Tracy Parkinson Named Provost

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