CommencementAugust 8, 2020 Dr. Scott Hummel Dr. Scott Hummel, a proven leader with a track record of fundraising success and enrollment growth, is the 29th president of Tusculum University. He joined the Tusculum family Feb. 17, 2020, as the next step in a successful 30-year education career, the last 12 of which he served in high-level positions at William Carey University, a private Christian institution affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention.
During his time at William Carey, the number of students doubled, and the university added several majors, started multiple medical programs and created eight doctoral programs. In addition to his administrative roles, Dr. Hummel served as a religion professor, teaching courses about the Old Testament, Biblical Backgrounds, the Greco-Roman World and the Ancient Near East.
Calling himself a professor at heart, Dr. Hummel began his education career as a home-based teacher with the Fort Worth Independent School District in Texas in 1989. He also was a special education math teacher and a science teacher before embarking on his higher education career.
A first-generation college student, Dr. Hummel earned a Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies from William Carey in 1987. He received a Master of Divinity in biblical languages in 1991 and his doctorate in biblical backgrounds and archeology in 1996 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also studied at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and, as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Dr. Hummel has served as interim pastor for several Baptist churches and one Presbyterian church in Mississippi and Texas. He has been a member of Rotary International since 2002 and was president of the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club in Texas from 2007-2008 and the Hattiesburg Rotary Club from 2013- 2014.
Dr. Hummel is married to his wife, Starr, a high school science teacher, who earned her bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University and earned her Master of Divinity in biblical languages at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Hummels have three daughters. Kevin David Thumma II - Graduate Speech Kevin is graduating with a master’s degree in business administration and has earned honors distinction. He received a B.S. in Organizational Management from Tusculum in 2009. Kevin is a Senior Regional Account Manager for Graco’s Industrial Lubrication Equipment division, managing the entire distribution channel in the southeast. A resident of Knoxville, he is married with two children.
Lindsey Pulliam - Undergraduate Speech Lyndsey is graduating with a degree in Biology and a concentration in Medical Pre-Professional. During her time at Tusculum, she completed two years of undergraduate research in inorganic chemistry. Lyndsey was a member of the Tusculum women’s tennis team for all four years, was President of the Tusculum Science Club her senior year, and was a member of the President’s society. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.
Christian Bell - Invocation Christian Bell, a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Sport Administration is from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was a four-year member of the Tusculum football team while serving as a team representative in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He completed his undergraduate degree from TU in Sport Management. While in the Sport Management program, he compiled a 3.79 GPA and a 3.8 in MASA. He is newly married to TU alum Ashley Cole Bowers. Brodie Tamara Leshae West - Invocation Brodie West is graduating today with a bachelor of science in nursing. During her time at Tusculum, she served as treasurer for the Student Nursing Association and was a member of the “Tusculum 10,” a group of 10 seniors, selected as embodying the university’s highest ideals, who were charged with selecting the peers and staff to honor for demonstrating those same traits. Regalia Information • Bachelor’s degree honors recipients wear, in addition to the standard academic regalia, cords designating grade point average: • black and orange for 3.5 to 3.74, cum laude • orange for 3.75 to 3.94, magna cum laude, and • gold for 3.95 to 4.0, summa cum laude.
• Graduate student honors recipients wear, in addition to the standard academic regalia, cords designating grade point average: • gold cord and tassel for those earning a 4.0, High Honors, and • gold cord for 3.95 -3.99, Honors. • Bachelor of Arts recipients, who are members of the Alpha Chi Honor Society, wear blue and green cords. • Bonner Leaders wear sage green and silver cords. • Members of Iota Tau Alpha, the national honor society in athletic training, wear a blue, red and yellow cord. • Honors Program graduates wear a gold stole. • President’s Society members wear orange and silver cords. • Tutors wear purple and gold cords. • Student Nurse Leaders wear blue, gold and white cords. • Pioneer Certified students wear a teal cord. • Kappa Delta Pi members wear green and purple cords. • Veterans wear red, white and blue cords.
Honors The honors listed in the commencement program are calculated on Tusculum University grades prior to the 2020 Spring semester. Official honors for the diploma and transcript will be calculated on all Tusculum University grades, including the current semester. History As Tusculum celebrates its 225th year, Tusculum University remembers the recent past and the generosity of individuals such as Dr. Scott Niswonger, Dr. Larry Brotherton and Mrs. Verna June Meen. Pioneers, both present and future, are the beneficiaries of their civic spirit and caretakers of a legacy that challenges them to realize the full measure of their potential, both on campus and in their communities.
Tusculum University originates from two distinct institutions. In 1794, two years before Tennessee received statehood, Territorial Governor William Blount and the General Assembly chartered Greeneville College with Reverend Hezekiah Balch as president. Twenty-four years later, Samuel Doak and his son, Samuel Witherspoon Doak, founded Tusculum Academy in 1818.
Tusculum is the first institution of higher learning in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation. Tusculum is the first institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to admit women and the first in Tennessee to educate an African-American student. Tusculum’s greatest accomplishments, however, have not been recorded by historians, nor have they been attained within the narrow confines of a college campus. Tusculum’s most meaningful history has been, and continues to be, written in the countless actions of its graduates as they have fanned out over the globe to do the work for which they were trained. - Sit Lux.
Mission Building on a rich Presbyterian heritage and a pioneering spirit, Tusculum University provides an active and experiential education within a caring Christian environment to inspire civic engagement, enrich personal lives, and equip career-ready professionals. COMMENCEMENT Saturday, August 8, 2020 Dr. Scott Hummel, Presiding
CONVENING OF COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES Dr. Peter Nolll, Faculty Moderator, Associate Professor of Public History and Museum Studies
INVOCATION Mr. Christian Bell
WELCOME AND COMMENTS Dr. Tricia Hunsader, Provost
GREETING AND COMMENTS Dr. Scott Hummel, President
INVOCATION Ms. Brodie Tamara Leshae West
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Graduate Commencement Speaker, Mr. Kevin Thumma Undergrad Commencement Speaker, Ms. Lyndsey Pulliam
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES President Hummel
BENEDICTION Rev. Lester Lattany, Trustee
ALMA MATER Ms. Jill Oberfeitinger, Director of Academic Advising
WELCOME TO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Dr. Lisa Andrus, Director of Alumni Engagement DEGREE CANDIDATES Saturday, August 8, 2020 MASTER DEGREES *Kevin David Thumma II, Honors *James Conrad Tinman Jr. COLLEGE OF BUSINESS *Elizabeth Helen Tomassoni *Katherine A. Tomassoni MASTER OF *Benjamen Daniel Vinsant BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION *Ashton Alexander Watson *Ajhemar Giovannii Amos *Kasi Lynn Zeigler Mark Edward Baker *John Evan Bennett COLLEGE OF EDUCATION *William Henry Boney II Melvin Christopher Bowen, Honors MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION Melissa K. Brewer, Honors Ashley Province Aldridge, Honors *Makyla Chollman Penelope Arloa Cochran, High Honors Rebecca Carol DeFord Katie Lee Cole *Amanda Rochelle Delbridge Deandra Fawn Doolittle *Stefan Glen Dotson *Jennifer L. Duff, Honors *Jacob Floyd *Katherine E. Etters, Honors *Trevis Dale Gardner *Sarah Allison Fleshman, Honors *Ava Elizabeth Glenn *Calley Britt Forsberg, High Honors *Brittany Michelle Hanson Regina Carolynn Harold, High Honors *Jesse Robert Hargis Tessa Marie Hartness, High Honors *Zachary Lee Hartle *Lindsey Brooke Hayes, Honors *Scott Daniel Hicks, Honors *Katherine Maria Hunt *Caleb Jordan Hodnett Rebecca Leann Johnson, High Honors *Raphaela Carina Jann, High Honors *Tess Renee Jones, High Honors *J’Quen Ovon Johnson Bailey Spencer Kerley *Carrie Elizabeth Maggert *Kelsi Hayden-Flaire Knox, High Honors *Melissa Elizabeth Mazur Julie Michelle Larmer, High Honors *Abraham McCauley III *Jessica Nicole McKay, Honors *Landyn Olivia Metler Madeline Elizabeth Morgan, High Honors *Christopher Steven O’Day Bethanee Lee Newman, Honors Casey Dalton Reagan *Rachel Ann Nunley, High Honors *Caroline Margery Rice, Honors *Kevin L. Parker *Leslie Nicole Rimmer Brittany Ann Ramsey, High Honors *Allyson Kathleen Rines Kaliah Alexis Sheppard, Honors *Ashley Monique Rodriguez-Maldonado Catherine Chait Shoun *Mindy Dawn Sams Remola Wanavee Turner *Meaghan Michele Smith *Bethany Nicole Underwood, High Honors *Bryan Moises Soto Estrella, High Honors *Jada Lynn Watts, High Honors *Jeffrey Douglas Taylor, Honors *Pamela Lynn Worley *Dan-Neil Javan Telesford MASTER OF ARTS IN Emily Elizabeth Dean SPORT ADMINISTRATION Tiffany Phillips Dean, Honors *Timothy Christian Bell Stephanie Lynne Delias, High Honors *Ashley Cole Bowers Kelsey Morgan Haun *Brandon Mathew Cosey Ashley Nicole Hoover, Honors *Dylan Mathew Day Kimberly Jane Moyer Jones, Honors *Sophia Madeline Everett, Honors Frankie Lorine Kington *Larry Gene Lumbard III Macy Sissom Mitchell *Katelyn Dale McCullough, Honors Andreena Mooney, Honors *Christian A. Sisto Rodney Lewis Phillips *Emily Marie White Derek Cody Price, Honors *Sydney Nicole Wilson Krystle LaNaye Redley, Honors Summer Dawn Roark MASTER OF ARTS IN Hannah Danielle Spiers TALENT DEVELOPMENT Heather Lemonds Wilson, Honors *Laura Emilie Battel, Honors *Faith Angelica Borck, High Honors BACHELOR DEGREES *Jennifer Louise Brockhoff, Honors Victoria Nicole Browder, Honors COLLEGE OF BUSINESS *Courtney Elizabeth Colson, Honors Darren Lynn Dunlap BACHELOR OF ARTS IN *Marshanna Vishay Eason, Honors BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Celeste Nicole Elias, High Honors Edgar Joaquin Cervantes Sosa, Christen T. Gray, High Honors magna cum laude *Jeffrey Reed Gray, Honors Georgios Charkoutsakis Gregory Ward Hilemon Wesley Grant Cordell *Bradford Blaine Hinkle, High Honors Juliette Elizabeth Cusano Ashton Dean Hippenstiel Clement Dagorn, cum laude *Nicia Rianne Johnson, High Honors Dustin C. Day *Kent David Noe, Honors Sokho De Souza *Aqilah N. Rashid Garrett Scott Dupuis Danielle Louise Smith, Honors Yago Fernádez González, cum laude Hailie Alexandra Smith, Honors Susanna Younger Galens, Selena Nicole Sutton summa cum laude *Taleah Elizabeth Rose Vallès-Peters, Allen James Hems High Honors Campbell Paul Holley James Michael Malis Irwin, MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING magna cum laude Rebecca Lynne Adams Kyler William Johnson Laura Elizabeth Ayers Avery Conner Johnston Nicole Deanne Bailey, High Honors Colin Patrick Johnston Alicia Nichole Brown Andre Malik Jones Hunter Chase Buchanan Ashley Jordyn Jones Madelynne Ceara Buckelew Cameron King Ronald Christopher Campbell, Honors Liam Henry Martel Macdonald, Beimar Jijon Garcia cum laude Courtney Denise Kear Daulton Ray Martin, cum laude Matthew David Marlow, cum laude Christopher TJ Matheus *Cory Melissa Mata, cum laude Caitlin Jane McCullough, McKenzie Ariel Miget, magna cum laude magna cum laude Cole Cameron Neff Africa Mota Izquierdo Tina Maria Phillips, magna cum laude Babawale Ajayi Ogundeyi *Timothy E. Post *Nevena Pejovic Sandra Jo Reyes, magna cum laude Fabian Proesch, magna cum laude Daniel Dean Ricker, magna cum laude Alejandro Quiriti, cum laude *Jeremiah Jason Rogers, Óscar Rubio Jiménez, cum laude summa cum laude Hailey Marie Sanders *Angela Dawn Rynes Rafael Sarasola, cum laude John Bradford Sayles, summa cum laude Amber Ranae Shepherd, John Matthew Smerdel, magna cum laude magna cum laude Nikola Vujicic, summa cum laude James Allen Southerland, Robert Donovan Zirkle, cum laude magna cum laude Sean Michael Thumma, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN summa cum laude BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Ashley Renee Viagas, cum laude Caleb David Alder, cum laude Skylar Ann Vicars, cum laude Landon Marcus Allen, cum laude *Jacelyn Sierra Watts Grant Parker Bacon, magna cum laude *Nicholas Ryan Wiley Kevin Ray Ball, summa cum laude *Julie Ann Winters White, *Evan Keith Best magna cum laude Lawanda Shanique Bolden, cum laude Timothy Adam Bumgarner, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN magna cum laude HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT *Brandi Leigh Campbell Randall James Williams, Thomas Evan Carney III, cum laude magna cum laude Kelly Marie Carter Stephanie Anna Nicole Clayton BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Adam Crowe, magna cum laude IN MANAGEMENT Madison Cyrina Dentz, Timothy Starbuck Burnett, cum laude summa cum laude *Tabitha A. Burris Adam Dominic Eichelberger James Carlen Humphrey Jr. Erica Christine Fletcher, Briant William Vaughn Mora magna cum laude *Jessica Lake Morton *Amanda Gardner *Clint Tyler Gaskins Michael Wayne Gill, magna cum laude Jessica Nicole Harris, magna cum laude Ashley Noel Hensley, summa cum laude COLLEGE OF McKenna Rae Keltner, summa cum laude CIVIC AND LIBERAL ARTS Ethan Hull Walling, cum laude
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART AND DESIGN POLITICAL SCIENCE *Kelsie Leia Thomas Kristopher Scott Adams Matthew Ray Fitzgerald Jones, summa cum laude BACHELOR OF ARTS IN Nicholas L. Sisto, cum laude CRIMINAL JUSTICE Tyler James Smith Michaelae Faith Carden Malik Jaliyl Goodman COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Mia Mariah Corrine Long Quinn Thomas David McKitrick, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN cum laude INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, Ryan Patrick Pickering ELEMENTARY K-5 Allison Blake Turner Shawna L. Alder, magna cum laude Sara Alexandra Cole, summa cum laude BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN Nicky Michelle Frye CRIMINAL JUSTICE Tammy Fletcher Golden, Grayson Alexandra Brown summa cum laude Kyle Akeem Stanley Kristin Ashley Reis Johnson, magna cum laude BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH Macy Alexis Leatherwood *Whitney Marie Bunch Emma Elisabeth McCuiston, Jenna Lea Hutchinson magna cum laude Ida Ruth Naillon Nikita Siddell, summa cum laude David Ray Presley Olivia Grace Watson, cum laude Rachel Delaney Swatzell, magna cum laude BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, K-12 BACHELOR OF ARTS IN Hunter Scott Chandley HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN Zachary Sebastian Pike, SPORT MANAGEMENT AND magna cum laude SPORT SCIENCE Malcolm Payne Nicholson BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY Lisa Marie Lange, summa cum laude BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SPORT MANAGEMENT BACHELOR OF ARTS IN Kaleb Isaac Bell MUSEUM STUDIES Conrad Regis Carney III Lindsey Katelyn Haynes, Joel Cooper Edgar magna cum laude Bryson Royce Ford, magna cum laude Alexis Leanne Grampp Emily Grace Iorga, summa cum laude Jarron Patrick Hall Jennifer Marie Keim, summa cum laude Randall Lee Hinton III, cum laude Makayla Ellen Knuchel Tariq Alonzo Frank Jenkins *Taylor Dawn McNabb, magna cum laude *David Alexander Johnson Jordan Delaney Melvin *Carter James Linton *Michelle Brianne Miller Trevor Scott Lloyd Magdaleno Roman Sanchez, cum laude Luke Ewen Murphy Haley Danielle Shanks Pedro Rodriguez Tara Ann Shields, cum laude Lenny Q. Roundtree Jr. Rachel Breeanna Shults, cum laude Eliza Jane Ryan Brittney Danielle Stevens *Madison Anne Sutton, cum laude *Tamee L. Tweed Corey Edward Szewczyk Chase McClain Ware Stefanie Dawn Webb BACHELOR OF ARTS IN Brodie Tamara Leshae West, cum laude SPORT SCIENCE Taylor Anne Wilkinson, cum laude DeAundre Deshawn Alford Elizabeth Marie Williams-McCarthy Paulos Beraki Bailey Caroline Kennedy, cum laude COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, Bailey Renee Lowery, cum laude TECHNOLOGY, AND MATHEMATICS Brittany Danielle Lowery,magna cum laude Andrew Carter Mangel Jr. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY Cameron Paige McAbee Carter Andrew DelSorbo, Martoria Keysha Patton magna cum laude Linden Danae Perkins, cum laude Bryson Pierce Henley Matthew Bernard Price Justin Parker Maney, magna cum laude Chelsea Aoife Sheerin Lyndsey Blake Pulliam, cum laude *Dillon Tremaine Smith Alyssa Nicole Rojas, magna cum laude Katelyn Ruth Weems Madelyn Jane Vossen, magna cum laude Jasmine Monique Williams Hunter Perry Weismore
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COLLEGE OF NURSING CHEMISTRY *Shaun Taylor Jenkins BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING Annie Beth McCullough, Shelton Emily Abbott, cum laude summa cum laude Danielle Marie Breen Pau Peiró Vila, magna cum laude Mekayla Camille Trantham Calhoun Monica Ellen Coy, cum laude BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN *Erin Joelen Dailey, summa cum laude COMPUTER SCIENCE/BUSINESS *Destiny Sierra Davis Xavier H. Lamour *Emily Katelyn Davis Tosha LeAnne Gergish, cum laude Kamille Star Harris Aubrey Nicole Hawkins BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN *Arian Nicole Daugherty COMPUTER SCIENCE Tiffany Nicole Dennis Robert Tyson Beach *Maxwell George Joseph Kaitlin Anne Miller, summa cum laude Alicia Jo Hopkins *John Paul Johnson BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN Jodi Michelle Jones COMPUTER SCIENCE AND Stacy Danielle Jordan MATHEMATICS Sullivan Isaac Martin, cum laude Deniz Dalkiran, magna cum laude Danielle Brooke Mathes, summa cum laude BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN Barbara S. McKinney ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE *Rebecca Leanna McMahan Brandon L. Harrison Elexus Cheyenne Morrow, cum laude Colby Ryan Kennedy McKenzie Michelle Myers, cum laude Robert Lee Morgan III, magna cum laude Bailey Cameron Ogle *Matt Payne, summa cum laude BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN Kennedy Grace Roberts, cum laude INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Margaret P. Staley Adekunle David Akinpetide, cum laude *Nicolas Adam Staley Emily Anne Stoklosa, cum laude BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY *Kendra Cheyenne Sybert Raymond Spencer Adams, cum laude *Jamie R. Tackett Ashley Elizabeth Akins, magna cum laude Keveon Waunez Broadwater Cheyenne Jade Cureton Sarah Joan Elizabeth Hyder, cum laude Sierra Elizabeth Phillips Kerry Galen Rives *August Conferral Leigh-Anne Paige Santore Ashley Marie Scozzari Brooklyn Danielle Smith Jessica Yvonne Smith Tatum Rose Thornton
ASSOCIATE DEGREE
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN GENERAL STUDIES Alexis Geniece Ailor *Gary E. Breuklander III Whitney Marie Bunch Riley John Burns, cum laude Makayla Areonna Caslin James Lee Charlton *Kelesie Sheanta Cotner ALMA MATER ’Neath oaks that so long have stood watching, Oh halls of our college, ye stand;
Afar on the distant horizon, The Smokies rise, lofty and grand.
With beauties of nature surrounded, Two centuries’ memories thine;
And so, oh our college, we love thee, Close ’round thee our heartstrings entwine.
Oh days in the old Alma Mater Spent in classrooms, on campus, or track;
Each one full of tasks and of pleasure, Once gone, they can never come back.
Then sing while the days are still passing, With voices exultant and free;
Fair Tusculum our college forever! All hail, Alma Mater, to thee!
– Charles Oliver Gray, Jr. ’17, Hon. ’28