2024-2025 Catalog

Oakley School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts

Jenny L. Mason, Dean of the Oakley School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts and Associate Professor of Psychology
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.Ed., Auburn University
Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi

P. Daniela Dorantes, Administrative Assistant to the Oakley School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts

Karen B. Hobson, Education Licensure Officer
B.B.A., M.A.E., Cumberland University

Jenny E. Ballard, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and Production Director
B.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.F.A., Louisiana State University

Joseph W. Bates, Assistant Professor of Art and Design
B.F.A., Cumberland University
M.F.A., Arizona State University

J. Aaron Bellar, University Chaplain and Assistant Professor of Religion
B.S., M.Div., Lee University

Miguel A. Chavez, Assistant Professor of History
B.A., M.A., University of North Texas
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

Mark R. Cheathem, Professor of History and Editor of the Martin Van Buren Papers
B.A., Cumberland University
M.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Ph.D., Mississippi State University

J. Kip Crowder, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands
B.M., Middle Tennessee State University
M.M.E., D.M.A., University of Kentucky

Timothy C. Davis, Assistant Professor of English
M.F.A., Queens University of Charlotte

Sandra L. Elliott, Director of Choirs and Instructor of Music
A.A., Cumberland University
B.A., Samford University
M.C.M., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
M.A.E., Cumberland University

Sandee L. Gertz, Associate Professor of English
M.A., M.F.A., Wilkes University

Katherine J. Gilligan, Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
M.Ed., University of Illinois, Chicago
M.Ed., Cumberland University
Ed.D., Aurora University

Kent J. Hallman, Assistant Professor of Sociology
B.A., M.Div., M.A., Vanderbilt University
Ph.D., Oslo University (Kingdom of Norway)

Mark E. Hanshaw, General Counsel and Associate Provost and Assistant Professor of Ethics
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
L.L.M., University of Manchester, England
M.T.S., Texas Christian University
J.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ph.D., Southern Methodist University

Stuart E. Harris, Professor of English
B.S., B.A., Belmont University
M.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
D.A., Middle Tennessee State University

Sara E. Hays, Assistant Professor of English
B.A., Emmanuel College
M.A., Belmont University
Ph.D., Middle Tennessee State University

Fred E. Heifner, Professor of Anthropology, Philosophy, and Religion
B.A., Louisiana College
M.Div., Th.D., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Virginia and Guy Thackston Professor of Liberal Arts

Sheridan W. S. Henson, Executive Director of Academic Support and Associate Professor of Leadership Studies
B.A, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S.P., Cumberland University
Ed.D., Trevecca Nazarene University

C. Alan Hutchison, Instructor of Speech
B.A., M.A., Lipscomb University
M.A., Austin Peay State University

Natalie R. Inman, Associate Professor of History
B.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.A., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

Wyatt V. Keener, Instructor of English
B.A., Union University
M.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Suzann B. Lafferty, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
B.A., University of Southern California
M.F.S., National University
M.A., University of Memphis
Ph.D., University of the Cumberlands
Tommy P. Thompson Professor of Criminal Justice

Max C. Matherne, Assistant Professor of History and Assistant Editor of the Martin Van Buren Papers
B.A., Grove City College
Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Whitney M. Matthews, Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., Western Kentucky University
M.A.T., Belmont University
Ed.S., Austin Peay State University
D.A., Murray State University

Sean P. McDaniel, Assistant Professor of History
B.A. University of Michigan
M.A., Wayne State University
Ph.D., Michigan State University

C. William McKee, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.Ed., Auburn University
Ed.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Alena Mehic, Assistant Professor of Art
B.F.A., Middle Tennessee State University
M.F.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Larry T. Menefee, Professor of Communications and Theatre
B.A., Lipscomb University
M.A., Southern Illinois University
Ph.D., University of Denver

Tara Mitchel Mielnik, Assistant Professor of History
B.A., Sewanee: The University of the South
M.A., Ph.D., Middle Tennessee State University

Kerry A. Moore, Assistant Professor of English
B.S., M.A., University of North Carolina, Charlotte
M.F.A., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Barbara N. Parker, Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., M.A., Ed.S., Middle Tennessee State University

John Ray, Assistant Professor of Music
B.M., M.M., Samford University
M.A., Trevecca Nazarene University
D.M.A., The University of Alabama

Michael C. Rex, Associate Professor of English
B.A., Sam Houston State University
M.A., Texas A & M University, College Station
Ph.D., Wayne State University

Rory D. Sellgren, Assistant Professor of English
B.A., Alvernia College
M.A., Claremont School of Theology
M.A., Ph.D., University of Leeds, United Kingdom

Jim D. Shulman, Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A., J.D., Vanderbilt University

Sandra H. Smith, Associate Professor of Education
B.S., M.A., Ed.S., Tennessee Technological University
Ed.D., Tennessee State University

Chelsea J. Sterne, Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.A., Vanderbilt University
M.S., University of South Carolina
Ph.D., University of San Antonio

Cyndy Stone Allen, Assistant Professor of Education
A.S., Motlow State Community College
B.S., M.Ed., Ed.S., Middle Tennessee State University
Ed.D., Tennessee State University

Summer B. Vertrees, Assistant Professor of English
B.S., M.A., Tennessee Technological University

George L. Walker, Professor of Physical Education and Athletic Coaching
B.S., M.A., Ed.S., Tennessee Technological University
D.A., Middle Tennessee State University

Andrew W. Wiley, Assistant Professor of History
B.A., M.A., Indiana State University
Ph.D., University of Calgary (Dominion of Canada)