Dr. Scott Mashburn, dean of students at Tusculum College, installs the Student Government Association officers for the 2003-04 academic year: from left, President Josh French, Vice President B.J. Roberts, and Secretary-Treasurer Josh Helms. (Tusculum College photo)

Tusculum College Opening Convocation marks start of 210th academic year; new faculty introduced

Tusculum College marked the beginning of its 210th academic year Thursday with its annual opening convocation.

Introductions of 13 new full-time faculty members were made during the convocation as well as the installation of the 2003-04 officers of the Student Government Association.

Classes for the 2003-04 academic year began Monday at the state's oldest college, and students were urged to make a difference in the college community as well as in the society at large by Tusculum President Dolphus E. Henry.

Tusculum students will continue the college's substantial tradition of service to the community with a number of projects this year, Dr. Henry said. He noted such projects as conducting a special census for the city of Tusculum, helping create an African-American historical exhibit, tutoring adults in a literacy program, working with clients at Greene Valley Developmental Center as they learn to express themselves through art, and partnering with elementary school students to create a history of their community.

Conducting service projects is one of the planned activities of the Student Government Association for the next year, said SGA President Josh French as he encouraged students to become involved in the organization. The SGA officers are French, who is from Wise, Va., Vice President B.J. Roberts of Greeneville, and Secretary/Treasurer Josh Helms of Snellville, Ga.

Frank Williams, Tusculum's new vice president and chief financial officer, was also introduced during the convocation. Williams, who is responsible for the financial and budgetary oversight of the college, began his duties last week. He comes to Tusculum from Hanover College in Indiana where he had been Vice President for Business Affairs since 1992.

Prior to introducing the new faculty, Provost and Academic Vice President Dr. Jonathan Franz encouraged students to seek the guidance and knowledge that all their instructors are ready to give.

New Faculty Members

Eight of the new faculty members are teaching in the Residential College, Tusculum's traditional student program: Aubrey Lee, Tom McFarland, Brian Pope, Joy Ross, Viki Rouse, Robin Tipton, Bonnie Winfield, and Sean Wright. Five join the faculty of the Graduate and Professional Studies program, designed for working adults: Tim Carter, Grantham Couch, George Darko, Olu Ijose, and John Minton.

Tim Carter is returning to his alma mater as an assistant professor of management. Carter, whose business experience includes serving as load coordinator at Landair Transport in Greeneville, earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Tusculum.

Grantham Couch, professor of business, comes to Tusculum from Mary Baldwin College. Couch earned his doctorate in business administration from Florida State University. He earned his master's of business administration degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his undergraduate studies at Washington & Lee University.

George Darko joins the Tusculum faculty as assistant professor of economics. Previously an instructor at Mid-Continent College in Kentucky, Darko earned his Doctorate of Arts in economics from Middle Tennessee State University, and also received his master's degree from that school. He completed his undergraduate studies at Arkansas State University.

Olu Ijose, associate professor of management, brings his experience from the business world to the classroom, previously serving as a trainer/consultant at a California company. Ijose earned both his doctorate and master's degrees in management studies from Ohio State University. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Aubrey Lee is a Tusculum alumnus who has returned to the college to teach as an assistant professor of management. Lee earned his master's degree in organizational management from Tusculum. He joins the Tusculum faculty after previously serving as a human resource management consultant for Petra International. He earned a bachelor of science degree in journalism and English literature from East Tennessee State University.

Another new face among the faculty in the Department of Business Administration is Tom McFarland, associate professor of business administration. McFarland taught a variety of classes at Western Carolina University during the past academic year and served as department chairman of the Business Administration bachelor program at South University in Georgia for several years. He is president of Arrochar, Inc., development firm in North Carolina. He earned his doctorate in business administration at the University of Florida. He completed his master's degree and undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado.

John Minton comes to Tusculum as a professor of business after working with Havatar Associaties, Inc. in Boone, N.C. Minton earned a doctorate in business administration from Duke University. He completed two master's degrees in business studies at Memphis State University, and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

Brian Pope, assistant professor of psychology, has a variety of experiences in higher education. Pope comes to Tusculum from Andrew College in Georgia, where he served as an instructional design specialist, division coordinator for Social Sciences, director of testing, and assistant professor of psychology. He earned his doctorate in biopsychology from the University of Georgia. He completed his master's degree studies at the College of William & Mary, and his undergraduate studies at DePauw University.

Moving literally across the country to take a position at Tusculum is Joy Ross, assistant professor of English. She was previously the senior lecturer in The Writing Program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Ross earned her doctorate in contemporary continental philosophy at Pennsylvania State University. She earned a master of fine arts at the University of Arizona and a master of arts at Hollins University. She earned a bachelor of arts degree at Brigham Young University.

Also joining the English faculty is Viki Rouse, previously a graduate teaching associate in the English Department at the University of Tennessee. Rouse, assistant professor of English, earned her bachelor's and master's of art degrees in English at UT.

Returning to her alma mater to teach is Robin Tipton, assistant professor of chemistry. Previously an environmental educator at the Cedar Creek Learning Center in Greene County, Tipton completed her undergraduate work at Tusculum and earned a master of science degree in chemistry from Western Carolina University.

Bonnie Winfield is a new instructor this fall in the Division of Social Sciences. Winfield, assistant professor of sociology, comes to Tusculum after teaching at Binghampton University in New York state. She earned her doctorate in interdisciplinary social science - women's and peace studies from Syracuse University. She earned her master's and bachelor's degrees from that university as well.

Sean Wright has both academic and athletic responsibilities on campus. Wright is assistant professor of athletic training and an assistant athletic trainer. He comes to Tusculum after serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the University of Illinois. Wright has earned a master of science degree in kinesiology from that university and completed his undergraduate work at Southwest Missouri State University.