MC staff members complete TICUA Advancing Leaders Workshop

Aug. 2, 2019

This summer, thirty-four leaders from Tennessee’s private colleges and universities – including three Maryville College staff members – gathered for TICUA’s Advancing Leaders, an intensive workshop to develop and prepare future senior campus leaders for success in an ever-changing higher education environment.

“Strong, effective campus leaders help ensure that our colleges are serving students well, so TICUA created this program to provide advancing campus leaders an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful now and in the future,” said TICUA President Dr. Claude Pressnell. “Because TICUA institution presidents select officials from their campuses to participate in the Advancing Leaders program, Tennessee’s private colleges and universities are leading the way to develop higher education leaders who will carry the mantle of postsecondary choice and student success forward.”

The Advancing Leaders workshop provides aspiring leaders who have three to five years of work experience with an opportunity to evaluate their own skills, gifts, and calling against the primary leadership needs of private higher education in Tennessee. Since launching in 2015, around 200 people have participated in the annual leadership training.

Maryville College staff members who participated in the workshop include: Eric Bellah, director of development; John Berry, director of information technology; and Lisa Vitale, assistant registrar.

“I often make plans or develop strategies based on what I think the institution I serve can or can’t do, but the Advancing Leaders program helped me see beyond that horizon and get excited about the new destination of possibilities,” Bellah said. “I also gained a greater appreciation for TICUA for intentionally investing in individuals, as well as private higher education in Tennessee.”

Presidents of TICUA member campuses select Advancing Leaders to participate in the two-day intensive workshop, which happens over the summer each year. Developed in partnership with experts at higher education consulting firm Credo, the workshop provides next-generation leaders with the opportunity to better understand: 

  • State and national policy context for private higher education
  • Campus partnerships
  • Drivers for institutional health
  • Challenges for higher-education leaders
  • Steps to prepare for a leadership role

At the conclusion of each workshop, participants build a personalized roadmap to apply what they have learned to their role and institution and prepare for an expanded leadership role.

Advancing Leaders 2019

  • Megan Bursi, Baptist College of Health Sciences – Director, Marketing & Alumni
  • Cameron Conn, Baptist College of Health Sciences – Director, Planning and IE
  • Julie Lasley, Baptist College of Health Sciences – Program Chair Radiation Therapy; Prof.
  • Cheryl Carr, Belmont University – Assc. Dean, Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business
  • April Hefner, Belmont University – Editorial & News Content Director
  • Nicholas Pacurari, Bryan College – Director, Residence Life & Student Engagement
  • Samantha Alperin, Christian Brothers University – Director, UG/G Education Program
  • Scott Geis, Christian Brothers University – Dean, Rosa Deal School of Arts
  • Abby Pitts, Cumberland University – Director, Retention & TN Promise Support
  • Megan Climer, Cumberland University – Marketing Coordinator
  • Natara Garvin, Fisk University – Assist. VP & Dean, Student Engagement
  • Josh Barber, Freed-Hardeman University – Assc. Director, International Education
  • Margaret Payne, Freed-Hardeman University – Professor, English
  • Ryan Cate, Johnson University – Admissions Counselor
  • Lettie Jackson, King University Assc. VP, Finance
  • Jennifer Mongold, King University Assc. Professor
  • Bruce Cole, LeMoyne-Owen College Director, Member Services
  • Dave Bruno, Lipscomb University VP, Marketing
  • Prentice Ashford, Lipscomb University Dean, Community Life
  • Edna Luna Martin, Methodist College VP, External Affairs
  • Allen Stanton, Martin Methodist College Executive Director
  • Lisa Vitale, Maryville College – Assist. Registrar
  • Eric Bellah, Maryville College – Director, Development
  • John Berry, Maryville College – Director, Information Technology
  • Amy Turner, Sewanee: The University of the South – Director, Environmental Stewardship
  • Marie Bodack, Southern College of Optometry – Chief, Pediatric Primary Care
  • Lisa Kirkland, Tennessee Wesleyan University – Assc. Dean, Nursing, Health & Human Performance
  • Mark Shoop, Tennessee Wesleyan University – Professor, Biology
  • Jenni Lloyd, Trevecca Nazarene University – Director, Student Success & Advising
  • Lori Anderson, Tusculum University – Asst. VP, IPE & Dean, Nursing
  • Mary Cooper, Tusculum University – Director, Honors Program
  • Laralee Harkleroad, Tusculum University – Director, Marketing
  • Renee Dauer, Union University Campus – Director, UU-Hendersonville
  • Gregory Bohnerg, Union University Director – Disability Services
Maryville College is a nationally-ranked institution of higher learning and one of America’s oldest colleges. For more than 200 years we’ve educated students to be giving citizens and gifted leaders, to study everything, so that they are prepared for anything — to address any problem, engage with any audience and launch successful careers right away. Located in Maryville, Tennessee, between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the city of Knoxville, Maryville College offers nearly 1,200  students from around the world both the beauty of a rural setting and the advantages of an urban center, as well as more than 60 majors, seven pre-professional programs and career preparation from their first day on campus to their last. Today, our 10,000 alumni are living life strong of mind and brave of heart and are prepared, in the words of our Presbyterian founder, to “do good on the largest possible scale.”