Higher Learning Round-Up

LANE COLLEGE

Interim VPs chosen for two departments

Dr. Louis L. Cook has been appointed as the Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management. Dr. Cook joins Lane College with over 20 years of experience in managerial and supervisory roles, having demonstrated a proven ability to foster collaborative relationships, enhance program effectiveness, and lead data-driven projects.

In addition to his leadership in Enrollment Management, Dr. Cook will oversee Institutional Research and Effectiveness, focusing on data-driven decision-making processes that align with the institution's strategic goals.

Dr. Cook holds two doctorate degrees in Urban Higher Education and International Education. His academic credentials are complemented by certifications in Project Management, Data Science, and Institutional Research.

Dr. Ala’Torya V. Cranford is Lane’s new Interim Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

Dr. Cranford’s career in higher education commenced at Paine College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Her journey led her to serve in various key positions at her alma mater, culminating in her role as Director of Student Activities and then Director of Alumni Relations. She further honed her skills at Fort Valley State University, Southern University and A&M College, and most recently, as the Executive Director of the Freshman Academy and Honors Program at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Dr. Cranford was appointed UNCF National Alumni Council Vice President of Programs for three consecutive years. She has received several awards for her contributions to higher education. She earned her Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University and a Master of Science in Higher Education from Walden University.

Homecoming 2024 set for Oct. 12-19

The Lane College Homecoming Celebration will take place Oct. 12-19, 2024. This year's homecoming theme is "Dragons Forever." The week-long festivities will include the Homecoming Coronation, Dr. J.L. Perry Memorial Golf Tournament, 2024 Hall of Fame, 20 Under Forty Awards, the Homecoming Parade, and more. On Saturday, Oct. 19, the Lane College Dragons will compete against Central State University at 2 p.m. at Lane Field.

Click the link below to access registration forms for participation in the Dr. J.L. Perry Memorial Golf Tournament, Homecoming Parade, Hall of Fame, and Homecoming Tailgate Extravaganza. Applications may be completed and submitted online or by visiting the Office of Alumni Affairs in Bray Hall, Room 302. Full payment must accompany applications online or in-person to reserve your golf, parade, and vendor/tailgate spots.

For more information contact De'Shawn Barnes, Director of Alumni Affairs, at 731-410-6716 or dbarnes@lanecollege.edu.

Link for registration forms: https://www.lanecollege.edu/news/lane-college-2024-homecoming.

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS - LAMBUTH

Two New Scholarships Announced

John Edwin Yarbrough Scholarship

UofM Lambuth established the John Yarbrough Scholarship for students in health science. The University of Memphis Lambuth has established the John Edwin Yarbrough Scholarship to benefit students in health sciences/services – the first scholarship in health sciences for UofM Lambuth. Yarbrough is retired from West Tennessee Healthcare where he served as executive director of Physical Therapy. He made sure the Physical Therapy Department set a model of care for the region.

G.G. Bray Scholarship

P.E.O. Sisterhood endowed a scholarship in honor of G.G. Bray at UofM Lambuth. The Tennessee Chapter Y of P.E.O. International Sisterhood in Jackson, Tenn., has endowed the G.G. Bray Scholarship for women majoring in education at UofM Lambuth. 

"We are very excited about PEO's investment in education students at the Lambuth campus," said Niles Reddick, dean of the Lambuth Campus. "This scholarship is particularly meaningful because it honors the much loved G.G. Bray, who was a staff member at Lambuth for many years along with her husband, former athletic director Dr. Charles 'Pepper' Bray."

Applicants must be women pursuing a degree in education at UofM Lambuth. One or more scholarships per year may be granted. The amount of each is to be determined by the number of qualified applicants and the amount available in the fund.

M. D. Anderson Planetarium News

The University of Memphis Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium offers weekly shows, free and open to the public, Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Fridays at 1:30 p.m.; as well as monthly late shows the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., a Kids' After School Special the second Friday of the month at 3:45 p.m., and a Kids' Saturday Morning Planetarium Show the fourth Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m.

* Friday, Sept. 13, 1:30 p.m., public show: Cosmic Origins Spectrograph

* Friday, Sept. 13, 3:45 p.m., Kids' After School Special Planetarium Show: Capcom GO! 

* Tuesday, Sept. 17, 5:30 p.m., public show: Seasonal Stargazing

* Friday, Sept. 20, 1:30 p.m., public show: Seasonal Stargazing

* Tuesday, Sept. 24, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., public show: Forward! to the Moon! 

Doors open 15 minutes before showtime. For safety reasons, there is no seating once the “IN USE” lights are on. No food or drink is allowed in the auditorium. Parking available in the Hyde lot across the street from the Planetarium. For more information, call 731-425-7368 or email planetarium@memphis.edu.

Follow the Planetarium on Facebook for updates and online activities.

UNION UNIVERSITY

Union opens new wellness center

Union University dedicated its new Wellness Center last month, officially opening the new fitness facility that is more than four times larger than the previous space. Located along the main hallway in the Penick Academic Complex in the space that the library formerly occupied, the new Wellness Center features a group fitness space, turf area, a 10-station rig system, including five power racks and five half-racks, and a plate-loaded section, in addition to a Vertimax multi-faceted training system.

Taylor Construction and Restoration was the main contractor for the project. Ivy Marie Adkisson, director for campus recreation at Union, said the new space was designed with accessibility and ease-of-use in mind, catering to individuals of all fitness levels.

In addition to new equipment, the Wellness Center includes a space for fitness classes such as yoga, spinning, high-intensity interval training and weightlifting, which will be offered on a rotating schedule daily.

The Wellness Center is free for students and Union faculty and staff. Memberships are available for alumni and community members. For more information, email campusrec@uu.edu.

Trustees approve mission leave policy

Union University trustees at their Sept. 6 meeting approved a mission leave policy for university employees, providing up to five days every two years for faculty and staff to participate in mission trips.

The Office of Human Resources will determine activities eligible for mission leave, but such trips in general include international and domestic trips where evangelism, compassion ministries, building projects, church planting, sports or other outreach activities and disaster recovery efforts are done under the banner of Jesus Christ.

Trustees heard updates from Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver about giving and enrollment, both of which were positive. Giving during the last fiscal year rose from $9.7 million to $9.9 million, with the number of donors increasing from 1,971 during the 2023 fiscal year to 2,359 during the 2024 fiscal year.

The number of new students during the fall 2024 semester jumped 11.6 percent from 2023, while total fall 2024 enrollment of 2,718 was a 1.6 percent increase from last year. 

Oliver also updated trustees about the new academic building under construction on the Great Lawn that will house the McAfee School of Business and the computer science and engineering departments. The building is expected to be complete during the 2025 spring semester.

Dean of Union School of Social Work named 

Union University has appointed Todd Stanfield, who joined the Union University faculty in 2007, as dean of the university’s School of Social Work. Stanfield replaces Nita Mehr, who has retired from the university.

A native of northwest Alabama, Stanfield began at Union as associate professor and was promoted to professor in 2012. He has served as the Bachelor of Social Work program director since 2023.

Prior to joining Union, Stanfield taught at the University of North Alabama. He previously served as psychotherapist and director at the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama and as a child welfare social worker.

A graduate of the University of Alabama with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, Stanfield completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Tennessee’s College of Social Work.

Stanfield serves on the board of CASA of West Tennessee. He and his wife Carla are members of Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, and their daughter Margee is a junior journalism major at Union.

MIDDLE TN STATE UNIVERSITY

Fall recruiting tour coming to Jackson

From Memphis to Johnson City — plus stops in Atlanta, Ga., and Huntsville, Ala., — the annual Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Tour to recruit prospective students will soon launch its three-month swing across three states.

MTSU will visit 13 cities, Nashville twice, and include a stop in Jackson as university recruiters, staff, advisors and administrators make their best pitches to land outstanding freshmen and transfer students for the 2025 academic year.

All events are free and walkups are welcome, though admissions staff encourage people to RSVP in advance at https://mtsu.edu/rsvp.

Spring 2025 True Blue Preview visit days will be Feb. 8 and March 22. To register, go to https://www.mtsu.edu/rsvp.

The True Blue Tour will stop in Madison County on Oct. 29 at the Jackson Country Club, 31 Jackson Country Club Ln., Jackson.

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Undergraduate applications available through Common App

Prospective college students can now apply to any or all undergraduate University of Tennessee campuses through a single application, the Common App, simplifying the admissions process and expanding opportunities for students in Tennessee and beyond.

The Common App is a non-profit organization that connects over 1 million students each year to more than 1,100 colleges and universities across all 50 U.S. states and 18 countries, with one third of these students being first-generation.

As of Sept. 3, UT Chattanooga, UT Southern and UT Martin have joined UT Knoxville on the Common App.

The inclusion of all UT undergraduate campuses on the Common App is another step in the University’s broader efforts to make higher education attainable for all. This initiative complements other UT programs, like guaranteed admissions for top-performing Tennessee high school students and the expansion of the UT Promise scholarship program, which covers tuition and mandatory fees for Tennessee students with an annual household income of $75,000 or less.

Find more information about the Common App by visiting https://www.commonapp.org/.

Compiled by Sabrina Bates