Melissa Bryant, Author at Tusculum University Advancement

A Message from the Division of Education

A Message from the Division of Education

It is hard to believe that it is already August 2025. Learning in the Education Division is a year-round experience. As the summer semester draws to a close, the Education faculty is diligently preparing for the start of the fall 2025 semester. Our incoming undergraduates have been visiting the campus, and some are already moving into their dorms ahead of the fall semester. This pre-fall semester time is exciting as we get to know our new students and see them preparing for the learning ahead with goals for their futures guiding course selections and activity choices.

Most of our residential students went home to enjoy summer with their families and friends. However, we still see them engaged in our undergraduate and graduate synchronous or asynchronous coursework offered through our summer Adult and Online Studies (AOS) programs. Additionally, several of our recent TU graduates from undergraduate programs are returning to us to begin work on their master’s degrees. We are thrilled to welcome them back as they continue their professional development in their respective fields of study.

Our programs with summer courses include the following:

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, K-5 Elementary (BAIS),
Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Training and Professional Development (BAOT),
Master of Arts in Organizational Training and Professional Development (MAOT),
Master of Arts in eLearning Leadership (MAEL),
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT),
Master of Arts in Education (MAED),
Dual Endorsement Interventionist K-8 and Comprehensive K-12 Special Education (SPED) (Courses for this dual endorsement are offered through the MAED, MAT, and the BAIS programs)

TU offers many events throughout the summer months, and it has been wonderful to see our continuing Education students actively involved in these learning and fun activities. On June 28th and July 18th, the Education faculty had the pleasure of meeting incoming and prospective students and their parents during these two well-attended Pioneer Quests held on our gorgeous Greeneville campus. It is thrilling to meet our new TU Pioneers and their families while working alongside some of our continuing Pioneers during these important events. It is a pleasure to watch some of our Junior- and Senior-year students greet and guide our new first-year students and transferring-in students as they get acquainted and acclimated to TU and our programs. It was not so long ago that those well-adjusted Juniors and Seniors were the incoming first-year students on campus. We are so proud of our accomplished Pioneers and the leaders they have become.

The excitement is building for the fall 2025 semester! In the Education Division, we are proud of our TU Undergrad and Grad Students! They are the Paramount Pioneers ready for the 2025-2026 Academic Year!

Tusculum University Announces Dedication of the Jane and Bill Pilloni Bridge

Tusculum University Announces Dedication of the Bill and Jane Pilloni Pedestrian Bridge
Thursday, October 31, 2025 | 1:30 PM

What: A Meaningful and Fun Kickoff to Homecoming 2025 and a Moment in Tusculum History!
Join us for a special celebration as we dedicate the Bill and Jane Pilloni Pedestrian Bridge—a new landmark honoring two beloved alumni from the Classes of 1959 and 1960. Thanks to the generosity of the Pilloni family, permanent welcome signage for Tusculum University will soon be installed across the 75-foot pedestrian bridge spanning Tennessee Highway 107, just outside campus.

This is more than just a ribbon-cutting, it’s a premier Homecoming kickoff event and a chance for students, alumni, and friends to come together in true Pioneer spirit!

Local alumni: we especially want to see you there! This is your chance to be part of a huge group photo, connect with fellow Pioneers, meet our campus dignitaries, mingle with students, and enjoy a lively, meaningful moment in Tusculum history.

Highlights Include:

Free commemorative t-shirt for every registered guest
Group photo on the bridge
Meet-and-greet with campus leaders and special guests
Great company, Pioneer pride, and an early start to Homecoming fun!

When: Thursday, October 31, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Where: Pedestrian Bridge over TN Highway 107 (just outside campus)
Cost: Free!

About the Pillonis:
Louis William “Bill” Pilloni (’60) and Jane Shanks Pilloni (’59) dedicated their lives to Tusculum University through service, leadership, and lasting contributions—including the creation of the William and Jane Shanks Pilloni Endowed Scholarship Fund. Their impact is deeply woven into the Tusculum story, and this bridge will serve as a lasting symbol of their connection to generations of Pioneers.

Help Us Reach the Finish Line!
We’ve already raised more than $31,000 toward this special project, thanks to the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Pilloni and many alumni and friends. We’re just $6,000 away from our goal!
Want to help?
Click here to make a gift in support of the Pilloni Bridge.

Have questions?
Contact Dr. Melissa Bryant, Director of Alumni Relations: alumni@tusculum.edu

Let’s honor the legacy of Bill and Jane Pilloni and make Homecoming 2025 one to remember.

EVERY FRONTIER NEEDS A PIONEER.

PLANNED GIVING NOTE!

PLANNED GIVING NOTE! We buy life insurance to help provide financial assistance and security for loved ones upon our death. As life unfolds for many of us, however, the original beneficiary no longer requires financial support. What then? There are various ways of managing this situation, and it’s always wise to consult a financial planner before acting on your own. But one excellent way is to re-designate as beneficiary a non-profit whose purposes have been near and dear to you in life. Such as Tusculum University! Yes, you can designate all or part of the life insurance benefit to Tusculum. Again, consult with your financial planner to assure that this change is processed correctly and in the most advantageous way for all concerned. But generally, this is a fairly simple and generous strategy by which your gratitude for Tusculum’s blessings in life may continue to bless others after our earthly life and work are finished.

Richard D. Raum

PCUSA Pastor, retired

Planned Giving Specialist, Tusculum University

rdraum2@gmail.com

701-226-2084

Frontiers, A Campaign for the Support of First-Generation Students

EVERY FRONTIER NEEDS A PIONEER!

Make a gift; share your story; answer the call

YOUR FRONTIER AWAITS!

Frontiers, A Campaign for the Support of First-Generation Students

Since our founding in 1794, Tusculum University’s core mission has been to provide an outstanding education on the frontier that prepares students for their lives and careers. Even from our earliest days, providing education to First-Generation Students has always been at the heart of what we do. Two hundred and thirty years later, our mission remains the same; only the frontiers have changed.

Today, Tusculum’s student body includes 58% first-generation students – meaning neither of the student’s parents or guardians have completed a bachelor’s degree. In addition, more than 98% of our traditional undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. Earning a college degree is vital for young men and women to develop into career-ready professionals, but various costs can be an obstacle on the path to graduation. This is where a special scholarship supporting first-generation students can have a significant and lasting impact.

We are proud to announce the launch of a special campaign focused on raising scholarship support for our first-generation students. Frontiers, A Scholarship Campaign for the support of First-Generation Students, will run throughout 2025. In the months to come, we will be highlighting this unique part of our history and sharing stories from many of our first-gen students and alumni. Our Goal is $125,000.

Cavanaugh ’80 Appointed to Ballad Health Board Committee

Kyle J. Cavanaugh, a distinguished alumnus of Tusculum University, has been appointed to the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Ballad Health Board of Directors. A former Tusculum basketball player, Cavanaugh has built an extraordinary career in executive leadership, currently serving as President of Administration for the National Basketball Association (NBA). His experience spans higher education and healthcare, with previous leadership roles at Duke University, the University of Florida, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His appointment brings world-class expertise in compliance, risk management, and operational oversight to Ballad Health’s governance. Cavanaugh’s commitment to public service and his Appalachian roots reflect the values instilled during his time at Tusculum.

Cagle ’98 Named ORAU Senior Vice President and ORISE Director

Dr. Keri Cagle, a proud alumna of Tusculum University, has been named Senior Vice President of ORAU and Director of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). In this new leadership role, Dr. Cagle will oversee critical initiatives supporting the U.S. Department of Energy and its national laboratory system, advancing scientific research and public health programs. With nearly two decades of experience at ORISE, she previously served as Senior Director of Scientific Peer Review, where she led strategic operations and guided the program through significant growth and innovation. Dr. Cagle holds a doctorate in Leadership & Learning from Vanderbilt University, along with advanced degrees in organizational leadership and business management, including her bachelor’s from Tusculum. Her deep expertise in strategic planning, program management, and government contracting reflects the leadership values and commitment to excellence cultivated during her time as a Pioneer.

Rev. Jonas Hayes ’99: A Life of Faith, Service, and the Pioneer Spirit

Rev. Jonas Hayes, who graduated Tusculum in December 1999. His parents met and fell in love at Tusculum College when they attended Tusculum in the 1960s. He toured Tusculum along with many other colleges and connected with the Tusculum Common’s Curricula, Robert Knott, and the incredible staff and faculty who were there – especially Alice Loftin, Jeff Lokey, Stephen Weisz.

In 2023, Rev. Hayes received his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching at McCormick Theological Seminary, writing his thesis on “Creating Space for Every Voice: Preaching Diversity from a Place of White Privilege”. For the past eight years, he served at Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, California, where he championed diversity, disability rights, and environmental stewardship. His leadership earned him the title Faith Leader of the Year in 2019 among local interfaith and civic groups. In addition to leading the church in the midst of the global COVID-19 Pandemic he helped the church also become a certified Earth Care Congregation.

Rev. Jonas Hayes has accepted a new pastoral role at Lely Presbyterian Church in East Naples, Florida. Lely Presbyterian Church is a church that is welcoming and inclusive. They welcome all people. They are grounded in faith in Jesus Christ and inspired to act with compassion to our local community. Every week, Lely Presbyterian Church serves over 300 people through a local food pantry – Meals of Hope. The church serves food and home goods and other needed items to families of farm workers in Immokalee, FL. Lely Presbyterian Church is part of the Peace River Presbytery.

Lely Presbyterian Church is a passionate and welcoming congregation of believers – eager to serve Jesus Christ and open to new ways of serving God with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.

We’re proud to celebrate Jonas’s achievements and his continued impact in diverse faith communities. His journey from Tusculum to national recognition exemplifies the Pioneer spirit.

Accreditation

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GRADUATE