Search Committee

Bryant Cureton ‘60, Search Committee Chair
As President Emeritus of Elmhurst College, Dr. Bryant Cureton has long experience in academia as professor, academic vice president, provost, and president of a liberal arts college. Cureton has served on Maryville College’s Board of Directors since 2007, the same year he addressed the graduating class and received an honorary degree from the College. Cureton holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Maryville College, a master’s in international relations from American University and a Ph.D in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ellison Berryhill, Current Student
Representing the Class of 2012, Ellison Berryhill is a business major from Jefferson City, Tennessee. Prior to becoming a Scot, Berryhill attended Webb School of Knoxville.

Le’Sean Brannon, Current Student
Answering most easily to the nickname “Seanni,” Brannon is a member of the MC Class of 2011. In addition to her double majors of American Sign Language and Child Development, she is active in the Student Government Association, Global Citizenship Organization, Black Student Association and Voices of Praise. Brannon also serves as a peer mentor and as a residence assistant. Brannon is a native of Baltimore, Maryland.

Nancy Cain, Board of Directors
Nancy Cain has served on Maryville College’s Board of Directors since 2002. Retired from her position as managing editor and executive Vice President of the Maryville-Alcoa Newspapers, Inc. (the publishers of the Daily Times until 1989), she is active on numerous boards and with community organizations throughout Blount County and Georgia. Cain currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Clayton Center for the Arts as a designated representative for the City of Maryville. Cain holds a bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott College.

Carl Gombert, Associate Professor of Art
Gombert teaches painting, drawing, art history, world cultures and interdisciplinary seminars. He has been on faculty at Maryville College since 1993 and served as Chair of the Faculty from 2004-2006. Gombert holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Akron, a master’s degree in fine arts from Kent State University and a Ph.D from Texas Tech University in fine arts with a specialty in art history and museum science. He exhibits widely throughout the country and his work is in a number of museums and public collections.

Sheridan H. “Dan” Greaser ‘60, Board of Directors
Each summer Dan Greaser shares his years of experience spent as General Manager of Operations for Everready Battery Company with the College as the organizer of the Kin Takahashi Week Initiative. “KT Week” brings alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends of the College back to campus to put in sweat equity tackling summer maintenance and special projects. In 1998 Greaser was inducted into the Colleges’ Sports Wall of Fame, and in 2005 he won the highest honor of the College, the Medallion. Greaser has held various offices in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and Junior Achievement and served the United States Army, Air National Guard and Army Reserve. He holds a bachelor’s of science from MC, and is a graduate of the United States Air Force General Command and Staff College and Ohio State University’s executive development program. Greaser has served on the College’s Board since 1989 and is currently Vice Chair.

G. Donald Hickman ’70, Alumni Board President, Board of Directors
Don Hickman’s most recent appointment to the College’s Board of Directors began in 2007. He also serves as the President of the Maryville College National Alumni Board and as a member of the College of Distinction Strategic Planning Committee, the group responsible for developing the College’s next five-year plan. Hickman is an active leader in the Knoxville community, serving on a variety of civic and non-profit boards. In 1987 Hickman was inducted into the College’s Sports Wall of Fame for his performance in Scots’ athletics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from MC and is a graduate of the FBI Academy.

Diane Humphreys-Barlow ‘70, Board of Directors
Diane Humphreys-Barlow is a clinical social worker with a passion for the arts. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning, is a member of the Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society and serves on the City/County Ridgetop and Slope Protection Task Force. She has served on the College’s Board of Directors since her reappointment in 1998 and is Assistant Secretary. She also serves as a member of the College of Distinction Strategic Planning Committee, the group responsible for developing the College’s next five-year plan. Humphreys-Barlow received the highest distinction from the College, the Medallion, in 2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Maryville and a master’s of social work from Tulane University.

Wayne Kramer ‘74, Board of Directors
A partner at Kramer, Rayson LLP, Wayne Kramer has previously served as Vice President of the Maryville College Alumni Association and as Vice Chairman of the Maryville College Knox County Community Campaign. His numerous civic and non-profit activities include service on the Board of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and as a fellow of both the Tennessee and Knoxville Bar Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree in religion from Maryville, a JD from Seattle University. Kramer has served on the Maryville College Board of Directors since 2005 and is the Synod Lay Representative.

Naomi Lynn ’54, Board of Directors
Chancellor Emerita of the University of Illinois at Springfield, Naomi Lynn continues to lead an active life of service through various memberships and board appointments. Such work includes membership in the American Political Science Association, the Endowment Board of Westminster Presbyterian Church and the University of Illinois-Springfield Development Advisory Board. Lynn serves as Chair of the American society for Public Administration Endowment Board and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She has served on the MC Board of Directors since her reappointment in 2007. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Maryville, a master’s from the University of Illinois-Urbana and a Ph.D from the University of Kansas-Lawrence.

Alvin Nance ’79, Board of Directors
In addition to his role as President and CEO of the Knoxville Community Development Corporation, Alvin Nance is an active board member for area heath care, financial, development and non-profit industries. He serves as Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America Scout Reach and as Vice Chairman for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. In 2001 Nance was inducted into the College’s Sports Wall of Fame, and in 2006 he began his service on the Maryville Board of Directors. He is a former member of the Maryville College National Alumni Board. Nance holds a bachelor’s degree from Maryville College.

Mark O’Gorman, Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Faculty
Mark O’Gorman joined the Maryville College faculty in 1997. Since that time he has played a critical role in the College’s environmental efforts and in bringing active political discourse to campus. His areas of teaching include American political process, public policy, American government and politics, along with environmental studies and environmental politics as coordinator of MC’s Environmental Studies major. A previous member of the Faculty Liaison Committee and the Faculty Personnel Standards Committee, O’Gorman currently serves as the Chair of the Faculty. He holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, and a master’s degree and Ph.D from Syracuse University.

David Perkins, Assistant Director of the Physical Plant
Perkins joined the staff of the College in 2000.  Prior to his current position as Assistant Director of the Physical Plant he served both as a Gardener and as the Housekeeping Manager. In 2007 he was elected to the College’s Staff Council, providing service on the Wage and Benefits Committee. Perkins also serves as a member of the Kin Takahashi Project Planning Team, oversees the College’s Recycling Program and initiated the Green Cleaning Plan for campus. Perkins is a member of the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (APPA) and the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA). In addition to his work at the College, Perkins is an active member of the Blount County Relay for Life Planning Committee and the Earth Round Up Planning Committee.

Lori Schmied, Professor of Psychology
A member of the Maryville faculty since 1989, Lori Schmied has served as the Chair of the Faculty from 1997 until 2000 and currently serves as the Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Division. Her areas of instruction include introductory psychology, biopsychology, personality theories, and the history of psychology. Schmied holds a bachelor’s and Ph.D from the University of Tennessee, and was an honorary research fellow in psychopharmacology for several years at University College London. She is currently serving a three-year term as Secretary for the Southern Society for Philosophy & Psychology, and conducts research in the history of psychology.

Dana Smith, Vice President and Treasurer
Dana Smith joined the College as vice president and treasurer in 2008 after providing fiscal leadership to Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC for six years. A certified public accountant since 1987, Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia University State College, a master’s degree in business administration from Amberton University and has studied at the University of Kentucky’s College Business Management Institute. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of College and University Business Officers and serves on the board of the American Diabetes Association.