Distinguished Alumni

Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented each year to alumni whose exceptional achievements and careers reflect the highest values embraced and promoted by the University and the Alumni Association. We took time to honor these alumni during Homecoming Weekend to recognize their significant impact on the lives of others.

AMANDA FAULKNER, ’10

Following graduation from Cumberlands, Amanda earned her medical doctorate (MD) and completed her residency and two fellowships. She is on faculty at Duke University as a neurosurgical anesthesiologist and intensivist as well as an assistant professor in the university’s school of medicine. Her greatest passion is caring for patients with brain tumors, brain aneurysms, or spinal deformities in the operating room, though she also spends time providing comprehensive care for those in the intensive care unit (ICU). Among other activities, she also conducts research, mentors medical students and trainees, and serves as a peer reviewer for multiple publications.

AMANDA FAULKNER, ’10

JOSH BENTON, ’04

Josh uses what he learned in his history, political science, Christian missions, and public administration classes to serve well as the national vice president for Send Relief, a collaboration between the International and North American Mission Boards, a unified platform for Southern Baptists to offer help and hope to the most vulnerable through compassion ministries worldwide. He leads Send Relief’s North American ministry efforts. Prior to this role, Josh served as the economic and workforce development professional with the Commonwealth of Kentucky for more than 15 years and a bi-vocational student minister for eight years.

JOSH BENTON, ’04

HAROLD CARTER, ’86

Harold has spent the last 24 years in the aerospace industry holding various roles of engineering leadership and program management, most recently as the engineering director and interim vice president of engineering of Lockheed Martin’s Skunkworks, leading the engineering organization in research and development, vehicle prototyping, and weapons systems production. The Skunkworks is the world leader in stealth technology. Harold has developed and integrated technologies to advance capabilities on the F-111, F-16, F-22, F-35, F-177, and other classified programs. As a result of his work, he has been awarded two classified patents. Additionally, Harold serves as Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ executive representative to Purdue University and is actively involved in numerous state, regional, and national STEM initiatives.

HAROLD CARTER, ’86

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AWARDS

The Student Government Association (SGA) annually awards two professors as well as a staff member in recognition of their commitment to students and service to the university. This year’s male honored professor was Dr. Chin-Teck Tan (not pictured), an associate professor of business as well as the head tennis coach, since 1988. The female honored professor for 2021 was Dr. Lisa Lyford (not pictured), professor of biology. She has taught at Cumberlands since 2005 and is the founder and advisor for the pre-health club on campus. Finally, the honored staff member this year was Eric Skelly (not pictured, head swimming and diving coach. He joined Cumberlands’ “One Big Team” in 2011.