Quality of Life, Quality a Person’S Enhances Dance and Students Come to Us with a Desire to Be Desire to Us with a Come to and Students

SPRING 2016

Enhancing the Quality IN THIS ISSUE of Life • Construction and Engagement Through • A Passion for Beauty • Touting Tennessee DANCE • Living on Spider Time TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRING 2016 ETSU President 3 The President’s 17 “Everybody Needs Brian Noland Perspective Affirmation”: The Executive Editor Philosophy of Coach 4 ETSU Enters Era Fred Sauceman Brittney Ezell of Construction, Managing Editor Engagement 18 Who’s Going to Joe Smith ETSU? 7 A Passion Advancement/Alumni Editor for Beauty: 22 Who’s Teaching at Bob Plummer The Campus ETSU? Contributing Writers Beautification Work Karen Crigger 26 Living on Spider of Sean Morris Lee Ann Davis Time Susan Epps Touting Tennessee: 8 28 Remembering a Carol Fox A Perfect Job for Teacher for the Ages Jennifer Hill Kevin Triplett Diane Nelson 29 The Italian Brian Noland 10 Dance Defies Gravity Connection Nathan Palkowski Connecting 13 31 DATELINE: ETSU Cyndi Ramsey Mountains in a Randy Sanders Global Village 35 Class Notes Fred Sauceman Joe Smith Dr. Merry Miller: 36 Obituaries 15 Kristen Swing Seeking Balance Graphic Designer Andy Barnes Photographic Services Ron Campbell Jim Sledge Larry Smith 4 Charlie Warden Printed by Kingery Printing Company Franklin, Tennessee

ON THE COVER: 15 Drake Parrott, a sophomore Interdisciplinary Studies major at ETSU, learns the skills of aerial dance.

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 26 regarding non-discrimination policies: Special Assistant to the President for Equity and Diversity/ Affirmative Action Director, 206 Dossett Hall, 439-4211. ETSU’s policy on non-discrimination can be found at: http://www.etsu.edu/equity/compliance.aspx. TBR 160-026-15 91.1M

East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500, 10 28 or Web site: www.sacscoc.org with any questions regarding the accreditation of East Tennessee State University.

2 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 3

otal funds raised during the Tennessee Board Tennessee during the otal funds raised Student organizations across our campus raised more than $230,000 for more our campus raised across organizations Student of the t Nearly one-third including a sold-out performance Ricky by Skaggs as Over arts 200 events, the by recognized of Pharmacy were College our Gatton from Students charitable causes. Of the total ETSU. at raised were Giving Campaign Employee of Regents our faculty by and given $82,000 was the system, across $238,000 raised staff. by hosted were and lectures, exhibits, plays, other concerts, as numerous well in 2014-15. ETSU for their efforts level the national at American Pharmacists Association regarding and patients providers among health care awareness raise to region and nation. issue facing our a significant drug abuse, prescription Honor Roll every year since the national program was created in 2006. The The 2006. in created was program the national Honor Roll every since year community service in general our work and education. honor recognizes We have been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Community Higher Education the President’s been named to have We Perhaps the most significant numbers that tell our story are more than tell our story more are numbers that the most significant Perhaps the Our alumni are and 61 countries. in 50 states 90,000 living alumni residing of those right our institution is influencing the lives of how example greatest for carrying you forwardThank our the world. and around in this region here stewardship. mission of regional Sincerely, Brian Noland President • • • • • The President’s Since the day our doors first opened in 1911 as a teacher-training our doors first opened in 1911 as a the day Since I believe of ETSU. stories tell using numbers to I enjoy know, of you As many Faculty and students from our Academic Health Sciences Center reported Center Health Sciences our Academic from and students Faculty over 300,000 patient encounters at ETSU facilities. ETSU at encounters 300,000 patient over million in uncompensated care to at-risk and underinsured populations, populations, and underinsured at-risk to care million in uncompensated safety net for the people of a critically needed health care providing thereby Northeast Tennessee. Through our College of Nursing Faculty Practice Network, we provided $1.4 provided we Network, Practice of Nursing Faculty our College Through • •

are stories about the transformative events events about the transformative stories are this issue of ETSU Today Throughout describe an institution stories These on campus. taking place and initiatives of the renovation through infrastructure its physical is transforming that Also in the magazine facilities and the construction of new buildings. current as the as well in aerial dance program about our innovative features are You Hall. of Brown in the basement taking place research arachnid fascinating faculty like including renowned will learn about the people of our university, Asmahan like inspiring students Jack Higgs, Dr. late and the Brown Patrick Dr. Kevin alumni like and noted Branham, Tandy and Jennings, Greyson Elayan, Triplett. grown have We the landscape of our campus has changed. much of school, a into has evolved ETSU 14,700. over to of 29 students an enrollment from our than 100 majors over offering more institution, research comprehensive the past much has changed on our campus over While and schools. 11 colleges as Buccaneers: binds us together a single mission that remains there 105 years, community the around and enhance improve to commitment our unwavering us. fulfill we picture of how and impressive an accurate frame numbers and data a glimpse of provide below data The stewardship. our mission of regional efforts sustain our mission ofthe myriad to our campus underway across of place: stewardship Perspective Photo by Larry by Photo Smith. ETSU ENTERS ERA OF Photo by Jim Sledge. Construction, Engagement

When the dust settles in five or so years, the campus of East Tennessee “Over the next five years, we will see several construction and renovation State University will look a whole lot different than it does today. While projects come to fruition that will provide new and improved instructional construction and renovation projects have popped up here and there over space on our campus. Combined with the Culp Center renovations and what the last three decades, the university never has seen a concentrated era of is happening with athletics, these things make for a well-rounded university construction quite like the one currently taking place at the 105-year-old for our students. institution. “And none of these are buildings for the sake of buildings. This is a “In a compressed five-year window, this may be the largest amount of medium in which our faculty and staff will be able to share their talents, projects and dollars spent on projects in the history of this university,” said Dr. creativity, and passion with the next generation of ETSU students.” Brian Noland, ETSU President. “And given the changing landscape of higher education, that is a powerful place to be in.” Opening Act: A Long Sought- Last fall, a groundbreaking took place for a new football stadium at ETSU while another one is forthcoming for a fine arts facility. Major renovations to After Fine and Performing Arts the D.P. Culp University Center, a building constructed in 1974 to serve as a Center hub for student activity, are set to begin soon. Meanwhile, work is also under way to break ground on a multi-million-dollar renovation of an existing A dream of university building on the VA Medical Center campus to transform the structure into leaders for more than a top-of-the- line interprofessional education building for the five health 30 years will soon sciences colleges at the university. become reality with Many of these projects trace their roots back to the Committee for 125, a the construction of an group charged in 2013 with establishing a vision for ETSU as it approaches its estimated $40.6 million 125th anniversary in 2036. fine and performing arts “There was a recognition during that process of the need for new and center. renovated instructional space on campus. For too long, our faculty have been Early last year, educating our students in dated classrooms and that is getting ready to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced in his State of the State Address change,” Noland said. that he had included funding for the capital project in his 2015-16 budget. Of the estimated cost for the venue, ETSU is required to raise an estimated $10.2 million in matching funds. 4 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 5 ” BRIAN NOLAND this university In a compressed five-yearIn a compressed “ amount of projects and dollarsamount of projects window, this may be the largest this may window, Efforts to raise funds for the horseshoe-shaped football stadium hit a star- funds for the horseshoe-shaped football stadium Efforts raise to or for ticket new football stadium the construction to of ETSU’s donate To be to ours needed that unions and saw student different toured “We 2014-15 academic year—and junior year—the Benn’s forward to Flash just in October determine meetings began taking place 2014 to Weekly support,” student have didn’t this if we into ventured have wouldn’t “We student dedicated funded through project, $41 million renovation The the home to will be that Changes include a state-of-the-art media center spent on projects in the historyspent on projects of studded level last year when university officials kicked off the fundraising when university officials kicked last year studded level country music chairs: two of the effort’s campaign with the announcement both of whom Smith, Mike Chesney and NFL football coach superstar Kenny alumni. ETSU are www.etsustadium.com. visit information, Culp Cultivation: Upgrading Student Space serving a sophomore Benn on the StudentDoretha was as a Senator began being laid for groundwork when the Association Government which serves as the University Center, Culp D.P. ETSU’s to renovation for the campus. community center its potential up to living just wasn’t Center Culp “The Benn said. renovated,” this building is offering deserve decided students than what better and we them.” the perfect lead the position to Benn found herself serving as SGA President, years. recent projects in renovation one of its most significant university into sending out surveys see what to After include. might the renovation what “just went Benn said the SGA ETSU, at center in a student wanted students for it.” this.” us they wanted us and telling backing had students “But we she said. well as an inside the structure as improvements will include significant fees, addition. newspaper; student Tennessean and the East BucTV, station, radio student a new and meeting rooms; ballroom an updated lounge space; student more dining options. revamped and significantly 200-person meeting space; which includes increasing seating capacity to 10,000, the construction the the of capacity 10,000, seating to includes increasing which portionThat of the 2018. by amenities, day game house and additional field $6 million. approximately cost projectto is expected

“We have divided the construction into two phases,” Ross said. Ross said. phases,” two divided the construction into have “We “It will also have a hospitality venue, a multi-story press box with suites a multi-story box press a hospitality venue, “It will also have 2015. 16, held on November for the project was A groundbreaking phase, the second into move to Ross expects the university will be ready The first phase, which is expected to be completed in fall 2017, is estimated is estimated in fall 2017, completed to be expected which is first phase, The To donate to ETSU’s arts initiative, visit www.possibilities.etsu.edu. arts initiative, ETSU’s to donate To “If all of the pieces come together, we’ll create a home for the arts not create we’ll together, come “If all of the pieces The endless possibilities of community involvement with the new venue community endless possibilities of involvement The from of opportunities, an array with the community creates “Engagement “This building gives us the ability to bring as many of the arts of the ability us the bring as many building gives “This to as possible The facility will feature additional capacity for academic programs in capacity additional programs academic for facilityfeature will The

others. Phase I will include approximately 7,000 seats surrounding the field. the field. surrounding seats 7,000 Phase I will include approximately others. garnered through partnerships, student fees, individuals, corporations, and corporations, individuals, fees, student partnerships, through garnered to cost approximately $22 million, funding for which has already been funding for which has already $22 million, approximately cost to the southwest corner of campus. corner the southwest construction crews are building a state-of-the-art football facility college in are construction crews seasons competing at Science Hill’s Kermit Tipton Stadium in Johnson City, Stadium in Johnson City, Tipton Kermit Hill’s Science at seasons competing and root for the Bucs. While the Buccaneers spend their first and second While for the Bucs. and root home for students, alumni, and fans from across the nation to gather to the nation across and fans from alumni, home for students, The return of football to ETSU presents the opportunity to create a proper a proper the opportunity presents create ETSU to of football to return The for the New Bucs Fourth Goal: New Stadium and and amenities associated with the game day experience,” Ross said. Ross said. experience,” with the game day and amenities associated only at ETSU, but a showcase for the arts in this region,” Noland added. for the arts but a showcase in this region,” ETSU, only at will promote the university in a positive way,” Ross explained. Ross explained. way,” the university in a positive will promote bring great opportunities for ETSU, too. opportunitiesbring great for ETSU, ambassadors who simply creating donors to future to students prospective region.” programs for additional culture opportunities not just for ETSU, but the entire entire but the opportunities for additional culture not just for ETSU, programs However, there have been many conversations about leveraging our about leveraging conversations been many have there However, ETSU’s Chief of Staff for External Affairs. “That alone is of great benefit. benefit. alone is of great “That Chief of Staff for External Affairs. ETSU’s together in a center to create synergies in the fine arts,” said Jeremy Ross, Ross, said Jeremy in the fine arts,” synergies create to in a center together performance hall with anywhere from 635 to 1,100 seats. performance 635 to from hall with anywhere the main campus on State of Franklin Road, the center will also include a the center Road, of Franklin on State the main campus and performance areas. To be located on property just across the street from from on property the street be located just across To and performance areas. the arts, including teaching space, performance space, and instructional and performance space, space, teaching including the arts, The $12-$13 million renovation initially will be funded by the colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, with the university, as the third partner in the project, paying back its share of the cost over time. The three remaining health sciences colleges to share the interprofessional space are the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, and the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. Approximately 75 percent of the structure will be dedicated to simulation labs that will provide students of all health sciences programs with hands-on training in everything from emergency situations to the basics of inserting an IV.

The really wonderful time is going to be“ in five years when all of these buildings are up and many elements of the campus are being transformed by the great teaching happening inside these new buildings. BRIAN NOLAND ”

The administrative team for the university’s Interprofessional Education and Research Committee, a group tasked with finding the best ways to develop VA Building 60 is currently a warehouse. Photo by Charlie Warden. and foster opportunities for students to learn in an interprofessional setting, will also be relocated to Building 60. The design process for the new-and-improved Culp Center is under way, With expectations of breaking ground in 2017, Bishop hopes to see the with a groundbreaking expected this fall. Leaders aim for the project to be building open and operational in fall 2018. completed for the 2018-19 academic year. Plethora of Projects Paving the From Warehouse to Way to a New ETSU Interprofessional Dream House: Additional capital projects under way at ETSU include the transition of Greek Renovating Building 60 housing to the Buccaneer Ridge area of campus. Sororities made the move to the newly established Greek Village last fall. Discussions focused on moving Interprofessional education in the health sciences colleges at ETSU is nothing fraternities from their off-campus locations onto campus are ongoing. new, but having a designated space for such activities certainly marks a huge The university is also creating a new data center to replace the current next step in the venture. facility located in Lucille Clement Hall. “We’ve been national leaders in interprofessional education since the Meanwhile, in November 2015, ETSU announced that its College of early 1990s and felt like if we could have a building where all of our students Nursing received a $1 million federal grant to build a new Johnson City Day could come together, we’d be putting a physical symbol on a philosophy Center, a facility located in downtown Johnson City dedicated to providing we’ve been living for decades,” said Dr. Wilsie Bishop, ETSU’s Vice President for health care and social services to the region’s homeless population. Health Affairs and Chief Operating Officer. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin this year. “We’ve wanted to do this for a long time. We knew if we could have a “As I look at all of this, it is a wonderful time to be at the university,” building for the health sciences center that symbolizes our interprofessional Noland said. “But the really wonderful time is going to be in five years when work, that would be really good.” all of these buildings are up and many elements of the campus are being That building, as it turns out, is Building 60 on the Veterans Affairs Medical transformed by the great teaching happening inside these new buildings.” n Center campus adjacent to the Quillen College of Medicine and Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. The structure, which currently is used as a warehouse ~ Kristen Swing is Associate Director of University Relations at ETSU. and once housed the VA’s fire brigade, will be transformed into a top-of- the-line interprofessional education building that includes four floors of simulation laboratories, research space, classrooms, conference rooms, student study space, a food service area, and administrative offices.

6 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY

A The Campus PASSION Beautification for BEAUTY Work of Sean Morris Any student who thinks a summer “When a prospective student and his or her parents come to campus, I want job doesn’t matter should talk to Sean them to leave with the impression that we take care of this place. If I don’t Morris, ETSU’s Associate Director for take care of the grounds, how can they trust that we’re taking care of the Grounds, Landscape, and Horticulture. residence halls where their child is going to be living?” Although he was on a baseball The work is certainly not without challenges, but Sean believes in scholarship at Tennessee Wesleyan meeting them head-on. College for a year and a half, it was “I started with a crew of one—me. Now I manage 19 full-time and eight his summer job working on the golf seasonal workers on the crew,” he said. “I have a different way of doing things course at the Ridges/Blackthorn Club in and getting the job done, but I want to encourage my crew to stay positive Johnson City that really held his interest. and to meet high expectations.” Photo by Charlie Warden. “I don’t know if I recognized it as One of those challenges may be meeting opposition to tree removal. “We a passion at the time or if I just liked had some complaints when we removed the tree next to Nicks Hall because the money,” he admitted, but he liked it was a very mature and beautiful tree,” Sean said. “But it was declining, it enough to leave Tennessee Wesleyan to pursue an associate degree in dangerous in form, and needed to come out. Now look at that entrance! That Production Horticulture with an emphasis in turfgrass management at building has beautiful architecture and now you can see it.” Walters State Community College. Sean went on to explain that tree removal is a touchy subject. “There “I spent a lot of time on the baseball field at Tennessee Wesleyan, but I are other dead trees that need to be removed and others are just too big spent more time taking care of it than playing on it,” he laughs. and overgrown.” He admits that landscaping in general is personal and that Sean came to ETSU in 2003. The golf center was being built, and a former everyone has his or her own opinion on it, but he points out that styles change. boss who was brought in to consult on the project recommended Sean to the “The Culp Center, when it was built, was ‘in,’ but now? Not so much. athletic director to manage the center’s grounds. For the next eight months Landscaping has changed as well. Was it functional? Yes. Was it aesthetically he grew the grass and greens and then moved to Asheville as the Assistant pleasing? No. Even the trees that may have looked good 30 or 40 years ago Superintendent for the Grove Park Inn golf course. when they were put in have grown and may now be encroaching on a As life sometimes has it, we return to our roots. Within a year he was building. We have to take care of that.” back in Johnson City. The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics had It’s more of his vision for the campus. “So much in our world is about embarked on a facilities campaign for soccer and softball fields, and the instant gratification, but in grounds you have to maintain, you have to work position at the golf center was still open. In 2004, Sean became the Turf year-round, not just at move-in and May graduation.” Manager for golf and all other athletic and intramural facilities. He invokes a high standard for the campus. “When you go to the Coming back before the construction started on the fields, he was able to University of Alabama, the Quad is the epicenter of activity. I would like to see be involved with the process, and he learned a lot about facilities construction that here. With the renovations to the Culp and the new football stadium, the while sharing his knowledge and recommendations on landscaping and turf campus will look different. My job is to put things in the right places—grass, with the construction team. In October of 2013, he became the Director of walkways, plants, trees, shrubs. Hopefully we’ll create an atmosphere that will Athletic Facilities, bringing the turf management job with him. bring students here and keep them here.” Anyone in the athletic department will tell you that Sean is an exemplary It’s a job that deserves recognition. employee and that his organizational skills were well tested in his role as “I’m not an alum of ETSU, but I’ve come to love this place for the facilities manager. But if you look around campus and see the planters with opportunities it’s giving me both personally and professionally,” Sean potato vines spilling over the edges, the carefully chosen plants and flowers explains. “I was the first one in my family to get any kind of college education, in the beds at the entrances and throughout campus, and the seasonal but I have the mentality that you have to work hard to get anywhere. That decorations, you are looking at his passion. was my family upbringing. You keep working hard and you’ll be rewarded for Groundskeeping is more than just mowing the grass, weed-eating, your efforts. I came here without any connections and have worked hard. I and leaf-blowing. In the Sean Morris vision of things, it’s everything on know my role here is to serve the campus and the community.” the continuum from trash to flowers—ugly to pretty, he says. It’s also an Look around. He is serving us well indeed. n important component in increasing enrollment.

7 Commissioner Kevin Triplett and Governor Bill Haslam at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Photo courtesy Jon Law, Mayor of Fayetteville, Tennessee. Touting Tennessee: A Perfect Job for Kevin Triplett

Commissioner Triplett at Bristol Motor Speedway. Photo courtesy BMS.

When Kevin Triplett was approaching the traffic light at State of Franklin Air Force and a couple of years working on an automobile assembly line in Road and Market Street in Johnson City, just after he had left a function at Detroit, his father, Gerald Triplett, became a history teacher and guidance the Millennium Centre, his cell phone rang. He noticed that the area code was counselor in the Dickenson County, Virginia, school system, eventually rising 615. But he really didn’t think too much about that, since, as Vice President for to Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent before his retirement. Public Affairs at Bristol Motor Speedway, he was accustomed to getting calls Triplett’s mother, Lorraine, was a bookkeeper and cafeteria worker at Longs from offices in Nashville. Fork Elementary School in Dickenson County. This call, however, didn’t concern racetrack business. It was Mark Cate, Driven by a deep respect for education instilled by his parents, Triplett Chief of Staff in Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s enrolled at East Tennessee State University, where he office, asking if Triplett would be interested in coming studied journalism. Before his spring 1987 graduation, to Nashville to have a discussion about the position My first reaction was he covered sports for the student newspaper, The East of Commissioner of the Department of Tourist “to look at the phone, to Tennessean, and during his junior and senior years, he Development. make sure it wasn’t a worked as a stringer, writing sports stories on weekends “My first reaction was to look at the phone, to for the Bristol Herald Courier. make sure it wasn’t a wrong number,” Triplett tells me. wrong number Consistent with the logical and circular progression It wasn’t. And that call led to what Triplett calls a KEVIN TRIPLETT” of jobs that characterizes his career, that part-time series of conversations, including a meeting with the position as a stringer worked into a full-time job after he Governor. Although he loved his job at BMS, the opportunity to lead a state graduated. He remembers taking the job in 1987 without even asking what department and be a member of the Governor’s cabinet was something the it paid. Clintwood, Virginia, native couldn’t pass up. He started work as Commissioner Triplett’s career took a fortuitous turn in 1989, when he landed a job with on April 23, 2015. The Gaston Gazette in Gastonia, North Carolina. Although Triplett grew up in Southwest Virginia, he quickly points out, “I went there to cover high school sports, minor league baseball, and the especially in his new role, that he was born in Tennessee. As many parents in Atlantic Coast Conference,” he recalls. “When the sports editor reassigned Southwest Virginia have done, his parents came to Holston Valley Community staff responsibilities, I was the only one there who cared much about racing. Hospital in Kingsport for his birth. So I became the racing writer at a paper in the Charlotte market, which was a Triplett’s parents spent their careers in education. After a stint in the pretty big deal.” He went from covering two races a year to following half the NASCAR schedule. That job, in turn, led to a position with a sports marketing agency 8 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 9

Triplett intends to visit all 95 of to intends Triplett Governor he attends Back in Nashville, Haslam is not a fan of silos,” “Governor Tennessee’s counties and, as he says, “Driving as he says, and, counties Tennessee’s In his first 6 1/2 count.” doesn’t through 49. he made it to on the job, months which he finds cabinet meetings, Haslam’s almost everything since the value of great does Development Tourist Department of least one other department, on at touches andwith the departments of Agriculture Development and Community Economic partnersbeing frequent on projects. on something, working “If you’re says. Triplett Tennessee,” a perfectin the music steeped fit for someone Tennessee,” Made in Made n

The department’s theme, or positioning line, is “The Soundtrack of Soundtrack “The is line, positioning or theme, department’s The Triplett says one of the nicest surprises when he took the job as surprises when he took one of the nicest says Triplett for the in a year 100 million visitors recorded has recently Tennessee and he’ll a short for even time about his successes, Triplett Kevin to Talk Triplett Music Pathway, Tennessee of the for the creation As plans proceed On Triplett’s aggressive agenda to promote Tennessee as a tourist Tennessee promote agenda to aggressive Triplett’s On children the sounds of screaming from Tennessee, is all that loves Triplett and most of them involve Tennessee, in than 800 festivals more have “We A lifelong fan of Bluff barbecue. Tennessee passion is Triplett Another and is at work on a book-length and is at work Today of ETSU is Editor Sauceman ~ Fred history Barbecue. of Ridgewood America: Virginia. and Southwest Tennessee history of East he wants to hear about how it affects hear about how other departments.” to he wants graduates: ETSU colleagues are of his finding out that two was Commissioner Rosenboro, and Pete of Administration, Commissioner Assistant John Carr, Centers. Welcome for Commissioner Assistant Those visitors to 110 million. to get his challenge is Triplett says first time. play to is determined Triplett economy. the state’s $17.7 billion to contributed $18 billion. over figure in pushing that a role and friends, the mentors, to credit and give the conversation quickly re-route family in his life. the unbroken guiding theme, the project’s in his mind to often returns Triplett life of Kevin the fascinating equally applies to a theme that It’s circle. himself. destination is the Tennessee Music Pathway, a 1,200-plus-mile route route a 1,200-plus-mile Music Pathway, Tennessee is the destination homage paying System, and Byways Trails Tennessee connecting the Discover and beauty forms. their myriad in all culture, history, Tennessee to to stream of a mountain soothing flow the to on a Dollywood coaster roller hitting a golf ball. echo of a driver the woodland here.” have we what at amazed “I’m says. Triplett music,” as the Tennessee recognizes TripAdvisor out that he points Ridgewood, City’s 12 of Southern Living magazine’s that and in the nation barbecue state top State. Volunteer in the located in the South are 50 barbecue joints top Bristol ETSU graduates. One of the nicest was finding out that surprises when he took the job as Commissioner

two of his colleagues aretwo of his colleagues

Completing another full circle in his life, Triplett had the opportunity to Triplett in his life, another full circle Completing “I resigned to move home,” Triplett says. “I didn’t know what I was going I was what know “I didn’t says. Triplett home,” move to “I resigned By that time he had gotten married to a “hometown” girl, and he and Jill girl, “hometown” a to married time he had gotten By that While at the Daytona 500, he was approached by representatives of representatives by approached he was 500, the Daytona at While Although being Commissioner of Tourist Development in Tennessee Tennessee in Development Tourist of Although being Commissioner “There are 51 nights of Speedway in Lights,” he says. “It has become he says. in Lights,” of Speedway 51 nights are “There In addition to putting on successful races, Triplett points with pride to points Triplett races, putting on successful In addition to

“We had such a great team there,” Triplett Triplett there,” team had such a great “We Then came a life-changing lunch at Then After an unsuccessful campaign to unseat United States Representative Representative States United unseat to campaign an unsuccessful After

issues dealing with children in their communities. issues dealing with children to do. I usually have a plan--I’m organized flexible.” organized a plan--I’m I usually have do. to his family. the country yielded to the desire to return home and spend more time with home and spend more return to the country the desire yielded to had two children, Lucas and Sarah Grace. In 2003, chasing race cars all over cars all over chasing race In 2003, and Sarah Grace. Lucas children, had two The Charlotte Observer . Charlotte by The “25 Most Influential” oversaw NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series and was twice named one of NASCAR’s twice Series of NASCAR’s named one and was Cup Sprint NASCAR’s oversaw of 1994 to June of 2003. As Managing Director of Business Operations, he of Business Operations, Director As Managing of 2003. June of 1994 to NASCAR, and they offered him a job that lasted nearly 10 years, from March March from nearly 10 years, lasted a job that him and they offered NASCAR, of Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt. and Dale Childress of Richard near Charlotte, where he represented GM Goodwrench, AC Delco, and the likes the likes and Delco, AC GM Goodwrench, he represented where near Charlotte,

broad range of people and organizations to identify and resolve pressing pressing and resolve identify to of people and organizations range broad of his life. experiences Cameron Smith, who died at a young age. The organization works with a works organization The age. a young who died at Smith, Cameron and calls upon all the talents that a position it’s phone call, life-altering of Speedway Motorsports, as a way to create a memorial to his son, Bruton his son, a memorial to create to as a way Motorsports, of Speedway that to of prior dreamed or even considered never Triplett is something Speedway Children’s Charities, founded in 1982 by Bruton Smith, Chairman Smith, Bruton founded in 1982 by Charities, Children’s Speedway the largest light show in the South.” More importantly, the event supports the event importantly, More in the South.” show light the largest at BMS. at community projects such as Speedway in Lights as he looks back on his years back on his years as he looks in Lights community projects such as Speedway me and that I shouldn’t just join; I should make a difference.” I should make just join; I shouldn’t me and that . Courier Herald saying ‘this is my home.’ He told me to find a civic club that was a good fit for club that find a civic me to He told home.’ ‘this is my saying born and raised, when he came to the Tri-Cities, he put a stake in the ground, in the ground, he put a stake Tri-Cities, the he came to when born and raised, at the age of 60] had a heart that didn’t fit under his body. Winston-Salem fit under his body. age of 60] had a heart the at didn’t that the at alumna and former colleague an ETSU Worley, with Lori work speedway, with accolades from all over the world. Jeff [who died in 2010 the world. all over from with accolades speedway, and international recognition came to the came to recognition and international remembers. “We raised the bar. National the bar. raised “We remembers. Affairs in 2005. Affairs permanent job as Vice President for Public President Vice job as permanent relationship, but Byrd offered him a offered but Byrd relationship, Byrd and the speedway in a consulting and the speedway Byrd Triplett originally proposed working with working originally proposed Triplett General Manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. Speedway. Motor Manager of Bristol General the late Jeff Byrd, longtime President and longtime President Jeff Byrd, the late Simply Delicious in Bristol, Tennessee, with Tennessee, Simply Delicious in Bristol, anchor Jon Lundberg. Representative and former WCYB-TV news and former Representative The Corporate Image, a public relations firm run by Tennessee State Tennessee State by run firm a public relations Image, Corporate The Rick Boucher in Southwest Virginia in 2004, Triplett took a job with took Triplett in 2004, Virginia Rick Boucher in Southwest Photo by Larry Smith.

DanceDefies Gravity

There, 20 feet in the air and wrapped in silks rigged from the ceiling, a group of students is telling a story—one told through aerial dance. On the ground below, instructor Jen Kintner watchfully observes her In Brooks Gymnasium, students, guiding them on the critical safety techniques of this art form described as a combination of modern dance and circus. on the opposite side “It is hard enough just to learn to hold your body weight up, but every semester I see students reaching far past that goal and finding that they have something to ‘say’ with their aerial skills,” said Kintner, who has been of the wall where the teaching aerial dance at ETSU for five years. Aerial dance is just one component of the university’s emerging dance program which, for years, was part of the Department of Physical Lady Bucs take to the Education but in recent years merged with ETSU’s theater division. In 2010, the Tennessee Board of Regents approved the creation of a minor in dance at ETSU. basketball court, the “The growth has been steady, and as of this past fall semester we had 44 students as dance minors,” said faculty member Cara Harker, who leads ETSU dance program the dance program. “Dance is something all of our theater students need to be fluent in and to have as part of their repertoire. There is so much movement in performance, and to be a good actor you have to know how is soaring high. to use your most important tool, which is your body. “Dance courses help actors become better actors, and, in turn, acting courses help dancers become better dancers,” she said. Students with all levels of experience are enrolling in ETSU dance courses, said Harker, who noted that many students begin the theater 10 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 11

, and Oklahoma! , Grease ” n Prior to Harker’s arrival, the dance program was led by faculty led by member was program the dance arrival, Harker’s to Prior I get to and now been part life, always of my have and dance “Theater job.” truly a dream “It’s Harker and Kintner give much of the credit for that to colleague Delbert colleague to for that much of the credit give and Kintner Harker program,” our dance be crucial to going to this was quickly saw “We the same for will look Gym inside Brooks the 20-foot view from While minor (and a the curriculum for the dance developing In addition to Memoir of a Mythamaniac: the True Story of a Compulsive Liar (or Story of a Compulsive True the as Memoir of a Mythamaniac: as well the 2011 home honors at took show The wrote. which Harker Dies), Tallulah in Cincinnati. Cincy Festival Fringe with working a year spent Harker in 2008. who retired Woodruff, Judy “wonderful mentor.” and describes her as a on the transition Woodruff concert for our dance preparing times I’m “At she said. bridge them together,” without any directing a play I’m and later or another mainstage production, for and be an advocate students mentor I get to way, Either movement. dance both art forms. still in its infancy, and, fortunately, we are getting in on the ground floor and the ground getting in on are we fortunately, and, still in its infancy, a niche in this area.” created already have in 2007. to aerial dance ETSU who introduced a certified rigger, master Hall, Bernasconi Jayne brought faculty and dance member, a longtime theater Hall, toand Nancy campus in the field of aerial dance—to Smith—both pioneers aerial workshops. teach said. Harker new fine and performing about ETSU’s excited are and her students she now, soon. ground which will break arts center, has who joined the faculty in 2007, Harker, major), for a dance proposal , including Quilters productions, ETSU several directed ~ Joe Smith is Executive Assistant to the President for University Relations and for University Relations the President to Assistant ~ Joe Smith is Executive at ETSU. Officer Communications Chief CARA HARKER

lives through movement. lives through

Dance enhances a person’s quality of life, quality a person’s enhances Dance and students come to us with a desire to be desire to us with a come to and students

attuned with their bodies and to enrich their their bodies and attuned with “

“Plus, aerial dance is a more innovative art form that, thanks to influences thanks to art form that, innovative is a more aerial dance “Plus, “I am amazed by the insights of 18-year-olds who are able to appreciate appreciate able to who are of 18-year-olds the insights by “I am amazed has been a major win for the the addition of aerial dance adds that Harker progress aerial dance take who students seen how have we “Already, “Dance enhances a person’s quality of life, and students come to us with to come and students quality of life, a person’s enhances “Dance While a number of the students minoring in dance are aspiring actors, aspiring actors, are minoring in dance a number of the students While During the past three years, Mumpower has performed Mumpower with several years, During the past three “One huge part beneficial extremely I found “One curriculum that of the dance Other students with more years of experience, like graduate Danielle graduate like of experience, years Other with more students

like Cirque du Soleil, is hitting the mainstream in a major way,” she said. “It is she said. in a major way,” the mainstream is hitting du Soleil, Cirque like floor work so much better. floor body strength, so, for example, if you are a modern dancer you can do your can do your you a modern dancer are if you for example, so, body strength, focused on the lower half of the body, but aerial dance builds core and upper builds core but aerial dance half of the body, focused on the lower this creative outlet.” this creative students. is“So much of dance she said. forms,” in all dance stronger and are faster experience a release of emotions. a release experience help them control stress but that through the catharsis of dance they can of dance the catharsis through but that stress help them control movement,” Harker said. “They realize that not only can this art that form realize “They said. Harker movement,” science. through enrich their lives with their bodies and to be attuned to a desire in other fields, such as nursing, physical therapy, medicine, and exercise exercise and medicine, therapy, physical such as nursing, in other fields, both Harker and Kintner are quick to point out that many are pursuing careers pursuing careers are many out that point quick to are and Kintner both Harker of New Jersey and Massachusetts. of New Jersey and Massachusetts. appeared at dance festivals throughout the city as well as Houston and parts as Houston the city as well throughout festivals dance at appeared Company, a theatre movement company based in Manhattan. She has also based in Manhattan. company movement a theatre Company, companies at many venues and is now a member of Improbable Theatre Theatre a member of Improbable now and is venues many at companies experience.” voice as a choreographer, both of which I find extremely helpful in my NYC my NYC extremely helpful in both of which I find as a choreographer, voice class allowed me to explore my own personal style of dance as well as my personal style as well own of dance my explore me to class allowed was the dance composition class,” said Mumpower, a 2012 graduate. “That a 2012 graduate. said Mumpower, class,” composition the dance was intermediate and advanced courses. and advanced intermediate Mumpower who is now working in New York City, are able to jump right into into jump right able to are City, York in New working who is now Mumpower performing in mainstage productions. program with very little experience, but by the end of their four years are are the end of their four years but by with very little experience, program “When it comes to your heart

the best defense is a good offense.” – Carl Torbush Head Coach, ETSU Football Learn your heart’s age at MountainStatesHeartAge com To defend your heart, go on the offensive. And make your next play a visit to MountainStatesHeartAge.com. There, you’ll answer some basic health and lifestyle questions to get an approximation of your heart’s age—which may differ from your actual age. Will your heart’s age be the same or younger than the rest of you? People. Trust. Experience. Or will it be older? And what then?

12 ETSU TODAY 13 ov, ş

The Carpathian Mountains, usually divided into three parts (Western, parts three (Western, into usually divided Mountains, Carpathian The out of other academic grew conferences Appalachian/Carpathian The Roach compared, the 2013 and 2015 conferences about how asked When villages, remote the more get into you “Once say, on to He went

exchanges by travelling over 5,000 miles to Transylvania University in Bra Transylvania 5,000 miles to over travelling by exchanges Romania. Roach and Bidgood were in Romania to attend the American/ attend in Romania to Roach and Bidgood were Romania. Researching, Appalachians/Carpathians: Conference: Romanian International Traditions. and Preserving Highland Documenting, and Central seven through form a 930-mile arc and Southern), Eastern, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, countries: European Eastern and Serbia. Romania, Ukraine, the Appalachian scholars attended Ukrainian years, several For conferences. site a different at each year is hosted conference That Studies Conference. American scholars In turn, or Southern Appalachia. Central, in Northern, the in 2013, Then, in Ukraine. conferences school system mountain attended was held at Conference Appalachian/Carpathian International first official Ukraine. University in Ivano-Frankivsk, National Precarpathian Stefanyk Vasyl one of 20 Appalachian scholars who attended. Roach was the before happened just weeks in Ivano-Frankivsk conference “The said, Union, As a member of the European began in Kiev. protests Euromaidan which made English speakers, and has more developed Romania is more a lot easier.” travel of cultures the mountain similarities between many are there however, areas different find similarities between just as we and Romania, Ukraine the similar costs, low due to It is worth that mentioning within Appalachia. Carpathians, lines in the rural and the lack of modern power landscapes,

in a The Hatfields and The Mountain movie Cold magazine, said, “When said, magazine,

Colliers

Mountains Connecting

In October of 2015, two professors in the Department professors two of Appalachian In October of 2015,

Village Global miniseries were filmed. Photo courtesy Photo Ron Roach. filmed. miniseries were & McCoys manifested the importance of face-to-face intellectual and cultural the importance manifested of face-to-face Chair) and Dr. Lee Bidgood (Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies), Music Studies), and Country Time, Old Bidgood (Bluegrass, Lee Chair) and Dr. Studies at East Tennessee State University, Dr. Ron Roach (Department Dr. University, State Tennessee East Studies at world—face-to-face communication is as important been. communication as it has ever world—face-to-face communication, but in a digital world—maybe because of this digital because but in a digital world—maybe communication, Few question Tesla’s prescience or the contemporary ubiquity or the contemporary of transnational prescience Tesla’s question Few distances of thousands of miles.” distances of thousands of miles.” were face to face, despite intervening despite were face to face, one another as perfectly as though we and telephony we shall see and hear with “ . . . but through television interview, village, Nikola Tesla, in a 1926 interview Tesla, Nikola village, and later in the same a huge brain,” popularized the concept of the globalpopularized the concept intowhole earth will be converted Long before Marshall McLuhan thewireless is perfectly applied The site in Romania where the in Romania where site The recent high-profile films set in Appalachia were actually filmed in Romania. We visited one of the locations used for both Cold Mountain and Hatfields and McCoys.” Regarding Roach’s observation about the lack of modern power lines, it is worth returning to Tesla’s “wireless, whole world brain” to note a commonly- shared challenge of many mountain communities: access to wireless and broadband. While in Braşov (population 250,000+), both Roach and Bidgood could check their ETSU email, but not so in rural Romanian mountain (or many Appalachian) locales. While Lee Bidgood did not attend the 2013 conference, he is no stranger to that part of the world. He received his Ph.D. in 2010 from the Critical and Comparative Studies in Music program at the University of Virginia A farmer in the remote alpine village of Magura, located entirely within Piatra Craiului with a dissertation entitled Performing Americanness, Locating Identity: National Park, reminiscent of Cades Cove in the Smokies. Photo courtesy Ron Roach. Bluegrass and Ethnography in the Czech Republic. His connection to the Czech Republic continues. Shortly after his arrival in Johnson City, he teamed with a colleague, Assistant Professor Shara Lange in the Department of Mass devoted to examining Appalachia and globalism. There is much to be learned Communication, to make the full-length documentary Banjo Romantika: by experiencing other cultures by comparing mountain regions. We find American Bluegrass Music and the Czech that highland regions around the world encounter Imagination, which has been shown on many of the same challenges and issues. Through PBS. such international experiences, we can get to know When asked about his takeaway after I had a people across cultures and help each other to find the conference in Romania, Bidgood said, “I solutions to the common problems we face.” had a surprisingly strong reaction to being surprisingly“ strong Nikola Tesla was born in the mountainous village in the Carpathians; surprising in that I knew of Smiljan, Austrian Empire (modern-day Croatia). In to expect some superficial similarities, reaction to being his 1919 autobiography, My Inventions, he recounts and strong in that I was still moved by the this childhood memory: striking similarities of the landscape there in the Carpathians; “One winter’s day I managed to climb a steep to the one I know in Appalachia.” surprising in that I mountain, in company with other boys. The snow As companies across the globe was quite deep and a warm southerly wind made it scramble to create communication knew to expect some just suitable for our purpose. We amused ourselves platforms to connect us, Bidgood’s visceral by throwing balls which would roll down a certain response to “place” underscores the digital/ superficial similarities, distance, gathering more or less snow, and we real dichotomy. A picture is still a picture, tried to outdo one another in this sport. Suddenly be it in a frame or on a computer screen. and strong in that I a ball was seen to go beyond the limit, swelling to To find oneself in a place—to emotionally was still moved by the enormous proportions until it became as big as a “feel” a landscape—is a deeper, more house and plunged thundering into the valley below profound experience than clicking or striking similarities with a force that made the ground tremble. I looked swiping to an image of that place. on spellbound, incapable of understanding what had The global village is more connected of the landscape there happened. For weeks afterward the picture of the than ever, and comparative regional avalanche was before my eyes and I wondered how studies continue to take on greater to the one I know in anything so small could grow to such an immense significance. Academicians like Bidgood size.” and Roach play a key role in fostering and Appalachia. Try experiencing a memory like that digitally. n strengthening cross-cultural ties. Roach put that role this way: “In today’s world LEE BIDGOOD” ~ Randy Sanders is Director of the Reece Museum at we are part of a global economy and in ETSU. our department we have an entire course

14 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 15 and an ongoing challenge. and an ongoing challenge. women on how to achieve emotional balance. achieve to on how women In her case, she has been strengthened by family and by strengthened she has been In her case, Seeking, finding, and maintaining “balance” has been a “balance” maintaining and finding, Seeking, a variety of challenges in her own life, and helping many life, in her own of challenges a variety right time, as well as professional help. After dealing with dealing After help. as professional as well time, right the James H. Quillen College of Medicine. She is the first to She is the first of Medicine. Quillen College the James H. lifelong quest for Dr. Merry Miller, Professor of Psychiatry in of Psychiatry Professor Merry Miller, lifelong quest for Dr. acknowledge that balance is a process, not an achievement, not an achievement, is a process, balance that acknowledge friends, including having the right person come along at the along at person come the right including having friends, patients over several decades, she has put together a guide for she has put together decades, several over patients The teenaged Miller wanted to become a doctor but lacked family support a doctor become but lacked to for Miller wanted teenaged The College of Medicine in Tennessee at the University of year in her first Then, Dr. Merry Miller: Miller: Merry Dr. Balance Seeking was wrong with her and felt embarrassment and shame.” Her mother died of a and shame.” with her and felt embarrassment wrong was heart 18. when Miller was attack and support, guidance of a high school friend offered step-mother The her goal. not help her. could if her father even path, her own follow Miller to encouraging could she where place in Memphis a welcoming Miller found Rhodes College financial support. school without her father’s attend Finding Your Emotional Balance: Balance: Emotional Your Finding

Miller is the author of a newly-released book, book, Miller is the author of a newly-released at each stage of life, women face her book focuses on the difficulties While “My part Miller was of a family with a hidden problem. up in Nashville, Growing

Photo by Jim Sledge. by Photo psychiatric practice. psychiatric grief. and struggles with depression her own Miller also shares did not understand what “We she says. major depression,” from mother suffered book, but the content relies on a lifetime of personal experience and a long-term experience on a lifetime of personal relies but the content book, . She has devoted three-and-a-half years to developing the developing to years three-and-a-half She has devoted . Women A Guide for Memphis, Miller suffered deep depression and had to take a medical leave of “The days of secrecy and fear of the topic are over for me,” she says, “as I absence. wish they could be for everyone.” “I tried to return,” she says, “but had to drop out a second time. I was much Throughout the book, Miller describes psychological issues that women more fortunate than my mother and responded well to treatment. Luckily, a face during their lives, and mental disorders that are more common or have biochemistry professor encouraged me unique features for women. She describes to work on a master’s degree in his field. symptoms that may occur and offers a I loved doing research and even spoke variety of remedies. She suggests medical at an international conference. I also It is a self-help book and nonmedical approaches that can help met my future husband then. His humor women find balance even in their most and support meant so much. I returned for“ women, and I tried to stressful times. to medical school and started over. I Each section except one begins with ultimately received my master’s degree make it as user-friendly as vignettes based on former patients (with and M.D. on the same day.” their identities concealed). Miller notes, “I Miller went to Duke University for her I could make it. used my personal story for the vignette residency in psychiatry. Her husband’s in the grief section. I spoke recently job took them to Chicago for seven years. ” about current understandings of grief at “We had two children during that MERRY MILLER a psychiatric conference, and I teach our time and I worked part-time in a practice Quillen students about helping patients where I was the only woman. I worked with a range of patients, but especially cope with grief and depression.” adolescents. The work-home balance was just what I needed.” The first half of the book covers the life cycle of women, emphasizing Years later, Miller’s children have followed in their parents’ footsteps. changes that occur over time as they age. The first chapter outlines Her son earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and is currently in a post-doctoral psychological development and difficulties that often appear in adolescence, program at Yale University. Her daughter is completing a psychiatric residency including eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. The following chapters at the University of Virginia. In retrospect, Miller appreciates the continuity examine menstrual disorders, the childbearing years, the menopausal years, and strength that her children have provided through all of the personal and and the difficulties facing seniors. professional challenges she has faced. The second half of the book consists of more detailed descriptions of In 1995, Miller joined the faculty at East Tennessee State University’s disorders and treatments, including chapters on depression, anxiety disorders, Quillen College of Medicine. substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and grief. The final chapter of the book “I loved it immediately,” she says. “My focus became women’s mental covers the concept of resilience. Each chapter ends with a list of suggestions health, including post-partum depression, eating disorders, and premenstrual and helpful websites and other resources. syndrome.” Finding Your Emotional Balance is published by Johns Hopkins University In 2001, Miller was appointed Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. She Press. n found she enjoyed the position and remained in it until 2012. In June 2010, Miller was shocked when she arrived home from work ~ Carol Fox came to the ETSU Office of University Relations as a graduate one day and found that her 58-year-old husband had died suddenly and assistant in 1996 and has remained on the staff in various capacities since then. unexpectedly in his sleep. “I feel kinship with all widows and widowers now,” she says. “The death of a spouse is a tremendous blow. I was determined not to slide into depression. I read about grief and attended a grief seminar led by local author Betty Brown, who became a source of assistance as I experienced grief.” A year later, Miller reconnected with the high school friend whose step- Tell Us About mother had helped her follow her dream of medical school. “He and I met in Nashville, partly so I could thank his step-mother,” she Your Books notes. “We reconnected after not seeing each other for 40 years, and several years later we married.” If you are an ETSU graduate and an author, the Sherrod Writing a book about women’s mental health had been on Miller’s mind, Library wants to hear from you. We want to collect your and after stepping down as Chair, she took a sabbatical to write. works and hope to initiate a series of readings and talks by “It is a self-help book for women, and I tried to make it as user-friendly alumni authors. Let us know about you and tell us about as I could make it,” Miller says. In the book’s introduction, she touches on her what you have written. Send your contact information or own difficulties with depression, something she had previously kept private. questions to Pat Van Zandt, Dean of University Libraries, at [email protected], or call 423-439-6988. 16 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 17 n “Teammates have to be there to pick you up when you are having a bad having are when you up pick you to be there to have “Teammates to have you built, has Ezell the culture and understand the program To you mouth so that ears and one made with two all people were that “I believe just listening during practice surveying can spot Ezell her team, you Oftentimes are things many world, and in the coaching In the game of basketball of effort, level and the wrong attitude with the wrong problems approach “If you Basketball Women’s of the ETSU control has taken mindset Ezell that With programs. other basketball three resurrected Ezell City, Johnson to coming Before thing in doing the right me a believer but it makes me a savior, make “It doesn’t projects successful. rebuilding Ezell’s made have players and current Former “It’s she said. on a daily basis,” maintain to have you is something that “Culture applies a Ezell built in a day.” “Rome wasn’t use the saying, often Coaches a to be coming seems to ETSU at process the rebuilding Under Brittney Ezell, ~ Nathan Palkowski is Sports Information Director for ETSU Women’s Basketball. Women’s is Sports for ETSU Information Director ~ Nathan Palkowski opportunity. It’s the philosophy Ezell has instilled of being a good teammate, on and teammate, of being a good has instilled Ezell the philosophy It’s opportunity. court.off the run past a to not allowed are You program: a rule in our have “We said Ezell. day,” affirmation.” needs Everybody way. her in some without acknowledging teammate as well. anatomy understand human People you. the people around to “Listen said Ezell. time,” listening will double your twice as So listen can help them. you and how you they need from what you will tell talk.” much as you a word. says she herself ever before among the players the communication to to go is going can predict whether or not the final basket coach No unpredictable. Nor can a a lot of points. score is going to the star player that the net or through of the sport. the nature It’s the span of a career. over will happen predict what coach all starts and with attitude the controllable controlling Ezell, for Coach However, effort. she said. want,” you that of success the level to get you of help will ever no amount in her she stated a desire level,” “championship a it back to has brought and Program ETSU. at being hired after opening address The College. Community Okaloosa-Walton Florida’s at was coaching job Her first in the NJCAA Regional an appearance and made 57-28 under Ezell went program a she led her squad to in Alabama, the University of Montevallo At Tournament. was last stop Ezell’s years. in 12 record first winning the school’s 14-13 season, conference the Bruins had a 22-12 years in two where Belmont University, at first the school’s Invitational, Basketball Women’s and earned a berth in the record 2007. since postseason appearance every things so that can be school re-establish to pillars of success my and following said. Ezell great,” are the players it all starts and making sure She says a culture with implementing pillars of success. for instilling their own accountable you and what part becomes DNA, that acknowledge of your choose to you what find importantyour pillars of success.” choose to will become every to day as they worked stop didn’t They built daily. “Rome was twist. different can find You our players. tell we is what and that in some way better get one percent better. to get one percent way find a but always things, winning in a lot of different you.” the people around life but betters your not only betters That her Through is beginning. powerhouse close and the construction of a conference on and off the her players to preaches and the philosophies she pillars of success begun. has indeed basketball for women’s a new era court daily,

Photo by Larry by Photo Smith. Brittney Ezell AFFIRMATION”: AFFIRMATION”: “EVERYBODY NEEDS “EVERYBODY

The Philosophy of Coach

While watching a women’s basketball practice inside Brooks Gym, it doesn’t it doesn’t Gym, practice inside Brooks basketball a women’s watching While While an appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament final and a Tournament in the Southern Conference an appearance While It hasn’t taken the third-year head coach long to create a legacy at ETSU. a legacy ETSU. at create long to head coach the third-year taken It hasn’t “Part of my legacy is to make sure that these athletes are contributing to contributing are these athletes that sure legacy of my “Part make is to Each incoming freshman writes down answers to one simple question posed to answers down writes freshman Each incoming A few minutes later, Ezell—Women’s Basketball Head Coach at ETSU— at Head Coach Basketball Ezell—Women’s later, A few minutes

respect one another and don’t hesitate to give acknowledgement at every at acknowledgement give to hesitate respect one another and don’t take long to see the impact that Ezell’s pillars have on the players. Her players Her players on the players. pillars have see the impact Ezell’s long to that take legacy, her simple rules, or “pillars,” as she calls them, set her apart. set her apart. them, as she calls “pillars,” or her simple rules, legacy, berth in the Women’s National Basketball Invitational helped Ezell build her helped Ezell Invitational Basketball National Women’s berth in the win progression from the year before, the second largest turnaround in the NCAA. in the NCAA. turnaround largest the second before, the year from win progression During the 2014-15 season, Ezell led the Bucs to 21 wins, which was a 16-game which was 21 wins, Bucs to led the Ezell During the 2014-15 season, tombstone is not going to have my win-loss record.” win-loss record.” my have is not going to tombstone things that we have instilled in the ones we love. I tell my players, when I die, my when I die, players, my I tell love. instilled in the ones we have we things that can’t remain on this earth forever, but our spirits can along with the lessons and but our spirits can along with the lessons on this earth remain forever, can’t the community that has supported them for four years,” said Ezell. “Our bodies “Our said Ezell. has supportedthe community that them for four years,” by Ezell: What do you want your legacy your be? to want do you What Ezell: by graduation day. This is a typical first day of practice for Buccaneer freshmen. of practice is a typical for Buccaneer freshmen. first day This day. graduation paper in front of them. of them. paper in front of again until spoken and it is never drawer the paper in a locked places Every year, new freshmen sit down in Brittney Ezell’s office with a blank sheet of with a blank sheet office in Brittney Ezell’s sit down new freshmen year, Every Who’s Going to ETSU?

Asmahan Elayan: who volunteer to work at the café for an hour can donate their earned free meal to the pantry to be given to someone in need of food.” Stocking Bucky’s Pantry Another way to help, she adds, is by donating food. “There are boxes located all around campus that are marked ‘Bucky’s Food Pantry.’” “Right now, we need nonperishable items, such as sugar, flour, peanut butter, The pantry relies on the generosity of the campus community. All items crackers, canned fruit, granola bars, tea, coffee, and cereal,” says Asmahan are welcome and needed. Elayan. “Also, personal items like toothbrushes, body wash, and razors are needed. The only items we have enough of are green beans and corn.” That is the wish list for the East Tennessee State University Bucky’s Pantry, Greyson Jennings: a food bank located on the second floor of the ETSU and Mountain States Ready to Make a Change in the World Health Alliance Athletic Center (Minidome) and open to provide assistance to students, staff, and their families. Elayan, a graduate student in Social Work When Greyson Jennings went through formal fraternity rush, he knew he at ETSU, is on the pantry’s steering was welcome at the Sigma Chi house. The brothers had made an improvised committee and is a strong ramp so he could get into the house in his motorized wheelchair. Photo by Jim Sledge. advocate for the program. Once he joined the fraternity, his story went out to Sigma Chi alumni “From July to through Facebook, along with a challenge to donate funds to build a September of 2014,” permanent ramp. Within 72 hours, the money had been collected, and then she says, “52 ETSU the brothers constructed a sturdy ramp. students used A sophomore majoring in Political Science, Jennings advocates joining a this on-campus fraternity. “It is a great way to make friends,” he says, “and to bring you out of resource. During N your shell and into taking a leadership role.” A July to September Y One way he has taken the lead was to suggest that the fraternity use A of 2015, that number L the annual Derby Day competition to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for E increased to 152 N Children. students.” AHA “The Shriners have done so much for me,” he explains, “and I wanted to A native of Dalton, ASM give back. Making the trip to Greenville, South Carolina, to present a $3,000 Georgia, Elayan spent much of check was great. I loved bringing something to them and not needing her life in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain before anything for myself.” returning to attend ETSU as an undergraduate and earning a bachelor’s A native of Church Hill and degree in Public and Allied Health in 2004. graduate of Volunteer Photo by Jim Sledge. “My father’s job took us to Saudi Arabia,” she explains, “and we lived in High School, Jennings American compounds. I attended high school in nearby Bahrain and came decided several years home on weekends. The experience was wonderful. I met people, was ago that he would exposed to cultures, and sampled food from all over the world. plan a career in “For the past seven years, I have been employed as a Children and Youth law. As he says, “I Intensive Case Manager at Frontier Health, and I am invested in helping out have challenges S

in the community,” she explains. physically, so I G N Elayan says Bucky’s Pantry helps take care of immediate needs so need a career I students have more funds available for other necessities. that stresses N N “We also had a winter coat drive and collected 400 coats,” she adds. mental abilities.” JE “Although most have been distributed, some are still available for those in His involvement SON need.” in the Lions Club and the GREY Elayan finds her work very satisfying, and she encourages others to Pre-Law Society has convinced participate. him he is on the right career path. “Bucky’s Pantry has a partnership with One Acre Café,” she says. “People In the coming year Jennings will be an SGA Senator. He says, “I’d like to increase awareness on campus of ADA requirements and the challenges many students face just getting around.” 18 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

ETSU TODAY 19

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20 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 21 A week after interviewing, Branham received received Branham interviewing, after A week True to form, Branham continued being continued Branham form, to True where I wanted to go.” to I wanted where he had letting him know Calhoun a call from Branham says. “After interview day, I knew this is I knew this interview day, “After says. Branham been accepted. been accepted. dean being there to greet you when you arrive,” arrive,” when you you greet to dean being there

front door. That doesn’t happen most places, the happen most places, doesn’t That door. front a leader by running for president of his class, a of his class, running for president a leader by

“When I came for the interview, I walked in and Dean I walked I came for the interview, “When (Larry) Calhoun was there to welcome me at the me at welcome to (Larry) there was Calhoun

M position he not only obtained but has been re-elected A

H the kind of the middle person between “I’m twice now. to N

in the GCOP’s Class of 2017. in the GCOP’s A

students and our faculty and staff,” says Branham, now a third- now Branham, says and our facultystudents and staff,”

At the end of 2012, Branham got his chance to interview to for a spot got his chance Branham the end of 2012, At R B

Y pharmacyyear student. it.” enjoy familiar with and I really already I was “It is a lot of tasks that his post- to familiar when it comes what’s is also looking to Branham has ETSU his time at says Branham he chooses, of which route Regardless to you is very Everybody much wanting here. “It is just so welcoming Around that time, Branham and his then-fiancé parted and his then-fiancé Branham ways. time, that Around and I financially, and on emotionally of things going a lot were “There multiple promoted was Branham in the military, During his time Maria. met his wife, Branham that in the Marines while he was It was would I probably married, gotten and if I hadn’t re-enlist, going to “I was Branham began applying pre-requisites, two his final finishing While nation,” schools in the of yellow-ribbon 10 percent is in the top “ETSU D

graduation plans. He is considering either a return to the military—this to either a return time He is considering plans. graduation Affairs Veterans as a pharmacist in the Navy—or a pharmacy job within the get quality health care. veterans he can help fellow where system he is headed. out where helped him figure pharmacy“The family for me.” school is a second he says. succeed,” made a spontaneous decision that probably ended up being the best decision best the being up ended probably that decision spontaneous a made Corps.” “I joined the Marine says. Branham life,” of my He responsibilities. leadership on more take to asked times and repeatedly in 2010. Afghanistan and to in 2008 Iraq twice—to deployed He Ariel. daughter, an 8-month-old and they have in 2010, wed couple The his servicecompleted with the Marines in 2011. a family, have be in the Marines and not easy to “But it’s says. Branham have,” school.” decided I should go back to so we of PharmacyETSU, at College including the Bill Gatton pharmacyto schools, meaning ETSU school, because it is a yellow-ribbon he initially applied where as being militaryis designated friendly. kind of that have I would important know “It was me to to notes. Branham support school.” to when I returned

N A

T Photo by Charlie Warden. Charlie by Photo

“I didn’t have a way to support to in pharmacy myself well a way school and I was have “I didn’t Branham served as the lead technician there for two years and began years for two servedBranham there as the lead technician After his high school graduation, Branham went on to Mountain Empire Empire Mountain on to went Branham his high school graduation, After After retrieving his grandmother’s prescription, Branham stuck around stuck around Branham prescription, his grandmother’s retrieving After “I was in the Rite-Aid in my town picking up a town in the Rite-Aid in my “I was Toward the end of Branham’s senior year senior year the end of Branham’s Toward “She was a good role model for me— a good role “She was By the time he was in second grade, Branham’s parents had split up, had split up, parents Branham’s grade, in second By the time he was pick up a lot of responsibilities,” I had to a single mother, “With garnering her GED, school, to His mother returned “When I was born, my parents were very poor. Neither of them had very poor. were parents my born, I was “When Jennings values most the confidence he has gained at ETSU. As for the at ETSU. he has gained most the confidence Jennings values Jennings knows he has his family behind him. They are a closely-knit are They him. family behind he has his knows Jennings

not have to worry about working to pay my way at the same time.” at way my pay to worry to about working not have aware of that,” he says. “I knew I had to be able to focus just on school and be able to “I knew I had to he says. of that,” aware

a very different direction. a very different 2006, the “perfect storm” of personal and financial problems took Branham intook Branham of personal and financial problems “perfect storm” the 2006, pharmacy where he first decided to go into the field. And he got the job. the field. to go into pharmacy he first decided where But in pharmacy attend school. to his pre-requisites on completing working pharmacy technician certificate. From there, he applied to the veryto the he applied Rite-Aid there, From pharmacy certificate. technician Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where he obtained his where Virginia, Gap, in Big Stone College Community pharmacy world. pharmacy world. patients and obviously cared about them.” cared and obviously patients the And so began his journey into ask the pharmacyto about her job. tech technician was genuinely happy and kind. She was talking with She was and kind. genuinely happy was technician prescription for my grandmother,” he recalls. “The pharmacy“The he recalls. grandmother,” for my prescription that would eventually lead him to ETSU. lead him to eventually would that in high school, he discovered the line of work the line of work he discovered in high school,

family health clinic in their hometown. owns both a home health agencyowns and a mom, who today is a Nurse Practitioner is a Nurse and who today mom, something of herself,” Branham says of his says Branham something of herself,” seeing her come from nothing and make nothing and make from seeing her come mom had earned her nursing degree. mom had earned her nursing degree. leaving him as the “man of the house” at the tender age of 7. age of 7. the tender at of the house” “man him as the leaving recalls. Branham his high school, entered the time Branham and by whole childhood.” native. “We lived off of Social Security lived my much pretty and food stamps “We native. graduated from high school and neither had a job,” says the Pound, Virginia, Virginia, the Pound, says high school and neither had a job,” from graduated was just a child. was himself in leadership positions. He has been preparing for those roles since he since for those roles He has been preparing himself in leadership positions. No matter where he goes, 29-year-old Tandy Branham always seems to find to seems always Branham Tandy 29-year-old he goes, where No matter Tandy Branham: Always a Leader Always Branham: Tandy this world.” future, he says, “I want to look back and know that I tried to make a change in a change make tried to I that look back and know to “I want he says, future, the love of my family and my faith in Jesus Christ.” faith in Jesus and my family of my the love says, “and now I have a younger step-brother. I have made it this far thanks to made it this I have step-brother. a younger I have now “and says, “In addition to my father, I have an older brother and two older sisters,” he sisters,” older two and older brother an I have father, my to “In addition group that became even closer after the death of Jennings’ mother in 2007. in 2007. mother of Jennings’ the death closer after even became that group Photo by Charlie Warden. Charlie by Photo Who’s Teaching at ETSU?

The POGIL Effect: ETSU know and expecting them to learn it, Brown uses Professor Takes Teaching POGIL activities to Photo by Jim Sledge. Method to New Heights give them hands- on opportunities Spend any time at all with Dr. Patrick Brown and his passion for teaching to figure it out themselves. will become obvious. Still, at the end of his first year as a college professor in N “We all have 2008, Brown, now an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at ETSU, admits W he was “frustrated” with his new profession. preconceived O “I put so much effort into my class. The students loved me. I was very notions, prior R B personable. I was charismatic. I got great reviews from my students,” Brown knowledge that K affects how we learn. On C recalls. “But at the end of the semester, half of the class was failing my exam. RI There was a real disconnect with what I thought I was teaching and what the first day of class, I ask DR. PAT they were actually learning.” my students, ‘How many of you Eager to improve, Brown attended a workshop that summer on a are a 38-year-old straight man, cradle teaching method called Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning, or Catholic from southern Appalachia?’ I don’t get anyone raising their hands,” POGIL. It is a student-centered instructional approach that simultaneously he says. “And that’s the point. How can I expect a 19-year-old black woman develops content mastery and key process skills like critical thinking, effective from Memphis to have the same view of the world as I do? I can’t.” communication, and teamwork. In a POGIL classroom, students work in small groups on specially- designed materials. Those materials supply students with data or information for interpretation followed by guiding questions to lead them toward the formulation of their own valid conclusions. The professor serves as a facilitator, observing and periodically addressing individual and classroom- It requires a lot more wide needs. work“ on everybody’s part. “It requires a lot more work on everybody’s part. The students can’t just sit there and you, as the teacher, have to be doing that one-on-one mentoring in The students can’t just the classroom,” Brown says. “But it works. Students learn better.” The proof, he adds, is in the overall improvement of his students and their sit there and you, as the grades. “My fail rate on my final exam was almost 20 percent when I was just teacher, have to be doing lecturing,” Brown says. “With POGIL, it dropped steadily to about 5 percent. And those 5 percent are the ones who just gave up.” that one-on-one mentoring Brown doesn’t just use POGIL activities in the classroom. He creates them and even teaches other educators how to use them. in the classroom. “I drank the Kool-Aid,” he jokes. “After that summer conference, I went ” home and wrote the world’s first anatomy and physiology POGIL activities.” PATRICK BROWN He has since written approximately 40 such activities, and just last year, authored an anatomy and physiology textbook that uses the POGIL method. n

~ Kristen Swing is Associate Director of University Relations at ETSU. “It blew my skull,” Brown says. “They are so thoughtful in developing this. Every piece of these POGIL activities that students do has a purpose. Students are never told anything directly. It’s all about discovery. They are constructing knowledge from scratch.” That, Brown says, is a far cry from the “old-sage-on-the-stage” model of teaching in which professors simply stand in front of a classroom and lecture for an hour. Now, instead of telling his students what they need to

22 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 23

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If you would like to continue receiving a printed version of version a printed receiving continue to like would If you Name Address ______City ______Zip State ❒ ❒ SAVE THE DATE! SAVE 12, 2016 NOVEMBER ETSU TODAY IS ETSU TODAY GOING DIGITAL! Today the fall 2016 issue of ETSU that announce to excited are We online digital format. a new to will be moving it in the and return the form below please complete Today, ETSU update to want if you Also, inserted magazine. in this envelope send Or, on the form as well. is a place there email address, your [email protected]. to email address us your

The ear) Joining is easy! personal Your check or online through registration www.etsualumni. in will put you org National the ETSU Alumni Association Membership dues Your Program. criticalwill extend ears, after the first) after ears, ear free as a graduation gift ear free as a graduation First y First (first 10 y $25 per year (couples are only $80 per y $45 per year $25 per year National Alumni Association Establishes Association Alumni National

ETSU

Special First Year Introductory Price – $25 Membership Offer* – $25 Membership Price Introductory Year First Special is our newest alumni feature and provides the and provides alumni feature is our newest Membership Program

The envelope in the center of this magazine canto in the center a be the first step The envelope NEW MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM MEMBERSHIP NEW

In the past, alums enjoyed membership simply by graduating from ETSU. from ETSU. by graduating membership simply alums enjoyed In the past,

• Golden 50s (50 years or more) • Golden 50s (50 years • General (11 – 49 Years) • General (11 – 49 • Grads of the Last Decade (GOLD) are really affordable: are really affordable: Membership Year • Graduation The membership levels couldn’t be simpler andThe membership levels couldn’t the efforts degree. of everyone an ETSU who earns that’s as active as you are. Joining today not only burnishes your own legacy, but it invests in but it invests legacy, own not only burnishes your Joining today are. as active as you that’s overall success. The The overall success. a membership program have to you want we go; you the banner of the university wherever the ETSU Family. Our involved alumni, especially, will enhance our effectiveness our and ensure will enhance especially, alumni, Our involved Family. the ETSU wave you know We and dedication. commitment, of engagement, clear evidence provides of the education students receive. Doing so takes the combined efforts the combined Doing so takes of of all members receive. students of the education helping ETSU. to most direct route active one that a more to role passive previous that transforms Membership Program fronts to deepen the university experience, attract more students, and enhance the quality and enhance students, attract more deepen the university experience, to fronts East Tennessee State University and your National Alumni Association are working on many on working are Alumni Association National University and your State Tennessee East introductory membership price of $25. * Sign up by August 1, 2016, for your 2016-17 membership and pay only 2016-17 the for your 2016, August 1, * Sign up by for the Membership Program. Join now! register to www.etsualumni.org can go online at you prefer, If you information. card credit and resources that allow for a lifetime of involvement. allow that and resources along with a check or information, latest it out with your Fill ETSU Alumni. era for new provide a key link in the ETSU community…making lasting connections opportunities link in the ETSU to a key provide support, each day the ETSU National Alumni Association will represent your interests and interests your will represent Alumni Association National the ETSU each day support, engage more alumni, and introduce next-generation students to the university. With your your With the university. to students next-generation and introduce alumni, engage more support to the university to fund student groups, allow continuing outreach efforts outreach to continuing allow support groups, fund student the university to to

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MEADOWVIEW MARRIOTT MARRIOTT MEADOWVIEW CONFERENCE RESORT CONVENTION & CENTER PARKWAY MEADOWVIEW 1901 KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE 37660 423.578.6600 MEADOWVIEWRESORT.COM | *Special rate subject availability. to Blackout dates may apply. YOUR ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES. MEMORIES. UNFORGETTABLE FOR ONE-STOP-SHOP YOUR SET AGAINST THE MAJESTIC BACKDROP OF THE BLUE RIDGE WINNING MOUNTAINS, THIS AWARD RESORT IS THE IDEAL A RELAXING FOR LOCATION GETAWAY. University State With and closeproximity other East attractions. to Tennessee popular Tennessee ETSU alumni and visitors can enjoy a relaxing environment with amenities amazing on-site such as the award-winning Reedy Creek Winery and tasting outdoor room, cozy patio and fire pit, Cattails Golf Course, nearby Kingsport Aquatic Center and much more . — book our special ETSU alumni/fanTo visit rate, MeadowViewResort.com and enter promo code 4ET or call 423.578.6600 and mention promo code. Photos by Charlie Warden.

Living on Spider Time Northeast Tennessee is a great place to tell a story, pick a banjo, and watch a race. And, it turns out, a great place to study spiders. East Tennessee State University’s own spider man, Dr. Thomas Jones, descends into the catacombs of Brown Hall, to monitor the movements of a gang of spiders. And, he finds, spiders have rhythm. Sitting on Jones’ desk, in a ventilated plastic container one fall day, was an egg-laden Argiope spider, about to be transported to the professor’s home, to be released for the start of a new population in his yard. Observing her, Jones admitted a childhood fear of spiders that has not entirely gone away. “They’re predators, they have fangs, and they’re creepy,” he said. With a lifelong love of swamps, Jones did his doctoral work for an Ohio State Ph.D. in the Florida Everglades. But spiders have now taken over his professional life, and his work has gotten the attention of the National Science Foundation, which is supporting his research with a $415,000 grant. Jones calls his project “Spiders on the Clock.” He explains that nearly all living things, including humans, have daily biological rhythms.

26 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 27

I believ

I encourage all of my students to follow to students all of my I encourage

“In my lab I have two Ph.D. students, two students, Ph.D. two lab I have “In my Jones says what he loves most about he loves what Jones says actively involved in projects. actively involved offer the very best undergraduate we research a real are because we experience, value department we but small enough that in the of undergraduates the contribution lab. which has paid off in curiosity, their own students in cutting- edge research. in cutting- edge research. students M.S. students, and three undergraduates undergraduates and three students, M.S. work will provide much-needed insight into into much-needed insight will provide work and rhythms, of behavioral the regulation them.” influences environment the how and the Department ETSU being at of in particularBiological Sciences much is how of is among all levels there involvement Funds from NSF and ETSU are helping to support several undergraduate support undergraduate helping to are several NSF and ETSU from Funds daily changes in aggression how testing are we studies, these “Through Dr. Thomas Jones (center) and his students manage to smile about spiders. smile manage to and his students Jones (center) Thomas Dr. several unexpected discoveries leading to new areas of research. The ‘Spiders The of research. new areas leading to discoveries unexpected several class project out of an independent grew for example, project, on the Clock’ the over personalities change spiders’ that discovered we where in Biology III, Nathaniel Student clock. the circadian by regulated and are of a day course heavycontamination metal honors project is finding that Hancock’s affect the how in turn, which could, behavior anti-predator affects spiders’ Development Committee. That money will fund a pilot study for the next a pilot study will fund money That Committee. Development changes in of daily the exploration “project, Clock on the “Spiders of the phase hormones. of aggression-related in the synthesis of genes involved expression doctoral and master’s, as they pursue bachelor’s, students and graduate Jones serves as graduate professor, his title as associate to In addition degrees. collaborators Faculty for the Department of Biological Sciences. coordinator the Department from of Moore Darrell Dr. are “Spiders on the Clock” for of Pharmacy. the College Roane from David and Dr. Biological Sciences “This Jones says. environment,” changes in the organism’s to relate levels contaminant moves through the food web.” through moves contaminant WETS-FM/HD. for at ETSU and News Director Writer is Senior Sauceman ~ Fred by spiders. science building, in handful of people each Deep in the catacombsDeep in the quarters seen by only a of Brown Hall, the ETSUof Brown Hall, are constantly trained onare constantly trained screened boxes populated semester, infrared cameras infrared semester,

One

ETSU has recognized the value of the work carried out by Jones and carried out by of the work the value has recognized ETSU The study of behavioral rhythms in spiders has also revealed a side in spiders has also revealed rhythms study of behavioral The Jones and his students also record spiders in their natural habitat and habitat spiders in their natural also record Jones and his students Deep in the catacombs of Brown Hall, Hall, of Brown Deep in the catacombs There is a practical side to Jones’ is a practicalJones’ to side There Despite the creepiness factor, Jones says spiders are fascinating organisms organisms fascinating are spiders Jones says factor, the creepiness Despite “This ‘internal clock’ helps regulate physiological and behavioral changes and behavioral physiological regulate helps clock’ ‘internal “This

his students through the awarding of a $10,000 grant from the Research the Research from of a $10,000 grant the awarding through his students are all tropical. are region, and it is found in Tennessee and North Carolina. The rest, Jones says, Jones says, rest, The and North Carolina. Tennessee and it is found in region, , lives in a temperate in a temperate lives Anelosimus studiosus, only one, species of social spiders, benefit, what Jones calls “a major evolutionary shift in action.” Of some 60 “a major evolutionary shift in action.” Jones calls what benefit, hormone levels are measured. are hormone levels of aggression are manipulated with pharmaceuticals such as Prozac, and such as Prozac, with pharmaceuticals manipulated are of aggression telling it to build its web before sunrise. before build its web it to telling levels spiders’ The and blood. in their brains of chemicals the levels measure shortening of the naturally occurring clock, shortening occurring clock, of the naturally spider’s internal clock is 19 hours long, a clock is 19 hours long, internal spider’s software system. Among the findings: system. software and the video is analyzed by a special by and the video is analyzed documents each spider’s movements, movements, each spider’s documents room,” an eight-channel recording system recording an eight-channel room,” spiders. In the climate-controlled “behavior In the climate-controlled spiders. trained on screened boxes populated by populated boxes on screened trained semester, infrared cameras are constantly constantly are cameras infrared semester, seen by only a handful of people eachseen by the ETSU science building, in quarters building, science the ETSU altered. is easily measured and experimentally and experimentally is easily measured research as well. The behavior of spiders behavior The as well. research ones. prey, spiders have to balance aggressive, bold behaviors with timid, cautious with timid, bold behaviors aggressive, balance to have spiders prey, simple enough to be reasonably tractable.” And, being both predators and being both predators And, tractable.” be reasonably simple enough to to study. “Their behaviors are complex enough to be really interesting but interesting be really enough to complex are behaviors “Their study. to

rhythms in aggression and wariness and the internal clock in these spiders.” and the internal wariness and in aggression rhythms adjust to, changing conditions. The project explores connections between project explores The conditions. changing adjust to, spiders (those that weave a classic web) by allowing them to anticipate, and anticipate, them to allowing by a classic web) weave that spiders (those hypothesis that the internal clock conveys an advantage to orb-weaving orb-weaving to an advantage clock conveys the internal that hypothesis over the course of a 24-hour period,” Jones says. “Our study tests the tests study “Our Jones says. period,” of a 24-hour the course over Remembering a Photo by Larry Smith. Teacher for the Ages:

Dr. Robert “Jack” Higgs ETSU Professor Emeritus of English FEBRUARY 23, 1932 TO SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

“Like probably hundreds of others, I spent 33 years in the classroom trying to be half the teacher Jack Higgs was. I learned from him to be proud of my own history and heritage, to be passionate about literature and writing and its importance in the world, and to be both humble and confident in sharing my creative and academic writing.” Jack Higgs, who played football – Rita Sims Quillen and baseball at the U.S. Naval Academy, was an Educator, musician, poet, and author of the novel Hiding Ezra authority on sport literature and the connections between sports and religion in culture. He wrote and edited numerous books on the topic, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated God in the Stadium: Sports & Religion “Jack saw teaching as a munificent garden. He weeded out ignorance, watered in America. Higgs, along with Dr. Don Johnson and the late Dr. Lyle Olsen of the flames of wisdom, and mulched heart into the dust of fear. His reward was the Department of English, was instrumental in the establishment of the an abundant harvest of students who learned firsthand what it means to live Sport Literature Association, which is headquartered at ETSU, and served for a good and noble life. His vision of wild splendor swelled into a bloom of poets, many years on the organization’s editorial board of Aethlon: The Journal of diviners, savants.” Sport Literature. The Higgs-Olsen Endowment for the Professorship in Sport – Dr. Elaine O’Quinn Literature and Play Theory was established through the ETSU Foundation in Professor of English, Appalachian State University honor of their contributions to the field. “Literature of Southern Appalachia” was one of Jack Higgs’ most popular “He has taken the name of ETSU literally all over the world. Although he retired courses, and he played a leading role in producing texts that became widely from teaching many years ago, he never stopped learning, never stopped used in that field. He and the late Ambrose Manning of the Department of reading, and never stopped being a scholar. To be in his presence was an English edited three editions of Voices from the Hills: Selected Readings of amazing experience. He could see connections most people never realize. He Southern Appalachia. The two later collaborated with the late Jim Wayne could talk about beans and cornbread and plowing with mules while at the Miller of Western Kentucky University in editing a two-volume sequel to same time discussing the most complex literary and philosophical subjects you Voices from the Hills entitled Appalachia Inside Out. could imagine.” At the end of his ETSU career, Higgs was honored with the publication of – Fred Sauceman One for the Higger: Jack Higgs, A Man For All Seasons, a collection of essays, ETSU Senior Writer and Associate Professor of Appalachian Studies, short stories, poetry, and memoirs composed by numerous colleagues quoted by Douglas Fritz in “Higgs’ unique combination was ETSU’s and friends and compiled by Lyle Olsen. In his introduction, longtime ETSU treasure,” Johnson City Press, September 22, 2015 colleague Dr. Thomas Burton, Professor Emeritus of English, described Higgs as “something of a quester for the Holy Grail, a knight in the tradition of Sir Bors, who would be content not to see the Grail himself so others might see.” n 28 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 29 “water bears.” “water Dr. Diane Nelson is Nelson Diane Dr. known worldwide for worldwide known the study of tardigrades, of tardigrades, the study

century, Giuseppe Ramazzotti was a leading authority Giuseppe was Ramazzotti century, th Upon completion of my Ph.D., I was invited to present my dissertation my present to invited I was Ph.D., of my Upon completion As early as 1774, Italians have played a pivotal role in the study of role a pivotal played Italians have As early as 1774, to note first the Corti was Bonaventura Italian abbot The tardigrades. and Lazzaro can withstand short tardigrades periods of desiccation, that “the slow which means Tardigrado,” “il the term Spallanzani introduced In the 20 walker.” on tardigrades, publishing many papers and monographs on these papers and monographs publishing many on tardigrades, “Il monograph comprehensive the first edition of his In 1962, organisms. of tardigrades, in the field of taxonomy a milestone was Tardigrado” Phylum as a phylum. Tardigrada designating on Roan Mountain, Tardigrades Distribution of “Ecological research, on Symposium the 1st International at Carolina,” Tennessee-North the Istituto at Tonolli Livia Dr. by hosted symposium was The Tardigrades. “father honor the in June 1974 to Italy, in Pallanza, Italiano di Idrobiologia on the occasion of his 75th Giuseppe Ramazzotti, Dr. of tardigradology,” from Pilato Giovani and Dr. Ramazzotti Dr. I vividly remember birthday. but their all in Italian of course, the symposium, at vigorously Sicily arguing and mentor became my Ramazzotti Dr. easily understood! emotions were I also met another first symposium, that At his death. until corresponded we bears and Italians. Tardigrades and ETSU Tardigrades and I’ve been studying them ever since. and I’ve been studying them ever since.

at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, I Tennessee-Knoxville, at the University of I took the first course in my Ph.D. program I took the first course in my Ph.D. began a lifelong career investigating these my first live tardigrade under a microscope, my first live tardigrade under a microscope, bears. It was love at first sight when I found Before I researched these amazing critters, I Before I researched these amazing critters, Challenged to find tardigrades in 1969 whenChallenged to find tardigrades

and became an international traveler, sharing and became an international traveler, had never been west of the Mississippi River. had never been west of the Mississippi River. charismatic microscopic animals called water Thanks to water bears, I applied for a passport Thanks to water bears, classrooms. Thus began my lifetime with water classrooms.

learning experiences not available in traditional The Italian Connection: The Italian of Appalachia. Photo courtesy ETSU Archives Archives courtesyPhoto ETSU Photo by Larry by Photo Smith. Italian, Dr. Roberto Bertolani, who became a lifelong friend, colleague, and International Symposium, to honor Dr. Roberto Bertolani on the occasion of collaborator. Thus began an enduring connection with Italy and my Italian his 70th birthday (and my 71st) and his formal retirement from his university colleagues. (but not from tardigrades). Roberto and I are the only two tardigradologists Following our second symposium in Poland in 1977, East Tennessee State who have participated in all 13 symposia. At the formal concluding dinner in University was the site of our 3rd International Symposium in August 1980, the courtyard of the Spezzano Castle, noted for its famed Modena balsamic before computers and email were widely available. As organizer, hostess, vinegar, Roberto and I were celebrated with “Happy Birthday” Italian and editor, I discovered it was quite desserts and greetings from the entire group of a job and enlisted my ETSU graduate participants as well as a PowerPoint presentation students to assist and participate on our parallel lives, following us from childhood in the conference. In his research There are so many through all of the tardigrade symposia. presentation, Dr. Reinhardt Kristensen, “tardigradologists who Together Roberto Bertolani and his former University of Copenhagen, honored students (now colleagues) Dr. Roberto Guidetti, me by naming an unusual tardigrade have become friends as Dr. Lorena Rebecchi, and Dr. Tiziano Altiero, as Macrobiotus dianae (now Murrayon well as Dr. Giovanni Pilato, and I have published dianae after systematic revision), well as colleagues over numerous articles and chapters on tardigrades. discovered in a homothermic spring Their knowledge and willingness to collaborate on Disko Island, Greenland. (This was the years. For many, I have made this partnership most productive. the first of three species named after In addition, Roberto Guidetti previously spent me during my career.) know their families, have a year working in my lab at ETSU collecting After a field trip to Roan Mountain, visited in their homes, and tardigrades from Roan Mountain and returned we finished with a dinner at Boone later for another month for morphological and Inn in North Carolina. The European watched their children molecular studies. In recognition, he named a tardigradologists were shocked to new species from Roan Mountain in appreciation learn that wine and beer were not grow up. of my hospitality and assistance, Macrobiotus served in restaurants in our area of ” nelsonae. Another tardigrade species found in the Appalachian Mountains! DIANE NELSON Italy and the Aeolian Islands, Diphascon nelsonae, The 4th International Symposium was named by the Italians Drs. Giovanni Pilato, on Tardigrada in 1985, hosted by Maria Grazia Binda, Roberto Bertolani, and Dr. Roberto Bertolani, marked my second trip to Italy and my first to the Oscar Lisi, “to honour the tardigradologist, our dear friend, Diane Nelson.” The University of Modena. Subsequent symposia were held in College Park, Italian connection is close to my heart for many reasons. Maryland (which I hosted in 1992); Cambridge, England (1994); Dusseldorf, There are so many tardigradologists who have become friends as well Germany (1997); Copenhagen, Denmark, followed by a workshop at the as colleagues over the years. For many, I know their families, have visited in Danish Arctic Research Station in Greenland (2000); and St. Pete’s Beach, their homes, and watched their children grow up. They are always welcome in Florida (2003), which was the first symposium attended by Dr. Paul Bartels my home and my lab. We have shared much more than tardigrades. We have of Warren Wilson College in Asheville. Paul and I have worked for the past 15 shared life and cherished memories. n years on tardigrades in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, sponsored by Discover Life in America. ~ Dr. Diane R. Nelson is Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences at ETSU. Back to Italy in 2006: Sicily was the home of our 10th International Symposium on Tardigrada, hosted by Dr. Giovanni Pilato and his wife and co- author Maria Grazia Binda at the University of Catania. The co-organizers were Dr. Diane Nelson (center) with her Italian my Italian colleagues, Drs. Roberto Bertolani, Roberto Guidetti, and Lorena colleagues. Photo courtesy Diane Nelson. Rebecchi, who invited me to serve as co-editor of the symposium proceedings published in the Journal of Limnology. Our field day was a trip to Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, which erupted at its summit after our excursion. What a way to end a conference! Additional symposia were held in 2009 in the historic German city of Tübingen and in 2012 in Porto, Portugal, as the number of tardigradologists in the world continued to increase. In June of 2015, we journeyed back to Modena, Italy, for the 13th

30 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 31 Photo by Larry by Photo Smith. Former ETSU First Lady Martha Culp turns 100. Here Here Lady Martha turns 100. First Culp ETSU Former 2015: NOVEMBER 4, Lady Donna Noland and the Nolands’ First ETSU with current she celebrates 2016. 6, on May passed away Culp Mrs. son Jackson. Network Practice of Nursing Family College ETSU’s 2015: NOVEMBER 5, and Services Resources the Health from grant a $1 million federal receives construct house its Johnson City to a new building to Day Administration and other services the homeless health care to which provides Center, in the region. population Wilsie University Dr. honors Commonwealth Virginia 2015: NOVEMBER 18, as Affairs, for Health President Vice Officer and Chief Operating ETSU Bishop, alumni stars. one of its brightest Fossil at the Gray is identified mastodon An early giant 2015: DECEMBER 1, Site. “Social is named ETSU, at Staff Counselor Mina McVeigh, 2016: APRIL 13, Tennessee - Workers of Social Association the National by Year” of the Worker Chapter Angela names Dr. (ACE) on Education American Council The 2016: APRIL 14, She currently 2016-17. academic year for the Fellow as an ACE Lewis Radford and Curricula, Programs, for Undergraduate Provost Vice serves as Associate Services ETSU. at of a new, the establishment announces ETSU 2016: APRIL 20, will focus on one of the most significant that center research interprofessional prescription and much of the nation: health issues plaguing both the region drug abuse. with academic alliance a new enterprise-level unveils ETSU 2016: 4, MAY for undergraduate will offer one-of-a-kind learning experiences that Adobe the university with state-of-the-art while providing students and graduate tools. digital marketing

in the th

ETSU in 1979. ETSU American Medical Colleges for his work in medical education since joining since in medical education for his work American Medical Colleges Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award from the Association of the Association from Award Teacher Distinguished Glaser Alpha Robert J. Dr. Tom Kwasigroch receives the Alpha Omega receives Kwasigroch Tom Dr. 2015: NOVEMBER 4, healthcare system. healthcare safety practices within the Veterans Affairs system and the larger federal and the larger system Affairs Veterans safety practices within the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for his work in improving X-ray X-ray in improving Agency for his work Protection Environmental the U.S. Medicine at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine, receives a Bronze Medal from Medal from a Bronze receives of Medicine, College Quillen ETSU’s Medicine at Dr. Ron Hamdy, Chair of the Division of Geriatric Ron Hamdy, Dr. 2015: 28, OCTOBER schools. agreement to broaden cultural experiences of students and faculty from both and faculty of students from experiences cultural broaden to agreement China’s Shandong Institute of Commerce and Technology enter a cooperative cooperative a enter Technology and of Commerce Shandong Institute China’s ETSU’s Department and Instruction and of Curriculum ETSU’s 2015: 28, OCTOBER Stanton Auditorium, in honor of the former ETSU First Lady. First in honor of the former ETSU Auditorium, Stanton The Quillen College of Medicine names the Nancy B. Nancy of Medicine names the B. Quillen College The 2015: 23, OCTOBER conferred the largest number of undergraduate degrees. number of undergraduate the largest conferred the American Institute of Physics list of physics departments that list of physics nationwide of Physics the American Institute The ETSU Department of Physics and Astronomy makes makes Department ETSU and Astronomy of Physics The 2015: 22, OCTOBER a study he hopes will help lead to a treatment to prevent cirrhosis of the liver. prevent to a treatment a study he hopes will help lead to Sciences, receives a $163,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health for Institutes the National from a $163,000 grant receives Sciences, Dr. Jonathan Peterson, Assistant Professor of Health Professor Assistant Peterson, Jonathan 2015: Dr. 16, OCTOBER online resource for prospective graduate students. graduate for prospective online resource nation in the fall 2015 rankings announced by Graduateprograms.com, an Graduateprograms.com, by announced in the fall 2015 rankings nation

ETSU’s Physical Therapy program is listed as 14 is listed program Therapy Physical ETSU’s 2015: 9, OCTOBER school. of the top 20 schools in the country for students who plan to enter medical enter 20 schools in the country who plan to of the top for students lists ETSU as one lists ETSU www.america.edu website The 2015: SEPTEMBER 28, Football returns as ETSU plays its first home game. plays ETSU as returns 2015: Football SEPTEMBER 3, ETSU DATELINE: 32 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 33 Fax: 423-439-5694 Phone: 423-439-6149 Phone: Email: [email protected] TOLL FREE: 855-750-5730 We can show you how. We social more sciences and PO Box 70720 We help you! Support services and staff to help students succeed. students serviceshelp to staff Support and you! help We 309 Burgin Dossett Hall Dossett 309 Burgin www.etsu.edu/gradstud/ School of Graduate Studies Graduate School of Affordable education with national reputation national with education Affordable We offer opportunities for financial support—scholarships, graduate assistantships graduate support—scholarships, financial for opportunities offer We accessible! More than 2200 people enrolled in graduate school at ETSU in 2014-15. ETSU school at in graduate enrolled 2200 people than More accessible! PUT YOURSELF IN A GRADUATION PICTURE! PICTURE! IN A GRADUATION PUT YOURSELF With online and part-time opportunities, graduate study at ETSU has never been never has more ETSU at study graduate part-time opportunities, and online With We have options for almost any direction you take! you direction any almost for options have We bachelor’s degree. A graduate degree may be the next best investment in your lifetime. your in investment best next be the degree degree. may A graduate bachelor’s Individuals with a graduate degree earn an average of 40 percent more than those with a than more 40 percent of degree average with earn an a graduate Individuals business, education, health, sciences, humanities, technology, technology, health, sciences, humanities, education, business, Over 60 graduate programs with 120 programs of study in art, in study of programs 120 with programs Over 60 graduate ETSU graduate student theses and dissertations were downloaded over 150,000 times in 2014 alone! downloaded over were dissertations theses and student graduate ETSU Put yourself in these pictures? yourself Put Excellence • Career Advancement • Opportunities • Flexibility What is Tennessee Reconnect + Complete?

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34 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ETSU TODAY 35 , which was , her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from ETSU and ETSU from in Mass Communications degree her bachelor’s 2001. since Resources for Child Development has worked of Mathematics MS ’95) is Professor Laurn Jordan (BS ’93, Dr. in Dunwoody. College Perimeter Georgia at Vice Senior to Jones (BBA ’94) has been promoted Tracy Bank. Commerce Mountain at President President Vice to promoted Kelly (BS ’94) was “Mo” Maurice an He was of the Seattle Seahawks. Engagement for Player He 1993. 1990 to from and played ETSU back at all-star defensive and Criminology in Criminal Justice degree earned a bachelor’s ETSU. from Services Counselor MED ’99) is a Family (BS ’94, Mahaffey Amy as working after and Applied Research Outreach with Community counselor. treatment a day (BSN ’94) is a Clinical SupervisorKeena Rhoten-Walton of Kingsport Physicians in the Department Family ofwith ETSU a and was ETSU from degree She holds a B.S.N. Medicine. Family Med Staff before with Atlas nurse in New Mexico travel registered position. her current attaining of the named Chamber Executive Bryan Daniels (MS ’97) was meeting Executives Chamber of Commerce Tennessee the at Year of He has been the President/CEO 2015. in August in Nashville 2010. since Partnership Blount the inducted into recently Thigpen (BS ’97) was Chuck Dr. Hall Health Sciences of Clinical and Rehabilitative College ETSU of and Director for ATI Scientist He is a Clinical Research of Fame. in OrthopedicsObservational Clinical Research with the Center the University and Reconstruction at for Rehabilitation Sciences of South Carolina. of Financial ’03) is Director MACC (BGS ’98, Ranee Baker comes She Financial OfficeServices. of in the ETSU Accounting she where College, Northeast Community from State ETSU to in degree She holds a master’s Assistant. Chief Financial was ETSU. from Accounting the book Slavery, (MA ’98) authored Vasconcellos Colleen 1788-1838 and Abolition in Jamaica, Childhood, published in May 2015. She earned her master’s degree in degree She earned her master’s 2015. published in May in the University of Georgia’s and is teaching History ETSU from Department of History. “Bee” Kanokkarn married to Brent Reed (BS ’99) was Cabin Little Log The at 2015, on JanuaryPrakaikaewkaosakul 23, a bachelor’s He earned Tennessee. Chapel in Gatlinburg, Wedding in Chemistry ETSU. degree from mance Scholarship Judicial District. Judicial District. th is a lecturer in the wedding anniversary on wedding th Academic Perfor George L. Carter Scholarship and (for students Alumni Scholarship scholarships Honors College Plus many more… the Sidney Gilbreath Scholarship the Sidney Gilbreath step-parent, or legal whose parent, ETSU graduate) guardian is an • • • • • 1990s State Walters the awarded James Dunn (BS ’91) was He is currently in Civic Achievement. Distinguished Alumni Award serving for the 4 General as District Attorney 1980s MA ’06) BS ’84, Rose (ALE ’82, John D. Department serving and Criminology after of Criminal Justice as ETSU. from degree He holds an M.A. an adjunct instructor. McTier (BSBA ’85 & MBA ’10) is a lecturer “Bill” William Department after in the ETSU and Marketing of Management of Business He holds a Master serving an adjunct as instructor. ETSU. from degree Administration and MSW ’14) is a Counselor Barber (BS ’86, Beth Evelyn in the ETSU Coordinator Prevention Violence Suicide and as a part-time in the center working after Center Counseling licensed a self-employed She was for one year. counselor for 22 years. massage therapist in the Professor (RES ’87) is an Assistant Jack Goldstein Dr. degree He holds an M.D. Department Medicine. ETSU of Internal a previously University and was Health Sciences Lucia St. from Medical Center. Affairs Veterans hospitalist with the and Professor (BSN ’87) is Assistant Stephens Teresa Dr. of College in the ETSU Programs of Undergraduate Director the University of in Nursing from She holds a Ph.D. Nursing. and Clinical Coordinator R.N.-B.S.N. she was where Tennessee, ETSU. to coming before Professor Assistant Ancel Duckworth (BS ’88) and Nancy Duckworth (MED Dr. their 50 EDS ‘89) celebrated ’84, Dr. Jeff Moorhouse (EDD ‘92) has been named the new Jeff Moorhouse (EDD Dr. City Schools. of Greeneville Director lead Child to Katie Quigley (BS ’92) has been promoted She received Head Start Early program. Resources’ Development December 19, 2014. 2014. December 19, of the Financial named Director Vicki Keith (BBA ’88) was the Department Division at and Accountability of Evaluation in degree She earned her bachelor’s Oak Ridge Office. Energy’s ETSU. from Accounting President Vice named SeniorMA ’90) was Norris (BS ’88, Todd Wellmont for Council of the Integration Advancement for System Health Alliance. States and Mountain Health System wedding anniversary. Teena graduated from ETSU with an ETSU from graduated Teena anniversary. wedding th associate degree in Nursing. in Nursing. degree associate elected was South Carolina, Tilson Gill (BS ’75) of Easley, Debra of President Vice as International Alpha Delta Council Pi Grand to Membership. Collegiate the inducted into recently Rebecca (BS ’76) was Nunley Dr. Hall Health Sciences of Clinical and Rehabilitative College ETSU before Tri-Cities in the hygienist as a dental She worked of Fame. the at degree D.D.S. her she completed where Texas to moving She began school in 1985. dental Antonio Texas-San University of ETSU back to but found her way practice in Elizabethton a private in 1988 as Department Chair for Dental Hygiene. State Walters the awarded (BS ’78) was Helton David He Achievement. in Professional Distinguished Alumni Award in 1975 and State Walters in Business from earned a degree ETSU. at his education continued Times the 2015 Financial named to Allan Strange (BS ’78) was men’s on the ETSU Allan played Advisors.” 401 Retirement “Top a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. and was golf team with a degree ETSU from William Hearl (BS ’79) graduated Dr. Officer and Chief Executive and is the Founder in Microbiology Inc. Therapeutics, Immunomic Inc. Therapeutics, of Immunomic announced recently Japan, Tokyo, in located Pharma, and Astellas partnership products for allergic a worldwide for LAMP-vax™ the effectiveness enhances technology LAMP-vax™ The disease. enables effective vaccinations which potentially of DNA vaccines, partnershipThis with an comes for a wide spectrum of diseases. of net sales of of $300 million and 10% royalties payment upfront Inc. Therapeutics, Immunomic products to the potential 1970s Army the ETSU inducted into (MA ’73) was Hamilton Carl E. He served for four 2015. 25, on September Hall of Fame ROTC Navy civilian and then became the first federal in the U.S. years he 11 years, After program. ROTC the ETSU by hired employee his services He volunteered supply technician. to transferred Hill High School and other units Science at the Junior ROTC to of service 32 years the ETSU after to In 1998, Tennessee. in East as second cadets commissioned he had seen 850 program, ROTC Army. in the U.S. lieutenants their (AS ’74) and her husband Don celebrated Paxton Teena 40 her master’s in Food Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Tennessee, the University of from Sciences in Food her master’s University. Kansas State and Nutrition from in Foods and her Ph.D. Tech Virginia and Kansas State at career She began her teaching ETSU. at tenure her 30-year before Call 423-439-7094 or email [email protected].

graduate students, including: graduate students, We are proud to offer a host of are proud to offer We

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website at www.etsu.edu/scholarships website at www.etsu.edu/scholarships Chemical Company in South Korea, he returned he returned in South Korea, Chemical Company

It’s never too early to think about think to early too never It’s

was recently inducted into the inducted into recently (BS ’69) was Amelia Brown Dr. Hall of Health Sciences of Clinical and Rehabilitative College ETSU ETSU, from in Home Economics her bachelor’s She received Fame. Col. Marvin the ETSU inducted into ’69) was Bolinger (MA Col. He was 2015. on September 25, Hall of Fame ROTC Army in 1969 through Second Lieutenant Army as a U.S. commissioned He served for 25 years, in the Army program. ROTC the ETSU Audit Officer, including Safety Officer, positions, holding many he until Commander, and Company InspectorAssistant General, in 1997. retired was interviewed for the special interviewed Anne Abbott (BS ’69) was R. Dr. 2015 in the May/June movement edition on the wellness She is an . Journal of Health Promotion edition of the American and public speaker published author, administrator, accomplished and health promotion. in wellness and facilitator was recently inducted into the inducted into recently Wilson (BS ’64) was Richard Dr. newly Health Sciences of Clinical and Rehabilitative College ETSU furthering to his life and work He devoted Hall of Fame. created young in the field of audiology and mentoring knowledge research to his commitment Through and clinicians. researchers he founded the Appalachian Spring Conference, and education, Medical Center Affairs Veterans the by which has been sponsored than 20 years. for more to the U.S. in 1966. As a newly minted Captain, he was sent to sent he was Captain, As a newly minted in 1966. the U.S. to mines. antipersonnel of gravel Vietnam with the first shipment was he Course, Advanced the Chemical Officers attending After before in Germany companies ordnance command assigned to being named chief of an instruction the Chemical at branch in Maryland. Ground Proving Aberdeen School at was inducted into the ETSU Army ROTC ROTC Army the ETSU inducted Smith into (BS ’64) was C.C. a bachelor’s He received 2015. 25, on September Hall of Fame Second Army as a U.S. commissioned in Biology and was degree leader A platoon program. ROTC the ETSU through Lieutenant with the 25 was inducted into the inducted into (BS ’61) was Brooks Gen Ronald E. Maj. Gen. Maj. 2015. 25, on September Hall of Fame ROTC Army ETSU through as a Second Lieutenant commissioned was Brooks the school was Vietnam, in He toured program. ROTC the ETSU Fort Benjamin School at secretary the Defense Information at General Vietnam as the Adjutant to and then returned Harrison, five he spent in 1995, retiring Before Brigade. of the 1st Aviation and Fort Soldier Support Army Center the U.S. commanding years Benjamin Harrison. 1960s CLASS NOTES Dr. Cassandra Pusateri (MA ’08) is Assistant Professor in the Maegan Harrell (BA ’12, MA ’14) is an Education Coordinator Alexander Fields (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant 2000s ETSU Department of Counseling and Human Services. Before with the ETSU and General Shale Natural History Museum and on May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. coming to ETSU, she was an Assistant Professor at Youngstown Visitor Center at the Gray Fossil Site, after serving as an adjunct Dr. Deborah Bryan (MA ’00) was appointed Chair of the Joshua Ford (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on (Ohio) State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education instructor in the Department of History. She holds an M.A. in Department of Fine Arts at Tusculum College in July 2015. May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. and Supervision from Old Dominion University. History from ETSU. Dr. David Linville (MD ’00, EDD ’15) was appointed as one of Ryan Hamilton (BBA ’15) is the ISR Field Sales Support with Dr. Linde Christine Rush Burkey (BS ’09, MA ’12) is Assistant Tesha Blair (BS ’13) is a Research Assistant in the ETSU the four 2015-16 ETSU Presidential Fellows by Dr. Brian Noland. Covergent Technologies Group. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Professor in the ETSU Department of Criminal Justice and Department of Biomedical Sciences after serving as a graduate/ Dr. Linville will focus on the health sciences, serving under the Business Administration. Criminology. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas teaching assistant. guidance of Dr. Wilsie Bishop, ETSU’s Chief Operating Officer and at Little Rock. Katelynn Correll Inscore (BS ’15) married Jeffrey Inscore on Vice President for Health Affairs. Linville is Associate Dean for Jennifer Hovatter (BS ’13) has recently been recognized for June 20, 2015. Graduate Medical Education in the Quillen College of Medicine Sharon K. Gray (BS ’09) is a lecturer in the ETSU Department of her work in raising awareness about lymphedema. She earned and designated institutional official. Physics and Astronomy. She is also a research scientist and partner her bachelor’s degree in Public Health from ETSU and is currently David Lilly (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on May with Glass Components and Device Developments, a start-up spreading lymphedema awareness in the community in her 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. Eric Carroll (BS ’01) has been selected by Mountain States nanotechnology company in Tullahoma. She holds a B.S. degree in husband’s memory by holding fundraisers and events every year. Health Alliance as the new administrator for Unicoi County Nicholas Miller (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on Physics from ETSU and an M.S. in Engineering from the University On a national level, she is working to push the Lymphedema Memorial Hospital. He graduated from ETSU with a bachelor’s May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. of Tennessee-Knoxville and has worked as a Deputy Clerk for Treatment Act into law, which would cover treatment for patients degree in Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences and was Parker Moore (BA ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on Washington County. with lymphedema under Medicare. formerly the CEO of Select Specialty Hospital in Bristol. May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. Eric J. Hunt (BA ’09, MA ’12) was hired as the new Coordinator Jonathan Wayne Mitchell (MA ’13) is an Area Coordinator Jill Andrews (BS ’02) is a musician who has recently released Dr. Dan Nicolau (RES ’15) is a Professor in the ETSU Department of Testing Services at ETSU in October 2015. He earned both his in the ETSU Office of Housing and Residence Life after serving a solo album, The War Inside. Some of her songs have been of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Medical Director at degrees in English. in the position on an interim basis. He holds an M.A. degree in featured on Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Wife, and Nashville. She has Woodridge Hospital. He holds an M.D. from Texas Tech University Counseling from ETSU. toured with the Avett Brothers and performed at Bonnaroo with Daniel Smith (BS ’09) is a Programmer/Analyst in Information Health Sciences Center. her band the everybodyfields. Her new album was released in Technology Services at ETSU. He holds a B.S. degree in Computing. Erik C. Peterson (BA ’13, MA ’15) was hired as the new Darren Owenby (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant September of 2015. Executive Aide for the ETSU Center for Academic Achievement in on May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. September 2015. He earned both his degrees in English. Andrew Amodei (BA ’03) is the new Director of Development 2010s Zachary Schuette (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant and Alumni Affairs for ETSU’s College of Business and Technology. Michael Schneider (MS ’13) is a lecturer in the ETSU on May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. He earned a degree in Spanish from ETSU and holds a Master of James Bennett (BBA ’10) and Courtney Nicely (BA ’14) were Department of Computing. He was a graduate assistant before Divinity Degree from Duke University and a Master of Business married on January 2, 2015, at The Reserve at Bluebird Hill in attaining his current position. Jackson Scott (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. Administration degree from Milligan College. He has devoted Lenoir City, Tennessee. Tonya E. Bess (BBA ’14) is a Human Resources Specialist in the his life to ministry for 14 years and has wide experience serving Jessica Moore Hayes (BS ’10) and Charlie Maurice Hayes II ETSU Office of Human Resources. Shaun Shelton (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on on nonprofit boards, developing strategic plans and fundraising (BS ’14) were married on September 6, 2014. May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. campaigns. Dr. Atul Khanna (MD ’14) has joined the Charlotte Dr. Hayley Brooke McKinney (BS ’10, DPT ’13) and Justin Gastroenterology and Hepatology team. His specialties Zachary Skipworth (BS ’15) became an Army Second Gregory Wilgocki Jr. (MA ’03) recently passed the CPA exam Kerley were married on October 25, 2015, at the Davis-Kerley Farm include endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde Lieutenant on May 8, 2015, through the Military Science and is now a licensed CPA. He is a Reimbursement Manager with in Crossville. Hayley earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from cholangipancreatography, and advanced interventional Department at ETSU. Mountain States Health Alliance. ETSU and is employed by Life Care Center of Crossville. endoscopy. Jared Walls (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on Dr. Daryl A. Carter (BS ’04, MA ’06) was appointed as one of John McMeen (BS ’10, MS ’14) is a Program Manager in the Dr. Stacie L. McCray (DNP ’14) is Assistant Professor and Family May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. the four 2015-16 ETSU Presidential Fellows by Dr. Brian Noland. ETSU Department of Computing’s Emerging Technology Center. He Nurse Practitioner with the ETSU College of Nursing. Before Amber Warren (BA ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on He will serve in the Office of the President, focusing on the area holds an M.S. in Computer Science. coming to ETSU, she was a Family Nurse Practitioner in primary May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. of government relations. He is Associate Professor and Graduate and urgent care with Wellmont Health Systems. She holds a Shawntray Stewart (BS ’10, MA ’12) is an Academic Advisor Coordinator in the Department of History in the College of Arts Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from ETSU. Jacy Weems (BS ’15) has been accepted into the competitive and Sciences. in the ETSU College of Arts and Sciences’ Center for Advisement Public Health Associate Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Student Excellence. Before coming to ETSU, he was a College Jake Morrill (MA ’14) is a co-owner of BrainAble Neurofeedback and Prevention. She was assigned to the state health department K.C. Gott (BS ’04, MA ’06) is a lecturer in the ETSU Department and Career Counselor with the Niswonger Foundation. He holds an and Coaching in Oak Ridge. The mission of the facility is to in Fort Myers, Florida, and will be focusing on epidemiology. of Communication and Performance. She holds an M.A. degree in M.A. degree in Counseling. coach East Tennesseans to claim healthier, happier lives through Professional Communication from ETSU and was founder and CEO increased self-regulation, achieved through neurofeedback. of Her Story Coaching before attaining her current position. Erica Babb (MA ’11) has been added to the Carter County Hall of Fame. She played basketball at Happy Valley, with 1,241 career Veronica Gayle Roberson (BGS ’14) is a Technical Clerk in Sarah Crow (MAT ’05) is an eighth-grade mathematics teacher OBITUARIES points, even though she was unable to play her senior year due the Office of the Registrar at ETSU, following employment with at University School. She holds an M.A.T. degree from ETSU and to an ACL injury. She then attended ETSU where she made the Mountain States Health Alliance. She holds a B.S. in General was previously a third-grade teacher at St. Tammany Parish All-Southern Conference team. Studies from ETSU. 1940s Schools, Louisiana. Adam Steffey (BS ’14) is a lecturer in Bluegrass, Old Time, Laura Ruth Barnett (BS ’11, MA ’13) is a teacher in the Little Helen Brown (BS ’45) of Maryville on September 29, 2015. Bryan Weems (MAT ’05) is an instructor at University School. He and Country Music Studies in the Department of Appalachian Bucs Student Child Care Center after working as a temporary Helen was a devoted wife, mother, sister, Nana, and friend. She holds an Ed.S. from Lincoln Memorial University and was a teacher Studies at ETSU, after teaching as an adjunct faculty member teacher in the ETSU Child Study Center. She has studied Early graduated from ETSU in 1945 with her bachelor’s degree in Home in the Greene County School System before coming to ETSU. in the department. He participated in the Bluegrass Program Childhood Education at ETSU. Economics. Dr. Jude A. Abia (MS ’06), a former Professor of Chemistry under the direction of Jack Tottle in the mid-1980s and went on Holly Carter Fields (BS’11) married Derek L. Fields on at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma, has joined the to work professionally with the Lonesome River Band and Alison Harold K. Johnson (BS ’49, MS ’54) of Johnson City on September 20, 2014. technology team in the HollyFrontier Refining & Marketing Krauss and Union Station. He recently completed a B.S. degree September 20, 2015. Mr. Johnson was a teacher and principal in Division. Abia earned a master’s in Chemistry at ETSU and Deidre R. Johnson (BS ’11) was hired as the new Coordinator in Interdisciplinary Studies while touring with the Dan Tyminski the Washington County School System for 10 years before moving a doctorate in Analytical Chemistry from the University of of Learning Services at ETSU in October 2015. She earned a Band and The Boxcars. He has received five Grammy Awards to ETSU, where he retired in 1988 after 32 years of service from Tennessee-Knoxville. In his new position, he will help identify and bachelor’s degree in Psychology. and is an 11-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music the position of Bursar. He served as a member of the Washington conduct technical research projects for HollyFrontier Process Oils, Carly Manning (BS ’11) has been certified as a Registrant of Association’s Mandolin Player of the Year Award. County Board of Education for 22 years and had been a member of the Washington County Commission. with primary focus on industrial, automotive, and tire-related the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists. The NRCM was Martin Walters (BGS ’14) is a lecturer in the ETSU Department applications. founded in 1958 and has certified microbiologists in all 50 states, of Mass Communication. He also continues as an adjunct Gordon C. Newland (BS ’49) on April 29, 2015, in Kingsport. Fain Grogg (BS ’06) recently competed in the National Veterans the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and on six continents. instructor in music. He studied at the University of North Texas Gordon graduated from ETSU with a bachelor’s degree in Wheelchair Games in Dallas, with four more medals to add to his Carly is employed as a microbiologist with Chattem, Inc. in and earned his bachelor’s degree at ETSU. He is a studio musician Mathematics. He retired from Sam Bray Realty as an Affiliate collection. He is a former Navy corpsman and an Army Lieutenant Chattanooga. and Grammy Award-winning recording engineer and producer Broker. during the Gulf War. He is now employed as a Contract Specialist Dr. Dustin Osborne (MA ’11) is Assistant Professor in the ETSU who has worked with some of the top performers in the music at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Mountain Home. He Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. He holds a Ph.D. industry, including Spyro Gyra, Patti LaBelle, Sly Stone, Melissa 1950s continues to encourage others with physical disabilities to come in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville. Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Sarah McLachlan, and many others. out for sports. Dr. Elizabeth Conway Williams (MA ’11) is a Visiting Assistant Amy Katherine Wilks (MA ’14) is an Academic Advisor in Dr. Nat Edens “Ed” Hyder Jr. (BS ’51) of Johnson City on Dustin Hill (BT ’06) of New York City has accepted a job as an Professor in the ETSU Department of Psychology. She was the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. She was an October 15, 2015. Dr. Hyder took every opportunity to serve those Account Executive in Sales at U.S.News & World Report. previously an intern with Stone Mountain Health Services. Academic Counselor at the University of Southern Mississippi around him and practiced medicine until 2009. He served in the before attaining her current position. United States military in various capacities and volunteered his Rhys Davies (BBA ’07) earned his third career European Margaret Darden (BSW ’12) is an Admissions Counselor in the time to serve on various local and national committees. He also Challenge Tour title in May 2015. He played golf at ETSU from Nathan Barger (MA ’15) is an Assistant Athletic Trainer in the ETSU Office of Admissions. She holds a master’s degree in Higher served in various positions with the James H. Quillen College of 2003-07 and holds career records in tournaments won (10), ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics after working as a Education Administration from the University of Wisconsin- Medicine. scoring average (71.23), and rounds of par or better (102). Madison and was a Collegiate Operations Specialist with Sigma graduate assistant athletic trainer. Dorothy Clement (BS ’52) of Johnson City on September 26, Kristie Gross (BBA ’07) has been promoted to Senior Loan Kappa Sorority before coming back to ETSU. Clifton Boggs (BA ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on 2015. After graduating from ETSU, Dorothy and her husband, Jim, Coordinator Banking Officer at Mountain Commerce Bank. May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. Chasity L. Drew (BA ’12, MA ’14) is an Information Research traveled and lived in numerous states and countries while he was Amanda Thurman (BS ’07) was married to Simone Naoum Technician with the ETSU Honors College after serving as an Dr. Mark Cohee (RES ’15) is Assistant Professor in the ETSU a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. After his death in 1970, Dorothy taught Karalia on March 22, 2015, at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens adjunct instructor in the Department of Literature and Language. Department of Family Medicine after completing his residency in at St. Mary’s High School and Central High School in Cheyenne, in Charleston, South Carolina. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Kimberly Brooke Dyer (BS ’12, MED ’15) is a secretary in the Family Medicine at ETSU. He holds an M.D. degree from Eastern Wyoming. She then worked for the Department of Defense, Public Health from ETSU. ETSU Office of Veterans Affairs. She held a graduate assistantship Virginia Medical School. where she had teaching assignments in both the Atlantic and Jordan Hall (BS ’08, MS ’11) is a Program Manager in the ETSU before attaining her current position. Jeffrey Coyne (BS ’15) became an Army Second Lieutenant on Pacific regions. Department of Computing. He holds an M.S. degree in Computer Gabriel Felty (BS ’12) married Mary Evelyn Seward on May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Department at ETSU. Edna S. Hall (BS ’52) on June 11, 2015. She earned a bachelor’s Science from ETSU and was previously a developer with ACT. December 27, 2014, at Banner Elk Christian Fellowship, Banner Chasen “Alex” Dayton (BA ’15) became an Army Second degree in History. Elk, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Lieutenant on May 8, 2015, through the Military Science Ogle T. Nelson (BS ’52) of Morristown on August 18, 2015. Ogle Science from ETSU. Department at ETSU. earned a bachelor’s degree in History. Nathan F. Stover (BS ’52) of Bristol on September 30, 2015. 36 EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY Nathan was a member of Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church ETSU TODAY 37 National th in 1975 and 1976. She loved She loved Who in 1975 and 1976. of Women American Who’s A/B Division, U.S. Army, and also served in the 278 Army, U.S. A/B Division, th of Gray on April 20, 2015. He was a He was 2015. on April 20, (MA ’72) of Gray William Hull and co- Church Christian past elder of Boonesmember and Creek also a member He was Class. School Sunday Joy of the president Washington Club and Beekeeper’s County Washington of the Association. Cattlemen’s County on September 12, Telford (MA ’72) of Mary Mae Kyker at and librarian an English and Spanish teacher She was 2015. High School and then servedBaileyton positions at in those also Assistant she was where Academy, College Washington Who of Who’s in the World’s listed She was Dean the of Girls. to of the South in 1975 and 1976, Personalities in 1973, Women and whenever church She attended genealogy. and tracing reading of the Bible. able and possessed an amazing knowledge on Illinois, Phillips (MA ’72) of Gibson City, Margaret L. in degree her master’s She received 2015. September 23, served She an elementary and was school teacher. Education the School District as in as well Illinois, in the Douglas County, She married Elwyn Phillips on Johnson City School System. 1943. 11, August He 2015. Phil Allen Street 28, (BS ’72) of Johnson City on May loved his community and served as a deacon of Central Baptist his community and served of Central loved as a deacon Ridgell Class. William a member of the he was where Church, and was War Vietnam the during Air Force He served in the U.S. He graduated Memorial Committee. Veterans a member of the in Management. degree with a bachelor’s ETSU from 4, on September Carver Carmel (BS ’73) of Mount Patricia in Nursing. degree She earned her bachelor’s 2015. He earned a master’s 2015. Jones (MS ’73) on June 5, Michael L. in Microbiology. degree She 2015. on April 28, Malone (BS ’73) of Piney Flats “Jo” Alice after retiring Mary at teacher Hughes School, a second-grade was spending her family and enjoyed She loved of service. 35 years degree She earned her bachelor’s and reading. time gardening in French. He 2015. 20, on August Watauga Clarence Miller (BS ’74) of a He was Vietnam. served having in veteran, Army a U.S. was also and was for 15 years Christian Church member of Lynnwood He earned a bachelor’s Quartet. a member of the Doorkeepers in Industrial Artsdegree Education. (BS ’75) of Maryville Mottern on July 31, “Bill” RobertW. chemists in Oak Ridge as part He and his wife were of the 2015. all over travel they began to VJ Day, Following Project. Manhattan Mexico, New finally settling in Albuquerque, States, the United the Sandia in 1990 Laboratory from National Bill retired where in Art. degree He earned a bachelor’s of service. 38 years after She earned a 2015. 18, (MA ’75) on May Shipley Mabel Bowen in Instructional degree Communication. master’s 10, on August (MA ’75) of Greeneville Verran C. Kenneth Rev. Chaplain and Paratrooper, Air Force U.S. a retired He was 2015. 11 Guard. He retired as a United Methodist minister and was also and was minister Methodist as a United He retired Guard. He earned a School System. County the Greene from retired in Psychology. degree master’s III (AS ’75) of Johnson City on July Woods Michael Lawrence who served veteran E-7 retired Army, a U.S. He was 2015. 26, He also served Carter County, Vietnam. and Korea, in Germany, Service Officer, Youth Court as the First Juvenile Tennessee, in Law degree He earned an associate 29 years. after retiring Enforcement. Zannis (BS ’75) of Johnson City on September 18, Pete and won team on the tennis played Pete ETSU, at While 2015. play to He continued singles and doubles titles. intercollegiate Court Championships in the Southern Hard and won college after and led Hill High School for 14 years Science at coached He 1981. doubles titles, three titles, team state Class AAA five the school to the ETSU inducted into He was and one individual championship. in 1996. Hall of Fame He 2015. 23, on August Byrd (BS ’76) of Atlanta K. Steven and years for several School System County in the Sullivan taught in Kingsport Gallery, Byrd K. the Steven gallery, opened his own in appeared His work in 1991. Atlanta it to moving before He juried art many Homes magazine and won shows. Traditional in Art. degree earned a bachelor’s on July 14, Susan (BS ’76) of Elizabethton Beth Febuary School the Carter County from as an educator retired She 2015. United First Class at the Pre-School and had also taught System Southside her church, at working She enjoyed Methodist Church. spending time with her family and and loved Christian Church, in Special Education. degree earned a bachelor’s She friends. on August Wisconsin, (BS ’76) of Madison, Mach Cantor Evelyn a of the B’nai Sholom Sisterhood, President She was 2015. 23, for the Johnson City of Directors Symphony member of the Board of member of the Institutional Review Board a lay Orchestra, and a member of the Board Hospital, Johnson City Medical Center She earned a Program. IV Homemaker Title of the of Directors Work. in Social degree bachelor’s

st of Elizabethton on June 16, 2015. 2015. on June 16, of Elizabethton 1970s MA ’75) of Johnson City on October James Carroll Ellis (BA ’70, a contractor, an educator, Navy veteran, a U.S. He was 2015. 23, in the Carter He worked for his musical talent. known and was entertained with his retiring, after and, School System County in nursing homes throughout and the Boys” “JC musical group the area. on Virginia, Nash (MA ’70) of Lebanon, Ward Elizabeth and Virginia, for the Bristol, She taught 2015. September 8, a she was In her retirement, school systems. County Tazewell Christian. a dedicated was She grandmother. devoted Community Roger Dale Norris (BS ’70) of the Little Rock Creek Baptist Valley a member of Roan He was 2015. 19, on May as a salesman for Summit Building Supply and worked Church and woodworking He enjoyed North Carolina. in Burnsville, making clocks. Sammons (BS ’70) Richard D. of Sammons as President as well years for many a CPA He was in He served local boards on many Incorporated. Restaurants Science. in Political degree earned a bachelor’s He Elizabethton. Cress City (BS ’71) of Mountain James Laymon on August before for four years Air Force He served in the U.S. 2015. 20, City of Mountain Recorder Town and the an accountant becoming in 1974. MA) of Greeneville EDS, BA, Carol Hartman (EDD ’71, Dr. High of Greeneville a graduate She was 2015. on October 5, a teacher She was ETSU. from School and earned four degrees and Greeneville Kingsport, Grainger, and principal in the Union, Tusculum from professor a retired She was City school systems. Methodist with United She had also been affiliated College. Chapel a member of Hardin’s She was Home for Children. Holston Methodist Church. United Larry 20, Dean Hughes (BS ’71) of Sulphur Springs on May served having with the 1 veteran, Army a U.S. was He 2015. of Hampton on September on of Hampton (BS ’68) Honeycutt Cates Judy Ann and Hampton Cloudland, Midway, at school Judy taught 2015. 24, of a member She was retiring. Elementary before for 23 years the pianist forshe was where Baptist Church Little Doe Freewill of Elizabethton Baptist Church the First joining before 25 years her to and tending in gardening pleasure great She took in 2001. to travel. and loved flowers City. in Jefferson 2015, (MA ’68) on April 30, Ross Nelson L. on He went Education. in Physical Nelson earned his master’s high at football and wrestling both biology and coach teach to He served as Alumni and NorthVirginia Carolina. schools in University. Carson-Newman of Major Gifts at and Director Director Clean Izaak League found the on to in 2000 and went He retired in Knoxville. Center Water He 2015. 6, (BS ’69) on September Jr. James Marshall Bradley Star the Bronze awarded and was Marine Corps served in the U.S. and Action Ribbon, Combat Heart, Purple device, “V” with combat He then served Manager as Marketing Navy Unit Commendation. Bank of is now Banking of what Division for the Commercial Science. in Political degree He earned a bachelor’s America. He earned his 2015. ‘69) on June 19, (AS Britton J. David in English. bachelor’s 2015. 30, on August Nellie Hannabas (BS ’69) of Jonesborough and served as in Education degree She earned her bachelor’s years. for many Librarian County/Jonesborough Washington James earned a 2015. Phillips (MA ’69) on June 3, James M. He served as a Administration. in Educational degree master’s multiple schools in at taught Air Force, in the U.S. Staff Sergeant and served of as deacon Hamblen counties, and Jefferson, Cocke, Baptist Church. Hillcrest on August Virginia, Edwin Shore John (MA ’69) of Stuart, Rev. and principal in the Patrick coach, an educator, He was 2015. 25, the by ordained He was for 35 years. School System County in the ministry. 26 years and spent Conference Cornerstone 2015. on June 19, (BS ’69) of Blountville Jr. Wallen Earnest B. a U.S. and was Church Lutheran Word a member of Living He was in the banking industry employed for most He was veteran. Army Southeast Federal United at of his life and for the past 27 years Lending. of President Vice as office corporate Union’s Credit Cavalry Airmobile Division in Vietnam, where he was awarded awarded he was where Vietnam, Airmobile Division in Cavalry He retired and Medal for Heroism. Heart, Purple Star, the Bronze and hunting, farming, Bosch in Johnson Cityfrom and enjoyed traveling. on September (BS ’71) of Elizabethton Brenda McQueen Nave in Elementary degree She earned her bachelor’s 2015. 13, Elementary School in 2000 Keenburg from and retired Education a She was of service teacher. 30 years after as a second-grade of Christ. Church member of the Elizabethton 2015. Lou Jean Hillman (AS ’73) of Kingsport on September 3, in Nursing. degree She earned her associate of Elizabethton on October 3, 2015. She 2015. on October 3, of Elizabethton 1960s 2015. (MA ’60) of Kingsport Crockett Hill on June 23, Wanda and City Methodist Church United a member of Gate She was community. her time in the and volunteering traveling enjoyed He earned a 2015. (BS ’61) on June 2, Jr. Edwards Charles G. in Management. degree bachelor’s He was 2015. Martin on July 2, (BS ’61) of Gray “Earl” Clifford loved and a man of faith who was soft-spoken, generous, humble, He earned a all who knew him. by his family and respected by in Business. degree bachelor’s He earned his 2015. Bobby Jack Alvis (BS ’62) on October 26, in Industrial Arts degree Education. bachelor’s 17, on May (BS ’62) of Kingston Homer Harold Clevenger for Kingsport He served of Industrial Relations as Director 2015. National, for Arcata of Industrial Relations President Vice Press, He was for Ricoh Corp. Counsel and General President Vice and degree He earned a bachelor’s Air Force. of the U.S. a veteran in English. She in Kingsport. 2015, 4, (MA ’62) on May Locke Harriet R. born in Canton, She was in Biology. degree earned a master’s in the She taught for high school. the U.S. and came to China, in and retired 30 years for over School System County Sullivan in Nepal be an educator to Corps She then joined the Peace 1992. Tennessee the first female from She was and the Philippines. She also Maine. to Georgia from Trail the Appalachian hike to 19 marathons. completed She 2015. (BS ’62) of KingsportMary on July 2, Ellen Payne Baptist Star Freewill a long-standing member of Eastern was in Health Education. degree She earned a bachelor’s Church. English Sams (BS ’62) of Erwin“Danny” on McDaniel in Industrial Arts degree He earned a bachelor’s 2015. 12, August He fraternity. of Sigma Phi Epsilon a member and was Education the from and retired Church a member of Erwinwas Presbyterian Services. Department of Children’s Tennessee, of State He was 2015. (BS ’63) on June 30, Earl Richardson Leonard Edison at He taught fraternity. a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon He earned a bachelor’s 29 years. for Florida, in Fort Myers, College in History. degree an She was (MA ’64) of Bristol. Counts Woody Virginia Ann where of Bristol, Methodist Church United active member of First School Class. part Sunday she was of the Shaw-Anchor-Friendship He 2015. 14, on September Dean (BS ’65) of Louisville David dealing in antiques and enjoyed Army of the U.S. a veteran was in Geography. He earned a bachelor’s shopping. and flea market on October 26, (BS ’65) of Elizabethton Ronald Fannon served having during the veteran, Army a U.S. was He 2015. his military After service he started for the working War. Vietnam Fannon’s and operated and then owned Pharmaseal Company Service Postal for the U.S. He then worked in Johnson City. Market retirement. before Watauga in (MA ’65) of Kingsport on September 22, Gillenwater L. Terry years. for several Virginia, in Bristol, a chiropractor was He 2015. Simonds (BS ’66) of Kingsport on October“Penny” Susanne Education. in Physical degree She earned her bachelor’s 2015. 24, on September Juliet (BS ’67) of Mt. Lee “Dan” Keith Danny Navy from in the U.S. He served as a Hospital Corpsman 2015. 10, as an underwriter career with He began his insurance 1960-64. became the moving, in 1967 and after Insurance Nationwide After in 1997. retirement before Willis, a division of CEO of PENCO, Services, Insurance Argus he started agency, his own retirement, Tennessee. in Lebanon, Miller (BS ’67) Shelby J. and a homemaker of Beaunit Corporation a former employee was She was for her family. and cooking making crafts who enjoyed of the Baptist faith. She served as the 2015. Crisp (BS ’68) on June 25, Agnes R. Inn and Country Reservation Manager for the High Hampton She earned a for nearly 40 years. North Carolina, Club in Cashiers, in Home Economics. degree bachelor’s (BS ’68) of Kingsport Helvey on September 1, Watson Thomas in History. degree earned a bachelor’s He 2015. of Farragut on June 14, 2015. 2015. on June 14, Barbara Sue (BS ’58) of Farragut Hickman enjoyed She of Concord. BaptistChurch of First a member She was served husband while he with her in the militarytraveling and degree bachelor’s She earned a military enjoyed life. always in Music. 2015. on June 25, Virginia, (BS ’58) of Lebanon, Valley Janith W. Schools Public for the Russell County a music teacher She was the first High School and at Honaker band and founded the first of a member She was County. in Russell community orchestra from She graduated Methodist Church. Memorial United Lebanon in Music. degree with a bachelor’s ETSU of Boones Creek on July 22, 2015. She 2015. Mary on July 22, Ruth Gross (BS ’58) of Boones Creek She attended and for ITT Industries. TPI Corporation for worked Presbyterian, Hollow Cash of the Brethren, Church Knob Creek in degree She earned her bachelor’s Church. and Princeton Elementary Education. of Warsaw, Indiana, on July 15, on July 15, Indiana, Warsaw, (BS ’57) of VanCleve Harold J. during the Korean Army served He U.S. as an MP in the 2015. an Auto he was in 1961, discharged honorably he was After War. for 38 years, Owners Company Insurance with Auto Adjuster and Church Brethren Dutchtown He attended in 1995. retiring #49. Post a member of American Legion was of Mooresburg on May 18, 2015. 2015. 18, on May Margaret Jack Sliger (BS ’57) of Mooresburg the piano She played her whole life. a schoolteacher She was known and was Methodist Church the local United at and organ the needy in the her farm to milk from cow’s fresh for donating every week. area of Johnson City on June 29, 2015. 2015. (BS ’57) of Johnson City on June 29, Jr. Onks, James A. and the Reserve, Army U.S. Army, of the U.S. a veteran James was High Hill Science from He graduated Guard. National Tennessee in History ETSU. School and then earned his degree from of High Point, North Carolina, on North Carolina, Simerly Ellis (BS ’57) of High Point, Phyllis elementary teaching to 40 years She devoted 2015. September 6, teaching, She enjoyed in 1997. retiring before school children spending and auctions, attending collecting antiques, traveling, the family cabin in the mountains. time at of Madisonville on August MA ’64) of Madisonville Atkins (BS ’57, K. Howard and served in Air Force of the U.S. a veteran was Howard 2015. 26, High School Greeneville biology at He taught era. War the Korean in Madisonville. College Hiwassee at also a professor and was the Consolidated at employed he was career, his teaching After He earned in 1995. in Oak Ridge and retired Nuclear Complex in Biology. degrees and master’s both bachelor’s of Johnson City on April 15, 2015. Ruth was 2015. Ruth Clark (BS ’56) of Johnson City on April 15, Degree of Music her Master and received organist a talented with ETSU from graduating after Choir College Westminster at in years for many an organist She was in Music. a bachelor’s were churches and many area, Johnson City and the surrounding Presbyterian a member of First She was hear her play. blessed to Church. of Elizabethton on May 11, 2015. 2015. 11, on May (BS ’55) of Elizabethton Jr. Geagley W. John Methodist a very United John was active of the First member a member of the he served treasurer, where as church Church, the Finance Committee, the Staff Parish Council, Administrative Summers- from He retired usher. and as a church Committee, as the man who jogged the known in 1997 and was Taylor in Business degree He earned a bachelor’s of Elizabethton. streets Administration. on September 19, Sherwood 19, (BS ’55) on September Daniel “Bill” William Methodist United a longtime member of First Bill was 2015. school and Sunday he taught where in Morristown, Church Air Force He served in the U.S. served capacities. in various Utilities Morristown from and retired War during the Korean 36 after Finance and Accounting as Office Manager of Systems of service. years of Roan Mountain on (BS ’54) of Roan Mountain Potter Cannon Von Edna in Elementary a degree with graduated Edna 2015. October 23, School in the Carter County and taught ETSU from Education he and husband died in 2002, her Before for 42 years. System Rally Naturalists active in the Roan Mountain were Potter Mrs. They also years ago. 46 their inception Tours since Wildflower and a preliminary the to Pageant, Valley Watauga Miss the organized in 1996 for recognition and received Pageant, Tennessee Miss service. of pageant 50 years over having of Kingsport on July 6, 2015. Bill served Bill two 2015. of Kingsport (MBA ’54) Lee on July 6, Bill J. in the Office of the Assistant the Pentagon at in the Army years for he worked his MBA, receiving After Chief of Staff-Intelligence. auditor, internal positions as an accountant, in several 25 years a member on several and treasurer, company analyst, systems of business experience, these years After of directors. boards as an Assistant ETSU at He taught with teaching. Bill fell in love for 22 years. teach to and continued Professor on June 1, 2015. She was the She was 2015. Emerson (BS ’54) on June 1, Carolyn R. Emerson Interiors. of Carolyn President of Central Community on Community (MA ’53) of Central Jack Richard Pearman positions with the in various employed was Jack 2015. 23, May also employed and was 59 years for School System Carter County Agency Human Development Tennessee with the Upper East the Korean during Army He served in the U.S. years. for several honors. received and Conflict on June 16, 2015. She earned a She earned 2015. Marshall (MA ’53) on June 16, M. Beatrice of ArtsMaster in Reading. on June 11, 2015. He earned a 2015. ’53) on June 11, (BS Guffey Jerry G. in Chemistry. degree bachelor’s for 86 years. He retired from the United States Postal Service Postal with States the United from He retired for 86 years. service. of 35 years over James Lynn Flannagan (MA ’76) of Bristol on May 23, 2015. He Carl F. Ingram (BS ’84) of Gray on July 18, 2015. He was a U.S. earned a master’s in Educational Administration. Air Force veteran having served in World War II. He was the owner 1990s 2010s and operator of Carl’s Home Supply. Carl earned a bachelor’s Elizabeth V. Flick (MA ’76) of Crossville on May 7, 2015. She was Sharon Lynn Hicks (BS ’90) of Kingsport on August 25, Kevin Andrew Lyles (Pharm.D ’10) of Nashville on June degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology. retired after many years as a real estate broker, having owned 2015. She was President and Treasurer of the PTA at Sullivan 7, 2015. and operated Cornerstone Realtors in Crossville. She was also a David Eli Landy (BS’ 84) of Johnson City on June 18, 2015. Elementary and Sullivan Middle schools and received the Brenda Gail Powers (BS ’10) on May 5, 2015, in Telford. She member of First United Methodist Church. He worked as a Rehabilitation Therapist at the VA hospital for Volunteer of the Year Award from the Sullivan Elementary PTA. earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She had 20 years. After his retirement, he went into the Morgan horse Donnie (Don) L. Harmon (BS ’77) of Johnson City on July 21, She was known for serving the Lord and attended Living Waters worked at ETSU since 1991 and held various positions on campus. business and had a successful vocation and avocation with his 2015. He was a member of First Christian Church of Elizabethton Free Will Baptist Church. She retired in 2013 as a Graduate Program Specialist in the horses and “Bar L Ranch” in Johnson City. and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. Michelle Hope (BSN ’92) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on School of Graduate Studies. He served in Korea from 1966-69. He concentrated his studies in John Ward Morton (BS ’84) of Cumming, Georgia, on July October 17, 2015. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Nursing Debra Broyles (BS ’12) of Jonesborough on April 22, 2015. She real estate at ETSU. 13, 2015. He was a key contributor to AT&T where he became and worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Park West Hospital was Case Manager for Arc of Washington County. Phillip E. Lockhart (BS ’77) on April 27, 2015, in Arlington, Senior Technical Director and was granted five U.S. patents in for 16 years, bringing comfort and humor to expectant mothers. Linn Donald Johnson (BBA ’12) of Johnson City on May 28, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and was an telecommunications development. He was President of the She was a devoted mother to her two boys and was an amateur 2015. He was a loving husband and devoted father who always Analyst for Vought Aerospace. Tennessee Gamma chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity photographer. at ETSU. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer and fought for what he believed in. He loved to play golf and football Jack Wayne Ramsey (BS ’95) of Bristol on April 23, 2015. He Ernie Dean Marshall (BS ’77) of Church Hill on May 30, 2015. Information Sciences. and was known to have a kind heart, always inspiring and He retired from his Parks Manager position with the Tennessee was a U.S. Army Veteran who retired with 20 years of service challenging others. st State Parks in 2001 but continued to volunteer on multiple LTC Craig Edward Terry (BS ’84) from Bluff City on June 17, with the 101 Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. He served in David Aaron Murphy (BS ’12) of Johnson City on June 13, boards to fund and promote new park and trail projects. He 2015. LTC Terry earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and received many 2015. He graduated from Science Hill High School in 1996 and earned a bachelor’s degree in General Science. and Criminology. He served many years in the U.S. Army and was medals and ribbons. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Professor of Military Science at ETSU before retirement. He later then completed a bachelor’s in Psychology at ETSU. He loved his Lowell T. Bryant (BBA ’96) of Dandridge on May 26, 2015. He Rebecca Jean Crockett (BS ’78) of Teays Valley, West Virginia, served as a Sullivan County Constable. family, nature, hiking, and the spirit of God. on September 21, 2013. She spent most of her career as a high was active in the National Outboard Association where he was school history teacher at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, West Arvil C. Vance (BS ’84) of St. Petersburg, Florida, on April 3, 2015. the National High Point Champion and set several world records Virginia. She was known as a funny, kind, and sharp-witted Arvil earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts Education and in boat racing. He was an accomplished fisherman and enjoyed Faculty and Staff woman who loved to serve others. served honorably in the U.S. Air Force. the sport with his son. Dr. Thomas P. Copeland on June 22, 2015 Duncan I. Street (BBA ’85) of Johnson City on September William S. Ramsey (BBA ’98) of Gray on May 12, 2015. He had Peggy Ann Hartley Morrell (BSW ’78) on June 23, 2015. She in Johnson City. He served as Chair of the 13, 2015. He was President of the Carter County Bank and was been with McDonald’s for 25 years and was an owner/operator loved to go to Community Baptist Church. She earned a bachelor’s Department of Biological Sciences at ETSU, an active member of the community. He had a love for classic in partnership with his parents. He was working on his doctorate degree in Social Work. retiring in 1983 as Professor Emeritus. Cadillacs, golfing with his son Matthew, and walking in the park in Education at ETSU. Patrick Allen Cox (BS ’79) of Kingsport on May 23, 2015. He with his children. James Gordon Frierson of Johnson Deborah L. Webb (BS ’98) of Johnson City on September 16, loved music and was a music teacher and band director at high City on September 25, 2015. After Zane Branson (BS ’86) on July 25, 2015. In the 1970s, he ran on 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She was also schools in Virginia as well as at Bethune-Cookman University in receiving a degree in law, he practiced ETSU Coach Dave Walker’s teams and helped the Buccaneers win an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Daytona Beach, Florida. He played guitar and sang in a bluegrass law in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with Frierson, team conference titles and receive three top-10 national team band, Bushy Mountain Boys, and was also a songwriter. He earned Melody Diane Henry (BGS ’99) of Jonesborough on October Walker, and Snellgrove before starting his cross country finishes before beginning his career as an agent in a bachelor’s degree in Music. 3, 2015. She was employed in the ETSU Computer Science teaching career. He taught at Pittsburg the 1990s. He is remembered not only for his athleticism but also Department. She was a member of the Cornerstone Fellowship State University and then moved to East Patricia Ann Stevens Fleenor (BS ’79) of Hiltons, Virginia, on for his funny personality and joyful presence. September 2, 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Baptist Church in Fall Branch and loved to crochet, sew, read, cook, Tennessee State University where he was Education. Edith (Edie) Lakin (EDS ’86) of Talbott on March 4, 2014. and spend time with her family. a Professor in the College of Business and She retired as Hamblen County Schools Media Supervisor Technology’s Department of Management Peggy J. Myers (BS ’79) of Greeneville on September 8, 2015. after serving many years as an elementary schoolteacher. She and Marketing. He earned the Distinguished She earned her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. attended Magna View Baptist Church. 2000s Faculty Award in 1977 and the ETSU Foundation Research Gerald Price (BBA ’86) of Knoxville on August 6, 2015. He Thomas Haynes Chandler (BS ’00) of Greeneville on Award in 1986. 1980s earned a bachelor’s in Accountancy. September 5, 2015. Carson R. Gentry Sr. on September 13, Jamie Bull (BS ’87) of Corryton on July 16, 2015. She served her 2015, in Johnson City. He was a 20-year Gregory Douglas Morrell (BS ’80) of Bristol on April 27, 2015. Derrick W. Lowe (MBA ’02) of Elizabethton on August 5, 2015. country as a Captain and nurse with the U.S. Army before opening veteran of the U.S. Army and was a prisoner He was President of the Student Government Association while at He served as Law Clerk to the Hon. O. Robert Lidums of the Circuit her own practice, Family Medical Care, to provide primary care, of war for 33 months during the Korean ETSU and worked to make the campus barrier-free and accessible Court for Cecil County, Maryland. He was an active member of his preventive care, and urgent care for the underserved Corryton conflict. After his military retirement, to any student with disabilities. He served as Executive Director of community, serving on the Board of Directors for Mount Aviat community. In addition to her medical practice, she operated he spent 23 years as Purchasing Control the Appalachian Independence Center for over 25 years, where he Academy and as a lay Eucharistic minister for St. Augustine Parish. Spurs and Stars, a ministry at her horse ranch for underprivileged Manager at ETSU. worked to help persons with disabilities be able to live productive Christina Michelle Turbyfill (MED ’03) of Kingsport on and troubled children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. and independent lives and be able to participate in activities in September 6, 2015. Dr. Robert J. “Jack” Higgs on September 22, 2015, in Johnson a barrier-free and accessible community. He earned a bachelor’s Wilma Jean Collins (MED ’88) of Rogersville on September 8, City. He taught in the ETSU Department of English for 27 Teri Renea Parker (BS ’06) of Greeneville on July 22, 2015. She degree in Speech Pathology. 2015. Her family says she was saved at the age of eight and later years, retiring in 1994 as Professor Emeritus. He was known was a Registered Nurse with Mountain States Health Alliance baptized. Her joy was serving the Lord through song, helping in internationally as an expert in the literature of sports. He was a Angaline Hamilton Cummins (BSN ’81) of Bristol on July 22, who touched many lives. She earned a bachelor’s degree in ministry, and playing her favorite guitar. prolific author and in great demand as a public speaker. 2015. She was a nurse at Bristol Memorial Hospital for 45 years Nursing. and played the organ and piano at McIver Memorial Presbyterian Mark Kevin Gentry (BS ’88) of Chilhowie, Virginia, on June 16, Dr. William L. Maden on April 29, 2015, in St. Augustine, Florida. Jason Bryan Kennedy (BS ’07) of Abingdon on June 22, 2015. Church. 2015. He was a member of Seven Mile Ford Christian Church and He taught at the Quillen College of Medicine as the Psychiatric He earned a bachelor’s degree in Geography. earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science. Residency Training Director. In 1995, he became the Director of William Holladay Tiller (AS ’82) of Bristol on June 9, 2015. Nicole M. Yoder (MD ’08) of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on May 5, Mental Health at the Daytona Beach VA clinic. He was a Certified Dental Technician and owned his own dental Rebecca Dawn Grogg Hilton (MED ’88) of Johnson City 2015. She loved to serve others and that desire led her to ETSU ceramic laboratory for over 25 years. He earned an associate on September 14, 2015. She spent many years as a Medical Elizabeth Jo Shortridge of Johnson City on May 13, 2015. She where she received a Doctor of Medicine degree. She used this degree in Dental Laboratory Technology. Laboratory Assistant. retired from the Accounts Payable Department at East Tennessee degree to serve others in family practice at Roanoke Memorial State University and was an avid ETSU Bucs fan. She was of the Caroline Dover Jackson (EDD ’89) of Maryville on June 27, Kimberly Beth Bailey Fern (BSW ’83) of Abingdon on June 28, Hospital and through many trips around the world with Medical Presbyterian faith. 2015. Kim was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church 2015. She worked with the ETSU Department of Art from 1979- Ministries International. and was serving as the Senior Intellectual Disability Support 98 and from 1998-2014 was with the University Advisement Rodney Allen Williams of Johnson City Coordinator for Highlands Community Services at the time of her Center. She loved working with students and had many on May 23, 2015. He served in the U.S. Army. passing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. accomplishments on campus. She earned her doctoral degree in He also served in law enforcement for 37 Educational Leadership. years, including a long tenure with the ETSU Department of Public Safety. At ETSU, he received the Unsung Hero Award and saved at least two lives.

In Memory of degree in chemistry from ETSU and also worked at Eastman. facility and recognized Martin for his steadfast determination in seeing the The Martins were lifelong supporters of the arts, and in his wife’s memory, project come to fruition. Longtime James Martin established a $1 million endowment in the ETSU Foundation The Martins’ support of ETSU through the years also benefited the Department University and which led to the creation of the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts in 2009. He of Chemistry, public radio station WETS-FM/HD, and the Reece Museum. followed that with an additional $3 million in support of the school. Since its In addition, their generosity has enhanced the arts throughout the region, Regional Benefactor, founding, the school has fostered collaboration and coordination among the including naming gifts in Mary’s memory to the International Storytelling James Martin university’s various arts programs and brought unique and innovative arts Center in Jonesborough and to Milligan College, as well as donations to other programming to ETSU and the region. arts organizations. The ETSU family was saddened to hear of the passing of James C. Martin on Saturday, December 19, 2015. Martin later gave the first contribution toward ETSU’s new fine arts facility—a The Tennessee Board of Regents honored the Martins with the Chancellor’s and gift of $3 million. He was an honored guest at a celebration of the arts Regents’ awards for Excellence in Philanthropy in 2010 and 2013. Martin was a chemist at the Eastman Chemical Division of Eastman Kodak and ceremony in October 2015, when ETSU announced the official site of the arts held numerous patents for his innovations. His late wife, Mary, held a bachelor’s

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