UACT is an introductory course that is required for all first-year students. It is a seminar-style class that covers topics relevant to college life such as study skills, money management, critical thinking, and diversity. This class is meant to be a landing base for students and allows them to connect with a Lincoln Ambassador, a faculty or staff instructor, and other first-year students as they navigate their first semester of college. UACT instructors are faculty or staff members who can serve as resources for new students as well as help direct class sessions with the help of their Lincoln Ambassador.
AARON THOMAS
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Sarah long
Aaron serves as a Special Assistant to the President and an Instructor of History. He has been at LMU for 2 years. His favorite things about LMU are the students, the mountains, and that Abe always has his ax handy. He enjoys watching and playing sports, hiking, cooking, and coffee. When he is not working, he spends time with his partner, Katie, and their three cats, Abbey, Ella, and Boone. He also goes on adventures with his three dogs, Dak, Monty, and Penny.
ALEXANDER PARKS
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Haley White
Alexander serves as an Assistant Professor and the Chair of Undergraduate Initial Teacher Licensure. He has been at LMU for six and a half years. His favorite thing about LMU is the amazing students. He enjoys books, music, and Dolly Parton memorabilia. When he is not working, he advocates for human rights, watches movies, and pampers his kitty.
ROchelle black
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH abigail dawson
Coach Black serves as an Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, and the Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Designee.
ASHER FLYNN
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Gabriel Croom
Asher serves as an Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Science. He is starting his 4th year at LMU. His favorite thing about LMU is the small class sizes that allow him to get to know the students well. He enjoys sports, soccer first and foremost. He also enjoys hiking where he hopes to see wildlife. When he is not working, he is watching LMU sports, soccer on TV, or hiking in the Cumberland Gap.
ASHLEY WILSON
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Ellen Paul
Ashley serves as a Tutorial Coordinator for Student Support Services. She has been at LMU for 10 years. Her favorite things about LMU are the beautiful campus and the students. She enjoys spending lots of time at church, reading, and fishing. When she is not working, she likes spending time with friends and family.
BARBARA SHOCK
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Kelsey connell
Barbara serves as an Assistant Professor Biology and Conservation Biology. She has been at LMU for 6 years. Her favorite things about LMU are the quiet pace and friendly attitudes. She enjoys being in and learning about the natural world and conducting research in the field of infectious disease. She also enjoys reading, writing, and arithmetic - she enjoys thinking about and being in nature. When she is not working, she loves to travel.
CHESSICA CAVE
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Emma Talley
Chessica serves as an Associate Professor of Undergraduate Education. She has been at LMU for 7 years. Her favorite things about LMU are the small class sizes and faculty, staff, and students. She enjoys sitting up late and watching “Golden Girls” as well as hiking and cooking. When she is not working, she lives on a farm in VA with her husband, two boys, and three dogs; in her spare time, she loves gardening, walking, and canning.
laroy brandt
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH William Gross
Laroy serves as an Associate Professor of Conservation Biology.
DANIELLE WALTERS
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH bonnie brotherton
Danielle serves as the Director of International Progams. She has been at LMU for 2 years. Her favorite things about LMU are the beautiful mountain setting and the opportunity to make international travel and study abroad experiences available to students who may have never traveled before. She enjoys playing the guitar, singing, learning languages, and traveling. When she is not working, she writes songs, cooks food with friends, and hangs out with her gorgeous calico cat, Wynonna!
ELISE SYOEN
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH sydney wolfenbarger
Elise serves as the Dean of Students. She will be starting her 9th year at LMU. Her favorite thing about LMU is working with amazing students and getting to welcome new students each year. She enjoys collecting pineapples because they symbolize hospitality; she loves all things Disney and baking. When she is not working, she spends time with her partner Steve, baby girl, Darby, and two pups, Minnie and Pickles.
blaze Bowers
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH spencer baldwin
Blaze serves as the Assistant Vice President for Academic and Student Support Services. He will be celebrating 1 year at LMU in September. His favorite thing about LMU is connecting with students in the classroom and across campus. He enjoys running trails around the tri-state area; he loves all things Star Wars and law. When he is not working, Blaze spends time writing and exploring new restaurants in Knoxville.
GREG LASLEY
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH caleb Brock
Greg serves as the Advisor for Student Support Services. He has been at LMU for 31 years. His favorite things about LMU are the beautiful campus and the family atmosphere between faculty, staff, and students. He enjoys reading golf books, collecting old golf clubs, and spending time with family. When he is not working, he loves to golf.
HANNAH WILSON
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH cody lane
Hannah serves as the Associate Dean of Students. She will be starting her 8th year at LMU. Her favorite thing about LMU is the community atmosphere. She loves animals, cooking, and summertime. When she is not working, she spends time with her family and dogs, Max & Smokey.
Tommy doles
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH keana moon
Tommy serves as an Assistant Athletic Director at LMU.
JASON FOWLER
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH keana way
Jason serves as an Associate Professor of Biochemistry. He has been at LMU for 10 years. His favorite thing about LMU is that no matter how bad his jokes are in lecture the students keep coming back! He enjoys hiking (over 1,500 miles a year!), strength training, video games, and card games; he is also a vegan and loves cooking and reading. When he is not working, he is probably hiking in the mountains or playing games with his friends.
JILL NEELEY
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Krista Meredith
Jill serves as an Academic Support Coordinator. She has been at LMU for 21 years. Her favorite thing about LMU is working with students and helping them attain the tools necessary to be successful in their college education. She enjoys vacationing with her family, cooking, and a good day at the spa! When she is not working, she likes to spend time with her husband, daughter, and their yorkie, named Ziggy. They love to travel or just spend the evening watching movies or having a game night at home.
JOE GILL
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH ethan hubbard
Joe serves as the Assistant Professor of Theater and Faculty Athletic Representative. He has been at LMU for 5 years. His favorite thing about LMU is the students. He enjoys watching theater, baseball, volleyball (…most sports!); he loves animation (Bugs Bunny and Disney) and art. When he is not working, he hikes with his dog Yankee, dines out, and travels the country.
KATHERINE PEBWORTH
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH kaitlyn wallace
Katherine serves as a Professor and Department Chair of Sport and Exercise Science. She has been at LMU since 2004. Her favorite thing about LMU is watching new freshmen come in, grow, change, and walk across the graduation stage. She enjoys watching sports, discovering her ancestors, and playing pickleball. When she is not working, she loves hanging out with friends, watching LMU sports and activities, and genealogy.
Dawson Delph
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Colin Wilson
Dawson serves at LMU's Director for Orientation & Transition Programs. He has been with the university since December 2021. His favorite things about LMU are the community and sense of belonging, the interactions he gets to have with students, and the university's impact on the region. He enjoys spending time with his partner Brooklyn, his family, and his friends when not working. He also enjoys listening to music, binge watching Netflix shows, and taking road trips.
KRISTY LEE
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH martez brown
Kristy serves as an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Field Coordinator. She has been at LMU for 4.5 years. Her favorite thing about LMU is working at her alma mater, and she loves the personal feel the students get from faculty and staff across campus. She enjoys spending time with her 3 sons and being involved in their activities; she also loves her pets, sewing, hiking, sports, and traveling. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Social Work Administration, so if she is not working, she is studying!
WHITNEY KISTLER
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Addi carson
Whitney serves as an Assistant Professor of Biology and Conservation Biology. He has been at LMU for 6 years. His favorite thing about LMU is the people. He enjoys hiking and birding. When he is not working, he likes to run.
Jason Hauser
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH mEGYN sPICER
Jason Hauser is a Special Assistant to the President and Instructor of History. He has been at the university for just a year, and his favorite things about LMU are the students, the mountains, and the university mission. He enjoys reading, spending time on Norris Lake, and hiking with his partner, Asha. When he’s at home, he enjoys listening to music and watching TV with Asha, his dog Zoe, and his cat Baggs.
LILA COMBS
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH victoria Yeoman
Lila serves as the Director of the Student Support Services Program. She will be starting her 36th year at LMU. Her favorite thing about LMU is teaching UACT 100 with energized students. She enjoys collecting license plates and has a couple thousand with every state represented. When she is not working, she likes taking care of her cows and donkeys, photography, and spending time with her fiancé and family.
MICHAEL GILES
TEACHING UACT 100 WITH Ailee Bargo
Michael serves as a Professor of Art, specializing in 2D art. He has been at LMU for 7 years. His favorite thing about LMU is the talented students and the closeness of the community. He is a big fan of Liverpool FC, the Buckeyes, and the Railsplitters! When he is not working, he is probably getting radical on his skateboard; he lives in Knoxville with his wife, son, and “far too many dumb animals.”