Faculty

Aaron G. Astor
Professor of History (2007)
B.A., Hamilton College
M.A., Ph.D., Northwestern University

Samantha Astor
Lecturer in Education (2022)
B.A., Albright College
M.Ed., Ph.D., University of Georgia

Jeffrey M. Bay
Professor of Mathematics (1997)
Chair, Division of Mathematics & Computer Science
B.A., DePauw University
M.A., University of Missouri
Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Karen S. Beale
Professor of Psychology (2006)
B.S., University of Virginia, College at Wise
M.A., East Tennessee State University
Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Di Bei
Assistant Professor of Writing Communications (2024)
B.S., Randolph College
M.F.A. Boise State University
M.F.A., The University of Mississippi

Sarah Bernstein
Assistant Professor of Art (2024)
B.F.A, Washington University
M.F.A., University of Tennessee

Jennifer R. Brigati
Professor of Biology (2006)
Chair, Division of Natural Sciences
B.S., Southampton College of Long Island University
Ph.D., Auburn University

Naji Bsisu
Assistant Professor of Political Science (2020)
B.S., University of Dayton
M.A., University of Chicago
M.A., University of Missouri
Ph.D., University of Georgia

Naiara Centeno
Assistant Professor of Spanish (2022)
B.A., University of Deusto
M.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ph.D., University of the Basque Country

Sarah Beth Clinton
Associate Professor of Finance (2018)
B.B.A., M.S., Texas A&M University
Ph.D. University of Georgia

Crystal Wright Colter
Professor of Psychology (2000)
Chair, Division of Behavioral Sciences
B.A., University of Richmond
M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara

David Andrew Crain
Professor of Biology (1998)
B.S., Clemson University
M.S., Ph.D., University of Florida

Doug Davis 
Lecturer in Chemistry  (2021)
B.S., Milligan College
M.S., East Tennessee State University

Angela DeLozier
Senior Lecturer in Statistics (2014)
B.A., Maryville College
M.M., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Nathan Duncan
Associate Professor of Chemistry (2012)
B.S., Ph.D., Baylor University
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Leire Echevarria-Canal
Assistant Professor of Spanish (2022)
B.A., University of Deusto
M.A., University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph.D., University of Florida

Cynthia Crompton Gardner
Professor of Education (2018)
Chair, Division of Education
B.A., M.A., Ed.D., University of South Carolina

Angelia Douglass Gibson
Professor of Chemistry (2005)
B.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Aqualus Gordon
Associate Professor of Psychology (2022)
B.A., Wabash College
M.A.,  Ph.D., The University of Texas

Savanna Gregory
Visiting Lecturer in Health and Wellness Promotion (2024)
B.S., Maryville College

Andrew Gunnoe
Associate Professor of Sociology (2015)
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Michael Barron Hall
Visiting Lecturer of Art (2022)
B.A., Hanover College
M.Div., Christian Theological Seminary
M.A., University of Louisville
M.F.A., Indiana State University

Traci L. Haydu
Professor of Exercise Science (2004)
Chair, Division of Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies
B.S., Eastern Michigan University
M.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Shannon Heath
Lecturer in English (2022)
B.A., Concord University
M.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Raymond Scott Henson
Professor of Political Science (2006)
B.A., Gardner-Webb University
M.F.A., Queens University
M.B.A., The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Harvard University
M.A., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

Sara Howe
Visiting Lecturer of Management (2024)
B.S., Rasmussen College
M.B.A., Benedictine University
Ph.D., Bellevue University
D.B.A, Liberty University

Andrew B. Irvine
Professor of Philosophy (2007)
B.A., University of Sydney
M.T.S., S.T.M., Ph.D., Boston University

Barbara C. Johnson
Associate Professor of Computer Science (2021)
B.A., Viterbo University
M.S., University of Kentucky
Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Jeff Kelly
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience (2024)
B.A., University of Montana
M.P., Liverpool John Moores University
Ph.D., University of Tennessee

L. Gabie Kerr
Assistant Professor of Management (2018)
B.A. Huntingdon College
M.A. Bowie State University
Ph.D. Northcentral University

Daniel E. Klingensmith
Professor of History (1998)
A.B., Harvard University
M.A., Ph.D., University of Chicago

Julie Konkel
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science (2023)
B.A., M.S., University of South Florida
Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Nancy L. Locklin-Sofer
Professor of History (2000)
B.A., Hartwick College
M.A., University of Wisconsin
Ph.D., Emory University

Alicia R. Massie-Legg
Senior Lecturer in Music (2015)
B.M., Radford University
M.M., M.M., Ohio University
Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Sheri L. Matascik
Professor of Music (1995)
B.M., M.M., Youngstown State University
Ph.D., Kent State University

Sharon Lee May
Professor of Economics (2006)
Chair, Division of Social Sciences
B.A., Wilson College
M.A., Maxwell School, Syracuse University
M.A., Ph.D., Ohio State University

Sarah McDowell
Assistant Professor of Education (2024)
B.A., University of Missouri
M.A., East Central University
Ph.D., Oklahoma State University

Heather Marie McMahon
Assistant Dean for Academic Success
Professor of Theatre (2003)
B.A., Belmont University
M.S., Illinois State University
Ph.D., Indiana University

William J. Meyer
Professor of Philosophy & Religion (1997)
Ralph W. Beeson Professor in Religion
B.A., Northwestern University
B.D., University of Edinburgh M.A.
Ph.D., University of Chicago

Roger W. Myers
Associate Professor, Research and Instruction Librarian (1994)
B.S., M.S.L.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Mark J. O’Gorman
Professor of Political Science (1997)
B.A., St. Lawrence University
M.A., Ph.D., Syracuse University

Jennifer I. Oody
Associate Professor of Exercise Science (2016)
B.S., Saginaw Valley State University
M.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Alesia Hicks Orren
Professor of Elementary Education (2000)
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute/State University
M.Ed., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Ph.D., University of Virginia

Samuel A. Overstreet
Professor of English (1990)
Chair, Division of Languages & Literature
Ralph S. Collins Professor in the Humanities
B.A., Yale University
Ph.D., Cornell University

Chathuri Perera
Assistant Professor of Mathematics (2023)
B.S., University of Sri Jayewardenepura
M.S., Ph.D., Texas Tech University

William M. Phillips
Professor of English (2001)
B.A., University of the South
M.A., Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Rachel Ponder
Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice (2022)
B.A., University of South Florida
M.C.J., Boston University
Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Stephanie Proctor
Assistant Professor of American Sign Language (2022)
B.A., California State University
M.S., McDaniel College

Angela Myatt Quick
Associate Professor (2003)
Director of the Library
B.A., Northwestern University
M.L.S., Simmons College

Daniel J. Ross
Associate Professor of Mathematics (2010)
B.S., Martin Luther College
M.S.T., Ph.D., University of Missouri

Ariane Schratter
Professor of Psychology (2000)
B.A., California State University, Sonoma
M.A., California State University, Sacramento
Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Josef Chad Schrock
Professor of Psychology (2002)
B.A., Mississippi State University
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz

Adrienne Renee Schwarte
Professor of Art (2005)
Chair, Fine Arts Division
B.A., Buena Vista University
M.F.A., University of Minnesota

Angela Sebby
Associate Professor of Hospitality Management (2023)
B.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee
M.B.A., Lincoln Memorial University

Christina Seymour
Associate Professor of English (2014)
B.A., Pennsylvania State University
M.F.A., West Virginia University

Phillip Michael Sherman
Professor of Religion (2006)
Chair, Division of Humanities
B.A., Emory & Henry College Yale Divinity School
M.Div., Candler School of Theology, Emory University
Ph.D., Emory University

Kathie E. Shiba
Assistant Dean for Institutional Equity
Professor of Psychology (1994)
B.A., California State University
M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

R. Eric Simpson
Associate Professor of Music Education and Director of Bands (2015)
B.M., Stetson University
M.M., University of Cincinnati College, Conservatory of Music
Ph.D., Florida State University

Tess Ann Simpson
Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology (2024)
B.S., Tennessee Technological University
M.A., Ph.D., East Tennessee State University

Maria Siopsis
Professor of Mathematics (2002)
B.A., Drew University
Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Jesse Gerald Smith
Assistant Professor in Mathematics (2014)
B.A., Maryville College
Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Douglas Osher Sofer
Professor of History (2006)
B.A., Hartwick College
M.A., Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

Scott L. Steele
Assistant Professor of English Composition (2001)
B.A., Maryville College
M.Ed., University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Katie Stephenson
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science (2024)
B.S., Missouri Southern State University
M.S., Ph.D., University of Arkansas

Rayanne Streeter
Assistant Professor of Sociology (2019)
B.A., Pacific Lutheran University
M.S., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Jerilyn M. Swann
Associate Academic Dean
Director of Institutional Research
Professor of Biology (1999)
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

William E. Swann
Professor of Music (2000)
B.M., M.M., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
D.A., University of Mississippi

Jannis F. Taylor
Senior Lecturer in English (2011)
B.S., Excelsior College
M.A., Appalachian State University
M.F.A., Goddard College

Rebecca Broady Treadway
Associate Professor of Accounting (2006)
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.B.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Certification in Internal Auditing Certification in Public Accounting, TN

Mary Ellen Turner
Professor of Chemistry (2003)
B.S., Harding University
Ph.D., Rice University

MaryLeith Turner
Lecturer in English (2022)
B.A., M.A., University of West Georgia

David Edward Unger
Associate Professor of Biology (2012)
B.S., Eastern College
M.S., University of Wisconsin
Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Andy Vaught
Visiting Lecturer in Theatre (2022)
B.A., Kenyon College
M.F.A., University of New Orleans

William Edward White Jr.

Associate Professor of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies (2018)
B.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S., University of North Florida

Stacey Murphy Wilner
Senior Lecturer in Music (2015)
B.M., Concord College
M.M., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tracy Wulf
Lecturer in Education (2021)
B.S., M.A., Shippensburg University

Shiyuan Xu
Assistant Professor of Physics (2023)
B.S., Changchun Normal University
M.S., Florida Institute of Technology
Ph.D., Oklahoma State University