Dr. Michelle Freeman
Assistant Professor of Business Administration Dr. Michelle Freeman was born in Georgia, but has lived in Greene County since the age of four. Today she and husband, Rodney, are raising their own children in Greene County, their home just a short distance from Tusculum College.
One member of the Tusculum College family who is particularly happy about that is Sharon Susong, who mans the "front desk" in the Admissions Department. Sharon is Michelle's mother. Michelle's father is Wayne Susong, a well-known local pharmacist/businessman.
Michelle's only break from Greene County residency was made up of a few years in the Knoxville/Maryville area when she attended the University of Tennessee and worked for two years as a CPA. After going through public schools in Greeneville (Eastview and Greeneville High) she did both her undergraduate and graduate studies at UTK, earning a four-year degree in Business Administration with an accounting emphasis, then a Master's Degree in accounting and a doctorate in education.
Michelle married Rodney Freeman in 1997. Rodney, today an administrative leader at the Greeneville location of Walters State Community College (where Michelle taught for five years prior to coming to Tusculum), was himself affiliated with Tusculum College for a time in the TRIO program. She and Rodney have three children: daughter McKinley, now about six months old; son Colby, age 4, and daughter Ainsley, 5.
Michelle has been a highly active educator at Tusculum College, serving now as Department Chair for Business Administration She is a winner or the Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award at Tusculum College. She was a presenter, with Tony Narkawicz, at the Appalachian College Association's last convention, discussing assessment for accounting students. She has held posts in Admissions and Standards, and in the community her work includes or has included the board of Keep Greene Beautiful and the board of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center
As a committed Christian, Michelle considers one of her most personally important activities to be teaching a Sunday School class for young married couples for the past nine years at First Baptist Church in Greeneville. Husband Rodney teaches with her.
Favorite Quote
A favorite quote comes from her graduate studies advisor at UT, Grady Bogue, who often said, "Your actions are guided by your beliefs."
Last Book Read
Michelle recently read the Book "Seven Principles of a Godly Woman."
She is also a fan of John Grisham and Mary Higgins Clark novels.
Favorite Movies
Her favorite movies are those derived from Marvel Comics characters such as "Spiderman," the western "Tombstone," and the Julia Roberts classic "Pretty Woman."
TV Shows
Michelle enjoys ensemble television stories with developing "mythologies" or "backstories" such as "Heroes" and "Lost," though she admits to growing frustration with the latter program because the plot is becoming so complex she fears the writers will never be able to find, much less connect, all the loose ends.