Lincoln Memorial University Administration

 

Dr. Clayton Hess became the 21st president of Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) on July 1, 2017. A long-time member of the LMU academic community, Dr. Hess received his undergraduate degree from LMU on a Saturday in the spring of 1981 and started working at his alma mater the following Monday.

Dr. Hess began his career at LMU as the assistant director of admissions, director of testing, and director of career planning and placement. Named the director of institutional advancement in 1996 and the director of institutional research, effectiveness, and accreditation in 1998, Dr. Hess coordinated LMU's strategic planning and institutional effectiveness processes for more than 10 years. Dr. Hess served as assistant vice president for academic affairs for planning and accreditation, monitoring compliance with accreditation/approval requirements of several state and federal agencies/associations and conducting ongoing efforts to assess the effectiveness of LMU's academic and administrative operations.

Dr. Hess has guided LMU's growth at all levels, chairing multiple committees responsible for the development of new academic programs and off-campus sites offering associate, baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degree programs. He was named vice president for academic affairs in 2010 and provost in 2015. Dr. Hess remains active in higher education outside LMU by serving on accreditation committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the American Bar Association (ABA). He serves on the Board of Directors for the Appalachian College Association (ACA) and has been a member of the Institutional Accreditation Review (IAC) Committee of the University Council of Jamaica since 2017. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Trustees for Columbia Southern University.

Nearly 40 years after Dr. Hess joined the LMU academic community as a student, he now leads an institution at the pinnacle of exceptional growth. With a mission of providing opportunities to underserved populations, LMU provides pathways to career opportunities. Building upon a liberal arts foundation, LMU has expanded to provide relevant academic offerings that address the economic and societal needs of a global community. Dr. Hess has played a part in LMU's unprecedented growth including the LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, LMU Duncan School of Law, Physician Assistant program, advanced nursing programs, the LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine, and the LMU-College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Hess's presidential agenda remains focused on program development and physical plant growth as LMU looks to the future and continues to raise the bar for its students.

Dr. Hess earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and two master's degrees from LMU (one in counseling and the other in curriculum and instruction) and a Ph.D. in human services counseling from Walden University. He has four grown children and six grandchildren. He resides in LaFollette, Tennessee.

DEAN
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Dr. Stacy Anderson serves as Dean of the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine. She joined the founding faculty at the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Since joining LMU-CVM, Anderson has invested fully in developing a curriculum to produce confident, competent, day-one-ready graduates.

Dr. Anderson graduated from Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine with honors in 2004. She completed two equine/large animal internships, one at a private practice near Chicago, Illinois (Kendall Road Equine Hospital) and the other at the University of Tennessee. She completed an extensive animal surgical residency and Master of Veterinary Science at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Following her residency, Anderson remained at WCVM to complete a Ph.D. where she investigated equine neutrophil lifespan in equine inflammatory conditions. While at WCVM, Anderson won numerous awards for her research efforts as a graduate student, including the Western College of Veterinary Medicine Equine Health Research Fund Graduate Student Award (2011 and 2014) and the Vétquinol Graduate Student Award for Research in Anaesthesia (2013).

Dr. Anderson has a passion for teaching, which ultimately drew her to LMU-CVM, where the student-centered education model closely aligned with her previous experiences. In 2016, she was promoted to Director of Large Animal Clinical Skills at LMU-CVM, where she contributed to developing a successful clinical skills program that has attracted many visitors from other veterinary colleges to learn about the program. Anderson was recognized for her teaching efforts in the spring of 2019 when she won the Class of 2020 (third-year class) Teacher of the Year award and the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. In August of 2019, Anderson was named interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; and in March of 2020, the position was made permanent.

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
ACADEMIC AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Mr. Blaze Bowers joined LMU in September 2021. As Assistant Vice President for Academic and Student Support Services, Mr. Bowers oversees the Student Services, Academic Support, Mental Health Counseling, Title IX, and Institutional Compliance divisions. Through Student Services and Academic Support, Mr. Bowers oversees the following offices: the Dean of Students, the Associate Dean of Students, Orientation and Transition Programs, Career Services, Leadership and Outreach, Student Diversity and Belonging, Student Activities and Engagement, Accessible Education Services, Residential Housing, the Cornerstone Program, and the Student Support Services program. Mr. Bowers also serves as an Adjunct Instructor of Criminal Justice in Lincoln Memorial's School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Mr. Bowers came to LMU from Wood, Smith, Henning, & Berman LLP of Tampa, Florida, and Stetson University College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree as a Raphael Steinhardt Awardee. Mr. Bowers earned his B.S. in Secondary Social Studies Education from Grace College of Winona Lake, Indiana in 2018. At Stetson, Mr. Bowers served as the Teaching Fellow for the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy, serving as a teaching assistant for Tort Law and Higher Education Law & Policy under Professor Peter Lake. Mr. Bowers also represented veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs as an Advanced Certified Legal Intern at the Veterans Law Institute and served as Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant to Professor Luz Nagle, focusing on the areas of International Law and Human Rights. Mr. Bowers now focuses his research on the disciplines of higher education law and policy, student affairs, administrative law, and constitutional law—publishing with the Florida Bar's Education Law Committee, speaking at the Annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education, and being quoted by national publications on issues of Title IX and religious exemption law. Mr. Bowers now serves as Chair of the Alumni Advisory Committee for the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy.

Mr. Bowers was born in West Virginia and grew up in the Ohio Valley—spending his entire pre-collegiate life in North Central and North Appalachia. His deep roots and personal ties to the Appalachian region have made Tennessee a natural second home. Mr. Bowers is the proud uncle of his twin nieces, Ariel and Tori, and is closely connected to his loving and supportive family in Florida. Mr. Bowers enjoys running, writing, and exploring the Knoxville area.

GENERAL COUNSEL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

Ryan Brown, General Counsel for Lincoln Memorial University (LMU), joined the President's Office in August 2020. The Office of General Counsel is responsible for coordinating and managing all legal issues affecting the University. The Office advises the President and the University's academic and administrative units regarding various topics, including contracts, regulatory compliance, employment law, intellectual property, and student conduct and governance.

Before joining LMU, Mr. Brown worked for a public university and private practice. Mr. Brown acquired his Juris Doctorate from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Decision Sciences from Louisiana State University.

Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mr. Brown lives in Knoxville, TN.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
FOR ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Jody M. Goins joined Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) in 2015 after serving in multiple leadership roles in K-12 public education. He was named Vice President in October 2017 and Executive Vice President in January 2021. Prior to his executive vice president appointment, Dr. Goins served in several roles including vice president and dean for enrollment and student affairs, assistant vice president for academic support, special assistant for academic affairs, and instructor of education.

In his role as executive vice president for administration, Dr. Goins oversees LMU’s Enrollment (institution-wide), Student Affairs (Title IX, Career Services, Accessible Education, Mental Health Counseling, Inclusion & Diversity, Student Activities, FYE, Community Service), Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum, Residential Housing, and Conduct divisions. He also directs the University’s NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic department and the University's on-campus K-12 preparatory academy, J. Frank White Academy.

Dr. Goins’ prior experience includes ten years of serving in leadership roles in public education in the Oak Ridge, Knox County, and Claiborne County school systems. His career in education began in 2004 at Oak Ridge High School, where he was a world geography educator and an assistant boys’ basketball coach. In 2006, Dr. Goins was named associate head boys’ basketball coach, assistant athletic director, and social studies teacher at Oak Ridge High School. A year later, he served as Oak Ridge High School’s interim vice principal, associate head boys’ basketball coach, and assistant athletic director. From 2009 to 2015, he served as principal at Oak Ridge High School (2009-2013), Knox Central High School (2014), and Claiborne High School (2015).

Dr. Goins holds a Doctor of Education degree in executive leadership, earned at LMU. He also earned from LMU a bachelor of arts in history, a master of education in educational administration and supervision, and an educational specialist degree in educational administration and supervision. Dr. Goins also holds a master of public administration degree earned at LMU. As an undergraduate at LMU, he played basketball and was LMU Student Athlete of the Year (B. Frank "Tex" Turner Award) and Student Humanitarian of the Year (Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award).

Dr. Goins is a member of the President’s Executive Council and Cabinet. He also serves on the Board of Directors for LMU’s Arts in the Gap program, East Tennessee PBS, and for the Museum of Appalachia. In 2010, Dr. Goins was named one of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Dr. Goins resides in Speedwell, Tennessee, with his wife Ashley, and children, Jace, Jaxton, Linkyn, and Juda.

DEAN
DEBUSK COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE

Dr. Christopher J. Loyke is the Dean and Chief Academic officer at Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM).

Dr. Loyke was previously the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at LMU-DCOM where he was responsible for the clinical training of medical students, preceptor development and management of clinical training sites.

Dr. Loyke received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his residency at Brentwood Hospital, and is Board Certified in General Practice by the American Osteopathic Board of General Practice. Dr. Loyke currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve Medical Corps. He has deployed to multiple environments both foreign and domestic to provide care to soldiers as well as local populations. Dr. Loyke has served as Chief Medical Officer, Director of Medical Education, and Staff Physician at the University Hospitals Parma Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio where he has practiced Family Medicine for over 25 years. Dr. Loyke is a member of various professional and scholarly organizations including the American Osteopathic Association, and has presented at regional CME events. His honors and awards include LMUDCOM’s Ray Stowers Award, OUHCOM’s outstanding alumnus and outstanding family preceptor awards. Dr. Loyke was also named one of Cleveland’s “Best Doctors” as ranked by his peers for five consecutive years.

VICE PRESIDENT AND DEAN
DUNCAN SCHOOL OF LAW

Matthew R. Lyon became the Vice President and Dean of the Duncan School of Law (“LMU Law”) in July 2020. Prior to that, Lyon served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at LMU Law for five years. In that role, Lyon oversaw LMU Law’s program of legal education and coordinated its successful efforts to obtain full approval from the American Bar Association.

Lyon earned a B.A. from the College of William and Mary, an M.P.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and his J.D. cum laude from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. After law school, Lyon worked as a commercial litigation associate at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, then moved to East Tennessee to take a position as the senior law clerk for Justice Gary R. Wade of the Tennessee Supreme Court. He began teaching at LMU Law when the school first opened in fall 2009, serving as an adjunct professor for two years before joining the full-time faculty in 2011.

Lyon’s areas of teaching include Civil Procedure, Contracts and Sales, Business Organizations, Payment Systems, and, most recently, the law school’s Externship course. His scholarship has been published in numerous law reviews, but he also believes strongly in writing and presenting on issues of interest to the state and local bar. Lyon was Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Business Law Section from 2017-19 and a member of the TBA’s Leadership Law Class of 2017. He is also a member of the Publications Committee of the Knoxville Bar Association and coordinates the feature article in KBA’s monthly publication, DICTA. The KBA recognized Lyon’s contributions by awarding him its prestigious DICTA Award in 2017. Lyon is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Knoxville Bar Foundation.

Lyon, his wife, Angie, and their two children and two dogs live in Knoxville’s Sequoyah Hills neighborhood. Lyon and his family are very active in their church, First Baptist Church of Knoxville, where he serves as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher.

Executive Vice President for academic affairs

Dr. Jay Stubblefield serves as Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lincoln Memorial University. He returned to LMU July 1, 2022, after having first served in the Vice President for Academic Affairs position from 2019 until 2021. He leads the Academic Affairs division of the University and serves on the President’s Cabinet and Executive Council. 

Stubblefield brings with him nearly three decades of academic experience, having served as a faculty member and in roles of increasing administrative responsibility—most recently as Chief Academic Officer at South College in Knoxville, TN. Prior to his first tenure at LMU, Stubblefield served South University in Savannah, GA, as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) for three years, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs from 2012 to 2016. Prior to joining South University, he served for 12 years first as a faculty member and ultimately as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at North Carolina Wesleyan College (now University) in Rocky Mount, NC. He had previously taught for two years on the faculty at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, TX. In addition to several journal articles and professional presentations, Stubblefield co-authored a book entitled A Critical Companion to Jonathan Swift: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work.

In addition to his academic proficiencies, Stubblefield brings extensive experience with accreditation activities including reaffirmation and substantive change efforts, committee work, and presentations with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). He has also demonstrated expertise and success in programmatic accreditation and state licensing.  

Stubblefield holds a Ph.D. and MA in English from the University of Kentucky and a BA in English from North Carolina State University. Originally from Central Virginia, Stubblefield and his wife, Teresa, have two children, Marshall and Lilly.

 

VICE PRESIDENT
UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Ms. Cynthia L. Whitt, Vice President for University Advancement, began her career at LMU in 1987. She is a veteran member of the President's Cabinet, having served in her current role since 1991. As vice president for university advancement, Ms. Whitt is responsible for the efficient, equitable, and effective management of the University's fundraising, marketing, and public relations endeavors. Before being named vice president, she served as director of public relations and alumni services.

Under Ms. Whitt's leadership, the University has conducted three successful capital campaigns and was selected to receive the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) award in 2015 for the most improved fundraising. Since 1991 LMU has received more than $91.2 million in fundraising revenue through the teamwork of LMU presidents, trustees, alumni, friends, and faculty and staff. Working with alumnus and trustee Dr. Charles Holland, founder and chief executive officer of QualPro Inc. (Knoxville, TN), Ms. Whitt and Dr. Frank Woodward led the division to incorporate a new concept in fundraising using Multivariable Testing (MVT). The success and findings of the MVT testing have been published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy and presented at numerous symposia.

Ms. Whitt is an alumna of Lincoln Memorial University, earning the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (1977) and the Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision (1993). In addition, she has studied at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. (Foreign Study League); Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, Pineville, Ky. (pastoral counseling); Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.; and Southern Seminary, Louisville, Ky.

Ms. Whitt is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA). She is active in several civic and religious organizations and activities, including the Harrogate Garden Club and The Creek Church in London, Ky. She is the advisor and co-founder of the LMU Women of Service organization and, in August 2017, was recognized by having the Woman of Service annual award named in her honor. She is a past co-coordinator for the Remote Area Medical Clinic held at LMU. Ms. Whitt has served as a vocalist for the Washington, D.C. Lincoln Commemorative Birthday Celebration on February 12. She is a former Red Cross Disaster Relief volunteer, former chair of the Wilderness Road Girl Scout Fundraising Council, and former Middlesboro Salvation Army board member. She was inducted into the LMU Professional Hall of Fame in 2009.

DEAN
CARTER AND MOYERS SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Dr. Teresa Bicknell first joined the LMU faculty in 2002 as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Graduate Education. In 2003, she began her full-time employment with LMU as an Assistant Professor and later attained the rank of Associate Professor. She has worked in several positions at LMU, including Program Director for the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Program, Department Chair of the Undergraduate Department of Education, Assistant Dean from 2007 through 2008, and Associate Dean for the School of Education from 2009 until July 2021. She also served as Interim Dean for the School of Education for the past two academic years. She has recently been appointed as the Dean of the Carter & Moyers School of Education.

As Dean of the Carter and Moyers School of Education, Dr. Bicknell is the administrative head of the school and is responsible for the growth and development of school programs, positive leadership of faculty, and effective operations of all aspects within the school. The School Dean coordinates the work of the school, interprets such work to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and to the university at large, and interprets the plans and decisions of administration to school and university faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Bicknell completed her Bachelor of Science of Education at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, her Master of Arts degree and Educational Specialist degree in Education at Tennessee Technological University, and her Doctor of Education degree at Tennessee State University in Nashville. She has served as a consultant for schools of education that are seeking national accreditation, presented at numerous conferences nationwide, and works on community and state service committees.

Dr. Bicknell lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband, Steve, where they enjoy their church activities, visiting the mountains, and spending time boating on the beautiful area lakes. She also enjoys spending time with her two daughters, their husbands, and her several grandchildren.

DEAN
CAYLOR SCHOOL OF NURSING

Dr. Tammy Dean earned her BSN degree in June 1982 her MSN in December 1987. During her graduate education, she chose a dual specialty path of Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nursing Education. In July 2013, she completed a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) program with the focus of an Advanced Practice Nurse Administrator. A total of 570 clinical hours were completed for the DNP with the majority of these hours completed with various health-related administrators.

Dr. Dean began her nursing education career with Lincoln Memorial University in August 1988 as a nursing instructor. Beginning August 2005, she became the ASN Program Director and then in 2008 was named Chair of the ASN Program. Commencing in August 2014, she became the CSON Assistant Dean of Academics. In 2018, she was named Associate Dean for the CSON, and in December 2020 she assumed the role of Dean of the CSON. During her tenure at LMU, she was promoted to Assistant Professor and then to Associate Professor. In December 2020, she was promoted to the Vianna Hillman Caylor Distinguished Professor in Nursing.

In addition to serving as Dean of the CSON, Dr. Dean serves the University through the Dean’s Committee, the LMU COVID-19 Taskforce, the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, and Academic Council. She is a member of the Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives, the National League of Nursing, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Theta Tau. She was inducted into the LMU Professional Hall of Fame in October 2021.

Dr. Dean enjoys spending time with her spouse and daughter. And in February 2021, she was blessed with a precious granddaughter

DEAN
INTERIM DEAN, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

 

Dr. Kelsey Metz serves as Interim Dean of the School of Business at Lincoln Memorial University. She has previously served as Assistant Dean of the School of Business, Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program Director, Accreditation and Outcomes Assessment Coordinator, and Assistant Professor of Business. Dr. Metz holds a Ph.D. in Business with a concentration in Marketing from the University of the Cumberlands. She has also earned an MBA from Carson-Newman University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from LMU. Dr. Metz is passionate about the mission of LMU and strives to promote quality business programs that aid in the improvement and economic strengthening of the Appalachian region. Dr. Metz resides in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband and two children.

DEAN
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Dr. Ryan Overton, Ph.D., P.E. was named the Dean of Engineering on September 1, 2021. As the founding Dean for the School of Engineering, Overton will begin by establishing the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program on the main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee.

Prior to his current position, Overton spent several years at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. He joined Trine as an Assistant Professor in the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializing in transportation engineering. Overton passionately supported the students serving as an academic advisor and advocate for numerous student organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Chi Epsilon (civil engineering honor society), and Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society). Overton progressed to Chair of the department and experienced record enrollment under his leadership. Overton’s most recent position at Trine was Dean of the Allen School of Engineering and Computing, in which he led the successful ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation for seven engineering programs.

Overton, a native of Speedwell, Tennessee, earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Tennessee— Knoxville. Although most of his experience has been in higher education, he is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Indiana. During his undergraduate and graduate studies, Overton interned and worked part-time at Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers in Middlesboro, Kentucky.

Overton resides on his family farm in Speedwell with his wife Ashley and children, Annie and Andrew. In addition to engineering and attending LMU sporting events, he enjoys Angus cattle, tractors, hiking, hunting, going to the lake, and attending church.

 

DEAN
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCES

Dr. Adam Rollins joined Lincoln Memorial University in August 2008 and immediately engaged his philosophy of utilizing a student-centered approach to integrate his teaching, scholarship, and service in support of the University’s mission. Toward these means, he contributed to the delivery, redesign, and creation of courses, programs, and research opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the School of Mathematics and Sciences and the Institution as a whole. Although born in rural West Virginia, his scholarly pursuits have taken him to five continents and resulted in several publications, workshops, lectures, and grants. Dr. Rollins’ Appalachian heritage combined with his global perspective has made him well suited to interact and identify with LMU’s diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Rollins currently serves as the Dean for the School of Mathematics and Sciences and the Program Director for the Master of Science program’s Life Sciences Research Major.

Since joining LMU, Dr. Rollins has been deeply involved with the curricular assessment and data-driven improvement. He contributed to the restructuring of LMU’s Biology pre-med track which aligned the program with current standards ensuring that LMU’s students were (1) better prepared for the MCAT and (2) competitive applicants to professional and graduate programs. He led the modernization of the natural resources-related programs which resulted in the discontinuance of LMU’s Environmental Science and Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Programs. Strategically-selected and updated components of these two programs along with the creation of several new courses resulted in the establishment of LMU’s Conservation Biology Bachelor of Science Program with two tracks (a) Wildlife and Fisheries Management and (b) Conservation Biology Research.

Contributing to the development of graduate-level education programs has been an important goal for Dr. Rollins. As such, he contributed to the working group that established LMU’s Master of Science Program. This program offers four majors (1) Anatomical Sciences, (2) Biomedical Sciences, (3) Life Sciences Research, and (4) Veterinary Biomedical Science. Dr. Rollins is the Program Director for the MS Life Sciences Research Major within which he has served as the major professor for a student who successfully completed a traditional research-based thesis and was subsequently awarded a master's degree. Dr. Rollins served as a member of a working group to develop an Integrative Biosciences doctoral (Ph.D.) program.

Dr. Rollins has worked to increase the level of scholarship and integration not only in the School of Mathematics and Sciences but campus-wide and beyond. This is evidenced through his involvement as one of the founding members of LMU’s Honors Scholars Program. This program provides engaging academic experiences across all of LMU’s Schools through experiential and service-learning opportunities which ultimately enrich the LMU community. In addition to being one of the founding members, he has also served as the program’s Interim Director and Chair of the Honors Scholars Council — a group for which he currently serves as an ex-officio member.

Dr. Rollins has a passion for the scholarship of discovery and has worked to provide research opportunities for students and faculty. His own research has taken him to 11 countries across five continents and produced 18 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the primary literature, 4 book chapters, and over 40 abstracts from professional conferences. In addition to directing a successful master's student, he has mentored 22 undergraduate and 4 graduate research projects all of which resulted in presentations at either the college or professional levels. In recognition of his scholarly productivity, Dr. Rollins was named the inaugural chair holder of the Dr. Estle Pershing Muncy Endowed Chair in Biology in 2017.

Dr. Rollins has facilitated research opportunities and worked directly with LMU students across our region and internationally in Belize, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Thailand. Furthermore, he has hosted 15 visiting scientists ranging from graduate students to world authorities who delivered public lectures and interacted with students. These guests, which included four Fulbright Scholars, came from across the United States and other countries including Costa Rica, the Philippines, Russia, Tunisia, and Vietnam. A direct extension of Dr. Rollins’ scholarship led to the development of an official collaborative agreement, signed in 2017, between Lincoln Memorial University and the University of Costa Rica that provides both academic and research exchanges for students and faculty.

Dr. Rollins’ service beyond LMU has focused on the scholarship of teaching through facilitating and contributing to professional development and outreach events for K – 12 educators and students across LMU’s service region. In this capacity, he has worked with the Claiborne County STEM Vertical Integration Committee, LMU’s STEM Academy and Appalachian Summer Medical Institute, as well as the Step up to STEM Summer Institute (supported by the TN Higher Education Commission). Collectively, these and other events have utilized and strengthened institutional collaborations among LMU’s School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Arts Humanities & Social Sciences, the Carter and Moyers School of Education, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum. Within the institution, Dr. Rollins has actively contributed to several committees including LMU’s Academic Council, Committee on Scholarly Activities, General Education Committee, Institutional Effectiveness Committee, and the Institutional Review Board.

DEAN
PAUL V. HAMILTON SCHOOL OF ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Dr. Martin Sellers is Dean of the Paul V. Hamilton School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. He received a formal education, including a BA in Political Science and Public Administration, from the College of New Jersey, a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from New York University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Temple University in Philadelphia.

His career path led him to the United States Air Force and then to the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a program evaluator, inner-city health program director, and assistant bureau chief with the Department of Law and Public Safety with the State of New Jersey. He began a career in higher education as a faculty member and then Chair of the Department of Government, History and Justice at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. He was appointed Dean of the Undergraduate Studies at Lincoln Memorial University in 2002, then Vice President for Academic Affairs at the College of Saint Mary in 2006, moving to Cox College in Springfield, Missouri as VPAA and VP for Student Services until 2011. Dr. Sellers returned to LMU as Dean of Research and Service in the fall of 2011 and was then appointed Dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences in 2012.

Dr. Sellers is married to Tricia Sellers, and they have five children. His academic interests are in the areas of state and local government, special district government, public and private administration, and prison education. He is currently working on projects regarding collaboration in local government, the correlation between private and public finance, and prison education. His hobbies are playing guitar, writing Christian music, and long-distance running.

DEAN
SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Michael Stephens, DMS, PA-C, is the Dean for the School of Medical Sciences at Lincoln Memorial University. The School of Medical Sciences was established in 2019 and houses four programs. Medical Laboratory Science is an undergraduate program at LMU that offers both in-seat and online curriculums. The Doctor of Medical Science program was started in 2016 to offer doctoral-level clinical training to practicing physician assistants. This program offers a clinical-based curriculum taught by board-certified specialists and is offered in an online format. Within the School of Medical Sciences, there are also two Physician Assistant programs. One is located on the main campus in Harrogate focusing on primary care, and the other is located at the LMU campus in Knoxville and focuses on expanded surgical services.

Dr. Stephens received his undergraduate degree in biology from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. He received his Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies, as well as his Doctor of Medical Science, from LMU. Prior to joining the LMU faculty, Dr. Stephens worked in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in southeastern Kentucky. Until assuming the role of Dean, he maintained his clinical practice in family medicine at Covenant Claiborne Primary Care in New Tazewell, Tennessee. He continues to volunteer his time periodically at Servolution Health Services, a free medical clinic, where he maintains a position on the board of directors. He also maintains a position on the board of directors for the Academy of Doctoral Physician Assistants (ADPA). Special areas of interest include access to health care, uninsured patients, and pediatrics.

Dr. Stephens, a native of southeastern Kentucky, and Harrogate Tennessee resident since 1986, currently resides in Speedwell, Tennessee, with his wife and two daughters. “Growing up in Harrogate,” he says, “LMU has always been a big part of my life. My wife and my daughter are LMU grads. I consider it an honor to give back to my community and this institution, by serving in this capacity.” In addition to his work at LMU, he enjoys the natural beauty of the tri-state area, both the mountains and the lakes.

DEAN
COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE

Dr. Denise Terese-Koch, B.S., DDS, FAGD, MBA, EdD became the Dean of the Lincoln Memorial University—College of Dental Medicine (LMU-CDM) in August 2020. Prior to her position as Dean at LMU-CDM, she was the Chair of Dental Education at South College in Nashville, Tennessee, where she developed and implemented three dental programs. As a comprehensive general dentist since 1992, she has a vast knowledge of general dentistry, dental education, program development, and implementation. She believes the oral cavity is the intersection between medicine and dentistry and is a window into the patient’s general health.

After being accepted into a 2+4 program at Loyola University School of Dentistry, Dr. Terese-Koch received her undergraduate degree in biology from Saint Xavier University in Chicago; Dr. Terese-Koch earned her DDS in 1992 from Loyola University of Chicago School of Dentistry. She completed a general practice residency program at Loyola Medical Center and earned a Certificate in Hospital Dentistry in 1993. Dr. Terese-Koch spent the next 21 years practicing comprehensive general dentistry in the western suburbs of Chicago. In 2014, she entered academia as an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry at the University of Tennessee and was the Director of the Faculty Practice. In 2017, she joined the Tomah VA Medical Center to develop and direct the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program (AEGD). In 2017, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and developed a Dental Assisting program, Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program, Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program, and directed the AEGD program for South College, where she was a Professor and Chair of the Department of Dental Education. Dr. Terese-Koch holds a license to practice dentistry in Tennessee. Dr. Terese-Koch received her MBA from Belhaven University in 2018. In 2021, Dr. Terese-Koch earned her EdD from Liberty University. She serves as a Site Visitor for the Commission on Dental Accreditation and is a licensure examiner for the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments. In 2023, Dr. Terese-Koch was awarded the Pierre Fauchard Academy Fellowship.

As Dean, Dr. Terese-Koch is responsible for developing and implementing the Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry program for LMU, developing graduate dental education, research, and community outreach. Dr. Terese-Koch is married to her wonderful husband, Loren, a retired businessman from Chicago, and they share three beautiful children, Dennis, Lori, and Jeni.