Faculty Category: Faculty

MICHAEL SOSTRE

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Work Email: msostre@cumberland.edu
Location: Learning and Career Commons
Category: Faculty
Department: Academic Success Center, Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
B.A., University of Georgia
M.A., Western Kentucky University
Bio:
Michael Sostre is an Academic Coach at Cumberland, focusing specifically on students within the Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions. In this role, Michael works with a piece of Cumberland’s student population to help them find ways to thrive during their time in college, academically or otherwise.
Before Cumberland, Michael was a Graduate Assistant for the Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) at Western Kentucky University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Education, Student Affairs in Higher Education, in August 2022. He has experience with ISEC was focused on helping underrepresented minority students at WKU thrive and planning cultural celebrations and programs with WKU’s Hispanic student population.
Michael received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the University of Georgia, graduating in May 2020. During his time at UGA, he served in student leadership roles, welcoming and mentoring first year students to help them feel like they could make their campus home.

AMY GRANT

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Dual Enrollment & Early College Coordinator & Instructor
Work Email: amy.grant@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1321
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 104
Category: Faculty
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
B.S., Lipscomb University
M.A., Tennessee Technological University
Ed.S., Tennessee Technological University
Bio:
Amy joined Cumberland University in the Spring of 2022 as our Dual Enrollment/Early College Coordinator. This position is a natural outgrowth of her work as a high school counselor with Wilson County Schools where she coordinated dual enrollment efforts. Amy is invested in building relationships with our area schools: public, private and homeschools, bringing the dual enrollment opportunity to all populations.
Amy and her family moved to Lebanon in 2005 where their daughters grew up attending FCS, LSSD, and Wilson County Schools. Amy held various positions in Pre-K through 12th grade during these years. Their youngest daughter earned credits through Cumberland dual enrollment, which prepared her well for college. Her mentoring relationships with her Cumberland professors added tremendous value to her high school experience.
Amy and her husband, John, have three daughters and two granddaughters. John serves as the Executive Director of Compassionate Hands in Wilson County.

JESSICA FENN

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Librarian and Instructor
Work Email: jfenn@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1302
Location: Vise Library
Category: Faculty
Department: Doris & Harry Vise University Library
Degrees:
A.S., University of Tennessee Knoxville
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
M.S. I. S., University of Tennessee Knoxville
Bio:

Jessica Fenn joined the Vise Library staff in 2021 as a technical service librarian. Jessica received her master’s degree in Information Science through UT-Knoxville Spring 2020. Jessica had one practicum experience at Middle Tennessee State University in 2019.  She has also worked at Volunteer State Community College as a Library Assistant for 10 years.

Jessica grew up in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 and an Associates of Science degree in Psychology from Volunteer State Community College in 2013.

CINDY CONLEY

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Academic Coach, Instructor
Work Email: cconley@cumberland.edu
Location: Learning and Career Commons, Room 203
Category: Faculty
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
B.S., University of Central Missouri
M.S., Murray State University
Ed.S., Tennessee Technological University
Ph.D., Tennessee Technological University
Bio:

Dr. Cindy Freer Conley is an Academic Coach focusing specifically on students within the Oakley School of Humanities. She also teaches Foundations of Scholarship and Learning as well as courses within the Psychology Program. Dr. Conley began as an Adjunct at Cumberland University in the Psychology Program in the Spring of 2022.

Dr. Conley holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Central Missouri State University. She holds a Master of Science in Human Services Counseling from Murray State University and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee Technological University. Dr. Conley also holds an Educational Specialist in School Counseling as well as in Instructional Leadership. Dr. Conley achieved her terminal degree, a Ph. D. from Tennessee Technological University in Exceptional Learning with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Dr. Conley has had an extensive career in the mental health and educational fields. She has worked as a private practice counselor as well as worked as a School Counselor in Wilson and Rutherford County School Districts. She continues to work part time with youth in the foster care system as a Licensed Behavior Analyst.

Dr. Conley’s research interests include how community partners and educational settings provide services to adolescents at risk. Along with how the application of Applied Behavior Analysis can assist students who are unsuccessful increase their success in academic and social settings.

Dr. Conley is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She and her family live with their fur babies in the Wilson/Rutherford County area. Free time activities always include the kids and/or the fur babies.

RENA WALLER

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Instructor of Mathematics
Work Email: rwaller@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1297
Location: Labry Hall
Category: Faculty
School: The Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business
Degrees:
B.S., University of Texas, Austin
M.S.E., Auburn University

J. MICHELLE ZUERCHER

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Instructor of Nursing
Work Email: jzuercher@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1296
Location: McFarland Hall
Category: Faculty
School: The Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions
Degrees:
B.S., Tennessee Technological University
B.S.N., Cumberland University
M.S.N., Cumberland University
Bio:

Michelle began teaching in the Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing as a clinical instructor in 2019 and also assists students in the health assessment laboratory. 

Michelle is a two time graduate from Cumberland University. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree in May 2020 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in May 2014. She is also a graduate of Tennessee Technological University earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree in May 2010. 

Michelle has clinical experience in medical surgical, critical care, infectious disease, and home health nursing. She has a passion for rural health and has regularly traveled to Honduras on medical mission since becoming a nurse. 

Michelle is a member of both the Tennessee Nurses Association and American Nurses Association as well as the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society.

ANDREW WILEY

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Assistant Professor of History, and Associate Editor for the Martin Van Buren Papers
Work Email: awiley@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1351
Location: Vise Library, Presidential Papers of Martin Van Buren
Category: Faculty
Department: Presidential Papers, Martin Van Buren
School: The School of Humanities, Education and the Arts
Degrees:
B.A., Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis
M.A., Indiana State University
Ph.D., University of Calgary (Canada)
Bio:

Andrew Wiley started his work at Cumberland University in January 2018 when the Papers of Martin Van Buren hired him as the new associate editor. In addition to his editorial work, Dr. Wiley teaches introductory level courses on United States History and will occasionally teaches upper level history courses. His research interests are Civil War Era politics (particularly conservatism), military history, Cold War History, and the history of Baseball. Prior to his work at Cumberland University, Dr. Wiley worked as an editorial assistant for the Frederick Douglass Papers in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Civil War History, an academic journal published by Kent State University Press. He had also taught a course on U.S. History at the University of Calgary in Canada, and has recently published an article for the Essential Civil War Curriculum based at Virginia Tech. Not isolated to printed works, Wiley has also presented his research at several nationally recognized history conferences. 

Wiley currently holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history from Indiana University at Indianapolis, a Master of Arts in history from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, and a PhD from the University of Calgary.

When not on campus you can find Andrew Wiley playing guitar, at a baseball game, or touring the numerous historical sites in Tennessee and other surrounding states.

JULIE WINDMILLER

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Assistant Professor of Nursing
Work Email: jwindmiller@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 453-6351
Location: McFarland Hall
Category: Faculty
School: The Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions
Degrees:
B.S.N., Indiana Univeristy
M.S.N., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:

Julie Windmiller has been an Assistant Professor at Cumberland University since 2009 and is currently teaching Medical Surgical and Successful Entry nursing courses. In 2001, she graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and in 2006 she graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Education. Julie practiced as an Emergency Department (ED) nurse for twelve years before becoming a Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurse. She is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing and has published an article in the International Journal of Childbirth Education.

JOHN (JAKE) WHICKER

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Instructor of Nursing
Work Email: jwhicker@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1214
Location: McFarland Hall
Category: Faculty
School: The Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions
Degrees:
A.S., Nashville State Community College
B.S.N., Cumberland University
M.S.N., Cumberland University
Bio:

Mr. John “Jake” Whicker was appointed to the faculty of the Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions in the fall of 2018. Mr. Whicker is a two-time graduate of Cumberland University, having earned his Master of Science in Nursing degree in May 2018 and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in May 2014. He also earned his Associate of Science degree from Nashville State Community College (Magna Cum Laude) in May 2012. 

Currently, Mr. Whicker teaches courses in Professional Nursing Foundations, Nursing Foundations Lab, and Dosage Calculations. 

Before his appointment to the faculty at Cumberland University, Mr. Whicker worked as a Research Nurse Specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. During his time at Vanderbilt, he served as the Study Coordinator for a clinical research team in the Department of Infectious Diseases. Prior to this, he spent several years working as a Public Health Nurse and Disease Intervention Specialist for the Tennessee Department of Health. While working for the Department of Health, Mr. Whicker’s responsibilities included performing disease surveillance and outbreak response, as well as HIV/AIDS counseling, Tuberculosis Case Management, contact investigation, and providing routine clinical services. He also has many years of experience working in emergency departments, several of which were as an Emergency Medical Technician prior to becoming a Registered Nurse.

Mr. Whicker is interested in issues pertaining to rural, migrant, and refugee health, and participates in medical mission trips around the world. He has done humanitarian aid work in Eastern Europe, Central America, East Asia, and rural Appalachia.

Mr. Whicker is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society.

 

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