ETSU Today Summer 2024

“Happiness is a med school” “Happiness is a med school”

Best Mascot in the SoCon

Bucky rides the wave of excitement as he surfs through a record sellout crowd for the SGA Spring Concert. While waiting in anticipation for chart-topping performers Riley Green, Maddie and Tae, and Jordy Searcy to take the stage, fans gave Bucky the all-star treatment as they celebrated his recent victory as “Best Mascot in the Southern Conference.”

Photo by Charlie Warden

ETSU PRESIDENT

Brian Noland

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Fred Sauceman

CREATIVE

DIRECTOR

Jess Vodden

MANAGING

EDITORS

Melissa Nipper

Lorraine Vestal

ART DIRECTOR

Jeanette Henry

Jewell

ADVANCEMENT/ ALUMNI EDITORS

Pamela Ritter

Whitney Goetz

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kevin Brown

Ember Brummitt

Karen Crigger

Lee Ann Davis

O.J. Early

Yasmeen Elayan

Mike Ezekiel

Jennifer Hill

Rachel Howard

Melissa Nipper

Jonathan Roberts

Fred Sauceman

Joe Smith

COVER DESIGN

Cody Ryans

PHOTOGRAPHY/ ART

Samuel Adenekan

Ron Campbell

Matthew Carroll

Jeremy Gouge

Dakota Hamilton

Jaylynn Nash

Joe Smith

Larry Smith

Charlie Warden

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE: BRIAN NOLAND

Earlier this summer, our Men's Golf Team competed for a national title, ultimately placing 12th in the nation among a field of 30 competitors comprising primarily state flagship institutions. It was ETSU's fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Men's Golf Tournament, and we are one of just nine programs in the country to accomplish that feat. Our golf team's ability to compete at an elite level against far larger schools is outstanding. But it is not unique — at least not at ETSU.

Our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are achieving national and international recognition in research, scholarship, athletics, the arts, health care, business, government, and service. In the last year alone, our marching band grew to one of the largest in the nation and was selected to perform on the world stage at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while Bluegrass alums Amythyst Kiah and Tray Wellington received national acclaim from the New York Times and PBS, among others. Our pharmacy students ranked second nationally for their scores on the NAPLEX licensing exam, and students and faculty in the College of Public Health claimed one of the nation's top awards for innovation in public service.

Trent White, a current ETSU student, received the highly competitive national Truman Scholarship, while alum Shivam Patel was a finalist for the Rhodes — one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. ETSU grad Craig Charles was named Tennessee's Small Business Person of the Year, and alum Missy Testerman was proclaimed National Teacher of the Year on CBS Mornings.

For far too long, our university has been among the nation's "best-kept secrets." This is a disservice not only to our students, faculty, staff, and alumni but also to our entire region, which has worked hand-in-hand with the university for more than a century to develop a world-class institution in the heart of Appalachia. We have done so without sacrificing our mission and remaining accessible to all. Nearly 40 percent of our May 2024 graduates were the first in their families to graduate from college.

East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. East Tennessee State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of East Tennessee State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).

ETSU is an equal opportunity employer. ETSU-241700-24

Acknowledgment: Some illustrations and photo edits in this issue were created with the assistance of generative AI.

East Tennessee State University is a place where anyone can grow, succeed, and compete with the best. I am incredibly proud of that fact, and I hope each of you is as well.

Godspeed, and go Bucs!

Brian Noland President

DULA DAY OF SERVICE

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Chris Dula, a well-known and beloved ETSU faculty member who embodied the university's mission through teaching, research, and community service, Dula Day celebrates and epitomizes his dedication to the community. Launched in 2019 after his courageous battle with brain cancer, this tradition offers students, faculty, staff, and community members opportunities for hands-on service and volunteerism that echo Dr. Dula’s commitment to the region. An esteemed figure within ETSU's Psychology Department, Dr. Dula exemplified academic excellence and unwavering dedication to his students. Dula Day, sponsored by the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement, the Student Government Association, and Volunteer ETSU, stands as a testament to his enduring legacy and emphasizes the values of service, giving, and love he exemplified.

See the ways students served.

Photos by Larry Smith and Charlie Warden

ETSU HEALTH BY THE NUMBERS

East Tennessee State University has a storied history of academic and clinical excellence. Through its wide-ranging health sciences programs across five colleges encompassing Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health, ETSU offers a robust combination of academic programs and patient-care facilities with an emphasis on interprofessional education that prepares students to excel in diverse health care environments.

ETSU Health is one of approximately 130 Academic Health Centers worldwide.

ETSU Health served more than 400,000 patients in 2022-23.

There are nearly 4,000 health sciences students at ETSU.

ETSU’s Addiction Science Center secured roughly $4 million in grant funding in 2024 to combat the opioid crisis.

ETSU is training MORE NURSES in its College of Nursing than any other school in Tennessee.

The ETSU College of Nursing’s NCLEX-RN FIRST ATTEMPT PASS RATE WAS 90% in 2023 – higher than the national average.

ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy’s Class of 2024 had a 92% Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) match rate, ranking 6TH IN THE NATION AND 1ST IN THE SOUTHEAST .

ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy’s Class of 2023 had a 95.4% first attempt pass rate on the NAPLEX licensure exam, 2ND IN THE NATION among accredited pharmacy schools.

ETSU’s College of Health Sciences is home to ONE OF ONLY 14 ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS PROGRAMS in the country.

In 2023, the ETSU Radiologic Science Program was ranked 3RD IN THE NATION among “Best Radiology Tech Programs for 2023” (edumed.org).

The ETSU College of Public Health earned the prestigious HARRISON C. SPENCER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE in 2024.

Since 2017, graduates of the ETSU College of Public Health’s Department of Health Sciences who apply to medical school have A REMARKABLE 72% ACCEPTANCE RATE .

The ETSU Quillen College of Medicine is RANKED 9TH IN THE NATION AMONG MEDICAL SCHOOLS with the most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas.

The Quillen College of Medicine boasts a NEARLY 1:1 STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO

Photos by Jeremy Gouge, Ron Campbell, and Charlie Warden

SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Craig Charles, an alumnus of ETSU, was recently honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as Tennessee’s Small Business Person of the Year. This prestigious recognition highlights Charles’s remarkable journey from student to small business owner, and it underscores the profound impact of his entrepreneurial spirit and community engagement.

“Craig’s commitment to excellence, innovative approach to business, and unwavering dedication to our community made him a standout candidate. Seeing him win this award is a testament to his hard work and the positive impact he’s made on our local economy,” said Mark Bays, Director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

Pioneering his efforts is Craig’s Crown Cutz and Crown Cutz Academy, a training institution shaping the future of beauty industry professionals in the region. Through this academy, Charles empowers individuals to pursue careers in barbering, nail technology, cosmetology, and aesthetician fields while fostering a supportive community dedicated to professional growth and mental health awareness.

Reflecting on his ETSU experience, he notes, “One of the biggest things I took away from being at ETSU is building relationships. I think your network helps build your net worth.”

Charles built his successful business from the ground up, beginning in 2004. Today, his barbershop and training academy

boast locations in Johnson City and Bristol, Virginia. Yet behind the barber chair is a man driven by a deeper purpose. With each precise snip of his scissors, he’s also trimming away at the stigma surrounding mental health awareness. “There are so many people I’ve had conversations with in my shop,” he shares, “and numerous times people come back and tell me I’ve said something that has resonated with their life.”

For Charles, the barbershop is more than just a place for grooming; it’s a sanctuary for open dialogue and support. Through initiatives like The Confess Project of America, a national organization that fosters mental health advocacy among Black men and underrepresented communities of color, Charles strives to destigmatize mental health discussions and increase access to support services. Through The Confess Project, barbers receive training in active listening, positive communication, validation, and stigma reduction.

Despite not being from the area originally, Charles has chosen to make Johnson City his home. As he aptly puts it, “Where you earn, you learn, and you return,” emphasizing his dedication to giving back and playing a vital role in the community he now calls home.

By Yasmeen Elayan  Photo by Ron Campbell

Learn how Craig Charles is giving back to his community.

A SAG NOMINEE IS IN THE BUILDING

Allison Guinn left her New York City apartment on a cold January morning with great focus. She was keeping the mood tender, and for good reason.

Soon, she would be at the studio filming an episode of American Horror Story: Delicate for FX. The scene called for Guinn to be crying and part of a group of women who just so happen to attract some sneers and jeers from another character, Siobhan, played by Kim Kardashian.

Just as she was about to board the train in Astoria, she got the news: the 2024 Screen

Actors Guild (SAG) Awards nominations were in, and Guinn had earned a spot on the Drama Series Ensemble ballot for her work on Only Murders in the Building.

“I had just received some of the most exciting news of my life,” she laughed. “And now I am supposed to cry hysterically on camera!”

Within a few weeks, Guinn was on the L.A. red carpet.

“No one prepares you for the feeling of walking the red carpet with people screaming your name,” she recalls. “It’s a

crazy and overwhelming feeling…definitely a pinch-yourself-moment!”

Though the comedy The Bear claimed the award, earning a SAG nomination would become the latest entry on the Erwin native’s list of accolades she earned since graduating from ETSU in 2004 and moving to the Big Apple. Her Broadway debut would come in 2009 with the musical Hair followed by On the Town and a two-yearplus national tour of Les Misérables

Guinn says making the jump to television and film was, well, a leap.

“It was like being thrown into water and told to swim,” Guinn recalls after filming an episode of Boardwalk Empire

“In television, how you rehearse, how things are shot…it’s all different. There are a lot of technical words and phrases that were new to me. With every new TV job I get, I’m still learning.”

She was offered the recurring role of K.T. in Only Murders in the Building after submitting an audition recording. There was no call-back but rather “I had the role, it’s for five episodes, maybe more, and here’s your costume fitting date.”

Guinn admits she completely freaked out.

“Steve Martin…Martin Short…these were my heroes, and now I would be filming with them. And Meryl Streep! Anytime you audition, you hope for the best. It’s like wishing you would win the lottery, and in this case, I did.”

Still, not every day is a stroll on the red carpet. Far from it.

“People ask me all the time, ‘So Allison, what’s next? What is a typical day like for you?’

“And the truth is, there are no typical days, and no, I don’t know what is next. As an auditioning actor, there are no typical weeks. In fact, my plans for next week are up in the air.”

By Joe Smith Photo by Joe Smith

COMMENCEMENT

Twice each year, Commencement marks a new beginning in the lives of graduates. It’s a day of looking forward, and it’s also a day heavy on tradition! Scenes from the spring 2024 ceremony included the traditional procession led by a Distinguished Faculty Award recipient and a bagpiper playing a lively tune. Members of the Golden Fifties Club, who graduated 50 years ago, take part in the ceremony wearing gold gowns. A newer tradition is taking photos with friends at ETSU’s selfie station, at the ETSU-themed mural by artist Kelsey Montague, and, of course, with Bucky!

Watch the highlights from the May 2024 Commencement ceremony.

Photos by Ron Campbell and Charlie Warden

5 Questions with TIMOTHY BUSFIELD

Producer, director, and Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield began his career on stage at East Tennessee State University, where he was a theater student from 1978-79.

He launched a successful career on stage and screen, amassing more than 700 professional credits ranging from thirtysomething to The West Wing to Field of Dreams. He also founded two of America’s most successful professional theaters, The Fantasy Theatre (AKA the B Street School Tour) and The B Street Theatre, both in Sacramento, California.

Busfield returned to ETSU in May as the Commencement keynote speaker for the Class of 2024. In addition to delivering an inspiring message to the graduates, he was presented with an honorary doctorate degree by ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland.

?

How did you discover that you wanted to pursue acting?

I was six years old and went by myself to see Burt Lancaster in a pirate movie. I came home and announced at the dinner table, “I’m going to be a movie star.” My family nodded, and then we went back to eating. I didn’t know what an actor was; I only knew movie star. My freshman year of high school, we adapted A Charlie Brown Christmas in our English class, and they brought in all the K-3 students from East Lansing to watch the play. I fell in love with that audience. At the end of my senior year, I did Guys and Dolls, and I was at home on that stage. Then I went to East Tennessee State, auditioned for a play, got a part, and it took off from right there. I dug in and I gave it my all, and it was there that I transitioned into becoming an actor.

Timothy Busfield spends time with new graduates

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What brought you from East Lansing, Michigan, to East Tennessee State University?

I went into the military and got the GI Bill® so I could pay for school. My brother, Buck, had taken a job in Legal Services of Upper East Tennessee in Johnson City, and he rented a house for us on Sinking Creek Road. We spent two of the best years of our lives there.

? ? ?

What did you learn at ETSU that helped you succeed in your career?

I had a teacher at ETSU named Bud Frank. He taught me the Stanislavsky system, what they call “the method” in acting. I left East Tennessee State when I was 22, joined an acting company with Kathy Bates and Chris Cooper, and did my first movie at 23. I did not have to spend years studying acting; I was ready when I left East Tennessee State. I didn’t struggle as an actor because of that foundation.

Do you have a favorite role?

On stage, it’s hands-down Lt. Kaffee from the original company of A Few Good Men on Broadway. That’s where I met Aaron Sorkin. On television, it’s thirtysomething, where I won an Emmy. In movies, it would be Poindexter in Revenge of the Nerds because I was able to create that character from the ground up.

What advice do you have for ETSU graduates who are just beginning their careers?

So often, when success doesn’t come right away, it can make people want to give up. Too often, we slow down at the thought of failure, and it keeps people from pursuing dreams because they want their dreams to come true right away. Craft requires repetition and failure. I think patience is the most important thing, and it can only go with perspiration.

Photo by Charlie Warden

Courage and Commitment PLANT

SEEDS FOR QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

By Fred Sauceman

Speaker Ned McWherter ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to lock the door of the Tennessee House chambers on March 12, 1974. He did not want to risk a repeat of what had happened less than a month before.

On February 18, a vote had come before the Tennessee House of Representatives on the bill that would create a medical school at East Tennessee State University. The bill did not pass that day. It fell two votes short.

McWherter had noticed a freshman legislator from Shelby County leaving the chambers before the vote was taken. As he passed their desks that day, McWherter comforted the members of the Upper East Tennessee legislative delegation who were distraught over the bill’s failure.

“Dry your eyes, boys,” McWherter said to Representatives Bob Good and P.L. Robinson of Washington County. “We’ll run this bill again, and it’ll pass. And as for our friend from Shelby County, he won’t be returning to the legislature.”

McWherter’s prediction proved true. That legislator would not be re-elected. McWherter, a Democrat, had aligned early on with his Republican colleagues from Upper East Tennessee in support of locating a medical school in Johnson City.

The campaign resulted in one of the most contentious political battles in Tennessee history, extending about eight years and eventually changing the face of Tennessee politics and Tennessee health care.

The pressures were enormous. The Mayor of Memphis, Henry Loeb, told McWherter he would make sure he would never again be elected to public office. McWherter delighted in telling the story many years later, after serving as Governor of Tennessee. Loeb, meanwhile, became a farm implement dealer in Forrest City, Arkansas.

P.L. Robinson joked that it looked like he and his delegation were going to have to rename the

Tennessee River to get the bill passed. Republican Governor Winfield Dunn’s Transportation Commissioner, Bob Smith of Limestone, threatened withdrawal of funding for roads in Upper East Tennessee.

When Dunn was elected Governor in November of 1970, East Tennesseans, the majority of whom voted Republican, were elated. Tennessee had not had a Republican governor in 50 years since Carter Countian Alf Taylor was elected.

Dunn was a graduate of the University of Tennessee’s dental school in Memphis. Yet after taking office in January of 1971, he seemed amenable to the idea of a free-standing medical school for ETSU. First District Congressman James H. “Jimmy” Quillen wrote that Dunn had promised his support.

But by August of 1971, Dunn’s position had changed. His alma mater, UT, vigorously and vocally opposed the creation of a new medical school at ETSU. At the Appalachian District Fair in Gray that summer, Dunn made his first public statement in opposition to an ETSU medical school, an announcement that only served to heighten the resolve of the Upper East Tennessee legislative delegation.

The idea to create a second state-supported medical school in Tennessee likely originated in the 1950s. An early proponent was John P. Lamb, Jr., who had been a staffer with the Tennessee Department of Health. It is reasonable to believe that Lamb raised the issue with Commissioner Dr. R.H. Hutcheson, who led the Department of Health from 1943 until 1969.

A native of Carter County, Lamb was hired to join the East Tennessee State College staff in 1949, the very last year of President Charles C. Sherrod’s administration. Lamb quickly set forth to build a vibrant College of Health, eventually adding programs in nursing, dental hygiene, speech-language pathology, health sciences, and health education.

On December 10, 1960, Lamb and area citizens met with Dr. Hutcheson to discuss the state of health care in East Tennessee. On November 30, 1961, East Tennessee State College President Burgin E.

Dossett published what is likely the first written reference to the need for a new medical school.

In a report to the state Department of Education and the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees dealing with program inventories at the state’s higher education institutions, Dossett wrote, “As state-wide conditions change, however, a second medical school located in another section of Tennessee might become advisable.”

Always politically astute, Dossett was careful to state the need subtly, not mentioning a specific area in Tennessee. But there is no doubt that he believed the logical place was Johnson City.

Less than three years later, a young physician from Erwin saw firsthand the desperate need for more doctors in East Tennessee. “We simply had more sick people than we could deal with,” remembered Dr. Charles Ed Allen. He was fresh out of medical school at the University of Tennessee.

Despite the demands of establishing a new internal medicine practice in Johnson City, Dr. Allen took up the cause for a new medical school. He quickly became one of the champions of the campaign. He began gathering statistics—ones that were understandable to everyone. He determined that there were approximately 140 doctors for every 100,000 people nationwide. In Upper East Tennessee, there were only 70. Including adjacent counties, Dr. Allen discovered that the numbers were even worse: 40 doctors per 100,000 residents.

One evening, Dr. Allen was at home studying maps. He brought out a compass and placed its sharp point into the dot on a map marking Johnson City and started drawing circles. To his amazement, he found that Johnson City is closer to Canada than it is to Memphis, home of the University of Tennessee’s medical school. “Closer to Canada than Memphis” became a theme and rallying cry all through the med school campaign.

Dr. Allen took the lead in forming a steering committee, through the Washington-Carter-Unicoi Medical Society, on March 1, 1966. That committee created the Appalachian Regional Center for the Healing Arts, with Dr. Allen as its CEO. On May 27, 1967, during the administration of Governor Buford

Ellington, ARCHA was approved to receive the very first state appropriation of the med school campaign. The amount was $2,500 for a feasibility study.

While Burgin Dossett was making plans to retire from the presidency of ETSU, which had achieved university status in 1963, members of the state’s Board of Education began seeking a replacement.

J. Howard Warf of Hohenwald, Tennessee, and T. Wesley Pickel of Roane County handpicked the president of Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo), Dr. D.P. Culp. At first, Culp told Pickel that he was content to stay in Alabama “until the pine box came calling.”

An incognito trip to Johnson City in 1967 changed his mind. On a self-guided tour around the city, he and his wife Martha, with their children in the back seat, stopped at a gas station for a fill-up. Noticing the Alabama license plate, the attendant struck up a conversation. The topic of a possible medical school for ETSU came up, and the attendant shared his philosophy on the subject: “The University of Tennessee will try to kill us. They always do. But if they do succeed in killing us this time, they will at least know they have had one hell of a fight.”

Culp stopped at a Johnson City fire station and heard a similar statement from a firefighter. Inspired by the grassroots emotions surrounding the med school idea, Culp became ETSU’s fourth president in 1968.

Culp soon discovered that the gas station attendant was right. In fact, some of the most powerful entities in the state were lining up in opposition to a free-standing medical school at ETSU. The University of Tennessee insisted that any new funds go toward its medical units in Memphis. The Tennessee Medical Association went on record opposing a Johnson City school. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission spoke out against it, with Executive Director Dr. John Folger even claiming that Tennessee was on the verge of an over-supply of physicians. Culp courageously defied all these powerbrokers and even his boss, Governor Dunn, to battle for the ETSU medical school.

Taking up the fight in the Tennessee General Assembly was a newly elected representative from Washington County, P.L. Robinson. He and his wife Ruth ran a 500-acre dairy farm near Jonesborough.

In the Senate, Elizabethton grocery store owner Marshall T. Nave lined up support.

On November 12 and 13, 1971, some 60 members of the Tennessee General Assembly were transported to Johnson City, in an unprecedented lobbying effort. They toured the ETSU campus and the Veterans Administration Hospital at Mountain Home and heard presentations by Lamb, Dr. Allen, Robinson, and others, touting the advantages of the Tri-Cities as the potential site for a new medical school. Owner Jim Kalogeros hosted a banquet for the legislators at Johnson City’s Peerless Steak House. The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper described the event as “a giant party.”

Kalogeros’ involvement was another example of the grassroots nature of the campaign. He and many East Tennessee business owners placed signs in their windows expressing support for a new med school. Dr. Allen recalled a scene at The Peerless when State Senator Brown Ayres of Knoxville was taken there to eat. Kalogeros knew of Ayres’ opposition to the ETSU med school proposal and refused to serve him.

The number of consultants hired to study the med school concept was staggering. Most of them lined up with ETSU. But in January of 1972 what became known as the “Willard Report” was released. Governor Dunn had ordered the study after the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s rejection of the proposal to create a school in Johnson City. Chairing the three-member committee was the University of Kentucky’s Dr. William R. Willard. Its report shocked and angered advocates for a med school at ETSU.

“In terms of priority,” the report said, “a new school is at the bottom of the list. So that there be no misunderstanding, the committee wishes to state that it favors a second state-supported medical school when the state can afford it adequately.”

But the committee identified Knoxville as the preferred site for such a school, with Chattanooga second in line.

Johnson Citian M. Lee Smith, Dunn’s legal counsel, said, “All hell broke loose. It was really about as big a political disruption as I have ever seen.”

The Willard Report elicited two of the most famous rejoinders in Tennessee political history: the Johnson City Press-Chronicle’s “hind tit” drawing and Jimmy Quillen’s “tommyrot” quotation.

The headline of the front-page, above-the-fold story in the January 27, 1972, edition of the PressChronicle read: “Area pulls ‘hind tit’ on med school.” Beneath was a drawing depicting the state of Tennessee as a cow with her head in Memphis and hindquarters in Upper East Tennessee. The caption read “WELL DUNN!”

Press-Chronicle Publisher Carl Jones, whose backing was crucial throughout this period, sent 100 copies of the newspaper to Governor Dunn’s office in Nashville.

A brighter day came on October 24, 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed the TeagueCranston Act, authored by Representative Olin Teague of Texas and Senator Alan Cranston of California. Congressman Jimmy Quillen had lobbied hard in Washington for the bill’s passage. It provided for the establishment of new medical schools in conjunction with Veterans Administration hospitals across the country. P.L. Robinson was convinced that without this bill and the federal funding it promised, an ETSU medical school would have never come to be.

Facing a March 1 deadline to apply for federal funds, on February 28, 1974, the Tennessee General Assembly authorized ETSU to apply for an independent medical school. But on March 5, Governor Dunn vetoed the bill. His veto was overridden by the Senate the next day, setting up the historic vote in the House.

On March 12, in one of the most dramatic moments in Tennessee political history, the House of Representatives overrode Dunn’s veto of the legislation by a vote of 51-37.

Robinson, Good, Representative Gwen Fleming of Bristol, and their colleagues had prevailed despite one of the most intensive lobbying efforts ever waged against legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly.

In all the commotion, someone accidentally knocked an empty Coca-Cola bottle out of

the balcony in the House chambers. It hit Representative Robinson’s desk and shattered. “We thought we were being attacked by some UT supporters,” Bob Good joked, sort of.

Robinson, a veteran of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, concluded, “This has been the most pressure I’ve ever withstood in one day.”

Their region’s affection for Good and Robinson was especially evident when they both came up for reelection. The Washington County Democratic party chose not to field an opponent against either one and endorsed them both.

With Ray Blanton’s election as Governor of Tennessee in 1974, Culp commented that medical school advocates finally had a friend in the governor’s office. Blanton expressed his support for the school early in 1975 and secured some $900,000 in grants the next year from the Appalachian Regional Commission as Culp and his staff were pursuing accreditation for the medical school.

On Culp’s very last day in office, June 30, 1977, ETSU received a letter of reasonable assurance of accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Full accreditation would follow during the administration of President Ronald E. Beller in February of 1982, just in time to plan for the graduation of the very first class of M.D.s. They crossed the stage on May 8, 1982.

Ned McWherter would go on to run for Governor of Tennessee in 1986. His opponent was Winfield Dunn. East Tennessee voters, with long memories, put McWherter over the top, and he served two terms.

Longtime WCYB-TV news anchor Merrill Moore called the campaign for the ETSU medical school “the dominant story in all the years I worked in news.”

The Quillen College of Medicine that these heroic and courageous men and women fought so hard to create has now graduated over 2,400 M.D.s.

Campus Conversations: The History of the Quillen College of Medicine

THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND HEALTH

How can the arts transform the way we think about health care? That’s what Dr. Caro Novella, ETSU's spring 2024 Basler Chair of Excellence, seeks to answer with over 20 years of extensive research and teaching.

Novella is an independent scholar who focuses on research at the crossroads of art, communication, and medicine. Novella has lectured at Stanford University, the University of California-Davis, and various museums nationally and abroad. Most recently, Novella taught ETSU theater classes “Performing Arts and Medicalized Bodies” and “Devising Arts in Health” alongside lectures and performances throughout the spring semester.

In childhood, Novella dreamed of becoming a doctor but disliked some of the nitty-gritty details of the profession. Novella began studying music, theater, and communications and realized that there was a vital connection between the arts and medicine. That’s when Novella began working in nonprofit and health communication positions, and now has over 20 years of experience in the field.

Novella was passionate about this work from the start, but the mission became a lot clearer when diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

“Since then, I have fully committed even more to the possibility of transforming the pains of health that sometimes come in a doctor-patient relationship,” said Novella. “Sometimes the pain comes from the experience of the illness and how it is portrayed in the media.”

In response, Novella has built projects like "oncogrrrls,” a series of creative processes that enable intersectional conversations about cancer through the lens of gender, race, research, and corporate

effects; and Co-Sense Lab, which features research around the cycles of life and death.

Many of Novella’s projects utilize scores, which are essentially a set of instructions to guide activities that involve the whole body and senses. Novella has been teaching students how to devise scores for engaging conversations around health.

For example, one of Novella’s students created a public activity involving the inflation of balloons to simulate lung capacity. Participants were tasked with trying to keep a number of balloons in the air without letting them touch the floor. After this activity, the group would discuss what they observed. They might talk about how the activity simulated the difficulty for nurses to keep everyone afloat or what it’s like for some people with smaller lung capacity.

“We started talking about the importance of collaboration in the medical field just through playing with balloons,” shared Novella.

Novella hopes to continue working at this specific intersection of the arts and health, focusing on how the arts can help medical professionals practice more humanely.

By Ember Brummitt

by Larry Smith

Photo

NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

MISSY TESTERMAN KNOWS HOW much effort goes into advising students about their college choices, what courses to take, and how to ensure that relevant forms are completed.

But a generation ago, that concentrated effort wasn’t always there.

So, when she arrived on the campus of East Tennessee State University more than three decades ago as a firstgeneration college student, she needed wisdom, guidance, and practical advice from the university community.

“I found tremendous support at ETSU, from faculty and students, especially in the College of Education,” she recalled earlier this year.

She’s chosen to pay it forward – and the country has taken notice.

This spring, officials named her the 2024 National Teacher of the Year. In a nationally televised appearance, First Lady Jill Biden surprised Testerman, who received a bouquet of flowers and an invitation to a state dinner at the White House.

Over the next year, Testerman will crisscross the nation as an educational ambassador. She’ll urge teachers to become passionate advocates for their students, as well as fellow educators.

“I am so humbled and excited to be the National Teacher of the Year,” she said. “And I am grateful for all the opportunities that ETSU gave me.”

Because of ETSU, I was able to have a career and not just a job.” Missy Testerman

Before a splendid career in the Rogersville City School System, where she serves as an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor and program director, she earned an undergraduate degree at ETSU (and, later, a master’s degree).

She has since returned, speaking to faculty in the Clemmer College of Education and Human Development.

ETSU places a premium on hands-on learning. The university recently unveiled a new core curriculum aimed at emphasizing

the real-world skills students need to succeed in their careers and as citizens.

“Clemmer faculty really emphasize this, and that is wonderful,” Testerman said. “We discussed how pivotal that is, both in the classroom and for future employers.

“When you graduate people who already have excellent experiences, they will be an even better employee.”

Beyond that, there are other reasons prompting Testerman’s warm feelings for ETSU.

Her daughter will enroll at ETSU in fall 2024.

“ETSU helped me change my life. Because of ETSU, I was able to have a career and not just a job,” Testerman said. “I loved being at ETSU, and now my daughter can make her own memories there.”

By O.J. Early  Photo Contributed

A WINNING PEDIGREE

First-year ETSU head football coach Tre Lamb has a strong winning pedigree, and like everyone in athletics, he really hates to lose.

Lamb, one of the most successful young coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and across collegiate football, spent the last four years turning Gardner-Webb into one of the perennial powers in the Big South Conference.

“I want to win games,” Lamb said. “That is brutally important to me. I am so competitive. Don’t talk to me on Saturday night or Sunday if we lose. I’m going to be upset. I hate losing more than I like winning.”

There haven’t been many quiet Saturday nights or Sundays for Lamb over the last two years, as Gardner-Webb has gone 10-1 in conference play during this run, while also capturing back-toback conference titles. The Runnin’ Bulldogs went a perfect 5-0 in Big South Conference play in 2022, while Lamb led Gardner-Webb to its first conference title in 20 years and the school’s first playoff appearance since 1992. The 2022 Big South Coach of the Year led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to their first-ever win in the FCS Playoffs as Gardner-Webb defeated Eastern Kentucky 52-41 on November 26, 2022, in Richmond, Kentucky.

Since taking over as leader of the Buccaneer program on November 27, 2023, Lamb and his staff have done quick work building their team as they brought in 49 new players between the December

ETSU welcomes head football coach Tre Lamb

and February signing periods. Of those 49 players, 29 are transfers and 29 also play on the offensive side of the ball.

“I want you to be excited about what you’re about to watch,” Lamb said. “That is important to me. We’re going to hold our kids accountable and do things the right way. We’re going to dress right. We’re going to talk right. We’re going to walk right. Everything we do, there’s going to be an expectation to win.”

Lamb knows ETSU is a special place and is eager to get back to winning championships like the Buccaneer faithful celebrated in 2018 and 2021.

BUCS FOR GOOD: ETSU NIL

Bucs For Good is ETSU’s NIL (name, image, likeness) entity established to assist ETSU’s student-athletes in cultivating and developing name, image, and likeness opportunities.

ETSU fans and alumni who choose to participate have access to exclusive fan experiences and content. Bucs For Good provides ETSU student-athletes with the resources necessary for them to excel during their time in Johnson City. By providing

“I can tell you this place is different,” he said. “It’s different than any place I’ve ever coached. This community is different. It’s about the perfect size town for an FCS football program. Enough people to fill this beautiful stadium. You go around town, you go to restaurants, you drive around and all you see is ETSU Pride and you can tell people care about it. That is very rewarding for me, my team, and our staff. We put a lot of time into this. And I can’t tell you how cool this place is.”

By Kevin Brown  Photo by Charlie Warden

NIL compensation and supporting their personal growth and development, Bucs For Good will set the course for success for the Buccaneers – both current and future student-athletes. You can play a major role by making a gift to Bucs For Good.

Learn more about Bucs For Good.

CLEANING TIME

ETSU College of Health Sciences’ Dental Hygiene Program students gave Bucky a teeth cleaning at the Sturgill Family Dental Hygiene Clinic in Lamb Hall, which is open to the public.

Photo by Ron Campbell

WHY I TEACH: DR. TABITHA FAIR

Dr. Tabitha Fair has a long history with ETSU’s Dental Hygiene Program, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year.

She began as a student, and this year she has been teaching for 20 years in the program.

“We are really proud of our history of educating students and providing dental hygiene care to those in the community,” said Fair, Dental Hygiene program director. “The Sturgill Family Dental Hygiene Clinic provides care to over 1,600 patients each year. But beyond that, our program has been training registered dental hygienists to serve the region for almost 55 years, and that’s a lot of dental professionals.

“You’ll find our graduates in most offices in the region, and we’re very proud to see them out there promoting oral health every day.”

ETSU’s Dental Hygiene students have enjoyed a 100% job placement rate, and the program admits 24 students each year. In 2023, the program’s pass rate on the National Board Dental

Hygiene Exam was 96%, and 92% of students passed the clinical exams on their first try.

Over the years, ETSU’s Dental Hygiene students have served organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, Little Bucs, and Head Start.

“Those are always some of my favorite experiences because we have the opportunity to help children have a positive experience in the dental office,” Fair said. “And it also allows our students to experience that excitement. And helping children to not fear the dentist is so important to their oral health throughout their lives.”

As a first-generation college student herself, Fair also enjoys helping her students discover their potential in the classroom and the clinic.

“Obviously, I hope they remember all the things that I’ve tried to teach them in the clinical setting, but much more than that, I hope they remember me as someone who truly cared about them, believed in their dreams, and treated them with respect,” Fair said.

To hear more from Dr. Fair, listen to the “Why I Teach" podcast.

Photo by Ron Campbell

By O.J.

RedEfining GenRe T HE

Early

Photos by Charlie Warden and contributed

Amythyst Kiah, the Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter, made her feelings on Appalachia plain in a PBS documentary series this year.

“I just appreciate,” she said, “someone trying to tell the story in a way that is beautiful instead of harping on all the negative things.”

Kiah has been part of that movement through her award-winning music.

She, along with the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies program at East Tennessee State University she graduated from, is helping transform not only how the world understands the region but the

and Allison Russell. They earned a nomination for Duo/Group of the Year at the 2019 Americana Honors Awards, while “Black Myself” captured the 2019 Song of the Year at the Folk Alliance International Conference.

How is Kiah reshaping the industry? For one: While many may associate instruments such as the banjo exclusively with the White mountain South, Kiah – a Black and queer performer – has begun dealing with race more specifically in her music.

In her 2021 album, Wary + Strange, she addressed deeply poignant themes,

including losing her mother, who died by suicide, and being in the minority when it came to performing bluegrass.

“I don’t pass the test of the paper bag,” she sings. “’Cause I’m Black myself … I pick the banjo up and they sneer at me.”

The influential have taken notice.

“Amythyst Kiah found her powerful voice,” declared The New York Times about Wary + Strange. “Now she has a sound to match it.”

ETSU graduate Tray Wellington, an awardwinning performer, earned high praise following the release of his album, Black

glowed: “This is a record that breaks right through subgenre boundaries. If bluegrass is

about spotlighting virtuosos, here’s a new one people will be checking in on for some time to come.”

Kiah and Wellington are hardly the only ETSU-associated performers earning accolades and changing the industry.

Fiddling Leona and JP Mathes are international performers who were recently featured in the Netflix original Swap ShopTreasure Hunters and as guest performers at Dollywood.

At the 2023 International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass Conference, one of the most significant bluegrass events in the world, numerous faculty and alumni earned nominations and awards.

Artist in Residence and Grammy-winning artist Tim Stafford emerged as Songwriter of the Year. Stafford’s band Blue Highway took home Event of the Year for their annual Blue Highway Fest.

Faculty member and Grammy-nominated musician Trey Hensley was named Guitar Player of the Year, and Program Director Dan Boner received the Momentum Award for Mentor of the Year. Many others, including the renowned Becky Buller, earned nominations.

These honors come just two years after the university celebrated the department’s 40th anniversary in 2022.

Legendary bluegrass musician Jack Tottle founded the department in 1982. In so doing, he accomplished something that had never been attempted at any other four-year university.

An enthusiastic crowd packed a concert at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts that celebrated the 40-year milestone of the program. That included a visit from Kenny Chesney, one of the most wellknown names in country music and a 1993 graduate of ETSU, who received an honorary doctorate.

“The influence that ETSU has had on American music over these past 40-plus years is absolutely profound,” said Boner. “Our students and alumni have, put simply, transformed the music industry.”

CHARTING A NEW COURSE

CHARTING A NEW COURSE

As the incoming class registers for courses this summer, they will become the first students to experience East Tennessee State University’s innovative new general education curriculum: Compass Core Curriculum.

The new curriculum, which was approved unanimously by the ETSU Board of Trustees at its February 2024 meeting, is designed to emphasize the real-world skills that students need to succeed in their careers and as citizens.

“The core curriculum of a university should reflect the institution’s values and priorities,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “I am incredibly proud of the plan we have developed, as it clearly articulates the skill sets students need to find lifelong success in their careers. Perhaps more importantly, through these core classes, our students will gain the critical-thinking abilities and knowledge necessary to be active citizens – to both serve and lead with integrity, empathy, and vision.”

The Compass Core Curriculum offers students flexibility and choice to tailor their educational journey to their interests, while developing essential skills for professional success and responsible citizenship.

Trent White, who served as the 2023-24 President of the Student Government Association, applauded the flexibility of Compass Core Curriculum and said he hoped it would help more students understand and appreciate the value of general education requirements.

“If there is something students may be interested in or may not be interested in, they can fit their coursework to what their interests are,” he said.

Compass Core Curriculum gives students the opportunity to select courses from five categories, which include strengthening foundations, understanding natural and

individual and global citizen.

“Students in every general education course will benefit from high-impact teaching practices, which help them engage with the material they are learning through hands-on learning experiences,” McCorkle said. “This helps to make the coursework relevant and meaningful so that students will see the connections and applications to their career path and lifelong learning.

“Each of our students is on a different pathway, and they are going in many different directions. However, Compass will help guide their journeys and prepare them for their destinations.”

By Melissa Nipper

Learn more about Compass Core Curriculum at ETSU.

social worlds, exploring connections, cultivating artistic awareness, and growing as an

THE HEADLINES Festival of Ideas

ETSU’s Festival of Ideas was a huge success in February 2024, bringing nationally and internationally known authors to speak on the ETSU stage and drawing the community together to listen, discuss, and share ideas.

Mitch Albom, journalist, philanthropist, and author of the bestselling memoir of all time, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Piper Kerman, author of Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison, were the keynote speakers.

The annual event also included an engaging panel discussion focusing on the first ETSU Campus Read, The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World by Jamil Zaki.

No. 2 in Nation

ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy ranked among the top accredited pharmacy schools in the country with the latest results from the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), which graduating pharmacists must pass to receive their license to practice.

The college’s Class of 2023 achieved an incredible 95.4% first-attempt pass rate on its NAPLEX, placing Gatton at No. 2 in the country for accredited pharmacy schools and No. 1 in Tennessee. The national pass rate was 78.6%.

The College of Pharmacy has made significant changes to its curriculum and support services for students, including a revamped NAPLEX preparation process, faculty mentorship, and more.

Orators of Excellence

The accolades speak for themselves.

Since fall 2023, members of ETSU’s Speech and Debate Team earned five first-place wins and seven second-place finishes at competitions and tournaments throughout the United States. A few students went on to compete at the national level.

Team members Kristina Taylor, Ipinoluwa Akintola, and Ijeoma Chukwu-Amaechi all qualified for speech events and earned invitations to the American Forensics Association National Speech Tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in April.

Participants enhance their communication skills and improve critical-thinking abilities, as well as learn to work as part of a team and speak confidently in front of others.

Photo contributed

Photo by Charlie Warden

Doughnuts x 2 = A Sweet ETSU

Students and employees who have a “sweet tooth” now have not one, but two eateries on campus where they can find doughnuts, coffee, and other goodies.

During the spring semester, ETSU held grand openings for both Dunkin’ and Auntie Ruth’s Doughnuts and Pretzels.

Dunkin’ is in a newly renovated space on the first floor of the Charles C. Sherrod Library formerly occupied by Einstein’s, while Auntie Ruth’s is housed in King’s Corner, located at the corner of Carter Hall beside University Commons.

Innovating for Healthier Communities

ETSU’s award-winning College of Public Health added another feather to its cap in February: the 2024 Harrison C. Spencer Award for Outstanding Community Service.

This prestigious, nationwide award from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) recognizes a school or program of public health that demonstrates a serious institutional commitment to addressing community needs through a range of activities, including education, practice, and research.

ASPPH representatives visited campus prior to awarding the honor and learned about College of Public Health initiatives like Project EARTH, the Addiction Science Center, Correctional Career Pathways, and Dean Dr. Randy Wykoff’s Weekly Public Health Updates.

Nursing Students Excel

ETSU College of Nursing students celebrated a 90% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) last year, a pass rate higher than the national average and the college’s highest mark in five years.

And through the first quarter of 2024, the college’s NCLEX pass rate was even higher at 97%.

With the largest college of nursing in Tennessee, ETSU is training more nurses to enter the workforce than any other institution in the state, with more than 500 graduates taking the NCLEX in 2023.

Celebrating Milestones

ETSU’s Department of Social Work and Charles C. Sherrod Library celebrated significant milestones this spring.

Social Work marked its 50th anniversary with a two-day observance February 29-March 1. A Kickoff Celebration included a reception and a program with remarks by Department Chair Dr. Mary Mullins, along with national and regional National Association of Social Workers officers. The second day featured a series of five lectures on timely topics by noted speakers.

The Sherrod Library celebrated its 25th anniversary in its current building on April 9 with cake, yard games, live bluegrass music, a “Street Sign Station,” a historical display, and more.

Photo by Larry Smith

Photo by Ron Campbell

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

ETSU/Eastman Valleybrook Vital for Regional Prosperity

The potential is “absolutely staggering.” Those are the words of Eric Jorgenson, Vice President for Biomanufacturing Development for the East Tennessee State University Research Corporation. He is describing the ETSU/Eastman Valleybrook facility, given to the university by Eastman in 2010. Located on Pickens Road in Kingsport, it consists of some 144 acres, a 72,000-square-foot research, wet labs, and office complex, and 30,000 square feet of warehouse space.

For Jorgenson, Valleybrook symbolizes endless possibility and potential. “The first time I saw Valleybrook, I fell in love,” says Jorgenson, who has over 14 years of experience in the construction of fermentation laboratories. His focus, through the ETSU Research Corporation, is bioindustrial manufacturing, and out of that can come a whole variety of products and

commercial applications, from plastics and polymers to concretes and alternative proteins. Entrepreneurs and startup companies engaged in these endeavors need labs, and Valleybrook has them.

David Golden, the Research Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, explains that one of the many ways in which ETSU can help diversify the regional economy is through the development of synthetic biology, a field of science that involves redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to have new abilities. “This technology enables the emergence of bioindustrial manufacturing, which is revolutionizing our approach to solving global challenges and driving economic growth. From engineering sustainable feedstocks from everyday materials to developing alternative proteins, the applications are boundless.”

Dr. Aruna Kilaru, ETSU Professor of Biology and Faculty Fellow for Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Biosciences, predicts that the future bioeconomy will be worth between $30 trillion and $40 trillion globally in the next decade. She adds that the job market in this field is projected to grow at the rate of 10,600 new jobs a year through 2032. ETSU aspires to be a global leader in the field of synthetic biology and bioengineering, driving scientific discovery and technological advancements.

Adds Jorgenson, “Bioindustrial manufacturing applications are exploding every single day. From a local level, a state level, a national level, and a global level, opportunities are all aligning to tell us the same message: that Northeast Tennessee can be a real leader in these fields. We can pull it off if we move quickly, and if we execute well. Valleybrook is a research and development complex that is ideally suited to what we want to do, and we are starting to get clients lined up to use it.”

Dr. Linda Latimer, Chair of the ETSU Board of Trustees and a Quillen College of Medicine alumna, agrees. “One of the things that is so important about

Valleybrook is its location between two major interstates. For economic development, it is in the center of Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, and Greeneville.”

Latimer looks forward to the day when a large ETSU Research Corporation sign will be visible from those interstates.

“When you look at the grand sweep of human history, innovation is the throughline for prosperity,” says Golden.

Jorgenson sums up the value of Valleybrook this way: “We can work with scientists to take synthetic biomanufacturing projects from the petri dish to the commercial product.”

Photos by Charlie Warden

FIVE STORIES OF ENCOURAGEMENT, RESILIENCE, AND SUCCESS

Photos by Charlie Warden

Five ETSU students overcame significant challenges in their college journeys -- and learned not just how to survive, but thrive. With encouragement from ETSU faculty, staff, and friends, they discovered inner strength and direction they didn't realize were possible.

With guidance from the ETSU Research Corporation's StoryCollab team, these incredible students created videos to share their powerful stories.

Taylor Cooper ´23

“WHEN I GRADUATED, I never thought I’d set foot in a high school again. But by the end of my freshman year, all I could think about was teaching. I could see myself in front of a classroom, educating, affirming, and really seeing each student, both for who they were then, and who they could become.”

Gregory Crutcher ´23

“I LOVED THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES in movies. . . . I knew I wanted to learn how to make films, and stop worrying about the things I couldn’t control, like the way other people saw me, or my past. So when it was time for me to go to college, I was ready to get out of Memphis. I saw myself doing more, beating the stereotype, doing important things in life. I wanted to figure out who Greg was.”

Sammy Asbury ´24

“I’M LOOKING AT POSSIBLE INTERNSHIPS, AND post-grad jobs, considering hopes and dreams I hadn’t thought about since I was a kid … and some new ones, too. Maybe my ETSU mentor was right, after all. Maybe I can do more than survive. Maybe I can thrive, too.”

Sally Chikomb ´24

“NOW, IN MY SENIOR YEAR, STUDYING THE health of my community both here and abroad, this is my passion. Before my mom even has a chance to ask, I say, ‘You want to know something really cool I learned today?’”

Miranda Meredith ´24

“LATER THAT SUMMER, MY PARENTS TOLD ME I’D changed I wasn’t the same little girl who’d moved away. And I wasn’t. I came back with an A from a tough but fair English professor at ETSU, friends who told me my ideas were worth it, and, later that fall, a new plant.”

A SAVAGE SEASON

Winning has been restored to the ETSU men’s basketball program.

Coming off his first season as coach, Brooks Savage delivered on what he promised during his press conference –bringing excitement back to the program. In his first season as a Division I head coach, Savage led the Blue and Gold to their most wins since 2019-20 and a trip to the Southern Conference Tournament championship game.

“It’s time to get this program back to where we belong and competing for championships and being at the top of the SoCon (Southern Conference),” said Savage at his press conference, where he was named the 19th head coach in program history on March 20, 2023.

With a brand-new coaching staff, 11 new players, and four returners, it didn’t take the Bucs long to start buying into what Coach Savage and his staff were preaching.

“When you first get the job, you’re selling a dream,” said Savage. “For me, I had some

past experience, but I hadn’t done it as a head coach.”

ETSU finished the 2023-24 regular season with momentum as the Blue and Gold won six of their final 10 SoCon games going into postseason play. On the heels of a 66-65 win over the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) in front of over 4,400 fans inside Freedom Hall in the regular season finale, the Bucs were primed for a run in the SoCon Tournament in Asheville, North Carolina.

A memorable run is what Buccaneer fans received.

It started with a 98-66 victory over VMI in the opening round – the Bucs’ largest SoCon Tournament win since 1992. With the Bucs advancing to the quarterfinals, it set up a rematch with UNCG, where ETSU took down the No. 2 seed, 7362, moving the Buccaneers on to the SoCon semifinals. Another familiar foe was ready for ETSU as in-state rival Chattanooga was in the way of making it to Championship Monday. With their

Coach Savage is starting a good thing in Johnson City, and they are going to be a force in the league.

Bucky

McMillian Head coach

Samford men‛s basketball

backs pinned against the wall, the Bucs put together a win for the ages. Playing its third game in as many days and trailing by 20 with 14 minutes remaining, ETSU put together a monumental comeback, and all-tournament team selection Quimari Peterson forced overtime with a layup at the buzzer. Allen Strothers found Karon Boyd for the go-ahead layup in the closing seconds of overtime, giving the Bucs a thrilling 85-84 win over the Mocs.

Playing in their 13th SoCon Championship game – the first since 2020 – the Bucs took on top-seeded and regular season champion Samford. ETSU went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs and got to within a single point with just over six minutes remaining; however, Samford pulled away late to secure a 76-69 victory. Despite falling short of their goal of capturing a SoCon title, the Bucs were able to gain a lot of positives from the run to build toward the 2024-25 season.

“I think this tournament run puts some validity to that vision I laid out at the beginning of the season on getting back to competing for championships,” said Savage.

The Bucs also gained a lot of respect from the Samford Bulldogs.

“Coach Savage and the Bucs are going to cut the nets down here at some point,” said Samford head coach Bucky McMillian. “They play extremely hard and play with a lot of confidence. Coach Savage is starting a good thing in Johnson City, and they are going to be a force in the league.”

By Kevin Brown  Photo by Dakota Hamilton

Advance Your Career on Your Schedule

Across

5. Where country music was born

7. Legendary music spot in downtown Johnson City: Down _____

8. Where speeding is legal in East Tennessee: Bristol _______ Speedway

9. A place to view the “stars” on Bays Mountain

11. Iconic symbol of largest national park in Tennessee: _____ bear

13. Elizabethton landmark: ________ bridge

15. Home of 17th U.S. president

17. Pioneer whose birthplace was in Limestone

18. Famous barbecue joint near ETSU campus

19. Palatial mountain home of shipping industry heir

20. Theme park in Pigeon Forge Down

1. 2,193-mile path running through the region: Appalachian _____

2. A place to look millions of years into the past: ____ Fossil Site

3. Water park in Jonesborough

4. Tennessee’s oldest town

6. Where the Overmountain Men gathered: _________ Shoals

10. Where the rhododendrons bloom: _____ Mountain

12. Great waterway for whitewater rafting

14. State theater of Virginia

16. State park in Kingsport: _________ Path

Explore Our Region

Nestled “in the shadow of the mountains, under skies of blue” is East Tennessee State University. We all remember the Amphitheatre and the Mini-Dome (Ballad Health Athletic Center), and younger alumni know the newest campus landmarks, including William B. Greene Jr. Stadium, University Commons, and the Martin Center for the Arts. But how well do you know the beautiful Appalachian Highlands region that surrounds the campus?

Find the answers to the puzzle here.

Go Beyond the Classroom

ALTERNATIVE BREAKS

The Alternative Breaks program, coordinated by the Office of Leadership & Civic Engagement at East Tennessee State University, offers a unique and immersive experience for students to engage in direct service and education around pressing social issues. These student-led and -developed trips take participants in and outside of the region, allowing them to tackle critical community concerns, such as poverty, youth development, and environmental sustainability. Rooted in hands-on service and social justice, these initiatives provide opportunities for students to go beyond the classroom and immerse themselves in purposeful experiences aimed at fostering personal growth and community connection. Through partnerships with various service organizations, Alternative Breaks empower students to confront pressing societal issues head-on, equipping them with the tools and perspectives necessary to become more active citizens and affect positive change.

Photo by Larry Smith

This year, the Alternative Break experience at ETSU saw four diverse groups of students serving in three different locations, each focused on a distinct issue. Students at Rocky Fork State Park dedicated themselves to the responsible stewardship of public parks and land, working to preserve and protect the natural beauty of their own backyard. In the state’s capital of Nashville, one group of students delved into the critical issue of voting rights, striving to understand and advocate for the fundamental principles of democracy, while another group of students addressed health equity and public policy concerns within the Volunteer State. In New Orleans, students engaged in education and youth development efforts while partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana.

Upon returning to ETSU, participants were equipped with heightened awareness and a renewed commitment to addressing parallel concerns within their community, embodying the university’s mission to improve the quality of life for the people of the region and beyond.

By Rachel Howard  Photos contributed

See students in action during this year's Alternative Break.

By Jennifer Hill

TRENT WHITE: LOOKING TOWARD A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Trent White has been interested in public service since he was very young, attending meetings of the Unicoi County Commission and holding leadership roles in his high school years. He’s gained valuable experience in his first three years at ETSU. Now, White is set to serve as the Student Trustee on the university’s Board of Trustees for 2024-25.

White, a senior majoring in political science, is a member of ETSU’s premier Roan Scholars Leadership Program. He has held offices in the university’s awardwinning Mock Trial Team and Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature delegation.

White served as Student Government Association President in 2023-24. He is proud of the SGA’s accomplishments over the past year, including enhancing dining options and working with Student Life and Enrollment to secure an opportunity for ETSU students, faculty, and staff to purchase discounted tickets to Dollywood.

“I’m most proud of the academic policy on which we worked really hard,” he said, “which is a student study day on Friday the week before finals, when no classes are held. Students can take that time originally used for classes to study and focus on exams. It’s something the students have wanted for a long time.”

White believes his SGA experience will prove invaluable as he represents the student body as a trustee in the coming year.

“You’re entrusted with carrying forth the mission of the university, and having already worked on the ground with policies, I’m excited to see what the other side looks like, when policies are brought to you and you can weigh in on a decision that impacts the university.

“My role as SGA President has taught me a lot about the inner workings of the university. That understanding gives me a good grounding to help the board navigate future decisions.”

In addition, White recently received a prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. The Truman Foundation reviews more than 800 applications each year for this highly competitive honor, with roughly 55-65 scholarships awarded.

In May, White participated in the Truman Scholars Leadership Week in Missouri, attending seminars on leadership and public service with scholars from across the nation and interacting with practicing public servants. After graduating from ETSU in May 2025, he will attend a summer institute for Truman Scholars in Washington, D.C., before entering law school.

“Once selected as a Truman Scholar, you’re part of a wide network that lasts long beyond your time in graduate school,” White said, “so I hope to stay involved and take advantage of all they offer, even mid-career.”

by

Photo

Ryan Taylor Photography

Over the years I explored art in different ways and different directions. I found out that was what I knew how to do best, and that is still what I’m doing to this day.”

Akintayo Akintobi

See how Akintayo explores his identity and creativity.

Photo by Samuel Adenekan

UNDERSTANDING THE APPALACHIAN ECONOMY

East Tennessee State University’s College of Business and Technology is playing an intentionally pivotal role in advancing the economic understanding and development of the Appalachian Highlands.

That was prominently on display at the second annual 2024 Appalachian Highlands Economic Forum held in March.

Stuart C. McWhorter, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner, was the headline speaker, and a range of professors from ETSU’s Department of Economics and Finance also addressed the crowd.

Over the last two years, hundreds interested in broad topics ranging from economic conditions and forecasts to the housing market, interest rates, and local real estate have packed the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts for the event.

By offering expert analysis, as well as a place for business and community leaders to gather and network, ETSU’s College of Business and Technology is playing a critical role in fostering the success of the economy in the region.

“We believe strongly in the mission of ETSU, which is to improve the quality of life for the people of this region and beyond,” said Dr. Tony Pittarese, Dean of the college. “These activities are helping us do just that, and we continue to invite the community to come out and engage with us.”

The forum is a tremendous source of networking and knowledge, as well as a critical platform driving regional economic strategies – and an informed community.

McWhorter, with a diverse background in entrepreneurship, corporate finance, and strategic planning, gave a preview of Tennessee’s economic environment and how it relates to Northeast Tennessee.

ETSU’s Dr. Aryaman Bhatnagar highlighted many topics, including supply chain issues and energy prices. Dr. Jon Smith spoke about the regional economy, offering key insights on employment. Dr. Joseph Newhard explained key data on the housing market, and Dr. William Trainor addressed stocks, interest rates, and more.

Scan the QR code to view their presentations.

In addition to the annual forum, the university launched a quarterly economic report crafted by experts in economics and finance earlier this year.

Designed specifically for the Appalachian region, the economic forecast offers insights and observations on a slew of topics, including employment levels, housing prices, and the regional labor force.

It serves many purposes.

“This analysis can help local governments, as well as businesses, in terms of planning and developing economic strategies tailored to the region’s specific needs and potentials,” said Dr. Taylor P. Stevenson, chair of the Department of Economics and Finance who holds a Ph.D. in economics. “In addition, such a report informs and empowers our residents about economic conditions.”

These robust reports and forums have positioned the university as a leader in helping understand the Appalachian economy.

“Each forum and report we produce catalyzes conversations and actions that are crucial for regional development, ensuring that our community’s economic potential is not only understood but fully realized,” said Pittarese. “An explicit goal of the ETSU College of Business and Technology is to become more purposely involved in the region whether through student projects working with businesses, faculty sharing their expertise in various settings, or our making the external community more present in our research and teaching. By connecting knowledge with action, activities like our annual forum and quarterly reports serve as critical platforms for driving regional economic strategies and fostering informed community engagement.”

By O.J.

Early  Photo by Charlie Warden

The 2024 Appalachian Highlands Economic Forum at the Martin Center for the Arts

Bucs Go Beyond TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AT NUMBER 10

During his days as an ETSU student, Scott Henson made time for golf as his schedule allowed. His duties with the Student Government Association kept him busy, as did working at the campus radio station serving as music director and recording news clips.

It is a true honor to be part of one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.”

Scott Henson

But on weekends, as weather allowed, Henson could be found on the golf course,

usually at Pine Oaks near campus or at courses in Elizabethton or Erwin.

While a student, he got to attend the Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Tournament Classic and, when working for a local television station, he and the sports director were assigned to cover the opening of a Jack Nicklaus Golf Course in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Henson and the other sports reporters took a tour of the 18hole course – led by Jack Nicklaus himself – and even got to do some playing.

Just a few years later, in 1986, Henson would attend his first Masters where Nicklaus claimed his sixth and final win. He’d return to the Masters a few more times, but in 2000, a unique opportunity presented itself.

“I knew someone who was responsible for coordinating volunteers for the Masters,” Henson said. “This would be an incredible opportunity and I decided to go for it.”

He was chosen as a volunteer and was assigned to be a Gallery Guard for the 10th hole. That was in 2000.

And for the next 25 Masters, Henson would return as a volunteer, keeping his same spot at the 10th hole.

“Even though we are volunteers, it is a significant obligation,” he said. “You are committed to seven days, and depending on the weather, your day can start at 7 a.m. and end after 9 p.m.” Participants also have the opportunity to volunteer for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur as well as the Drive, Chip, and Putt, which adds other days.

Henson used vacation time from his job at the Medical College of Georgia in order to volunteer. He retired two years ago from the college as Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving.

As a Gallery Guard, Henson’s primary responsibility is to answer questions from the patrons: Where’s the concession stand? What kind of grass is this? Who hit the longest drive? Who just came through?

And, of course: Where’s Tiger?

Memorable moments from the 10th hole include Bubba Watson’s unforgettable recovery in 2012 when he shot from the pine straw in the trees and hooked it around to get back on the green, ultimately claiming his first Masters.

“It’s been an incredible experience,” Henson adds. “The people I work with are great people and there is a group of us that stays in contact throughout the year. The overwhelming number of the volunteers choose to stay on for years. It is so nice to spend time with the patrons, and they come back each year to visit and catch up on your year. It’s rewarding to know that you are doing something that is very special, and it is a true honor to be part of one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.

“I would not give this up for anything or for anyone who is anybody.”

By Joe Smith  Photo contributed

Scott Henson (left) is pictured with Keith Todd and Scott Gossen.

A HALL OF FAME CAREER Bucs Go Beyond

Deb Williams honored for lifetime of writing in motorsports

When Deb Williams was a baby in Canton, North Carolina, the only place her parents could get her to stop crying and sleep was under the loudspeaker in the infield of the Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. The “daddy’s girl” later tagged along with her father to ballfields, garages, and racetracks, and she loved automobiles from the time she was big enough to sit on the hood of a car, wiping off wax and buffing it to a shine.

Williams soon realized she wanted to write about motorsports.

“I was raised that if you’re not happy with something, don’t sit around and grumble about it. Get up and do something about it,” she said. “I got disgusted with all the errors I kept finding in the news articles in the Asheville Citizen on auto racing. I loved to write, and . . . I thought being a reporter would be an exciting life, and so by the time I was 13, I decided I wanted to be a motorsports writer.”

Williams earned a degree from ETSU in journalism with a minor in criminal justice in 1976, gaining experience in sports writing with the East Tennessean and the university’s Sports Information office. While she covered general news and other sports early in her career, she soon embarked on a four-decade career covering motorsports.

In January, Williams became the first female reporter and the third woman overall inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame.

Williams was praised not only for her longevity, but also the quantity and quality of her work and her knowledge of the sport. She has written for UPI, The Charlotte Observer, and USA Today, and was editor of NASCAR Winston Cup Scene for 10 of the 18 years she was with the publication. She has written books and worked in public relations in motorsports and has even taught on the subject. She holds numerous awards for her work, including an Award of Honor bestowed by the ETSU National Alumni Association in 2013.

Williams was honored to be inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame by her friend, Kyle Petty.

“Kyle has been the brother I always wanted, but never had. For him to be able to do it, and for him to be so excited when I asked him to do it, just meant the world to me.”

As Williams reflects on becoming a Hall of Famer, she expresses gratitude and amazement.

“It just is not something that I could have ever imagined. It still doesn’t seem real. I look at my jacket and I go, ‘That can’t be mine.’”

By Jennifer Hill  Photos contributed

Photo Courtesy of Charlotte Motor Speedway Archives

Team Penske Media/Steven Rose Photo

Photo by D&D Images

Photo Courtesy of Susan DeVault

ETSU TRIO PROGRAMS RANK AMONG NATION’S STRONGEST

By Fred Sauceman  Photo by Ron Campbell

The university is among only nine schools in the country that administer all the TRIO programs

“One of the best representations of the mission of East Tennessee State University is an individual who came here in 1989 and who, since then, has brought over $59 million in federal support to the university. That support not only impacts ETSU but also the lives of families, and it is lifechanging,” says ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland.

That individual is Dr. Ronnie Gross, and his mission in life, as Director of ETSU’s TRIO programs, perfectly parallels the university’s reason for being: to improve the quality of life for the people of the region and beyond.

The federally-funded TRIO programs are designed to provide services for lowincome and first-generation individuals. As is shown by the individuals who stand when recognized during every ETSU commencement ceremony, the university’s population of first-generation college students continues to be high.

According to Gross, TRIO programs are pipelines for students in middle school, high school, and college, as well as adults and veterans. Thus far, almost 52,000 people have been served by TRIO programs at ETSU.

An alumnus of ETSU who completed his doctorate while working full-time, Gross describes himself as “a free-lunch kid in elementary school and high school.” His parents, who divorced when he was a child, each had a ninth-grade education. Later in life, they both passed General Educational Development (GED) tests.

Gross pointed out that many students have difficulty asking for help. TRIO participants are often conflicted as they struggle with the desire to have a new life while burdened with the feeling that they are leaving their families behind.

“Our students have tremendous adaptability, grit, and resilience,” Gross says. “They’re stubborn, but when you match that stubbornness with guidance on how to use it, the result is really powerful.”

Student Support Services: Helps students stay in college until they earn their baccalaureate degrees.

ALMOST 52,000 PEOPLE have been served

by

TRIO programs at ETSU

Noland knew about the success of ETSU’s TRIO programs even before he accepted the ETSU presidency.

“I was at a meeting with individuals in the college access world, and they said, ‘You know you’re going to the school with the Michael Jordan of TRIO. The best TRIO director in the United States of America is on that campus,'" Noland recalled.

Gross humbly diverts such praise, acknowledging the support he receives from the ETSU administration and the tireless work of the 26 full-time employees in his department—88 percent of whom are first-generation college graduates.

As Gross was completing work on his doctorate in education at ETSU, Stephen

TRIO Programs at ETSU

Educational Talent Search: An early intervention program that encourages middle school and high school students to complete secondary and post-secondary programs.

Hendrix was enrolling in ETSU’s Upward Bound program through Unicoi County High School in Erwin. Not only is he now a member of the County Commission in Unicoi County, he recently completed a term as President of the ETSU Faculty Senate. His praise for the TRIO programs is boundless.

“I came to ETSU in 1999 as undeclared,” Hendrix recalls. “I fell in love with computer science and completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees and now teach here. ETSU, in so many different ways, has improved the quality of my life, and it began in 1995 with the Upward Bound program.”

By Fred Sauceman

Ronald E. McNair PostBaccalaureate Achievement: Encourages low-income and minority undergraduates to consider careers in college teaching and research and prepares them for doctoral study.

Upward Bound: Helps high school students prepare for higher education.

Veterans Upward Bound: Provides academic services for veterans in post-secondary education programs. Educational Opportunity Center: A free program designed to assist adults in obtaining a GED and/or with college or vocational school enrollment.

A SPRING OF ART

“Heathers: The Musical,” a performance by students in East Tennessee State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance, resulted in all sold-out performances.

The Reece Museum played host to a range of engaging exhibitions, as well as stimulating talks, including a poetry reading and conversational session from Pulitzer Prize-winner Rita Dove.

News outlets across the region covered the heartwarming story of the Department of Music’s collaboration with the Sing Me A Story Foundation, a group that gives children the chance to write or illustrate a story about anything they want.

Students and faculty in the Department of Art and Design produced incredible pieces, and work at the Tipton and Slocumb Galleries continued to inspire.

The revitalized Bud Frank Theatre – the only art cinema in the region outside of Asheville, North Carolina – held numerous screenings.

And the Martin Center for the Arts hosted additional Broadway shows.

This is just a glimpse of the array of arts-related events at the university during the spring semester. ETSU is home to a vibrant arts community, bringing dozens of concerts, exhibitions, and performances to the Appalachian Highlands.

By

O.J. Early  Photos by Ron Campbell, Larry Smith, and Charlie Warden

CLASS NOTES

Submit your class note at etsualumni.org/classnote

1960s

 Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ronald V. Hite, ’64 received the 2023 George L. Carter Award from the ETSU National Alumni Association during the annual Evening of Distinction and ETSU PRIDE event. His degree is in Chemistry.

Dr. Henry M. McCarthy, ’66 is an educator, poet, actor, and radio host. On March 13, 2024, he shared about his life and experiences for a Special Collections & Archives presentation at ZSR Library at Wake Forest University. His degree is in History.

Clarence W. Mabe, ’67, ’71 was inducted into the American Amusement Machine Association’s Hall of Fame. His degrees are in Physical Education.

1970s

 Richard “Dick” Clarke, ’71 received the 2023 Outstanding Alumnus Award from the ETSU National Alumni Association during the annual Evening of Distinction and ETSU PRIDE event. His degree is in English.

 Shirley Holtsclaw Berk, ’72, ’74 received a 2023 Award of Honor from the ETSU National Alumni Association during the annual Evening of Distinction and ETSU PRIDE event. Her degrees are in Microbiology.

Donald M. Green, ’74 was named University of Virginia at Wise 2023 Volunteer of the Year. His degree is in Accounting.

Col. (R) Donald E. Potter, EdD, ’74, ’82 is a Logistics Analyst at Stratagem Solutions, Incorporated. His degrees are in Political Science.

Debra “Deb” Williams, ’76 was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame. She is an awardwinning motorsports journalist, former editor of NASCAR Winston

Cup Scene, a reporter for AutoWeek.com, and has written five books about motorsports. Her degree is in Journalism.

Dr. Carolyn Carter, ’77, ’80 is Associate Dean of Milligan University’s William B. Greene, Jr. School of Business and Technology. She received the Fide et Amore award, which is Milligan’s highest acknowledgment of service. Her degrees are in Business Education.

Perry Elliott, ’77 was named to the Elizabethton/Carter County Teachers “Hall of Fame” sponsored by the Elizabethton Imagination Library. He has taught instrumental music for 43 years, the last 30 of which were spent as Director of Bands at Elizabethton High School. His degree is in Music.

Dr. Scott R. Lillibridge, ’77 has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for the DHR Health Institute for Research and Development. His degree is in Environmental Health.

Kenneth I. Menefee, ’77 received the University Medallion from Indiana State University. It is the highest honor which can be conferred on a staff member by the university and recognizes staff displaying loyalty, dependability, and outstanding service. His degree is in Journalism.

Christopher M. Dortch, ’78 was inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Dortch is Editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball and Football Yearbook. His degree is in Journalism.

Charles W. Kimmel, Jr., ’78 received the 2024 American Orthopaedics Society for Sports Medicine Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. He received a Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling.

 Fred Sauceman, ’78, ’80 was named one of “35 People Who Made Blue Ridge Country,” in celebration of the magazine’s 35th anniversary in 2023. Blue Ridge Country is published out of Roanoke, Virginia. Fred and his wife Jill Sauceman, ’79 write the “Flavors” column for each issue of the magazine. Fred’s degrees are in English and History and Jill’s is in Health Education.

Stephanie McClellan-Houk, ’82 retired from the Johnson City Press after more than 30 years in the newspaper industry. Her degree is in Mass Communication.

Barbara King Allen, ’83 received a 2023 Inspire Award from Ballad Health Foundation. Her degree is in Accounting.

Dr. Richard A. Spurling, ’83, ’93, ’04 has published his second book, entitled I Wish I Had Done More! Inspirational Influences and Experiences During 40 Years in Teaching. His degrees are in Industrial Arts, Educational Administration, and Leadership.

 Pauline L. Douglas, ’84, ’87 received the 2023 Outstanding Alumna Award from the ETSU National Alumni Association during the annual Evening of Distinction and ETSU PRIDE event. Her degrees are in Psychology.

Vanessa D. Bramble, ’85, ’86 has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Association of Cancer Executives. Her degrees are in Radiologic Technology and Health Administration.

Douglas A. Burt, ’85 was honored by the United Veterans of Blount County, Tennessee, with the Andy Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in helping the veteran community. His degree is in Geography.

Guy S. Trawick, ’86 has been recognized as the 2023 Circle of Excellence Winner with AAA of the Carolinas Property and Casualty Premier Performer; he ranked #2 in 2023 for Life Insurance Sales for AAA of the Carolinas and is #7 in overall Insurance Sales for AAA of the Carolinas. His degree is in Business Management.

 Dr. Joe D. Moore, ’87 received a 2023 Award of Honor from the ETSU National Alumni Association during the annual Evening of Distinction and ETSU PRIDE event. His degree is in Music.

Central Arkansas. His degrees are in Physical Education.

Dr. Evelyn Holmes Thrasher, ’89 has been named Dean of Western Kentucky University’s Gordon Ford College of Business. Her degree is in Mathematics.

1990s

Dr. Landon S. Combs, ’90, ’94 is the 170th President of the Tennessee Medical Association, the statewide professional association for more than 10,000 member physicians.

Dr. Combs is a board-certified pediatrician with Ballad Health. His degrees are in History and Medicine.

The Honorable Lorraine Chafin Croy, ’90 was promoted to Chief Magistrate for the Sandusky County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas Juvenile and Probate Court. She is also serving her second appointment from the Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court Security. Her degree is in English.

Susan C. Edwards, ’91 is Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Lincoln Electric. Her degree is in Business Management.

Jeff Jenkins, ’91 has been promoted to Sergeant over the Johnson City School Resource Officer unit. He is a 31-year veteran of the police department and has been on the K9 unit where he and his partner, Tigger, were named the Top Police K9 Team for Region 9 two separate times. His degree is in Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Melissa “Missy” Testerman, ’91, ’94 was named the 2024 National Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching for 31 years and currently serves as ESL Program Director for Rogersville City Schools. Her degrees are in Elementary Education and Reading.

Dr. Keith E. Campbell, ’92, ’96 is owner of the Tennessee Vein Center in Alcoa. His degrees are in Biology and Medicine.

Jason E. Carter, ’92 is a 2024 inductee into the Carter County Sports Hall of Fame. Carter was a multi-sport athlete in middle and high school and also played football at ETSU. His degree is in Elementary Education.

Dr. Brandon L. Milhorn, ’94 has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. The Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the national organization of financial regulators from all 50 states, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands which supervises roughly three-quarters of all U.S. banks and a variety of non-depository financial services. His degree is in Economics.

Chris T. Beatty, ’95 is the Wide Receiver Coach for the Chicago Bears football team. His degree is in Physical Education.

Shira Hartsook Evans, ’95 is the Public Information Officer within the City of Johnson City’s Communications and Marketing Department. Her degree is in Mass Communication.

Edward M. Breese, ’96 is Director of Marketing at Tusculum University. His degree is in Speech.

 Robert M. Chikos, ’96 has been named to a second fellowship with Advance Illinois, a group dedicated to improving educational policy. Recently, Chikos was one of two teacher advisors on Advance Illinois’ report on the teacher pipeline and was profiled in a Chicago Tribune article. His degree is in History.

Michael “Andy” Broyles, ’97, ’00 has been named Co-President of ChoiceSpine LLC, a medical device company located in Knoxville. His degrees are in Accounting and Business Administration.

Dr. Jacksunia A. Wolfe, ’97 is the Washington County (Tennessee) Chief Student Supports Officer. Her degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Roger M. Ramey, ’80 retired as Director of Lee County, Virginia’s Department of Services. His degree is in Social Work.

L. Kim Pryor, ’88 is Principal at John Kerr Elementary School in Winchester, Virginia. Her degree is in Special Education.

Matthew H. Cooter, ’89 was named Compass Group’s Sales Executive of the Year for the SSC Services for Education K-12 Sector. His degree is in Marketing.

M. John Shulman, ’89, ’92 is Head Basketball Coach at the University of

 Gregg A. Taylor, ’92 received the IRS Commissioner’s Award and the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Commitment to Excellence Award. His degree is in Accounting.

Byron D. Park, ’93 is Director of Business Development, Southeast for Transervice Logistics. His degree is in Political Science.

G. Wayne Rose, ’97 is a National Oncology Field Reimbursement Director for GSK. His degree is in Art.

Jeanette Henry Jewell, ’98 is Senior Graphic Designer for ETSU’s Marketing and Communications Office. She is also Art Director for ETSU Today. Her degree is in Art.

Dr. Brian D. Dixon, ’99, ’05 is Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth in Hendersonville, North Carolina. His degree is in Biology, and he completed an Internal Medicine Residency.

Continue the Tradition

Outreach, and Director of the Black American Studies Program at ETSU. His degrees are in Political Science

Julia B. Franklin, ’04 participated in the Alumni Return to the Classroom program and was a Professor for a Day in a graduate-level Speech Language Pathology class. Her degree is in General Psychology.

Allison S. Guinn, ’04 was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for her work in the Hulu television show, Only Murders in the Building. Her degree is in Speech.

etsu.edu/holidays

This year’s limited-edition ETSU holiday ornament, hand-painted by local artist Penny Livingston and the third in the series, features the Sherrod Library. Look for it in the fall at Bowman Jewelers and Monkee’s of Johnson City.

 Wesley L. Mayes, ’99 was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent, FBI, in the Tactical Training Unit, at Quantico, Virginia. SSA Mayes is a driving instructor in the Tactical Emergency Vehicle Operations Center. His degree is in Elementary Education.

2000s

James C. Chadwell, ’00 is Head Football Coach of the Liberty Flames. They were the 2023 undefeated Conference USA Champions and went on to play Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. His degree is in Economics.

Jason A. Henegar, ’00 is Fisheries Division Chief of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. His degree is in Geography.

F. Leo Murray IV, ’00 successfully completed the sale of AMPRO – a Florida based electrical contracting firm he founded in 2006 and grew to 60 employees over 18 years. The company was acquired by a leading national electrical contracting firm, Nashville-based Stones River Electric. His future plans include focusing on expanding his commercial real estate investments through his other business venture, Murray Holdings.

Amber D. Burke, ’01, ’03 was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Burn Boot Camp. Her degrees are in Physical Education.

 Robert B. Raines, ’01 received the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus in Public Service Award from the

ETSU National Alumni Association during the annual Evening of Distinction and ETSU PRIDE event. His degree is in Marketing.

Jill E. Andrews, ’02 is a Nashvillebased singer/songwriter and performed in a tour, which began in the United Kingdom and later continued throughout the United States, to promote her latest album, Modern Age. Her degree is in Psychology.

Alex H. Campbell, ’02 is a sociology teacher at Elizabethton High School. Campbell and his students were recognized by the Tennessee House of Representatives for their work in investigating a series of 40-year-old cold cases. His degree is in History.

Jeffrey P. Eggers, ’02 has retired from active service with the U.S. Marine Corps after 27 years of active duty. His degree is in Engineering Technology.

Dr. Pallavi Keesara Reddy, ’02 is one of the first faculty members hired to teach at the American University of Iraq – Baghdad’s College of Education and Human Development. Her degree is in Early Childhood Development.

Dr. Kelley R. Harrell, ’03, ’18 was named Kingsport City Schools Principal of the Year. She is Principal of Adams Elementary School. Her degrees are in Interdisciplinary Studies and Educational Leadership.

 Dr. Daryl A. Carter, ’04, ’05 has been chosen by the American Council on Education (ACE), the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, as an ACE Fellow. Carter is a Professor of History, Associate Dean for Community Relations and

Appalachian Studies Association’s Stephen L. Fisher Award for Excellence in Teaching for grades kindergarten through 12. Davis teaches English, Appalachian Studies, and Journalism at Sullivan East High School. Her degrees are in English and Education.

Alice H. Pope, ’07 is Chief Financial Officer for Novant Health. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree.

Robert E. (Bobby) Krimmell, ’04, was named Chief Administrative Officer in addition to continuing as the Chief Financial Officer of First Farmers and Merchants Corporation. His degrees are in Accounting.

Seyed Paul Arab, ’05 is Chief Financial Officer for Mutual Savings Bank in Franklin, Indiana. Formerly, he served as Senior Vice President of Audit and Advisory Services at Home Federal Bank of Tennessee in Knoxville. His degree is in Economics.

Dr. Morgen A. Houchard, ’05 has been appointed Superintendent of the Gaston County, North Carolina, School District. He holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

 Dr. Dorsha N. James, ’05 received the 2024 Phenomenal Woman award from the Women Who Rock Nashville organization. She holds a doctorate degree in Medicine.

Joshua E. Nelson, ’05 is Director of Bands at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. His degree is in Music Education.

David R. Ongie, ’05 is the Director of Public Relations and Marketing at Milligan University. His degree is in English.

Craig R. Charles, ’06 has been named Tennessee’s Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Charles owns Crown Cutz Academy, which instructs future barbers in the Appalachian area. His degree is in Mass Communication.

Dr. Natasha Benfield Gouge, ’06, ’11, ’13 received the Association of Psychology Training Clinics’ Innovation Award. Her degrees are in Psychology.

Brandi K. Huskey, ’06 was named to the 2024 All So-Con Faculty and Staff team, along with Dr. Russ Brown. Huskey serves as Director of the ETSU Sevierville campus. Her degree is in Sport and Leisure Management.

Leia F. Davis, ’07, ’11 has been recognized by the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance with the

Derek “DW” Sower, ’07 has written two new books entitled Scream With Me: Volume I and Return to Christmas Town, published by Polar Press. His master’s degree is in History.

Clem C. “Bo” Wilkes, III, ’07 is Ballad Health’s Chief Growth Officer. He holds a Master of Public Health degree.

Lisa E. Carter, ’08 has been named by Becker’s Healthcare among their “Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know” list. Carter is Senior Vice President of Ballad Health and President of Ballad’s Southern Region. She holds a Master’s in Nursing degree.

Dr. A. Brianna Sheppard-Willis, ’08, ’14 is Director of the West Virginia Area Health Education Centers Program Office. She holds master’s and doctoral degrees in Psychology.

James L. Head, ’09 wrote The Sons of God, the Daughters of Men. The book is a study of Genesis 6:1-4. He holds an Educational Specialist degree.

2010s

Lynna McInturff Bingham, ’10 has been named Teacher of the Year for 2024 by Kingsport City Schools. She teaches 8th grade history at Sevier Middle School. Her degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Debra L. Brooks, ’10 was chosen Sullivan East High School’s Teacher of the Year. She is a Fine Arts teacher and holds a Master of Arts in Reading degree.

Tyler L. McCann, ’10 is a Business Banker, Vice President at Bank of Tennessee. His degree is in Sport and Leisure Management.

Dr. Catherine “K.T.” Moyer, ’10 was selected for inclusion in the esteemed Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry. She is the Owner and a Physical Therapist at HomeFront Concierge Physical Therapy in Johnson City. She holds a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.

Jacob D. Baggett, ’11 is the Public Policy Advisor at Baker Donelson. His degree is in History.

Dr. Darrell Benton, ’11 started a new position at his family-owned business, Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams. His degree is in Medicine.

Mary Williams Massarueh, ’11 is the Communications and Fund Development Manager at YWCA

Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Her degree is in Mass Communication.

Karie M. Castle, ’12 has been promoted to Manager of Environmental Health at Strongwell for the company’s Virginia operations. Her degree is in Environmental Health.

Kristi L. Evans, ’12 is the District 11 North Director for Michigan State University’s Extension Office, serving Oakland and Macomb counties. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology and Sport Studies.

 Dr. Cornell A. Sneed, ’12, ’13, ’18 received the inaugural PRIDE of ETSU Award from the ETSU National Alumni Association during the annual Evening of Distinction and ETSU PRIDE event. His degrees are in Criminal Justice, Kinesiology, and Global Sport Leadership.

Adam M. Sollazzo, ’12 had his high school basketball jersey retired. He attended Armwood High School in Seffner, Florida. He also played basketball for the Bucs. His degree is in Business Marketing.

Dr. Joshua N. Cloyd, ’13 was inducted into the David Crockett High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy.

Amanda Carmichael Dernovshek, ’13, ’15 was a recipient of the Top 5 Under 35 awards given by the Ingham County Bar Association. This award recognizes young lawyers who have distinguished themselves by manifesting exemplary character, integrity, judgment, and legal scholarship. She holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in Business.

Dr. Rebecca J. Leinart, ’13 is serving on the Tennessee State Board of Pharmacy. She holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy.

Neal C. Peterson, ’13 works for the Charlotte, North Carolina, Fire Department after 6½ years with the Asheville Fire Department. He holds a Master of Arts degree in New Media Studies.

Dr. W. Chancey Carothers, ’14 is President of the Central Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy.

Brandon M. Carr, ’14 has been promoted to Sergeant for the Johnson City Police Department. Carr holds a number of specialized positions including being a member of the SWAT and traffic homicide teams. His degree is in Human Services.

Casey C. Coyne, ’14, ’16 is a Digital Content & Marketing Manager at NTT DATA Services. Her degrees are in

English and Business Administration.

Justin R. Henard, ’14 has been promoted to Sergeant for the Johnson City Police Department. He has served on the SWAT team and special investigation squad. His degree is in Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Dr. J. Les Louden, ’14 is the President-Elect of the Southwest Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy.

Dr. Guillermo I. Mendoza, ’14, ’16, ’23, is Minister to Students at First Baptist Church of Erwin. His degrees are in Psychology and Early Childhood Education.

William J. Saulsbury, ’14 has been promoted to Sergeant of the Special Investigation Squad for the Johnson City Police Department. Saulsbury has numerous accolades during his time with the department including the Police Department Lifesaving Award, Tennessee Highway Safety Office Officer of the Year, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Officer of the Year (2021 and 2022). His degree is in Accounting.

L. Haley Williams, ’14, ’16 is Communications Director, Analyst Relations & Custom Research for Optimizely. Her degrees are in Marketing and Digital Marketing.

Ashley C. Cavender, ’15 is Program Director at Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council. Her degree is in Early Childhood Development.

Dr. Colby L. Newsome, ’15 is Director of Behavioral Health Pharmacy for Appalachian Regional Healthcare. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Eryn E. Samuels, ’15 is Senior Director of Leadership Giving for the University of Missouri’s Athletics Department. Her degree is in Mass Communication.

Bryan E. Walker, ’15 has been named Vice President of Virginia Operations for Strongwell. His degree is in Business Management.

Logan Dunn Allen, ’16 and Dr. Jacob L. Allen, ’11, ’18 welcomed their son Leo Fisher Allen on November 29, 2023. Her degree is in English. His degrees include a master’s in Mathematical Sciences and a doctorate in Global Sport Leadership.

Melora Gibson Bennett, ’16 has been named McDowell County, North Carolina, Schools Principal of the Year for 2024. Bennett is Principal at McDowell High School. She received an Education Specialist degree.

Steven E. Black, ’16 is Quality Control Manager for Mullican Flooring. Black also served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 21 years. He holds a Master of Science in Technology.

Leslie Burns Dye, ’16 is a Nurse Practitioner and joined CHI Memorial

Convenient Care in Cleveland, Tennessee. Her degree is in Nursing.

Hannah Wyatt Hopper, ’16, ’18 is Associate Director for Analytics and Media Operations for Tombras. Her degrees are in Mass Communication and Brand & Media Strategy.

Dr. Joshua V. Jones, ’16 won the Unsung Hero Award from The Greater Wilmington Business Journal in North Carolina. He serves as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at Novant Health Regional Medical Center and Novant Health Primary Care Clinic. He holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy.

Bridgett Stiltner Martin, ’16 is a Laboratory Analyst for Johnson City, Tennessee, Water and Sewer Services. Her degree is in Health Sciences.

 Adrian Meronk, ’16 won the 2023 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Tour Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour. Meronk is a former ETSU golf standout. His degree is in Finance.

H. Elizabeth Saulsbury, ’16 started a new position as Senior Manager, Content & Social Media at Cox Enterprises. Her degree is in Mass Communication.

Cody B. Shipley, ’16 is the Virginia Operations Accounting Manager at Strongwell Industries. His degree is in Finance.

Ryan Williams, ’16 is Area Manager at SaVida Health. His degree is in General Studies.

Gabrielle N. Billiot, ’17 has been selected to serve on the Tribal Education Committee for the United Houma Nation. Her degree is in Media and Communication.

Nicholas A. LaBar, ’17 is Vice President of Business Development for North America for Tan Delta Systems. His degree is in Communication Studies.

Laureen T. Lewis, ’17, ’20, ’23 is a Registered Nurse at LeConte Medical Center. Her degrees are in Nursing, Brand & Media Strategy, and Media & Communication.

Charles W. Machell, ’17 has signed with One Knoxville SC, an American soccer team which competes in USL League One, the third tier of the United States soccer league system. He is a former Bucs soccer team member. His degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Christian E. Bare, ’18, is a professor at ETSU with a focus on Public Relations and Advertising. His degree is in Brand and Media Strategy.

 Nathan J. Farnor, ’18 has been appointed to serve on the Volunteer Tennessee Commission for the

State of Tennessee, by Governor Bill Lee. Farnor serves as ETSU’s Coordinator for Leadership and Civic Engagement. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies.

Dr. Mark A. Hutton, ’18 has been selected Vice Mayor of Bristol, Tennessee. He holds a Master of Arts degree in English.

Ashley R. Pope, ’18 is a Police Officer with the Stonington, Connecticut, Police Department. Her degree is in Criminal Justice.

Chance G. Powell, ’18 is a Search Engine Optimization Specialist at React Digital. His degree is in Media and Communication.

Emily G. Salter, ’18 is a Healthcare Account Representative for A Place for Mom. Her degree is in Public Health.

Ashley L. Bird, ’19 is a Nurse Practitioner at Holston Medical Group in Weber City, Virginia. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree.

Gabe Epstein, ’19 released his debut solo album, Washington Express. His degree is in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Roots Music Studies.

Elizabeth A. Greer, ’19 is a Senior Merchandising Manager at Spreetail. Her degree is in Business Marketing. Dr. Andrew Tarasidis, ’19 was recognized by the Virginia Pharmacy Association as the 2023 Distinguished Young Pharmacist.

at Epic, where he will focus on using medication-related data and knowledge within healthcare systems to help deliver optimal medication-related patient care and health outcomes. His degrees are in Pharmacy Studies, Business Administration, and Pharmacy.

Dr. Warren G. Shelton, ’20, ’24 is a Physical Therapist at Holston Medical Group Rehabilitation in Kingsport. His degrees are in Physical Education and Physical Therapy.

Molly P. Perry, ’20, ’22 married Chandler Viscardis on October 28, 2023, in Bristol. She is Associate Director of Ticket Sales for the Knoxville Ice Bears. Her degrees are in Sport Management.

The award recognizes young pharmacists for making outstanding contributions to their communities. His degree is in Pharmacy.

2020s

 Haley L. Mullins, ’20, ’23 , married Noah S. Arni, ’21, on October 28, 2022. Haley also started a new position as an Account Associate at MoxCar Marketing + Communications. Her degrees are in Brand & Media Strategy and Media & Communications.

Matthew W. Bushell, ’20, ’23 is a GIS Technician in the GIS and Engineering Department for the City of Elizabethton. His degrees are in Geosciences.

Dr. Taylor A. Coston, ’20, ’23 was inducted into the Tennessee Collaborative Practice Society, which recognizes students in Tennessee. Her degrees are in Pharmacy Studies, Public Health, and Pharmacy.

Lindsay Kihnel Herrell, ’20 has been promoted to Assistant Director of Student Services at the University of Tennessee’s Howard H. Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. She holds a Master of Educational Leadership degree.

Dr. Jonathan E. Holan, ’20, ’22, ’23 is a Clinical Project Manager

Christopher W. Ayers, ’21 is President of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Harriman. Ayers has a Graduate Certificate in Community College Leadership from ETSU and is currently a student in ETSU’s doctoral program in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Omar K. Banks, ’21 is Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at West Virginia University. He holds a doctorate degree in Global Sport Leadership.

Robert W. Cole, ’21 is a Fire Control Sergeant in the United States Army. His degree is in Business Management.

Dr. Patrick D. Davis, Sr., ’21 has been named Vice President of the BlueOval City campus of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Jackson. He holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.

Katelyn B. Drye, ’21 is a Registered Representative at NYLIFE Securities LLC. Her degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Tatum M. Gouge, ’21 is an Assistant Property Manager at Universal Development & Construction. Her degree is in Marketing.

Taylor S. Griggs, ’21 is a Youth Support Partner at Youth Villages. Her degree is in Psychology.

Sydni Leonard, ’21 is a Residence Hall Director at the University of Georgia. Her degree is in Educational Leadership.

 Elizabeth Brockey Maughon, ’21 has been named to the 30 Most Powerful Women In Business: The Titans Of Industry by News Leaflets. Maughon is Chief Customer Officer at Simpli.fi. She holds a Master of Digital Marketing degree.

Caitlin F. Maupin, ’21 was selected by the Elizabethton City Council to do a mural entitled “History in the

Making.” Her degree is in Art.

Kallie J. Smith, ’21 is Director of Marketing at Watford Engineering. Her degree is in History.

Olivia T. Sturgill, ’21, ’23 has been promoted to Cash Management Accountant 2 at the Tennessee Department of Treasury. Her degrees are in Accounting.

Kylie J. Winchester, ’21 started a new position as a Physician Assistant at East Tennessee Spine and Orthopedic Specialists, PC. Her degree is in Kinesiology.

Caleb T. Atkins, ’22 is a Student Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. His degree is in Economics.

Quincie M. Bradley, ’22 started a new position as Senior Programmatic Trader at Booyah Advertising. Her degree is in Media and Communication.

Meghan K. Doherty, ’22 is an Estimating Coordinator for Phillips & Jordan, Inc. Her degree is in Management.

Jordan N. Durbin, ’22, ’23 is an Operational Excellence Specialist

OBITUARIES

1940s

Mary A. Hyde; Johnson City

December 12, 2023; BS ’47 Secondary Education

Margaret S. King; Kansas City, Missouri

February 8, 2024; BS ’49 English

1950s

Patsy W. Saylor; Pittsfield, Massachusetts December 10, 2023; BS ’51 Business Education

Regina L. Henline; Spruce Pine, North Carolina

December 2, 2023; BS ’52 Home Economics

Arthur L. Doggett; Kingsport December 17, 2023; BS ’53 Economics

Joyce J. Norris; Butler

December 30, 2024; BS ’53 Art

Patricia N. Sparks; Newport January 9, 2024; BS ’53 Geography

Elmer Bain; Erwin

December 26, 2023; BS ’54 Chemistry

Patsy G. Goyne; Johnson City

November 26, 2023; BS ’54 English

Hugh D. Gross; Birmingham, Alabama

October 20, 2023; BS ’54 Business Administration

at Ballad Health. Her degrees are in Communications and Health Administration.

Tyler J. Keltner, ’22 announced his commitment to Oklahoma State University to be a graduate kicker for OSU’s football team. His degree is in Management.

Dr. Crystal N. Meadors, ’22 has had an article published by the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy It is entitled “Health-system specialty pharmacy: Overview of a hybrid clinical model.” She holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy.

C. Chad Moore, ’22 , is Principal at North Side Elementary School in Johnson City. His degree is in Elementary Education.

Ada J. Sloop, ’22 is the Safe Routes to School Coordinator at Land of Sky Regional Council. Her degree is in Public Health.

Ember A. Brummitt, ’23 is a Marketing and Communication Specialist at ETSU. Her degree is in Media and Communication.

Laken A. Greene, ’24 is a Reporter for the Johnson City Press. Her degree is in English.

Oscar E. Bergendahl; Erwin

December 15, 2023; BS ’55 Physical Education

Vida S. Bunting; Mountain City

September 28, 2023; BS ’55 Library Science, MA ’72 Library Science

Joseph C. Collins; St. Joseph, Michigan

March 21, 2021; BS ’55 Physical Education

Walter J. Wall; Bristol, Virginia November 16, 2023; BS ’55 Industrial Arts Education

James D. Woods; Tampa, Florida January 1, 2020; BA ’55 History

Walter E. Beasley; St. Petersburg, Florida

January 7, 2024; BS ’56 Secondary Education

Wilbur C. Lee; Rogersville October 10, 2023; BS ’56 Industrial Arts & Technical Education

Harold L. Poe; Kingsport December 4, 2023; BS ’56 Business Administration

Mary E. Alexander; Oak Ridge October 10, 2023; BS ’57 Mathematics

Carmelita M. Ennis; Sparta, New Jersey

January 24, 2024; BS ’57 Elementary Education

Robert W. Hobbs; Dayton, Tennessee November 15, 2023; BS ’57 Business Administration

Daphne Myers; Bulls Gap January 21, 2024; BS ’57 Education

Mack C. Young; Warner Robins, Georgia

January 18, 2024; BS ’57 Business Education

Gearlene D. Horner; Jefferson City February 19, 2024; BS ’58 Elementary Education

Buddy K. Moore; Toccoa, Georgia

March 7, 2024; BS ’58 History, MA ’59

Nancy J. Paule; Signal Mountain, Tennessee

January 19, 2024; BS ’58 Elementary Education

Charles W. Pope; Louisville, Tennessee

January 9, 2024; BS ’58 Physical Education

Hazel F. Bishop; Jacksonville, Florida December 9, 2023; BS ’59 Business

Lynwood H. Hill; Jonesborough October 16, 2023; BS ’59 Social Studies

Henry H. Ingram; Ingalls, North Carolina

January 3, 2024; MA ’59 Elementary Education

James L. Norris; Hampton December 4, 2023; BS ’59 History, MA ’69 Educational Administration and Supervision

James D. Wilson; Elizabethton October 31, 2023; BS ’59 Business Administration

1960s

Jerry W. Cole; Elizabethton November 28, 2023; BS ’60 Music, MA ’72 Educational Administration and Supervision, EdS ’85 Educational Administration and Supervision, EdD ’92 Educational Administration and Supervision

Kyle S. Cooper; Kingsport February 11, 2024; BS ’60 Mathematics

James R. Pierce; Elizabethton December 7, 2023; BS ’60 Music, EdD ’78 Educational Administration and Supervision

Nancy E. Pierce; Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

January 13, 2024; BS ’60 Mathematics

Rex B. Seal; Wilmington, North Carolina February 20, 2024; BS ’60 Chemistry

Alton W. Wallace; Elizabethton February 11, 2024; BS ’60 Business Education

Charles N. Wysor; Breaks, Virginia January 24, 2023; BS ’60 Physical Education

Kay H. Edmondson; Lansdale, Pennsylvania

November 8, 2023; BS ’61 History

Nell P. Hyder; Elizabethton November 21, 2023; BS ’61 English, MA ’63

Nancy L. Schwartz; Limestone October 18, 2023; BSN ’61 Nursing

Charles P. Snapp; Johnson City December 4, 2023; BS ’61 Geography

Rebecca M. Snoderly; Maryville, North Carolina

February 21, 2024; BS ’61 Art

Thomas A. Statum; Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

October 14, 2023; BS ’61 History

Charles F. Burrell; Erwin

March 17, 2024; BS ’62 Business

Elizabeth N. Garner; Anderson, South Carolina

December 12, 2023; BS ’62 English

Christine M. Newby; Johnson City

January 24, 2024; BS ’62 English, MA ’65, MA ’80 English

Fred H. Phagan; Mount Airy, Maryland

March 2, 2024; MA ’62 Guidance and Counseling

Joseph W. Stacy; Roanoke, Virginia

March 1, 2024; BS ’62 Industrial Arts Education

Charles R. Brummett; North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

March 7, 2024; BS ’63 Chemistry

James S. Riggs; Wise, Virginia

October 8, 2023; BS ’63 History

Brenda C. Sluss; Brentwood, Tennessee

December 13, 2023; BS ’63 Management

Robert P. Steadman; Gray January 25, 2024; BS ’63 Industrial Arts Education

Jo R. Kelly; Kingsport January 9, 2024; BS ’64 Elementary Education

Ruth A. Meyer; Jonesborough June 2, 2023; BS ’64 Business

Nancy L. Phipps; Harlingen, Texas March 18, 2024; BS ’64 Mathematics, MA ’70

Wayne L. Bell; Bristol, Virginia August 18, 2023; BA ’65 Political Science

William B. Bowen; Chattanooga February 2, 2024; BS ’65 History, MA ’70 Educational Administration and Supervision

Anita B. Calfee; Bluffton, South Carolina

November 6, 2023; BS ’65 Home Economics

William B. Canny; Milton, Florida November 23, 2023; BS ’65 Music

Miller S. Council; Winston-Salem, North Carolina

December 15, 2023; BS ’65 Physical Education

Shirley W. Ellis; Hampton January 19, 2024; BS ’65 Physical Education, MA ’70 Elementary Education, EdD ’94 Educational Administration and Supervision

Linda W. Garber; Chattanooga January 8, 2023; BS ’65 Mathematics

John W. Hannah; Titusville, Florida December 3, 2023; BS ’65 Geography

Pryor C. Hunt; Newport March 3, 2024; BS ’65 Physical Education

Newton A. McCoy; Pound, Virginia

October 5, 2023; BS ’65 General Science

Carl R. Peake; Erwin January 31, 2024; BS ’65 Industrial Arts Education

Robert D. Arnold; Johnson City January 15, 2024; BS ’66 Accountancy

Teddy Bailey; Haysi, Virginia September 23, 2023; BS ’66 Chemistry

Gary R. Burleson; Salisbury, North Carolina March 4, 2024; BS ’66 Sociology

Edwin B. Charles; Johnson City November 11, 2023; BS ’66 Social Science

John G. Curran; Blountville November 21, 2023; BS ’66 Chemistry

W. Vance Greer; Mountain City March 21, 2023; BS ’66 Geology

Sherry F. Harrison; Jonesborough September 2, 2023; BS ’66 Physical Education

William A. Hicks; Cosby, Tennessee December 23, 2023; BS ’66 History

Robert A. Hudson; Blacksburg, Virginia

January 25, 2024; BS ’66 History

Gloria F. Johnson; DeLand, Florida June 1, 2023; BS ’66 English

Sally R. Kohn; Franklin, Tennessee September 24, 2023; BS ’66 Elementary Education

Amarylis C. Rolen; Wise, Virginia February 4, 2024; BS ’66 Elementary Education

Robert J. Walker; Isle of Palms, South Carolina November 3, 2023; BS ’66 General Psychology

Billie D. Warden; Bristol, Tennessee July 26, 2022; BS ’66 Educational Administration, MA ’75 Education

Glenn K. Anders; Bybee, Tennessee January 11, 2024; BS ’67 Biology, MS ’73 Biology

James R. Dunn; Hendersonville, North Carolina

September 25, 2023; BS ’67 Health Education, MSEH ’71 Environmental Health

Jack W. Lowe; Kingsport January 22, 2024; MA ’67 Chemistry

Jerry D. Sterling; Calhoun, Georgia January 23, 2024; BS ’67 Industrial Arts Education

David W. Tilson; Knoxville October 25, 2023; BS ’67 Geography, MA ’77 Political Science

Arthur M. Boyd; Kingsport January 19, 2024; BS ’68 Biology

Jack A. Estes; Johnson City October 12, 2023; BS ’68 Management

Roger L. Glovier; Lebanon, Virginia March 17, 2024; BS ’68 Music

Brenda W. Hale; Elizabethton March 8, 2024; BS ’68 English

Sandra K. Range; Elizabethton

February 10, 2024; BS ’68 English

Catherine B. Scott; Morristown October 30, 2023; BS ’68 Physical Education

Allen A. Snodgrass; Bristol, Virginia

October 29, 2023; BS ’68 Political Science

Carl A. Street; Mint Hill, North Carolina

February 13, 2024; BS ’68 Chemistry

Billie J. Creasey; Elizabethton

November 4, 2023; BSN ’69 Nursing

Robert L. Hodge; Morristown

February 6, 2024; BS ’69 Industrial Arts and Technology Education

Nicholas S. Hood; Greensboro, North Carolina

October 27, 2023; BS ’69 History

Cheryl C. Laws; Johnson City November 1, 2023; BS ’69 Speech Pathology

James W. Kane; Monroeville, Alabama

February 26, 2024; BS ’69 Business

Judy J. Lockhart; Martinsville, Virginia

September 17, 2023; BS ’69 Home Economics

Gloria J. Miller; Mountain City

March 13, 2023; BS ’69 Philosophy

Elliott B. Smith; Greeneville

November 27, 2023; BS ’69 Chemistry, MD ’83 Medicine

Sue L. Vaughn; Big Stone Gap, Virginia

February 2, 2024; BS ’69 English

Gregory K. Wininger; Knoxville February 28, 2024; BS ’69 Geography

William L. Worcester; Cambridge, Ohio

October 20, 2023; MA ’69 Reading

1970s

Linda G. Arney; Elizabethton

December 19, 2023; BS ’70 Elementary Education

Louise A. Bowdoin; Bristol, Tennessee

January 29, 2024; MA ’70 Physical Education

Linda C. Burnette; Fancy Gap, Virginia

January 18, 2024; BS ’70 Home Economics

Diana D. Estep; Elizabethton January 30, 2024; BS ’70 Business Education

David E. Fielder; Knoxville January 19, 2023; BS ’70 History

Elijah C. Gray; Johnson City March 10, 2024; BS ’70 Mathematics

Charles B. Hasbrouck; Kingsport January 23, 2024; MA ’70 Business

Larry A. Massie; Henrico, Virginia

December 9, 2023; MA ’70 Educational Administration

Walter P. Reed; Vila Rica, Georgia

March 8, 2024; MS ’70 Mathematics

Ernest H. Roberts; Rutledge, Tennessee

January 14, 2024; MS ’70 Biology

Frederick J. Stewart; Piney Flats

March 19, 2024; BS ’70 General Psychology; MA ’71 Psychology

Kenneth L. Turner; Greensburg, Pennsylvania

November 27, 2023; BS ’70 History

Roy L. Adams; Kingsport February 2, 2024; BS ’71 Industrial Technology

Frances G. Cox; Johnson City January 28, 2024; BS ’71 Elementary Education

Gary L. Crouse; Wytheville, Virginia

January 6, 2024; BS ’71 Physical Education

William C. Derrick; Lexington, South Carolina

December 18, 2023; BS ’71 Management

Kyle F. Greenlee; Rutledge, Tennessee

December 23, 2023; BS ’71 Political Science

Linda C. Kimberlin; Bristol, Tennessee

November 27, 2023; BS ’71 Elementary Education

Bethea M. Luttrell; Greeneville

December 16, 2023; BS ’71 History

Russell M. Miller; Sharpsburg, Georgia

October 10, 2023; BS ’71 History

Larry D. Mullins; Jonesborough

January 11, 2024; BS ’71 Elementary Education

Alice E. O’Dell; Greeneville

January 5, 2024; MA ’71 Physical Education

Keith S. Surgenor; Mt. Holly, North Carolina

March 10, 2024; BS ’71 Management

Terry B. Thrasher; Cleveland, South Carolina

January 13, 2024; BS ’71 Sociology

Oren K. Wilson; Chattanooga

January 26, 2024; BS ’71 History

David H. Meeks; Fort Smith, Arkansas

September 30, 2023; MS ’72 Biology

Richard A. Ottinger; Parrottsville

February 4, 2024; BS ’72 Management

Johnny D. Richardson; Roan Mountain

February 24, 2024; BS ’72 Chemistry

Beverly C. Roylston; Lawrenceville, Georgia

December 19, 2023; BS ’72 English

Robert G. Yackanin; Somerset, New Jersey

December 9, 2023; BS ’72 Physical Education and Health

Larry J. Addison; Richlands, Virginia

February 4, 2024; BS ’73 Special Education

Charles S. Fair; Johnson City

December 6, 2023; BS ’73 History

Vernon D. Ford; Johnson City

October 23, 2023; BS ’73 Physical Education

Emory A. Hill; Johnson City

October 10, 2023, BS ’73 Social Sciences  Lendward Simpson; Wilmington, North Carolina

February 8, 2024; BS ’73 Physical Education

Jackie D. Silcox; Greeneville January 2, 2024; BS ’73 General Education

Harry J. Smith; Mountain City February 14, 2024; BA ’73 History

Stella K. Terango; Cincinnati, Ohio

January 14, 2024; MA ’73 Reading

Janice L. Williams; Oak Ridge November 6, 2023; MA ’73

Elementary Education, EdD ’81 Educational Administration and Supervision

Charles W. Beachler; Loudon, Tennessee

February 15, 2024; BS ’74 Industrial Technology

John R. Camper; Athens, Tennessee

January 20, 2024; MS ’74 Environmental Health

Tina W. Robinson; Apex, North Carolina

February 1, 2024; BS ’74 Biology

Sterling C. Broyles; Roanoke, Virginia

March 21, 2024; BS ’75 Elementary Education

Arlen C. Easley; Kingsport

September 26, 2023; BS ’75 Environmental Health

Ruth A. Gutierrez; Jonesborough February 3, 2024; BS ’75 Nursing

Rex A. McSpadden; Dandridge, Tennessee

February 21, 2024; BS ’75 Business

Michael K. Shell; Elizabethton February 4, 2024; BS ’75 Biology

Daniel R. Baker; Christiansburg, Virginia

January 1, 2024; BS ’76 Industrial Technology

Ronald W. Gates; Cullman, Alabama October 12, 2023; BS ’76 Accountancy

Ronald A. Lane; Johnson City September 15, 2023; BS ’76 Physical Education

Cassandra M. Moore; Jonesborough February 2, 2024; BSN ’76 Nursing

Charles W. Red; Hendersonville, North Carolina February 29, 2024; MBA ’76 Management

Robert J. Buffalow; North Tazewell, Virginia

February 26, 2024; BS ’77 Management

Michael Croley; Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

February 9, 2024; BEH ’77 Environmental Health

Hugh V. Davis; Bristol, Tennessee March 13, 2024; BS ’77 Criminal Justice and Criminology

Eugene G. Harr; Bluff City March 15, 2024; BS ’77 Industrial Technology

Ernest M. McDermon; Salisbury, North Carolina

September 19, 2023; BEH ’77 Environmental Health

Michael E. Millard; Maryville January 31, 2024; BS ’77 Physical Education

Peggy S. Rogers; Wake Forest, North Carolina

September 28, 2023; MA ’77 Elementary Education, BSN ’83 Nursing

Lois A. Young; Kingsport January 14, 2024; BS ’77 Special Education

Deborah A. Carney; Harrodsburg, Kentucky

November 13, 2023; BSN ’78 Nursing

Mary J. Hale; Piney Flats November 28, 2023; BS ’78 Elementary Education, MED ’90

Dorothy W. Jordan; Maryville December 12, 2023; MS ’78 Biology

James W. Mintz; Kingsport October 15, 2023; BS ’78 English, MA ’82 English

Alfred W. Webb; Anniston, Alabama February 19, 2024; BS ’78 Criminal Justice and Criminology

Virginia E. Baldwin; Johnson City December 15, 2023; BS ’79 Elementary Education

William G. Hearl; Gaithersburg, Maryland

February 5, 2024; BS ’79 Biology

Michael D. Hollowell; Johnson City November 6, 2023; BBA ’79 Accountancy

Tony R. Wheeler; Morristown November 24, 2023; BS ’79 Accountancy

1980s

Richard K. Stubblefield; Gray October 5, 2023; BBA ’80 Finance

William J. Byrd; Elizabethton October 8, 2023; BS ’81 Political Science

Sylvia J. Dykes; Johnson City February 5, 2024; BS ’81 Elementary Education

Evelyn A. Gordon; Johnson City February 15, 2024; MA ’81 General Psychology

Keith D. Snapp; Roswell, Georgia November 7, 2023; BS ’81 Engineering Technology

Debra A. Davis; Kingsport

November 20, 2023; ASN ’83 Nursing

David G. Turpin; Elizabethton November 27, 2023; MED ’84 Special Education

William R. Baker; Louisville, Tennessee

March 3, 2021; BBA ’85 Management

William E. Evans; Lee Summit, Missouri

January 21, 2023; BME ’85 Music

Ronald A. McMurray; Mount Carmel

January 14, 2024; BBA ’85 Management

James E. Deaton; Fayetteville, Tennessee

February 21, 2024; BS ’86 Biology, MS ’90

Pamela A. Permenter; Humboldt, Tennessee February 17, 2024; BS ’86 Home Economics

Roy L. Kaylor; Church Hill

December 29, 2023; BS ’87 Computer and Information Science

Angela I. Stonecipher; Elizabethton December 13, 2023; BS ’88 Elementary Education

Curtis B. Tate; Abingdon, Virginia February 3, 2024; BS ’88 Criminal Justice and Criminology

Elizabeth E. Barringer; Kinston, North Carolina

February 20, 2024; MEd ’89 Special Education

Margaret A. Jones; Elizabethton February 2, 2024; MEd ’89 Reading

1990s

Vicki B. Baker; Kingsport January 5, 2024; BS ’91 General Psychology

Melissa P. Baird; Church Hill December 5, 2023; BS ’91 General Psychology, BS ’91 Psychology, BSN ’97 Nursing

Joshua S. Jordan; Johnson City December 20, 2023; AAS ’92 Instructional Technology, BS ’93 Engineering Technology

Darrell W. Key; Ottway, Tennessee January 6, 2023; BS ’92 Health Education, MPH ’96 Public Health

Neena R. Swigert; Johnson City October 19, 2023; BS ’93 General Psychology

Sonny T. Abraham; Garner, North Carolina

April 17, 2017; PhD ’94 Biomedical Sciences

Sharron D. Blackwell; Elizabethton November 13, 2023; BS ’95 Criminal Justice and Criminology

Gunnar R. Durham; Kingsport March 4, 2024; MED ’96 Physical Education

David A. Kent; Chapmansboro, Tennessee December 16, 2023; BS ’96 Criminal Justice and Criminology

Kathleen P. Wing; Elizabethton

October 3, 2023; MED ’96 Secondary Education

Linda A. Meyer; Melbourne, Florida January 10, 2024; BGS ’98 General Studies

Matthew R. Stringfield; Loudon, Tennessee

November 1, 2023; BBA ’99 Marketing

2000s

Lisa D. Fair; Erwin January 31, 2023; BSN ’00 Nursing

Rickie C. Bland; Mebane, North Carolina

January 13, 2024; BS ’02 Computer and Information Science

Raymond K. Houser; Bristol, Tennessee

July 23, 2020; BS ’02 Geography

Paul R. Britt; Kingsport

December 19, 2023; BGS ’03 General Studies

Shannon E. Skinner; Rogersville October 12, 2023; BSW ’03 Social Work

Jessica A. Schlobohm; Kingsport

October 14, 2023; BA ’05 English

Javier Soriano; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

September 22, 2023; MBA ’08 Business Administration

2010s

Robert L. Castille; Kingsport

September 21, 2023; BBA ’10 Economics

James M. Cook; Sutton, West Virginia

February 11, 2024; BS ’13 Interdisciplinary Studies

David J. Elliott; Alexander, North Carolina

February 18, 2024; BS ’14 Mathematics

2020s

Zachary T. West; Spanish Fort, Florida

January 11, 2024; BS ’22 Geosciences

FACULTY, STAFF, AND RETIREE OBITUARIES

Beverly P. Sherwood; Johnson City August 26, 2023; BS ’77 Political Science

Clara H. Hasbrouck; Kingsport September 21, 2023; MA ’75 Library Science

Paula R. Oliver; Tusculum November 10, 2023; BS ’58 Business Administration

L. J. Shell; Jonesborough October 15, 2023

Steven S. Bader; Woodland Park, Colorado October 17, 2023

 Carl W. Torbush; Sevierville November 6, 2023

IN MEMORY OF Dr. Ronald E. Beller

ETSU President from 1980 to 1991

Dr. Ronald E. Beller, East Tennessee State University’s sixth President, passed away on April 6, 2024. Dr. Beller served as President from 1980 to 1991, leading the university through a period of growth and innovation. With a background in engineering and economics, he immediately began to bring financial stability to ETSU. When he took office, the ETSU Foundation had a negative fund balance, which he was able to correct, on the way to modernizing the university’s fundraising efforts.

His business and industrial background came into play again as he set a goal of achieving full accreditation for ETSU’s College of Business. Dr. Beller’s work and expertise were also instrumental to the strength and success of ETSU’s health sciences programs. It was during Dr. Beller’s tenure that ETSU received the largest grant, up to that time, in its history, from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to fund the ETSU Community Partnerships Program.

Enrollment and regional visibility grew steadily during Dr. Beller’s administration. In 1985-86, he oversaw the yearlong celebration of the university’s 75th anniversary. In 1990, ETSU presented Dr. Beller with its most prestigious award, the George L. Carter Award, named for the benefactor who donated the land so that East Tennessee State Normal School, now East Tennessee State University, could be located in Johnson City.

Patricia P. Toohey; Johnson City November 8, 2023

Lawrence E. Huff; Davenport, Florida

November 21, 2023

Judith G. Adams; Johnson City November 30, 2023

Jack M. Rary; Jonesborough January 2, 2024

 Bonnie S. Marrs; Johnson City January 3, 2024; AS ’71 Dental Hygiene, BS ’74 Dental Hygiene, BS ’74 Health, MA ’75 Educational Administration

11, 2024

 Martha M. Pointer; Johnson City February 25, 2024; MA ’77 English; MBA ’81 Business Administration

 Debbie R. Marsh; Church Hill January 13, 2024

Mary B. Holt; Johnson City February

WETS-FM 89.5

WETS-FM 89.5 is celebrating 50 years of broadcasting excellence, community service, and listener loyalty in 2024. The station officially began broadcasting as an NPR affiliate on February 26, 1974. Today, WETS-FM operates in the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia/North Carolina region and online, covering everything from local news and music to iconic NPR programs.

“Fifty years is an incredible accomplishment for the station and the community,” said Chad Barrett, WETS-FM Station Director. “We’re excited to celebrate half a century of high-quality programming, but we don’t just want to make this about us. We want to celebrate our listeners because we got this far thanks to them.”

Bookmark WETS-FM 89.5 to listen online today.

Wayne Winkler, longtime station director, is on air in 1978. Listeners can still hear Winkler’s distinctive voice on air.

Station director Dick Ellis is installing a WETS-FM satellite dish in 1980.

Chad Barrett, WETS-FM’s current station director, sitting at his desk in 2024.

Photo by Larry Smith