Tracy Parkinson Named Provost Mars Hill University has appointed Tracy Parkinson, Ph.D., as provost and vice president of enrollment management. Parkinson comes to the university from Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina, where he most recently served as executive vice president. He began his new position at Mars Hill on June 1.
diversity and inclusion, and interdisciplinary studies. Heavily involved in work with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Parkinson also brings experience with the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education; the Board of Trustees of Carolina Pines Medical Center; the board of the TEACH Foundation, and multiple projects with the Yes We Must Coalition, a national consortium of small, private colleges committed to serving first-generation and Pell-eligible students.
Mars Hill President Tony Floyd said, “Dr. Parkinson is an incredibly well-rounded and gifted academic who has devoted his life to higher education and students. He shares Mars Hill values that emphasize the importance of students being Before going to Coker, Parkinson grounded in the liberal arts. served as professor of modern His love of the humanities is languages and then as associate evident, as he spent many years vice president for academic as a professor of modern foreign affairs at King College in Bristol, languages and literatures. After Tennessee. working side-by-side with him Parkinson said, “I am convinced for a number of years, I know, that higher education’s best work without hesitation, that he is a over the coming years, that of gifted leader. His personal story helping students discover their mirrors that of many of our potential, persist to graduation, students; he grew up in rural and discern a sense of purpose, Tennessee and graduated from will be accomplished at places Tracy Parkinson a small private institution as a like Mars Hill. The places that first-generation student. I love make the biggest difference that he spent much of his life in will be the MHUs of the world. I am honored and international travel and study in France and Spain. humbled to have the opportunity to be part of that He has vast experience with accreditation, a key effort, and I will commit my best effort to help us priority for Mars Hill University as we enter into our achieve our aspirations for the university and its reaffirmation process in 2022.” students.” Parkinson served as provost at Coker University A native of Cleveland, Tennessee, Parkinson earned from 2011–2017 and most recently served as his undergraduate degree at Carson-Newman executive vice president and acting president at College and his master’s and Ph.D. at the University Coker. He has also been a leader in undergraduate of Tennessee at Knoxville. He also has studied at admissions, financial and strategic planning, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela in Spain, student life, and information technology. During Cornell University, and the American University his time as provost, he oversaw the launch of five of Paris. Parkinson is married to Nichole Long, a master’s programs and the development of the Student Success Coach and Adjunct Lecturer university’s first online programs, honors program, in Business at Coker University. They have two two B.F.A. degrees, and centers for teaching children, Adkins, an upcoming kindergartener, and and learning, leadership and entrepreneurship, Abigail, a rising senior at Furman University. Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2020 5
