated for years,” said ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland. “From the moment we broke ground on the Martin Center back in 2013, we have been waiting for this, and I am thrilled to see these four award-winning shows take the stage here on our campus.”

Directed by Jenn Thompson, Annie is scheduled for January 25-26. This celebration of family, optimism, and the American spirit features the iconic book and score written by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical CATS takes center stage March 6-7. Winner of seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical, CATS tells the story of one magical night

when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn.

The global dance phenomenon Riverdance – 25th Anniversary Show is scheduled for March 21. This beloved favorite features a Grammy® Award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of Irish and international dance.

Honored with six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards®, a Grammy®, and thousands of standing ovations, the 25th anniversary tour Chicago comes April 25-26. Set in Chicago during the roaring 1920s, Chicago tells the story of two rival murderesses locked up in Cook County Jail.

“These shows need little introduction as they collectively have captured many Tony Awards® and have enjoyed extended runs on Broadway,” said Jennifer Clements, Executive Director of the Martin Center for the Arts. “We are extremely grateful to the sponsors who are making these shows possible and look forward to hosting our patrons for these events.”

To see what tickets are available, or to learn more, visit etsumartincenter.org.

O.J. Early is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications.

PARTNERSHIP, CLASSES GENERATE REAL-WORLD TRAINING

He plants new shrubs and flowers, ensuring the vegetation gets the appropriate amount of water and sunlight. He cultivates newly planted trees, pruning and assessing the health of the saplings. He helps craft plans for a range of extreme weather events, including droughts and floods.

East Tennessee State University’s Travis Watson is the campus arborist. He’s also a graduate student working toward a certificate in geospatial analysis.

“Community projects are huge for me, and I get a lot of personal enjoyment from that,” said Watson, who recently graduated with a master’s degree in biology. “My graduate training at ETSU gave me some incredible opportunities to get real-world training.”

A project he’s especially proud of: the creation of a website that integrates a wave of helpful information about Bristol’s Steele Creek Park.

Watson and classmates Darian Bouvier and Karah Jaffe helped organize a natural history of the park, as well as some of the key features and attractions. Two tabs focus on trails, including details about length and elevation, and a maintenance survey allows employees and visitors the chance to report any issues.

Key facts and figures, like the 200-plus species of birds and the reasons why the fields are so rounded and the craggy knobs are so steep, are also included.

“This project fully integrates all aspects of park information into a single, userfriendly digital space. It is a one-stop location for information on programs, rates, facilities, and trails,” said Jeremy B. Stout, manager of the park’s Nature Center. “We are so thankful to Dr. (Andrew) Joyner and especially Travis, Karah, and Darian for their work and professionalism.”

Students getting hands-on learning opportunities is at the core of ETSU’s approach to education. Across a

range of college majors, the goal is to help students shift seamlessly from enrollment to employment.

“Steele Creek is just one example of the many stakeholders we work with around Johnson City and the region,” said Dr. Andrew Joyner, an Associate Professor in the Geosciences Department who taught the class where the Steele Creek project began. “This is a wonderful opportunity all around. Stakeholders get to work directly with our students and see their skills. Our students get valuable experience and critical connections with potential employers.”

For Watson, the Steele Creek Park project stands as a testament to the type of experiential learning that’s essential for students who will soon be on the job market.

“We were able to develop a real product for a real customer,” Watson added.

Bouvier noted that “working directly with a company partner has provided an experience that will ultimately be beneficial in future careers and positions.”

Jaffe agreed.

“I hope visitors will learn more about the park’s natural and recreational opportunities,” she said. “This is also a translatable skill for producing publicfriendly interfaces at other parks.”

For more information, visit etsu.edu/edge.

O.J. Early is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in the Office of University Marketing and Communications.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE HOW ETSU STUDENTS PARTNER WITH STEELE CREEK PARK.

PIONEERING PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS

ETSU-EASTMAN VALLEYBROOK CAMPUS FEATURED IN

NATIONAL JOURNAL

For more than a decade, the ETSUEastman Valleybrook campus has been home to pioneering public health programs that were recently featured in a national journal, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine

The ETSU-Eastman Valleybrook campus, located in northern Washington County, houses the ETSU College of Public Health’s nationally award-winning Project EARTH (Employing Available Resources to Transform Health).

Along with the Niswonger VILLAGE, Project EARTH is the only public health simulation lab of its kind in the country that replicates how people live and work in resource-limited settings.

Project EARTH gives students the tools to save lives in remote, resource-limited areas around the world and to respond and assist when natural or humancaused disasters strike. In 2017, the Niswonger VILLAGE and Project EARTH earned the prestigious Delta Omega Award for the most innovative public health curriculum in the country.

“Even graduates working in major metropolitan centers may find themselves suddenly working in a resource-limited setting after a tornado, a wildfire, a hurricane, or a flood,” said Dr. Randy Wykoff, Dean of the College of Public Health. “Some graduates, of course, will choose to work in very rural areas, both in the United States and abroad. In all of those settings, the ability to provide water, sanitation, and shelter can be the difference between life and

death. We want to give our students the tools, the skills, and the confidence to know that they can save lives even in the most remote or devastated communities.”

Project EARTH includes both credit-bearing courses and programs designed to address community needs, including AdaptoPlay and RE:CYCLING.

AdaptoPlay is a non-profit organization supported by Project EARTH that is dedicated to improving the quality of life of children with differing abilities by providing low-tech solutions to improve their ability to participate in play and mobility activities so they are better equipped to interact and participate with their peers.

The RE:CYCLING program highlights efforts to solve public health issues using locally available technology. The program consists of two parts – refurbishing bicycles for local children and using bicycles to design “machines” that can improve the quality of life in low-resource areas.

Melissa Nipper is Director of Marketing and Communications in the ETSU Office of University Marketing and Communications.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH PROJECT EARTH HIGHLIGHTS.

Recognizing that learning often takes place beyond the walls of traditional classrooms and laboratories, East Tennessee State University has launched a new initiative that strengthens the university’s communityengaged learning experiences.

ETSU created a community-engaged learning quality enhancement plan (QEP) in 2022 as part of the university’s reaffirmation and accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Over the next five years, the ETSU community will work together to facilitate the integration of academic coursework and community partnerships that foster student and community development.

To set the foundation for this new initiative, ETSU formally launched the QEP October 13-14, with an event titled “Why Community-Engaged Learning at ETSU? Why Now?” featuring keynote

THE CLASSROOM

speaker Dr. Barbara Jacoby, a higher education expert who has authored five books on community-engaged learning.

“The QEP will build upon ETSU’s longterm commitment to community engagement, specifically by enhancing students’ abilities to take their classroom learning into the world to address the challenges that are facing our society,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics. “As we consider the future for ETSU, we hope that community-engaged learning will inform our students’ aspirations and career paths and help them define what it means to be an engaged citizen in a diverse world.”

Community-engaged learning is a form of experiential education in which students participate in activities outside of the classroom such as servicelearning, research, public service, project-based learning, and internships and experiential learning opportunities.

Through this work, students address human and community needs together with structured opportunities for reflection that are designed to help them achieve learning outcomes.

Dr. Susan McCracken joined the university in June 2022 as Vice Provost for Community Engagement and Director of the QEP. She is looking forward to working with campus and the community to develop new opportunities for community-engaged learning.

“I’ve experienced firsthand the teamwork, creativity, leadership, and commitment to students that define the ETSU faculty and staff, and I’ve been fortunate to have interactions with students every day since I’ve been here,” McCracken said. “I have also been listening to the needs of the community. These interactions and the work that ETSU is doing to build its QEP are informing new ways that our students can go beyond the classroom to learn and to make a difference.”

Dr. Barbara Jacoby was the keynote speaker at the QEP kickoff.

MOON SHOT FOR EQUITY

INITIATIVE SEEKS TO ELIMINATE EQUITY GAPS

The ETSU community is working together to ensure that more underrepresented students of color and other historically underserved populations realize their dream of a college degree.

To strengthen and grow this commitment, ETSU is participating in Moon Shot for Equity, a public-private partnership focused on the elimination of equity gaps in higher education in the United States.

Historically, institutions of higher education have approached the problem of inequitable outcomes with a deficit mindset — meaning that they often develop interventions focused on remediating or “fixing” the student. Moon Shot focuses instead on removing systemic barriers for students through 15 best practices that can help increase access to higher education for all students and, more importantly, ensure their long-term success.

“Through this effort, leaders across our institution, led by our Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Keith Johnson, are committing to taking a comprehensive look at our campus culture and systems to integrate equityminded practices into everything we do,” said ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland. “This initiative is not just ‘another thing’ the institution is undertaking. In many ways, it is the thing that will drive all we do in the coming year and beyond.”

The university is engaging work groups and committees to help guide the Moon Shot initiative, and a new webpage will keep the campus updated on the progress.

“ETSU spent nearly a year working through a new strategic vision to imagine and dream of what the future of the university could be,” said Johnson. “One of the focal areas was equity and inclusion. The Moon Shot for Equity will help the university move from vision to action to close the equity gaps at ETSU.”

Follow the progress of Moon Shot for Equity at etsu.edu/moonshot.

CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING

ETSU hosted its fourth annual Equity and Inclusion Conference featuring nationally recognized speakers who covered a wide range of topics, including Appalachian identity, culture, and race relations.

The conference was held September 27-29, 2022, and also included a student track that featured a student panel discussion.

“ETSU is arguably more diverse today than at any other point in time in its history,” said Dr. Keith Johnson, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. “This conference is a celebration of our ongoing mission to educate people without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, or place of origin and offers students, faculty, staff, and community members practical ways to improve upon and promote an atmosphere that is inclusive of everyone.”

Speakers included best-selling author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; Broadway star Bryan Terrell Clark; Cherokee Wisdom Keeper and Ceremonialist Yona FrenchHawk; and artist, advocate, and entrepreneur Crystal Dawn Good.

Alumni Association

Nine out of 10 customers recommend Liberty Mutual.2 Whether you’re in an accident or just need some advice, know we’ll always be on call for you.

Bene

ts you’ll love

Experience

the

WHO’S GOING TO ETSU?

MORGAN LAYMON

Morgan Laymon

East Tennessee State University freshman Morgan Laymon is making his childhood dream come true thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of Tennessee and ETSU that resulted in the BlueSky Tennessee Institute powered by ETSU.

Laymon is from Chattanooga and is the second person in his family to pursue a college degree. Laymon’s goal is to make a difference in the lives of others through technology and cybersecurity, and thanks to an accelerated ABET-accredited computing program allowing him to go from enrolled to employed in just over two years, Laymon has the opportunity to pursue his passion in his hometown.

Laymon is thrilled to have the opportunity to conquer those goals while obtaining a college degree in just 27 months from the university he wanted to attend all along, ETSU.

“I researched many universities both in-state and out-of-state,” said Laymon. “None of them really fulfilled what I was looking for. ETSU’s highly regarded computing degree programs, closeknit community, and supportive learning environment sealed the deal for me.”

Laymon’s coding creativity shines in the first video game he created called Overthrown

“It’s a run-and-gun type of platformer made using GMS2, and I uploaded the game onto itch.io, a website for indie video games,” said Laymon. “I’m working on a new game called Realms of Redemption and hope to have a demo for debut in the coming months.”

The first cohort of 32 students enrolled at BlueSky Institute’s campus in Chattanooga will have access to hands-on experience and paid internships and the opportunity to earn an immediate job offer from BCBS of Tennessee immediately after graduation. The program aims to provide a proactive solution to a problem numerous companies face as the rapidly increasing global demand for tech talent and future IT workforce leaders continues to rise.

Laymon’s determination to become part of that solution is evident.

“I want to use my degree to help people. The BlueSky program allows me to take what I’ve learned and apply those skills to change the lives of communities and consumers by improving software or hardware that better protects personal information and empowers users to feel confident and secure while storing their information in digital spaces.”

Students graduating from ETSU and the BlueSky Institute program can confidently enter the future information technology workforce to excel in a variety of roles in cybersecurity, systems management, database management and creation, and more.

Yasmeen Elayan is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications. | Photo by Ron Campbell

“ETSU’s highly regarded computing degree programs, close-knit community, and supportive learning environment sealed the deal for me.”

DATELINE: ETSU

 JULY 6

A multitude of teacher education programs at ETSU receive accreditation at the initial-licensure level and the advanced level from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

 JULY 7

ETSU is awarded $400,000 in federal funding to expand services in two College of Nursing primary care clinics in Hancock County.

 JULY 24

Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy earns the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award at the AACP Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas. The award is presented annually to one college or school of pharmacy across the United States demonstrating a major institutional commitment to addressing unmet community needs through education, practice, and research.

 AUGUST 5

A new grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration will allow ETSU’s Ryan White HIV Center of Excellence to expand clinical services to provide support for individuals with HIV in the region.

 AUGUST 8

Researchers at ETSU’s Gray Fossil Site announce the discovery of a single right humerus of an animal named Borophagus, a member of an extinct group more commonly called bone-crushing dogs. This is the first evidence of any animals in the dog family from the Gray Fossil Site.

 AUGUST 19

ETSU announces its Distinguished Faculty Awards. The recipients included Ashley Sergiadis, Service; Dr. Cerrone Foster, Teaching; and Dr. Kate Beatty, Research.

 AUGUST 11

ETSU ranks ninth in the nation among Fortune Education’s Best Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Programs in 2022.

 SEPTEMBER 14

University officials celebrate the official ribbon cutting for the new space for ETSU’s Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity located on the second floor of Building 6 on the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center at Mountain Home.

NORC at the University of Chicago, ETSU, and the Fletcher Group, Inc. release a mapping tool that enables users to measure the strength of substance use recovery ecosystems for every county in the United States and explore associations with overdose deaths and other sociodemographic and economic factors.

 SEPTEMBER 20

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation announces that ETSU is a recipient of the 2022 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement, making ETSU one of 32 providers of educator preparation from 16 states, Puerto Rico, and Jordan to receive recognition for their leadership and commitment to continuous improvement.

Well-known poet Nikki Giovanni presents a poetry reading, question-and-answer session, and book-signing as part of “Y’all Don’t Hear Me: The Black Appalachia,” curated by ETSU graduate Kreneshia Whiteside-McGee. The exhibit featured artists, poets, and musicians from the 13 states of the Appalachian region.

OCTOBER 10

The ETSU/NORC Rural Health Equity Research Center releases its first policy brief, examining the burden of public stigma associated with mental illness in the rural United States.

 OCTOBER 11

ETSU’s online Bachelor of Science degree in radiologic science ranks third in the country, according to EduMed.org’s rankings of the “Best Online Radiology Tech Programs for 2023.”

ETSU is ranked No. 2 in Tennessee for its online undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral-level nursing programs, according to a ranking released by EduMed.org.

 OCTOBER 13

One of three Quillen College of Medicine Outstanding Alumni for 2022, Dr. Lisa Piercey, a pediatrician who served as the 14th commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, is appointed by Governor Bill Lee to the ETSU Board of Trustees.

World-class infectious disease expert Dr. James E.K. Hildreth speaks at ETSU’s second annual Health, Equity, and Inclusion Lecture, which was part of the Leading Voices in Public Health lecture series. Hildreth, who serves as president and CEO of Meharry Medical College, also participates in a meet and greet at Quillen College of Medicine.

 OCTOBER 15

The SGA Fall 2022 concert takes place in front of a soldout crowd, featuring a blend of the rap and pop music genres and including performers Yung Gravy, Peach Tree Rascals, and Lisa Heller.

 OCTOBER 19

Dr. Randy Wykoff, Dean of the College of Public Health, is inducted into the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame.

 OCTOBER 20

ETSU introduces a locally roasted specialty coffee called Bucky’s Blend, available at Alumni Hall locations in Johnson City and Bristol, online at alumnihall.com, and on the ETSU campus at the bookstore, BucMart, and King’s Corner.

The Department of Theatre and Dance opens its 2022-23 season with Androcles and the Lion



OCTOBER 24

ETSU opens its early voting location in the D.P. Culp Student Center ahead of November elections.

 OCTOBER 26

The College of Business and Technology and the ETSU Foundation unveil the newly named Andrew CBAT Leadership Academy following a three-year endowment commitment totaling $150,000 from two local business leaders, Dewey Andrew and Scott Andrew.



ETSU hosts one of the Bands of America regional championship competitions in the Ballad Health Athletic Center.

NOVEMBER 1

ETSU wins “Best Social Media Campaign” in the 2022 College Voter Registration Competition, sponsored by the Tennessee Secretary of State.

 NOVEMBER 18

ETSU is recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for making intentional efforts to increase student voter participation.

ETSU GOLF CONTINUES AS NATIONAL POWER

Five team wins. Back-to-back Southern Conference Championships. One NCAA Regional Championship. Consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships.

For some golf programs that would be quite the résumé for a multiple decade run, but for head coach Jake Amos and the Buccaneers, those successes were celebrated over the last two years.

It may have looked easy, but it was anything other than a Sunday stroll on the course.

“The last time we previously played in a national championship was in 2008, and looking back on it, I played in that one as a player, which is really crazy. I didn’t realize it’s been that long,” said Amos. “It just shows it’s not easy to get there. I think we’ve taken it a little for granted now of just how tough it is to make it. There a lot of good teams that miss out, but I am really proud of it because historically in the 1970s and ’80s we have had nice runs, and it’s really hard

to maintain for a long time at this level. There are not many teams in the country that can sustain it for a long, long time, but with the facilities, the support, and history we have, we should be at least making regionals and trying to make the national championship most years.

“When I took over the program, it was a goal to be nationally recognized every single year. I feel like we’ve done that. I don’t really think about it until people ask, but it’s kind of amazing what we’ve done the last two years.”

The run started in spring 2021 with the Bucs’ first SoCon Championship since 2017 and first in the Coach Amos era when the Blue and Gold led wire-to-wire at The Oconee Course in Greensboro, Georgia. ETSU, the only team to post a team score below par over the threeday tournament at 5-under-par 859, saw Archie Davies win his first collegiate tournament by recording a 54-hole score of 9-under-par 207.

Overall, that marked ETSU’s 21st SoCon Championship crown and 26th conference title in program history, but the best was yet to come.

Being guaranteed the program’s first team regional appearance since 2017, the Bucs had to wait two weeks to learn their destination and nearly a month to return to action in the NCAA Regional.

The long layoff and flight across the country had little effect on the Blue and Gold. If anything, it rejuvenated the group.

The Bucs were sent out to Cle Elum, Washington – over 2,500 miles away from ETSU’s campus – but the trip out west felt like a home away from home.

“I remember watching the regional selection show in the Culp Center with our team and supporters, and I had a feeling we were going to get shipped off somewhere far,” said Amos. “Going to Washington was as far away as we could get. But when we got there and saw our surroundings, it was pretty cold, mountainous and hilly, and it felt like home a little bit. We didn’t really have any expectations that week.

The regional was incredibly strong –statistically it was the hardest regional – and we came out and were lights out.

The guys were coming off a win, weren’t scared, and were really mature, and we dominated the whole time. On top of that, Shiso Go won the individual title.”

With the top five teams from each regional advancing to the NCAA Championship, the Bucs left little doubt. After sitting in fourth place following day one, ETSU put the 13-team field on notice after firing a 14-under-par 270 and leading the tournament by 11 strokes thanks to posting the lowest score during the entirety of the 2021 NCAA Regional tournament. Davies made history in round two as he set the course record with an 8-under 63, besting the previous mark of 7-under 64.

On the final day of the regional, ETSU posted an even-par 288, but cruised to both the team and individual titles as senior Go caught fire to earn medalist honors. Go, who won his third collegiate tournament, fired a 4-under 67 in the final round to jump up the leaderboard with a tournament total of 8-under-par 205, becoming the first Buccaneer to win a regional since 2010 when Rhys Enoch accomplished the feat.

Following its second team regional championship win in program history, the Bucs traveled back west for the NCAA Championship.

However, the scenery was much different as they were playing desert golf – the Raptor Course at the Grayhawk Golf Club – in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Playing in their first NCAA Championship since 2008, the Bucs finished 28th in the 30-team field. Despite the challenging conditions, ETSU was putting its name back on the national radar.

“When we went to the National Championship in 2021, it was a bit of deer in headlights,” said Amos. “For some of those guys it was their last year, and they never experienced a regional as a team before. The desert golf and experience were a challenge, but it was a great experience for everyone. That run teed us up for the next season and gave us the mindset that we need to come back.”

The momentum from the 2020-21 season carried over to 2021-22, as the Bucs earned three tournament wins, which included victories at their home

Jake Amos, ETSU Golf Head Coach

tournament, The Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, as well as at The Hootie at Bulls Bay and a repeat at the SoCon Championship. With the SoCon Championship title, the Bucs secured another bid to the NCAA Regional.

This trip wasn’t as far, but the field was loaded as the Blue and Gold geared up for their 24th regional appearance in program history.

Traveling to Columbus, Ohio, ETSU was penciled in as the No. 5 seed with the field featuring eight teams in the top 50 and four in the top 25. In addition, tournament host Ohio State was the No. 6 seed in the region. Again, with only five teams advancing to the NCAA Championship, the Bucs sat right on the cut line entering the final round. During the third and final round, ETSU bounced back and forth between that final mark but did just enough to secure the fifth spot in the region en route to securing one of the 30 spots to the NCAA Championship for the second straight year.

“We scheduled a little bit harder that year, got off to a great start, and were ranked really high,” said Amos. “We hovered around No. 15-30 in the rankings the entire year, and people starting talking about us and expected us to play well. Losing the three seniors from the year prior, we had a completely new team, but we picked up guys like Mats Ege, Algot Kleen, and local product Jack Tickle, and then Archie had his All-American season. We won conference again and won multiple tournaments during the season,

but it was almost like the expectation was building and building and building, and then we got sent to Ohio, where Ohio State was a No. 6 seed and it was incredibly intense.

“I remember we were playing with Arkansas and Clemson in the final round, and we were all on the edge. One of us was going to miss out on going to the National Championship. Our guys were focused and just wanted it more. We finished so strong, and it was the most nerve-racking time I have had being a coach. Regionals are incredibly hard to get through, but I think the experience from Archie and Remi Chartier being there last year really helped. They played well and the other guys stepped up too.”

Again, the trip out to the desert was another difficult test for the Blue and Gold, but it was another rewarding and valuable experience for Coach Amos’ team.

“We were expecting more from the second trip to the National Championship, but what we found was the year prior we were old and inexperienced, and this time around, we were young and inexperienced,” added Amos. “Three of the guys playing have never been before, and we didn’t do well again. It was frustrating, but what it’s done for our program is monumental. The preseason rankings came out, and we were the highest mid-major team in the country. We are getting into really strong events. Our schedule entering the 2022-23 season was ranked No. 7 in the country, recruits are starting to come to us, and I think we have been able to build the brand back up to where we were in the 1990s and early 2000s.

“It’s really hard to do. When you look at the landscape of college sports, there are not many non-Power-5 teams competing in the top 50. The gap is getting bigger and bigger and bigger, and it’s never been bigger. I am proud of that as we are staying competitive, we’re getting into these events we shouldn’t get into, and it’s a credit to the players we have and the ranking we’ve built over the last two years.”

Kevin Brown is Assistant Athletic Director for Communications in ETSU Athletics.

| Photo by Alika Jenner

Our schedule entering the 2022-23 season was ranked No. 7 in the country, recruits are starting to come to us, and I think we have been able to build the brand back up to where we were in the 1990s and early 2000s.

MEET THE ETSU BOARD OF TRUSTEES: JANET AYERS

Janet Ayers recalls her time as a student at East Tennessee State University as transformational. Now, as a member of the ETSU Board of Trustees, Ayers is dedicating her time to ensure future generations receive those same opportunities for career growth by improving the quality of life and education for all Tennesseans.

“ETSU meant everything to me. Not only was I able to learn and prepare myself to succeed academically — but just as importantly, I grew up in so many other ways — socially, emotionally, and professionally,” said Ayers. “I entered as a naive young girl from a small, rural community and left the university prepared to confidently enter the workforce. That is what I hope every student will experience.”

Ayers, an alumna of the College of Public Health, was named Outstanding Alumna at the university’s National Alumni Association Awards ceremony in 2015. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in health care administration at ETSU in 1986, she was a nursing home administrator, first at Four Oaks Health Care Center in Jonesborough, and then at Erwin Health Care Center. Ayers also completed her master’s degree at ETSU in strategic leadership in 2015.

“My experience as a health care administrator and manager of nursing homes ties in directly with the university’s top programs and objectives,” said Ayers. “With the medical school, pharmacy school, public health, and so many other programs, including our ‘best in the nation’ focus to prepare more family practice physicians, especially those serving rural communities, I try to bring some insight and experience from the health care industry to those discussions.”

Ayers moved to Nashville in 2006 and is president of The Ayers Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of Tennessee with an emphasis on education, primarily through

the Ayers Scholars Program, which serves over 15,000 rural students.

“I hope ETSU will continue to be a great regional connector and convener to bring businesses and employers together to offer our graduates real workforce opportunities in the communities in which they grew up. This is something

The Ayers Foundation is committed to and ETSU is already doing,” said Ayers.

“I am hopeful we can be even more intentional and continue to build upon the foundation of ETSU’s mission to improve the lives of those in the Appalachian Highlands and beyond.”

Ayers is a philanthropist and remains active on several boards, previously serving on the Tennessee State Board of Education and as a commissioner on the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. Ayers currently serves on the board of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) as well as ExcelinEd.

“In rural communities, education, health care, and economic development are so closely intertwined and must work together seamlessly to advance the health, wealth, and success of any community,” said Ayers. “I saw that firsthand as a former Chamber president and the head of an economic development board. ETSU leaders continue to play a major role in bringing these various perspectives and pieces together to build upon the future of the university and the region.”

First appointed by Governor Bill Haslam in 2016 to a four-year term, she was reappointed in 2020 by Governor Bill Lee for a full six-year term.

“Being appointed to the ETSU Board was a great honor. Not only has it given me an additional way to serve the unique interests of the university, its faculty, staff, and students, but also the region as a whole,” said Ayers.

“ETSU is truly an economic engine for the Appalachian Highlands, and the

university’s success has a direct impact on the lives of families across our state, including in my home county, Unicoi County. I view our role as trustees as real change agents with a higher purpose to not only serve ETSU but, in fact, the success of the entire region.”

Ayers encourages ETSU students to fully embrace the moment and learn all they can.

“I challenge students to become lifelong learners and to take every opportunity to network and develop new friendships and memories,” said Ayers. “My hope is that ETSU will continue to be among the nation’s leaders in serving firstgeneration students and supporting them to achieve something they’ve never seen anyone in their family do before.”

Ayers still has a home in Unicoi County, just one exit from ETSU. “For years, I have witnessed and appreciated the positive impact ETSU has made in our community and many others,” said Ayers.

Yasmeen Elayan is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications. | Photo by Charlie Warden

A SANCTUARY FOR PEOPLE IN RECOVERY

SOCIAL WORK FACULTY MEMBER TAKES LEAD IN ESTABLISHING JOHNSON CITY RECOVERY CENTER

The first addiction recovery community center in the Northeast Tennessee region is now in operation at 513 East Unaka Avenue in Johnson City and staffed with individuals who know exactly what clients are experiencing.

The Johnson City Recovery Center (JCRC) is the brainchild of Dr. Dorothy “Dottie” Greene, JCRC Executive Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at ETSU. It is guided by an advisory board with members from throughout the region.

Those who turn to the JCRC will be supported by individuals who know firsthand what they are going through.

“All of us who work here, from me all the way to our board members and staff, are people with lived experience in addiction and recovery,” Greene said. “We really do have a unique perspective and ability to support folks, because we’ve ‘been there, done that.’ I entered addiction recovery at age 21, and ever since, my life has been dedicated to supporting those striving for

recovery and/or training professionals to become addiction counselors. This is my life’s work.”

Currently, the JCRC hosts several recovery support groups, but once it is fully operational, it will host up to three different mutual aid groups daily, recovery coaching services, linkages to community resources, and recovery information and education groups. Operating hours will include evenings, and eventually Saturdays, to best serve working clients, and all services will be free of charge.

“It is a safe haven or a refuge – a sanctuary for people in recovery,” Greene said. “We provide a safe, non-judgmental, and recovery-oriented environment for people – particularly those early in recovery, who often don’t have a sober support network. They can come here if they’ve just come out of treatment and find themselves with idle time, and we can support them, link them up with necessary support services, and provide recovery coaching.

“But what we really wanted was for it to be like a home to people. We want folks to come in and feel welcome, relaxed, and supported. We also wanted to be easily accessible to the community and to those who will need us the most.”

The Unaka Avenue location is on the Johnson City Transit route and is near area recovery homes, ETSU Health’s Johnson City Downtown Day Center, and Turning Point, an addiction recovery organization operated by Frontier Health.

The JCRC was recently approved for $1.2 million in funding from Washington County. Until funding arrives, ongoing fundraising to procure donations and grants is needed to help the new center provide services and cover expenses. The JCRC is a 501(c)(3) organization, and tax-deductible donations may be made online at jcrecoverycenter.org/.

Jennifer Hill is a Marketing and Communication Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications.

ETSU LAUNCHES PODCAST PROMOTING RESEARCH

These topics and more are the focus of a podcast launched in 2022 by East Tennessee State University called “Primary Sources.” The podcast highlights some of the research happening at the university.

“ETSU is home to world-class researchers and eminent scholars doing fascinating work,” said Jessica Vodden, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at ETSU. “This podcast offers a new venue for sharing the ideas and innovation emanating from our campuses.”

The podcast, covering a wide range of topics, features ETSU professors.

Some of the earliest episodes have included:

• Dr. Andrew Joyner, an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences. A scholar of geography and climate, he is the official climatologist for the state of Tennessee.

• Dr. Randy Wykoff, Dean of the College of Public Health, and Dr. Ron Roach, Chair of the Department of Appalachian Studies. Wykoff recently co-edited the award-winning book Appalachian Health: Culture, Challenges, and Capacity, and several ETSU professors, including Roach, contributed chapters.

Do you want to learn more about what unfolded in Southern Appalachia during the Civil War and Reconstruction? Are you curious about what it means that the official state climate office is housed in Johnson City? What if you have questions about some of the health issues facing the people of Appalachia?

• Dr. Steve Nash, a Professor in the Department of History. A Civil War and Reconstruction historian, he wrote the award-winning Reconstruction’s Ragged Edge: The Politics of Postwar Life in the Southern Mountains, published in 2016.

• Dr. Lauren Ramey, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Music. Now serving as the Associate Director of Choral Activities and the Director of Music Education, Ramey has conducted research that covers many topics, including inclusivity for diverse learners in a choral classroom.

Scan here for current and future episodes.

ETSU’S TRIO PROGRAMS AGAIN WIN COMPETITIVE GRANTS

Over the years, East Tennessee State University’s TRIO programs have won a range of prestigious grants. A federally funded outreach and student service program, TRIO offers potential and current ETSU students assistance that includes financial aid advice and help for veterans.

The trend of earning prestigious grants continued in 2022. Here’s a look at just a few of the awards TRIO captured.

• The U.S. Department of Education announced that the TRIO programs will receive more than $7 million over the next five years to continue funding for the TRIO-Upward Bound Math Science program and three TRIO-Upward Bound programs.

“It’s a very competitive renewal grant process, and we feel fortunate to be able to continue Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math Science for the next five years,” said Dr. Ronnie Gross, Executive Director of ETSU’s TRIO Programs.

• The U.S. Department of Education also announced that ETSU would receive the federally funded Student Support Services

STEM and Health Sciences grant, an award worth more than $1.3 million over the next five years.

“We are incredibly honored to serve an additional 120 science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and health sciences students and support them on their way to their first bachelor’s degree at East Tennessee State University,” said Gross.

• The U.S. Department of Education further awarded ETSU the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement grant, a competitive renewal award worth more than $1.5 million over the next five years.

“We are incredibly honored to continue to provide the program to ETSU students and support them on their way to their doctoral degree,” Gross said.

“A significant number of ETSU students and many faculty and staff are first-generation college students,” Gross added. “I am grateful for the campus-wide support of TRIO.”

The grants TRIO won in 2022 will fund 544 students. To learn more, visit etsu.edu/provost/trio/.

Ronnie Gross

ETSU NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESENTS 2022 ALUMNI AWARDS

The East Tennessee State University National Alumni Association presented its 2022 Alumni Awards on Friday, November 18, during a special awards dinner.

GEORGE L. CARTER AWARD

William B. Greene, Jr., received the George L. Carter Award. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon graduates or friends of ETSU who have made the university a more dynamic and viable force in the world of higher education. The award is named for the industrialist, railroad magnate, and philanthropist who provided land, enlisted support, and organized local government agreements in the successful campaign to locate a normal school – now ETSU – in Johnson City.

Greene has enjoyed a longtime career as a banking executive. He became the youngest bank president and CEO in the United States at the age of 24, and today he is chairman of the BancTenn Corp., which owns the Bank of Tennessee, a bank he co-founded with his father in 1974 and

previously served as president. The Wake Forest University and Rutgers University Stonier Graduate School of Banking alumnus is a U.S. Army veteran, certified pilot, and championship golfer.

Greene, an avid supporter of education, served on the board of trustees and in other roles at Wake Forest and is presently a trustee at Milligan University, where he was awarded the Doctor of Economics degree and which named its School of Business and Technology in his honor.

At ETSU, Greene raised and contributed to establish the WarrenGreene Golf Practice Facility. The university’s $28 million football stadium is named the William B. Greene, Jr., Stadium.

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

Lisa Carter received the Outstanding Alumna Award. Carter, who received her M.S. in nursing from ETSU in 2008, is president of Ballad Health’s Southern Region, overseeing operations at Johnson City Medical Center, Niswonger Children’s Hospital, and Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Johnson City, as well as hospitals in Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Hancock, Johnson, and Unicoi counties. Prior to her role as regional president, she was CEO for six years of Niswonger Children’s Hospital, where she spearheaded new programs to address such pressing issues as neonatal abstinence syndrome, trauma-informed care, and other social determinants of care. She also helped bring about initiatives extending telemedicine options to the rural regions of the hospital’s 29-county service area. The former neonatal intensive care unit bedside nurse now serves on several boards, including those of the Children’s Hospital Alliance of Tennessee, Make-A-Wish of East Tennessee, Early Impact Virginia, and the Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House.

William B. Greene, Jr., and “Lenny” Simpson, Jr.

The Outstanding Alumnus Award was presented to Steve DeCarlo. After graduating from ETSU in 1980 with a degree in accounting, he worked with Crum & Forster and The London Agency. He was a founding partner and officer of Royal Specialty Underwriting. In 2000, he joined Amwins Group, Inc., and led the business through the merger of several specialty wholesalers. He has served on the board of directors and today is executive chairman of Amwins. Among his many honors for his work in the insurance industry and community service are the Ernst & Young, LLC, Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the national Insurance Industry Council Spirit of Life® honors, and the Insurance Business America Magazine Hall of Fame. He is a member of the ETSU Board of Trustees and the ETSU President’s Circle, and is also affiliated with the university’s Distinguished President’s Trust.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Justice Jeffery S. Bivins (not pictured) was presented the Distinguished Alumnus in Public Service Award. Bivins graduated from ETSU in 1982 with a B.A. in political science with a minor in criminal justice and graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1986. He practiced law with the firm of Boult, Cummings, Conners, & Berry, PLC, in Nashville and was assistant commissioner and general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Personnel. He is a former circuit court judge for the 21st Judicial District of Tennessee and spent three years as a judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Bivins was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2014 and was elected to that body in 2016. That same year, his colleagues elected him chief justice, a position he held until 2021. He served on the board of directors of the Conference of Chief Justices from 2019-21, and acted as chairman of its Government Affairs Committee. Justice Bivins accepted the award on December 6 during a visit to campus.

Betsy Bowers was named Distinguished Alumna in Higher Education. Bowers, who graduated from ETSU in 1980, worked for the Tennessee Division of State Audit before returning to ETSU. She was first a grant accountant and then worked for six years in ETSU’s Department of Internal Audit while earning her MBA in 1992 and professional certification as an internal auditor. In 1993, she joined the University of West Florida (UWF) as chief audit executive, and now serves as that university’s chief financial officer. UWF recognized her as Manager of the Year in 2014 and presented her with the Marion Viccars Award, named in honor of one of the institution’s founding leaders. Bowers is a past international president of the Association of College and University Auditors, which presented her with the International Excellence in Service Award in 2013.

HONORARY ALUMNUS

Dr. Brian Noland was named an Honorary Alumnus. Since becoming the president of ETSU in 2012, Noland has led the university through two major strategic visioning processes that have led the way to numerous new initiatives, partnerships, and programs. His legacy at ETSU has been characterized by significant expansion and a period of unprecedented growth. Among the building projects undertaken during his tenure are construction of the Martin Center for the Arts; William B. Greene, Jr., Stadium; a student parking garage; and more, as well as several renovation projects, including that of the D.P. Culp Student Center. He oversaw ETSU’s governance transition to a board of trustees from the Tennessee Board of Regents. In addition, several new academic programs and regional partnerships have come to fruition under Noland’s leadership, and ETSU recently boasted the highest six-year graduation rate in school history.

AWARD OF HONOR

Award of Honor recipient Lendward “Lenny” Simpson, Jr., was an up-and-coming tennis player who had already played three times in what is now the U.S. Open when he accepted an academic and athletic scholarship to ETSU in 1968. He won four mixed doubles titles, was a quarter finalist in the NCAA tournament, and played number one in singles and doubles throughout college. In addition to being named the Outstanding College Athlete in America in 1972, he was coach of the ETSU team from 1972-73. After graduating in 1973 with a degree in both psychology and physical education, he became director of tennis at a club in Bloomfield, Michigan, and helped run the Michigan Junior Development Program. In 1974, he turned pro and was the first Black player to play world Team Tennis. He went on to teach and administer tennis programs in Knoxville and his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2014, Simpson was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame and founded the award-winning non-profit One Love Tennis Foundation.

Established in 1915, the ETSU National Alumni Association is the university’s first and longest-operating organization. The Alumni Awards began in 1970. A complete view of previous award recipients can be found at etsualumni.org/awards.

Jennifer Hill is a Marketing and Communication Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications.

| Photos by Charlie Warden

Betsy Bowers

Dr. Brian Noland

Lisa Carter

Steve DeCarlo

ENGINEERING PROGRAM ACCREDITED

East Tennessee State University’s College of Business and Technology continues to increase students’ competitive edge to excel in future career opportunities thanks in part to a milestone achievement. Nine of the college’s programs have earned the prestigious ABET accreditation, making that the most of any higher education institution in the Appalachian Highlands.

The recently released data reveal a significant milestone for the college’s engineering program following an August 2022 announcement of the program’s accreditation by ABET, the premier accreditation organization of engineering and engineering technology education. ABET accreditation signifies that a collegiate program has met standards that are essential in preparing graduates to enter high-demand STEM career fields in the global workforce.

“All of the programs in the College of Business and Technology have discipline-specific accreditation from toptier organizations such as ABET, AACSB, NASAD, and others. Each of these programs has undergone rigorous review by independent evaluators who examine program curriculum, instructional quality, and student work product,” said Dr. Tony Pittarese, Dean of the college. “ETSU students can have confidence that their studies will prepare them for careers in their fields of interest.”

ETSU is one of only 14 universities in the country to have ABET-accredited programs in computer science, information systems, and information technology. It is the only school in Tennessee to have a four-year ABET-accredited Surveying and Mapping program.

“Our degree programs are accredited by premier organizations within each discipline, making our college the ideal partner to address crucial workforce needs with local and international companies while creating exciting career opportunities for ETSU graduates here at home and beyond,” said Dr. Keith Johnson, Chair of the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Surveying.

The engineering program now joins the highly respected ranks of other ABET-

Dr. Keith Johnson, Chair of the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Surveying

accredited fields within ETSU’s College of Business and Technology, including the Department of Computing; the biomedical, construction, electronics, and manufacturing concentrations in the engineering technology program; and the surveying program.

“Meeting the workforce needs of the Appalachian Highlands goes directly to the core of what this institution has been doing for more than 100 years, and we are thrilled to announce this impactful ABET accreditation as ETSU maintains a commitment to providing cutting-edge programs that invest in the future success and hands-on learning

opportunities of our students,” said ETSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle.

The College of Business and Technology is ETSU’s second-largest college, with more than 150 faculty and staff in seven departments and an undergraduate and graduate enrollment exceeding 2,800.

of

Yasmeen Elayan is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office

University Marketing and Communications. | Photo by Ron Campbell

Our degree programs are accredited by premier organizations within each discipline, making our college the ideal partner to address crucial workforce needs...

THE ‘LOWE’ DOWN ON AN ETSU LEGACY

VOLLEYBALL SOPHOMORE CONTINUES FAMILY TRADITION

The transfer portal may be a polarizing topic in collegiate athletics, but for one incoming transfer at ETSU, it provided a second chance at finding “home” and continued a family legacy.

Meet Amanda Lowe.

Lowe is new to the ETSU volleyball team, but she is no stranger to Johnson City.

Her mother, Kim (McAlister) Lowe, graduated from ETSU in 1991 and worked as the Director of Student Activities and Student Affairs, and her maternal grandparents — Douglas and Patsy McAlister — and uncle Sean are also graduates.

Now, the family has a new reason to be involved.

“I feel like I have at least 10 people cheering me on at every game,” said Lowe, a sophomore outside hitter.

The Lowe family has a background in athletics. Her father, David, played football at Wake Forest, and her older sister, Ali, played volleyball at the University of Alabama.

When Amanda chose Virginia Tech after finishing up at Blacksburg High School, she said her parents were excited she chose to stay home. But after one season, she wanted a change of scenery.

“I got there, and it was good, but it wasn’t where I fit,” she said. “When I decided to transfer, I found ETSU, which is everything I was looking for. The school, the coaching staff, the girls on the team. Everything that I was looking for was here, and I didn’t know it until I transferred.”

Thanks to her family connections, Lowe had an idea of what East Tennessee was like.

“We would always come to the area for Christmas because my family lived in

Gray, which is right nearby,” she said. “So, we visited East Tennessee a lot. I was a casual Buc fan then and would always root for them in anything, but I wasn’t a diehard fan. But I am now!”

Lowe plans to finish her career at ETSU, which brings joy to her grandfather Douglas McAlister, a past ETSU Alumni Board president.

“I am delighted with Amanda’s decision to pursue her academic and volleyball career at ETSU,” said McAlister. “As a family of ETSU graduates, we all know the educational value the university provides. No one should ever underestimate the value of a degree from ETSU and its impact on their lifelong future success.”

So far in her ETSU volleyball career, Lowe has contributed to the team’s success with the third-most kills on the team (130) and fifth-most points (143.5). She also had a big moment during ETSU’s Buccaneer Classic, being named tournament MVP with 29 kills over three matches and a steady .383 attack percentage.

ETSU head coach Benavia Jenkins said Lowe’s connection to ETSU got the ball rolling, but her passion is what brought her to the Bucs.

“Our first conversation was easy,” said Jenkins, in her fourth season at the helm. “She’s one of those players that wants to have a relationship with her coaches, and that was important to her when deciding where to go. When we invited her and her parents to campus, her mom got to see some of her old friends at the Culp Center, and that was fun. I told Amanda, ‘Don’t just stop here; go and take your other visits and see if this is really where you want to be,’ but she said, ‘No, I want to be here and build my legacy here.’ ”

Now that she’s here, Lowe has a new favorite thing about ETSU.

“The team,” she said. “I love the team here so much and the people. They’ve been so welcoming, and the coaching staff is amazing. I couldn’t ask for better coaches. With the transfer portal, you never know what you’re going to get, but they were upfront and honest. And they care about every one of us and want us to succeed as a team and individually, on and off the court.”

Lowe is majoring in communications with a minor in sociology, which she says fits her outgoing personality and provides broader options after graduation. She isn’t sure what the future holds, but she’s never been surer about her decision to come to ETSU.

“I love it here,” she said. “I’m glad I chose here. This is the place for me. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

Mike Ezekiel is Associate Director for Communications in ETSU Athletics.

| Photo by Dakota Hamilton

GROWING THE FUTURE

“We’re in the business of tomorrow.”

These words, spoken by Chair of ETSU Board of Trustees Dr. Linda Latimer, refer to the unique position the university holds in one of the fastest-growing, most relevant industries on the planet – biological engineering.

The ETSU Research Corporation hosted “Growing the Future: Symposium on Innovation and Education for the Bioeconomy” at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts on October 27. The event brought together local, state, and national leaders in education, government, and industry to discuss the future of the Appalachian Highlands as a worldclass leader in the bioeconomy.

“The bioeconomy is currently valued at $1 trillion,” said Dr. Aruna Kilaru, Program Director at the National Science Foundation and Professor of Biological Sciences at ETSU. “A congressional research report from last month projects the worth of the bioeconomy to increase by $4 trillion per year over the next 10 years.”

That is approximately $40 trillion of economic growth within a decade, and it is growth both local and national leaders believe that ETSU is already in position to take full advantage of. The prospect of such massive economic advancement in our region excites many, but leaves some individuals wondering, “What exactly is biological engineering?”

Biological engineering, also known as bioengineering, combines the principles of biology and engineering to create new materials, methods, and processes for a diverse range of uses applicable to nearly every facet of life. Perhaps the most visible advancements made in bioengineering occur in health care, such as the development of new prosthetics, implants, and treatments such as personalized medicine for cancers and

other diseases. Other groundbreaking uses can be found in agriculture, environmental preservation, construction, and more.

More than 250 people attended the symposium, which featured nationally known thought leaders who discussed both the current state and potential of the bioeconomy in the region.

Speakers for the first session included Latimer; Dr. Brian Noland, President of ETSU; Dr. Bryan Greenhagen of Ginko Bioworks; Dr. Kate Sixt, Principal Director for Biotechnology with the U.S. Department of Defense; and Scott Niswonger, Founder and Chairman of the Niswonger Foundation.

Speakers for the second session included David Golden, CEO of the ETSU Research Corporation; Dr. Thomas Tubon, Chief Workforce Development Officer from BioMADE; Dr. Natalie Kuldell, Founder and Executive Director of BioBuilder and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty member; Dr. Jeff McCord, President of Northeast State Community College; Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics at ETSU; Dr. Nancy Dishner, President and CEO of the Niswonger Foundation; Kilaru; Scott Andrew, CEO of Rugged American Spirits; and Nadeem Moiz, COO and CFO of Crown Laboratories.

“In the Department of Defense, ‘tomorrow’ shows up on your doorstep before you know it,” said Sixt. “Automation, adaptation – collectively, all of this comes into bioengineering and biotechnology. It’s poised to change the future, and we have the ability to create anything that we want.”

Briar Worley is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications.

|

Photo by Charlie Warden

Dr. Linda Latimer spoke at the Symposium on Innovation and Education for Bioeconomy on October 27.

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION.

PATHWAYS INTO RURAL MEDICINE

QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE LAUNCHES EQUIP

ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine has formed a new program designed to create more pathways for high school and college students who are interested in careers in medicine to serve rural and underserved communities.

The college officially launched EQUIP (Extending Quillen to the Underserved through an Integrated Program), an initiative that seeks to identify and mentor students to become primary care physicians committed to rural and underserved medicine. The program is sponsored by the Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development.

“Quillen College of Medicine has an exceptional history of increasing access to health care, specialty care, and medical knowledge for our region,” said Dr. Tom Kincer, Associate Dean for Rural and Community Programs. “EQUIP is an exciting continuation of that mission, allowing Quillen to attract a more diverse student body and create a pathway that brings broader medical care coverage to all.”

Students in their junior or senior year of high school have an opportunity to participate in the Rural High School Medical Camp, and college students

prior to the second semester of their sophomore year who are from one of 29 designated counties of Tennessee, Virginia, or North Carolina are eligible to apply for the new program.

EQUIP will enhance the student’s ability to successfully navigate the education, activities, testing, and application process necessary for medical school admission. An integral portion of the program is the opportunity to develop relationships with Quillen’s faculty, staff, and medical students.

“EQUIP harnesses two of Quillen College of Medicine’s greatest strengths, its faculty and its long commitment to serving rural and underserved communities, to literally equip future physicians to serve where they are needed most,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, ETSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics.

The program also includes a four-week summer experience, the Appalachian Preceptorship, for rising junior and senior college students, including one week spent on Quillen’s campus. During that week, students will have the opportunity to learn in Quillen’s classrooms, train in simulation labs, and experience the state-

of-the-art anatomy lab. The remaining three weeks of the summer program will take place in the community, working alongside a physician and developing a community engagement project.

Students who complete EQUIP will be granted a guaranteed interview when they apply to Quillen.

“Last year, we had more than 3,800 applicants to Quillen College of Medicine, so a guaranteed interview is a strong start for students who participate in this program and dream of a career in medicine,” said Dr. Bill Block, ETSU Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine. “EQUIP is yet another way for Quillen to fulfill its mission and give prospective students the tools they need to reach their goals.”

There is no cost to be a part of EQUIP, nor to attend any EQUIP-sponsored activities. Space is limited to 20 high school students and 15 college students at each year level. Learn more at etsu.edu/equip.

Melissa Nipper is Director of Marketing and Communications in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications.

PHOTO

Dr. Cerrone Foster Dr. Cerrone Foster

Those who know her tend to have a similar perspective.

Dr. Cerrone Foster is a gifted educator who cares deeply about all of her students.

“I have been nothing but inspired by Cerrone’s passion to contribute to the ETSU community,” wrote a fellow faculty member. “Not only through her teaching, but also through a diverse number of activities, including research, mentorship, and community service.”

Foster is a scientist who has been teaching at East Tennessee State University for more than a decade. In 2022, she won the university’s Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching. It is the highest honor that the university presents to a faculty member.

In the classroom, Foster’s teaching motto is straightforward: “What you are learning is not just for you. One day you will make decisions that affect the lives of others. My job is to help you become prepared in doing this.”

“I want my students to not just be consumers of information,” she said. “I want them to be able to take that information and know that they are going to be giving it back to the community.”

How does that play out in the courses she teaches? When she is lecturing on cardiovascular disease, for example, she shares with her students not just facts about the condition. She poses questions that her students work through: How will you help someone who has this? How will you work to assist a community burdened by it?

“Real-world application is so important to me. You are going to work with real people on real problems to find real solutions,” she added. “My students know that you don’t just hoard knowledge. You apply it to help others.”

Diversity is also a central element in Foster’s classes.

She tasks her students to become “change agents.” For Foster, that means college

graduates who enter communities and find resolutions for persistent issues.

“To really do that,” she said, “you need to have a good understanding of the whole world, not just the area you might be from.”

Foster earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from The College of New Jersey in 2001 and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from ETSU in 2007.

Hired first as a lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences, Foster is now a tenured faculty member. She also serves as the interim director for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities.

Over the last 11 years, Foster has taught nearly 6,000 ETSU students, averaging about 550 per year.

Since arriving at ETSU, Foster has taught a wide range of courses, including introductory biology and senior-level biochemistry. She has received teaching grants to redesign and implement evidence-based teaching practices in the classroom. Foster’s impact on teaching includes not only higher education, but also projects with K-12 education.

“Dr. Cerrone Foster is a beacon of hope to many youngsters, especially to women of color, first-generation college students, and anyone who is intimidated to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields,” wrote one of Foster’s colleagues.

As Foster continues to lead students at ETSU, she is anchored by a guiding principle.

“Just as important – perhaps more important – than the content I teach is my training students to go out and be positive change agents in the world,” she said. “If they have all this knowledge but no desire to bring change, then I fear our efforts were just futile.”

O.J. Early is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in the Office of University Marketing and Communications.

BUCCANEER BUILDING BLOCKS

East Tennessee State University and Ballad Health announced a new partnership –Buccaneer Building Blocks – that aims to outfit the #CutestBuc with integral opportunities while creating a foundation for the success of children and their families across the Appalachian Highlands.

Treasured milestones like a baby’s first steps, a sweet smile, or first words are among the moments families forever cherish as their children quickly grow. ETSU and Ballad Health are helping families mark some of those developmental milestones while providing key resources about early childhood education, lifelong learning, and college access planning.

Through this initiative, which began in August 2022, families of all newborn babies delivered at Ballad Health facilities in Tennessee and Virginia receive an information packet with early college planning resources and an ETSU onesie highlighting Buccaneer pride to welcome the next generation to the ETSU family.

“The Buccaneer Building Blocks program allows me to feel the same excitement of a new beginning, similar to my role as a women’s health nurse practitioner holding newborn babies after delivery –each one with a future full of bright possibilities and opportunities,” said ETSU First Lady Donna Noland.

Access to resources about early childhood education, developmental milestones, and proactive tips for families to invest in their children’s future through college access planning is located on the Buccaneer Building Blocks website, etsu.edu/buildingblocks. In addition, information is available outlining 529 College Savings programs and monthly college savings prizes to help jumpstart the planning process.

Families are showcasing their Buccaneer Pride and sharing pictures of their babies wearing the “Cutest Buc” onesies and sharing pictures on social media of their newest family members using the #CutestBuc hashtag.

“This new beginning is not only filled with hope but also resources committed to providing lifelong support for children and families across the Appalachian Highlands,” said Noland. “ETSU and Ballad Health are honored to help families and their children write the first chapter of lifelong success.”

Yasmeen Elayan is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in the Office of University Marketing and Communications. |

Photos by Ron Campbell

EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION

Improving the quality of life in the region and beyond is central to East Tennessee State University’s mission, and an endeavor that faculty and staff at Clemmer College are meeting with enthusiasm.

In 2022, faculty with Clemmer College secured $1.25 million in grant funding to support a project called the Rural Initiative for Training Administrators with Special Education Expertise, also known as RITASEE. Built upon evidencebased practices, the project aims to enhance service for children, teens, and young adults in rural school settings by strengthening current leadership practices in the classroom by taking part in the nurturing and development of the next generation of educators.

The result of the collaborative work between the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and the Department of Educational Foundations and Special Education, RITASEE will guide educators to develop school improvement systems that better serve diverse learners while advocating for inclusive practices that are beneficial to all students.

The change in policy is not surface level, but rather, it extends to the very foundations of education. That is because the $1.25 million award will enable Clemmer College to provide scholarships through a competitive application process that will not only equip a minimum of 18 students with a special, enriched curriculum, but allow them the opportunity to obtain an Ed.D. without debt.

“This is an exciting season for our region, schools, and future Scholars,” said RITASEE Project Director Dr. Ginger Christian. “This grant will provide tuition, books, national seminars, and focused leadership internships to enhance training experiences and services for all students in rural school settings.”

Known as “Scholars,” students accepted into RITASEE will be enrolled in a P-12 Educational Leadership doctoral program that will not only enable them to develop cutting-edge teaching and leadership practices using proven methods, but also will allow them to experience and grow in an organic setting among area school districts and the community.

“This is the first of many collaborations across our two departments,” said RITASEE Co-Director Dr. Dawn Rowe. “We’re really leveraging our expertise to support people in the field and in the region to enable the development of leadership skills necessary to serve diverse learners.”

Scholars will have the opportunity to decide between two programs within the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis – School Leadership or Administrative Endorsement.

“I am thrilled to see our aspiring school leaders build a deep knowledge of the regulations and laws that affect diverse learners so that they can best meet the needs of their students,” said Dr. Virginia Foley, program coordinator for Administrative Endorsement. “I also look forward to the research they will engage in, and the long-term impact that work will have on the Appalachian Highlands.”

Briar Worley is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications.

CENTER FOR INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION

East Tennessee State University’s commitment to interprofessional education is strengthening and expanding with the creation of the ETSU Center for Interprofessional Collaboration.

Interprofessional education (IPE) is rooted in students learning and practicing team-based, collaborative care in order to improve health outcomes for patients.

Ten years ago, ETSU began its formal approach to IPE by establishing programming and laying the groundwork for the renovation of a building on ETSU’s VA campus to be dedicated completely to interprofessional education. Bishop Hall (also known as Building 60) opened in 2018 and has served as a hub for collaboration among ETSU’s five health sciences colleges: Quillen College of Medicine, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, and the colleges of Nursing, Public Health, and Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences.

“ETSU has a long history of engagement in interprofessional education and practice,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics. “The Center for Interprofessional Collaboration is the next step in elevating ETSU’s national reputation as a leader in interprofessional education.”

The center will provide infrastructure support for interprofessional education and research and foster collaborative relationships on and off campus to address leading questions of regional and national importance.

“The new center is a validation of what we have already been doing and adds an additional layer of structure and organization to these efforts,” said Dr. Brian Cross, Assistant Vice Provost and Director of the Center for Interprofessional Collaboration. “With its creation comes a new organizational structure as well as vision, mission, values statements and a strategic plan that speak to our commitment to using team-based principles to improve the culture of education, health, and community.”

ROTC INDUCTS NEW HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

The East Tennessee State University ROTC program has a long and rich history. Assigned to ETSU for more than half a century, the unit has commissioned over 1,500 second lieutenants. Many of them have gone on to achieve great success.

In October 2022, ETSU ROTC inducted several new members in a special ceremony at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City. Each of the inductees is a decorated veteran, and all earned a range of accolades for their service from the Bronze Star to the Legion of Merit. The alumni attended ETSU over a period of nearly 30 years stretching from the late 1950s to the mid-1980s.

Those inducted are:

• Samuel Kincheloe, a retired lieutenant colonel. He graduated from what

was then East Tennessee State College in 1959.

He earned a range of awards for his service, including the Bronze Star Medal.

• John Carpenter, a retired colonel.

He graduated from ETSU in 1967.

He received many

Pictured (from left) are: Samuel Kincheloe, John D. Carpenter, Timothy S. Damico, Edward E. Agee, Jr., and Kent Monas, Professor of Military Science at ETSU.

honors for his service, including the Defense Superior Service Medal.

• Edward Agee, Jr., a retired colonel.

He graduated from ETSU in 1984.

He is the recipient of several honors, including the Bronze Star with Valor.

• Timothy Damico, a retired colonel. He graduated from ETSU in 1985. The U.S. Army awarded him many decorations, including the Legion of Merit.

To learn more about ROTC at ETSU, visit etsu.edu/cbat/rotc.

BEGINNING THE NEXT CHAPTER

The cover story of this issue of ETSU Today shared the exciting news: Another successful campaign for this institution has entered the history books.

You – our alumni, faculty, staff, and friends – made The Campaign for ETSU the institution’s most successful comprehensive capital campaign ever. Thanks to you, funds have been raised to create new opportunities for our amazing students, such as scholarships, travel abroad study, graduate student stipends, and more. New centers have been established through donor support, providing faculty with opportunities to enhance their research and public service activities. Plus, the presence of these innovative centers has positioned ETSU to attract world-renowned scholars to our campus. In addition to paving the way for new academic and student service programs, support from The Campaign for ETSU has also transformed the presence of our campus by helping fund building renovations, new projects, and other campus enhancements.

Now, we start the next chapter, and what an unprecedented one it will be! For nearly all of our undergraduate students, their ETSU experience begins in an Arts and Sciences classroom. For many of you, it was courses like freshman composition, probability and statistics, or general speech. The experience of our current students has been transformed for our students in music, theater, and dance through the recent completion of the Martin Center for the Arts. And, for the first time in ETSU’s history, the College of Arts and Sciences has two new academic building projects that are now in the design phase.

These include a new $62.5 million Academic Building that will sit in the heart of campus adjacent to the Quad where the Campus Center Building now stands. Inside this new building will be state-of-the-art classrooms that will be filled with hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students each week. In addition to the Academic Building, a major $93.6 million renovation to the north side of Brown Hall – home to our biological sciences, chemistry, physics, and astronomy programs – is planned. As our alumni know, students in these programs as well as our pre-health professions majors, spend many long days (and evenings) in Brown Hall classrooms and research labs, and this building has long been in need of important updates and enhancements. This is the first phase of the renovation of Brown Hall, and we are working to secure funding for the second phase.

In addition, state funding has also been authorized for a $43.9 million Integrated Health Services building that will provide clinical care and teaching space for the Quillen College of Medicine and the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. While state funding will cover the majority of the costs for these three projects, private support from donors will also be necessary to meet the matching fund requirements set forth by the state, which for these three initiatives totals approximately $10.7 million.

Raising the necessary funds for these exciting building projects is one of our top priorities, and we invite you to be part of this journey to transform our campus with these new facilities.

Again, we are grateful for the role you played in The Campaign for ETSU. We look forward to the new chapters of the ETSU story that are ahead.

Sincerely,

Pamela S. Ritter Vice President for University Advancement President/CEO of the ETSU Foundation

MAKE AN ONLINE GIFT TODAY BY SCANNING THE QR CODE. OR GO TO GIVE.ETSU.EDU.

1970s

Lou E. Knight, ’73 wrote a book of fiction titled The Fallout of Deception: A Different Kind of Kidnapping. Her degree is in Industrial Technology.

Sen. Dewey E. “Rusty” Crowe, II, ’74 received the “Voice of Recovery” award for his sponsorship of legislation to provide medicine to more Tennesseans that reverses opioid overdoses. He was presented the award by officials with the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, and Other Addiction Services. His degree is in Law Enforcement.

J. Ann Hathaway Shurgin, ’76 has a new poetry collection available titled While the Whippoorwill Called. Shurgin, a journalist and communications professional, has worked in Southeast Texas and retired from Texas A&M AgriLife Communications. Her degree is in Journalism.

1980s

Charles “Doc” Adams, ’80 retired from Lebanon High School in Virginia. As the Head Baseball Coach, he led his teams to over 300 victories. He also served as the school’s Assistant Football Coach. His degree is in Physical Education.

Gary G. Nelson, ’82 retired after 38 years of service as an Athletic Trainer for Sumter High School in South Carolina. His degree is in Physical Education.

Christopher L. Carrier, ’83 is a Crew Chief for Parker Kligerman, who drives the Henderson Motorsports Number 75 Chevrolet. The team won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Mid-Ohio. His degree is in Engineering Technology.

T. Jeffrey Fleming, ’84, ’91 was named Northeast Tennessee’s Hospitality Leader of the Year at the Northeast Tennessee Pinnacle Awards. Fleming currently works as the Move to Kingsport Relocation Manager and formerly served as Kingsport’s City Manager. His degrees are in Political Science.

Cecilia M. Whittington, ’85 married Gregory Bellamy on June 25, 2022. The couple resides in Union, Missouri.

Paula Post Hurt, ’86 has been named Managing Director of the Birthplace of Country Music. Her degree is in Accountancy.

Daniel L. Santiago, ’87 is the Assistant Chief Studio Engineer at Bahakel Communications LTD, where he will integrate new broadcast technologies to support over-theair and internet-based delivery of content. His degree is in Engineering Technology.

Dr. Teresa Maggard Stephens, ’87 was the keynote speaker for the 2022 Nurse Educator Essentials conference in Kansas City, Missouri. She is an Associate Professor at Galen College of Nursing in Louisville, Kentucky. Her degree is in Nursing.

1990s

Scotty L. Carrier, Jr., ’90 has been promoted to the rank of captain. A 30year veteran of the Johnson City Police Department, Carrier has served as a public safety officer, criminal investigator, sergeant, and lieutenant. He has been a member of the department’s Traffic Homicide Team since 2000. His degree is in Criminal Justice and Criminology.

John G. Willis, ’90 wrote a new book titled Strawberry Moss: A Compilation of Poetry His degree is in Special Education.

Dr. Myra K. Peavyhouse, ’91 retired from Roane State Community College after 36 years as a faculty member and academic administrator and earned Professor Emeritus honors. She holds a Master of Arts degree in English.

Wendy Lowery Wilder, ’91 is a Digital Marketing Coordinator at W. O’Donnell Consulting, Inc. Her degree is in English.

Kevin D. Ikenberry, ’92 has written a new book, The Crossing, a story about ROTC cadets who find themselves in 1776 aiding General George Washington. Ikenberry is a retired US Army armor and space operations officer. His degree is in Political Science.

Christopher C. York, ’92, ’95 had his latest book released, titled Set the Standard: The Antidote to Average. His degrees are in Management and Business Administration.

Malachi Jamison, III, ’94 and ’97 holds the title of Procurement Program Manager at Philips. His degrees are in Engineering Technology.

Carol Rhea Bean, ’95 has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer for Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health and addiction services. Her degree is in Accountancy.

E. Scott Jenkins, ’95 has been named captain, in charge of the Johnson City Police Office of Professional Standards. Jenkins is a 26-year veteran of the JCPD and has held numerous roles, including platoon watch commander and criminal investigator in addition to serving on the Honor Guard, Recruitment Team, Crime Scene Unit, and Bicycle Patrol Unit. His degree is in Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Thomas L. Tull, ’95 is Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Ballad Health. He was named among Becker’s Healthcare’s 52 outstanding health system

chief experience officers. He earned an MBA from ETSU.

Darren P. Denton, ’96, ’02 started a new position as Emergency Department Staff Nurse at Ballad Health. His degrees are in Nursing.

Mark A. Phillips, ’99 is a Hospice Care Consultant at Kindred Hospice. His degree is in Mass Communication.

2000s

Shawna Sexton Armstrong, ’00, ’05 has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Holston Medical Group. Her degrees are in Accountancy and Business Administration.

A. Dionne Stout Ganger, ’00 has been promoted to Financial Advisor at Stifel Financial Corporation. Her degree is in Business Marketing.

Sequoya Pritchard Nelson, ’00 has been promoted to Regional Director of Property Management at Kimco Realty Corporation in Houston, Texas. Her degree is in Economics (Arts and Sciences).

Melissa A. Tipton, ’00 has been promoted to Controller of Holston Medical Group. Her degree is in Accountancy.

Dr. Amy D. Johnson, ’01, ’10 has a new position as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs for ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine. Her degrees are in Liberal Studies and Educational Leadership.

Jocelyn Mooneyhan Lacey, ’02 has written her fourth book, titled An Angel Named Johnia. The book is in memory of Johnia Berry (’04), who was attending law school

in Knoxville, Tennessee, when she was tragically killed at her apartment. Lacey and Berry were sorority sisters, friends, and roommates. Lacey is donating some of the proceeds from the book to the Johnia Berry ETSU Scholarship in Psychology. Lacey’s degree is in Mass Communication.

Dr. Michael R. Rader, Jr., ’02, ’04, ’18 is a Clinical Territory Associate at Intuitive Surgical. His degrees are in Physical Education and Global Sport Leadership.

Andrew L. Simmons, ’02, ’11, is a CITI/ IACUC Administrator, Office of Research Integrity at the Medical University of South Carolina. His degrees are in Mass Communication and Engineering Technology.

Janell Rowe Fisher, ’03, ’06 has been promoted to Advising Manager at Middle Tennessee State University. Her degrees are in Mass Communication and Professional Communication.

Melanie K. Hutsell, ’03 wrote a novel, The Book of Susan, which was released in July 2022. It is the account of a young tenuretrack college professor in East Tennessee who learns she has bipolar disorder. The novel is intended to bring greater awareness to issues of mental health. Her degree is in Business Administration.

James W. Maskew, ’03 is the Distributor Sales Development Manager at Ecolab. His degree is in Human Development and Learning.

Susan L. Turner, ’03 is a certified ACES trainer and led a seminar on campus titled “Adverse Childhood Experiences from the Black Perspective,” which explored the connection between adverse childhood experiences and chronic health conditions. Her degree is in Social Work.

J. Todd Estep, ’04 was sworn in as the new 3rd Judicial Public Defender for Greene, Hancock, and Hawkins counties in Tennessee. His degree is in Computer and Information Science.

Amanda J. Vance, ’04, ’07 was named the September 2022 Second Mile Service Award winner at Langley-Bath Clearwater Middle School. Her degrees are in History and Elementary Education.

David B Mazure, ’09 has created a family game called DEVOUR, a dynamic animal card game that launched on Kickstarter in September 2022. It took Mazure two years to create it. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree.

Dr. Matthew D. McGahey, ’09, ’11, ’18 is the Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at The United States Air Force Academy. His degrees are in Criminal Justice, Kinesiology and Sport Studies, and Global Sport Leadership.

Bobby Russell, ’09 is a Business Consultant at CoAdvantage. His degree is in Accountancy.

2010s

Olivia S. Dover, ’10, ’18 has been hired as Director of Clinical Education for the Radiography Program at ETSU. Her degrees are in Allied Health from the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences.

C. Jeff Fyke, ’10 is the Communications Director for the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors. He also serves as Communications/Secretary for the American Marketing Association of Knoxville. His degree is in History.

Brenna E. Albert, ’11 recently joined Medline Industries as Vice President and Global Controller. In this role, Albert will oversee all global accounting functions at the company. She has a Master of Accountancy degree.

Brian P. Broyles, ’11 has been promoted to Assistant Vice Chancellor of Advancement for the University of Tennessee. His degree is in General Studies.

John L. Krause, ’11 is a Learning Consultant – Digital Learning for Unum. His degree is in Mass Communication. Maj. Stuart S. Winkler, MC, USAF, MD ’11 graduated from the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, in June 2022. He will practice at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas. His degree is in Medicine.

Toby A. Hawkins, ’12 is the Operations Delivery Program Manager at Calix. His degree is in Business Management.

Caleb M. Sexton, ’12 has been named Director of Media at The General Insurance Company. His degree is in Marketing.

Andrew R. Childress, ’13, ’15 has joined Datarails as an Account Executive. His degrees are in Accounting.

Jayson D. Crusenberry, ’13 has been named Director of Communications for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. His degree is in Mass Communication.

Marie Jacobs Kaufman, ’13 and Gregory P. Kaufmann, ’12 had a baby girl named Charlotte on December 29, 2021. Marie’s degree is in Nursing. Gregory’s degree is in History.

Douglas W. Reiser, ’13 is a Senior Recruiter for Carrie Rikon & Associates, LLC. He holds a Master of Professional Communication degree.

Dr. Derriell M. Springfield, ’13 is a Strategic Partnerships Manager for Western Governors University – Tennessee. His degree is in Educational Leadership.

Alicia Talbert Summers, ’13 has been named Economic Development Director for the City of Johnson City. Her degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Zachary R. Walden, ’13 is a Criminal Court Judge for the Eighth Judicial District in the State of Tennessee. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

David L. Bryant, ’14 has been named Dean of Nursing and Allied Health at Northeast State Community College. He has a Master of Allied Health degree from the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences.

Brian M. Conner, ’14, ’17 married Jamie Wynk on April 30, 2022, in Montezuma, Ohio. He works for Eastman in the Polymers department. His degrees are in Criminal Justice and Public Administration.

Betsy R. Cunningham, ’14, ’17, ’19 is Director of Operations and Marketing for ETSU’s Research Corporation. Her degrees are in Interdisciplinary Studies, Educational Media, and Educational Leadership.

Dr. Steven F. Cunningham, ’14, ’17, ’21 is Assistant Athletic Director of Business Operations at ETSU. His degrees are in Interdisciplinary Studies, Kinesiology and Sport Studies, and Global Sport Leadership.

Sean D. Elliott, ’14 is the Channel Account Manager for Google Hardware at MarketStar. His degree is in Business Management.

Samuel G. Hopson, ’15 is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and is currently Associate Director/Campus Minister at Georgia Tech Wesley Student Foundation in Atlanta. He attended Emory University’s Candler School of Divinity and graduated in 2018 with a Master of Divinity degree. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife, Yeojin, also a UMC Minister, and their daughter. His degree is in Psychology.

Victor E. King II, ’15, ’19 is Ad Operations Executive at Dentsu Media. His degrees are in Marketing and Digital Marketing.

Michael K. Wallace, ’15 is an Assistant Director of Residential Colleges at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. His degree is in Communication Studies.

Calvin M. Claggett, ’16 is Assistant Athletic Director at Xavier University. His degrees are in Sociology and Educational Leadership.

Mariah Whitney Bowman, ’17, ’21, married Morgan P. Edwards, ’13 on September 18, 2021, in Bristol, Virginia. Mariah works as a Nurse Practitioner for State of Franklin Healthcare Associates in Kingsport. Her degrees are in Nursing. Morgan is a Physician Assistant at Ballad Health in Johnson City. His degree is in Physical Education.

Dr. Caitlin R. Olive, ’17 received her doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Mexico. In addition, she has been named Assistant Professor of Physical Education Teacher Education at Adelphi University. Her degree is in Physical Education.

Elizabeth McKnight Sloan, ’17 has been named Dean for the Division of Humanities at Northeast State. She has a Master of Business Administration degree.

Rachel Enouruwa Asuelimen, ’18 is Agile Project Manager for POLARISqb. Her degree is in Engineering Technology.

Lindsey R. Campbell, ’18 is Online Student Specialist for ETSU Online. Her degree is in Counseling.

McKenly J. Matthews, ’18, ’19 is a Cost Accountant with Charles Blalock & Sons and a recent graduate of Sevier County’s Leadership Tomorrow 2022. His degrees are in Accounting.

Raina E. Wiseman, ’18, ’20 joined Eastman in Kingsport as Content Writer with the Marketing Communications department’s creative team. Her degrees are in Media and Communication and Brand and Media Strategy.

Gabriel M. Gounaris, ’19 has been named Director of Membership and Business Development at the Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber of Commerce. His degree is in Music.

Elizabeth A. Greer, ’19 is the Retail Merchandiser at Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club at Discovery Land Company in Austin, Texas. Her degree is in Marketing.

Cynthia A. Metzger, ’19, ’22 is Professor of Dental Hygiene at Tennessee Wesleyan. Her degrees are in Dental Hygiene and Allied Health from the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences.

Read ETSU Today online!

If you want to continue to keep up with all things Blue and Gold – but be a little more green –sign up for the online option.

Readers will receive a QR code twice a year when the magazine publishes. Scan and read from your device or computer.

Robert T. Hoover; Kingsport

August 17, 2022; BS ’58 Business, MA ’68 Economics

Wilma M. Andrews; Ocala, Florida August 24, 2022; BS ’52 English

Mary R. Ault; Tazewell, Tennessee April 4, 2022; BS ’51 English

Hobert D. Buchanan; Abingdon, Virginia September 11, 2022; BS ’59 Business Administration

Barbara E. Taylor; Kingsport September 10, 2022; BS ’58 English

1960s

Ray E. Birchfield; Conover, North Carolina June 12, 2022; BS ’60 English

Joann P. Coffman; Kingsport June 26, 2019; BS ’60 English

Carolyn A. Lane; Dublin, Ohio June 16, 2022; BS ’60 Home Economics

Hugh A. Coffman; Kingsport June 17, 2022; BS ’61 Mathematics

James A. Day; Johnson City June 7, 2022; BS ’61 Business

Winnie L. Ledford; Johnson City June 22, 2022; BS ’61 Elementary Education

Barbara B. Wilcox; Johnson City June 13, 2022; BS ’61 Elementary Education

Charlotte B. Barker; Blythewood, South Carolina

May 25, 2022; BS ’63 Biology

James M. Russell; Charlotte, North Carolina

May 30, 2022; BS ’63 Physical Education

Wyatt D. Tinsley; Bethany Beach, Delaware May 12, 2022; BS ’66 Management

Lyle A. Overbay; Sevierville June 1, 2022; BS ’67 Accountancy

Thomas H. Singleton; Asheville, North Carolina

June 16, 2022; BS ’67 Geography

John C. Larkin; Princeton, West Virginia June 17, 2022; BS ’69 Elementary Education

Judith L. Shelton; Johnson City June 10, 2022; BS ’65 Elementary Education, MA ’91 Counseling

Joe P. Duncan; Waynesboro, Virginia June 13, 2022; BS ’68 Biology, MA ’71 Psychology

Emanuel M. Wright; Kingsport June 6, 2022; BS ’69 Elementary Education, MA ’73 Educational Administration and Supervision

Margaret L. Umberger; Kingsport December 5, 2020; BS ’61 Elementary Education

Charlotte S. Pugh; Kingsport November 26, 2020; BS ’65 English, MA ’73 Secondary Education Minor

Judith M. Hatcher; Middlesboro, Kentucky November 24, 2020; BS ’67 History

William L. Valentine; Townsend, Tennessee

November 26, 2020; BS ’67 History

Desserree P. Osborne; Johnson City November 25, 2020; BS ’68 Elementary Education

Barbara Y. Duncan; Rogersville July 9, 2022; BSN ’60 Nursing

Erby E. Sams; Elizabethton July 17, 2022; BS ’60 Business Education

Wilma J. Tomlinson; Duffield, Virginia July 7, 2022; BS ’60 Elementary Education

Frank Cloud; Big Stone Gap, Virginia March 28, 2020; BS ’61 Social Science

Kenton S. Rector; Meadowview, Virginia October 23, 2020; BS ’61 Geography

Harrison H. Farthing; Johnson City July 10, 2022; BS ’62 Biology

Monroe B. Taylor; Bristol, Tennessee June 25, 2022; BS ’62 Psychology

Sidney W. Mulkey; Knoxville June 28, 2022; BS ’63 Speech Pathology

Lidy C. Wyatt; Jonesborough March 12, 2021; BS ’67 Accountancy

Michael D. Mutter; Satellite Beach, Florida April 25, 2015; BS ’69 Management

Betty L. Bates; Kingsport August 18, 2022; BS ’60 Business

Anna E. Blizard; Springfield, Virginia August 7, 2022; BSN ’60 Nursing

Joe P. Anderson; Franklin, North Carolina July 22, 2022; BS ’62 Social Science

Richard D. Griffin; Lancaster, South Carolina

July 11, 2022; BS ’64 Business Administration

Sylvan V. Daugherty; Okeechobee, Florida August 18, 2022; BS ’65 History

William G. Glover; Estero, Florida

August 23, 2022; BS ’66 History

William M. Sprinkle; Abingdon, Virginia August 14, 2022; BS ’66 Biology

Richard C. Allen; Sandy Springs, Georgia July 22, 2022; BS ’67 History

William G. Pardue; Monroe, Georgia July 27, 2019; BS ’67 English

Dr. Bobby J. Rice; Madison County, North Carolina

August 8, 2022; MS ’64 Mathematics, EDD ’74 Educational Administration and Supervision

Gene A. Morrell; Indian Valley, Virginia August 12, 2022; BS ’68 History, MA ’74 History, BS ’78 Journalism

Ernest M. Trosper; Jefferson City September 17, 2022; MA ’68 Elementary Education

Kenneth J. Thomas; Kingsport December 24, 2021; MA ’63 Guidance and Counseling

Jane K. Shupe; Newport August 28, 2022; BS ’60 Reading, MA ’64

Donald L. Doran; Kingsport September 13, 2022; BS ’65 Management

James R. Gibbs; Hurley, Virginia September 9, 2022; BS ’68 Physical Education

Robert M. Rike; Chapin, South Carolina September 6, 2022; BS ’66 Management

James H. Graybeal; Blountville September 25, 2022; BS ’69 Art

Mary A. Nelson; Jonesborough September 10, 2022; BS ’67 Physical Education

Jessie L. Kegley; Bland, Virginia September 20, 2022; BS ’61 Business Education

Dr. Joe E. Hill; Knoxville September 3, 2022; BS ’65 Management

1970s

Anna L. Harris; Mt. Juliet, Tennessee May 10, 2022; BS ’73 History

Jerry F. Evans; Johnson City June 1, 2022; BS ’71 Management

Linda D. Little; Boones Mill, North Carolina June 5, 2022; BS ’71 Speech and Hearing

Joyce M. Meador; Rocky Mount, Virginia June 12, 2022; ASN ’73 Nursing

Patricia D. Williams; Kingsport June 25, 2022; MAT ’76 Elementary Education

Ronnie R. Myers; Palmetto, Georgia June 8, 2022; BEH ’78 Environmental Health

Richard E. Murray; Jonesborough June 13, 2022; BS ’79 English

Jeffery B. Hickam; Bristol, Tennessee June 5, 2022; BS ’76 History, MED ’94 Educational Administration and Supervision

Dr. Robert E. Grindstaff; Elizabethton May 28, 2022; BS ’78 Biology, RES ’86 Family Medicine Residency

Gary W. Dellinger; Lebanon, Virginia August 8, 2020; BS ’70 History

Emile E. Dudney; Kingston, Tennessee December 1, 2020; MA ’70 Secondary Education

Dr. Campbell S. MacLean; Johnson City December 6, 2020; BS ’71 Sociology

Ronnie W. Jaynes; Greeneville November 26, 2020; BEH ’73 Environmental Health

Clem C. Wilkes; Johnson City December 13, 2020; BS ’75 History

Arthur A. Cantrell; Jonesborough November 26, 2020; BS ’76 History

Truman I. Myers; Roanoke, Virginia November 17, 2020; BEH ’76 Environmental Health

Anthony P. Anderson; Savannah, Georgia December 11, 2020; BS ’77 Accountancy

Charles B. Tidwell; Cynthiana, Indiana November 24, 2020; BS ’77 Marketing

David L. Britton; Midlothian, Virginia December 2, 2020; BS ’78 Industrial Arts Education

Kelley S. Wingate; Elk Park, North Carolina November 22, 2020; BSN ’79 Nursing

Thomas B. Rollins; Cohutta, Georgia July 3, 2022; BS ’70 History

Mark W. Brockway; Ithaca, New York July 1, 2022; BS ’71 Industrial Technology

Haynes M. Wilkes; Johnson City June 1, 2022; BS ’71 English

Mark E. Mewshaw; Allentown, Pennsylvania July 6, 2022; BEH ’75 Environmental Health

Shelley L. Roark; Elizabethton July 20, 2022; BEH ’75 Environmental Health

William D. Burbach; Johnson City

July 20, 2022; BS ’76 Physical Education

Billy R. Lane; Fort Blackmore, Virginia June 28, 2022; BS ’76 Management

Angela L. Moore; Gate City, Virginia

July 10, 2022; BSN ’79 Nursing

Anna L. Schutz; Knoxville

October 20, 2021; BSN ’79 Nursing

Patsy R. Wood; Johnson City

July 6, 2022; BS ’74 Speech and Hearing, MA ’75 Special Education

Joan M. Price; Johnson City July 4, 2022; BS ’74 Elementary Education, MED ’85

Virginia L. Holt; Peachtree Corners, Georgia July 24, 2022; BS ’70 Environmental Health

Dorothy A. Freeman; Johnson City August 17, 2022; BA ’72 Elementary Education

Thomas E. Phillips; Erwin August 17, 2022; BS ’72 Management

Roger L. Robinette; Wake Forest, North Carolina

August 13, 2022; BS ’72 Industrial Arts Education

Von H. Peery; Tazewell, Virginia August 21, 2022; BSW ’73

Joy L. Helton; Tazewell County, Virginia August 8, 2022; BSW ’75

Joyce A. Mann; Elizabethton August 4, 2022; BS ’76 Elementary Education

Patricia K. Whitten; Walhalla, South Carolina

April 6, 2022; MA ’77 Physical Education

Helen G. Davis; Johnson City July 26, 2022; MA ’79 Reading

Regina A. Harkleroad; Kingsport August 11, 2022; ASN ’79 Nursing

Marcia L. Medford; Johnson City July 28, 2022; BSN ’74 Nursing, MED ’89 Educational Administration

Henry C. Wood; Raleigh, North Carolina

August 4, 2022; BS ’71 General Psychology

Joyce A. Caldwell; Kingsport September 8, 2022; ASN ’77 Nursing

Sharon U. Swann; Beaufort, South Carolina August 24, 2022; BS ’72 Elementary Education, MED ’82

Thomas R. Carlton; White Bluff, Tennessee September 6, 2022; MEH ’79 Environmental Health

Thomas W. Coffey; Acworth, Georgia August 29, 2014; BS ’77 Business Education

Tamara L. Day; Kingsport

September 9, 2022; BS ’75 Elementary Education

Terry B. Rust; Montgomery, Alabama

September 5, 2022; BS ’72 Political Science

Louise A. Pleasant; Johnson City September 16, 2022; BM ’79 Music

Condon E. Payne; Knoxville

August 31, 2022; BS ’72 Industrial Technology

William D. Hampton; Johnson City August 30, 2022; ALE ’73 Law Enforcement, BS ’80 Criminal Justice and Criminology

William J. McCoy; Talbot, Tennessee September 10, 2022; BS ’71 Management

Julia A. Kick; Marietta, Georgia September 18, 2022; BSN ’76 Nursing

1980s

Donna M. Radford; Chuckey, Tennessee December 8, 2020; BS ’80 Corrections

Martha A. Hartsell; Erwin December 10, 2020; BSW ’81

Rudolph Fullen; Bristol, Tennessee June 10, 2022; BS ’86 History

Robert M. Rinearson; Tequesta, Florida June 7, 2022; BEH ’88 Environmental Health

Dr. Francisco O. Avila; Lebanon, Tennessee June 1, 2022; MD ’88 Medicine, RES ’89 Pathology Residency

Traci E. Honeycutt; Johnson City June 4, 2022; BSW ’88, MA ’00 Counseling

Patti A. Treadway; Elizabethton July 8, 2022; MAT ’80 Elementary Education

Dr. Carolyn G. Newton; Kenosha, Wisconsin May 29, 2021; MD ’82 Medicine

Dr. William R. Kincaid; Johnson City May 27, 2022; RES ’83 Internal Medicine Residency

Dr. Vincent P. Marino; Cocoa Beach, Florida February 12, 2020; RES ’84 Family Medicine Residency

Dr. Jeffrey Milam; Gulf Breeze, Florida July 15, 2022; MD ’85 Medicine

Katherine H. Risser; Mount Pleasant, South Carolina July 20, 2022; BS ’85 Home Economics

Douglas L. Duff; Greeneville July 8, 2022; BBA ’87 Marketing

Ellen H. Barrs; Abingdon, Virginia July 20, 2022; BS ’88 English

Dr. Chele L. Dugger; Elizabethton July 19, 2022; MA ’83 Secondary Education, EDS ’85 Educational Administration and Supervision; EDD ’97 Educational Leadership

Melissa M. Dillingham; Franklin, Tennessee August 1, 2022; BS ’80 Spanish

Sharon A. Long; Bristol, Tennessee August 12, 2022; BSN ’82 Nursing

Randy M. Wheelock; Johnson City March 25, 2019; BBA ’83 Accountancy

Vicki P. Hammock; Pine Bluff, Arkansas August 7, 2022; MA ’80 Elementary Education, EDS ’95 Educational Administration and Supervision

Dr. James L. Daniel; Jonesborough August 11, 2022; BS ’84 General Psychology, MA ’86 Psychology, EDD ’92 Educational Administration and Supervision

Clifton H. Campbell; Johnson City September 2, 2022; BEH ’88 Environmental Health

John L. Smith; Bronx, New York July 1, 2020; BFA ’80

Dr. Cheryl E. Coleman; Maryville September 10, 2022; MD ’83 Medicine

Barbara L. Grant; Tullahoma, Tennessee September 13, 2022; ASN ’88 Nursing

Dr. Martha L. McGraw; Fredericktown, Missouri August 30, 2022; MD ’86 Medicine

Mary L. Lindsay; Elizabethton September 14, 2022; MED ’89 Educational Administration and Supervision

Charles T. Brewer; Clover, South Carolina September 16, 2022; BSW ’81

1990s

Christy H. Hyder; Erwin June 25, 2022; CER ’96 Surgical Technology

FACULTY, STAFF, AND RETIREES OBITUARIES

Richard

Kenneth

Dr.

William

Dr.

Kristi L. Champion; Elizabethton June 22, 2022; BS ’96 Sociology, MA ’99 Counseling

Michael W. Mayfield; Johnson City December 18, 2020; BS ’90 Mass Communication

Darst Y. Rose; St. Paul, Virginia November 15, 2020; MAT ’90 Education

Judith M. Taylor; Elizabethton November 26, 2020; BBA ’93 Accountancy

Patricia D. Muse; Johnson City December 3, 2020; BGS ’96 General Studies

Ronald Davidson; Bristol, Tennessee November 30, 2020; MA ’98 History

Wyatt J. Des Ormeaux; Mosheim, Tennessee November 30, 2020; BS ’93 Mathematics, BS ’93 Physiology, MS ’08 Mathematical Sciences

Raymonde D. Cox; Greenville, North Carolina November 11, 2020; BGS ’94 General Studies, MALS ’02 Liberal Studies

Brenton R. Fiedler; Bristol, Tennessee June 26, 2022; BA ’91 Foreign Languages

Tracy M. Fagan; Columbia, Tennessee July 9, 2022; AAS ’98 Allied Health

Kevin D. Taylor; Bristol, Tennessee July 30, 2022; BS ’94 Computer and Information Science

Pamela B. Treadway; Jonesborough July 23, 2022; AAS ’95 Nursing

Dr. William J. Fry; Seymour, Tennessee August 27, 2022; MD ’99 Medicine

Monica A. Shoemaker; Greeneville August 29, 2022; BS ’97 Psychology

Carolyn M. Minton; Columbia, South Carolina August 30, 2022; BSW ’99

Ralph S. Markee; Flint Hill, Virginia

September 1, 2022; MBA ’94 Business Administration

2000s

Priscillia L. Lynch; Jonesborough May 21, 2022; BSN ’07 Nursing, MSN ’10 Nursing

Dustin L. Fincher; Greeneville June 21, 2022; BA ’09 History, MA ’14 History

Matthew C. Farkas; Johnson City December 12, 2018; BBA ’01 Business

Patricia S. Hurley; Elizabethton June 19, 2020; BS ’02 Interdisciplinary Studies

Laura A. Petering; Louisville, Kentucky July 4, 2022; BSN ’03 Nursing, MSN ’05 Nursing

Terry S. Buell; Mooresburg, Tennessee November 19, 2020; BS ’05 Engineering Technology

Amy R. Barnett; Johnson City September 7, 2022; MA ’07 Reading

Randall B. Cantrell; Kermit, West Virginia September 20, 2022; MS ’06 Computer and Information Science

Reynic C. Compton; Grundy, Virginia August 30, 2022; MS ’00 Communicative Disorders

Dr. Phillip A. Hatch; Cookeville, Tennessee August 28, 2022; EDD ’00 Educational Leadership

2010s

Lara K. Reed; Knoxville August 18, 2022; BS ’12 Biology, BSN ’15 Nursing

John C. Littleton; Vonore, Tennessee September 5, 2022; BS ’19 History

East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to

baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of East Tennessee State University may be directed in writing to the

of Colleges and Schools

on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

East Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by ETSU. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Compliance Coordinator, PO Box 70271, Johnson City, TN 37614, 423-439-8544. ETSU’s policy on non-discrimination can be found at: etsu.edu/universitycounsel/compliance. ETSU is an AA/EEO employer. ETSU-PRZ-820-23

Patricia S. Barnett; Johnson City December 1, 2020; Retired Library Assistant

J. Blaustein; Johnson City November 3, 2020; Retired Faculty— Sociology and Anthropology

C. Blevins; Johnson City December 10, 2020; Retired Staff—Facilities

Harold “Hal” W. Elliot; Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina June 7, 2022; Former Faculty—Psychiatry

Ronald E. Hale; Jonesborough June 4, 2022; Retired Staff— Facilities

L. Diehl; Johnson City July 9, 2022; Former Staff—Athletics

Eugene H. Scheuerman; Johnson City January 1, 2020; Retired Associate Professor/Director of Pathology

award

Southern Association

Commission

Dr. Gordon L. “Don” Bailes; Johnson City May 29, 2022; Retired Faculty— Computer Science

Dr. Frank M. Shepard; Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts August 2, 2022; Retired Faculty— Pediatrics

Vanda D. Wilson; Johnson City July 31, 2022; Retired Staff—Housekeeping

Dr. John F. Nash; Johnson City July 2, 2022; Retired Faculty— College of Business

Dr. Thomas E. Townsend; Kingsport August 29, 2022; Former Staff— Quillen College of Medicine