Faculty Category: Staff

KARI SMITH

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Executive Director of Enrollment Services
Work Email: kesmith@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1243
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 106C
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
M.S.P., Cumberland University
Bio:

Kari is joining us from Lipscomb University where she spent almost 4 years in Graduate Recruitment and Operations. Her specialty focused on improving graduate recruitment processes and training faculty/staff on admissions systems.

Kari has a Bachelor’s Degree from MTSU and all but her thesis completed in Applied Behavioral Analysis. Kari is a native of Nashville, but has lived in Lebanon for the past two years. She is happily married to her husband Aaron and has two girls, Scarlett (7) and Violet (6).

JESSICA PERKINS

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Catering Manager
Work Email: catering@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-547-1340
Location: Philips Dining Hall
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Campus/Food/Housing/Security

MELISSA PAGE

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Director of IT and Security / Instructor
Work Email: mpage@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-6364
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 110
Category: Adjunct Faculty, Staff
Department: Office of Information Technology
School: The Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business
Degrees:
B.S., Kaplan University
M.S., Kaplan University
Bio:

Melissa was raised on a farm in Olmstead, Kentucky. After graduating high school, she moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky where she pursued her undergraduate degree while working at Dell. At the same time, she worked with Stanford hospital during their implementation of the new electronic medical records software (EPIC).

After 4+ years at Dell, she moved into Information Technology for the automotive industry as an Information Technology Administrator. Melissa has now worn many hats in the automotive industry. She has helped open new buildings, implemented several new software, hardware, and process improvements. She has helped migrate the automotive companies she has worked with from antiquated systems to current technology. During this time, she also completed her Master of Science in Information Technology (MS-IT). Later Melissa pursued and completed her ITIL v4 Foundation Certificate.

Melissa also joined several communities during her time with automotive. She joined the Women’s Network as an events coordinator and was later promoted to the Communications Chair. The Women’s network is composed of ITW employees from different backgrounds. This is a leadership group designed to help women find their way around a male dominated industry. Melissa was also a member of Young Professional Network that is focused around helping build future leaders.

Melissa is married to Jamie Page. Together, they have a daughter. In their free time, Melissa and her family enjoy traveling. With over 10+ years in the information technology field, Melissa is excited to extend her career in higher education serving as the Director of Information Technology for Cumberland University.

JOEY LEACH

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Site Manager for Lee Company
Work Email: jleach@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 856-9810
Location: Maintenance Office
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Campus/Food/Housing/Security

CAROLINE HAYNES

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Alumni Relations Coordinator
Work Email: CAHaynes@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1362
Location: Catron Alumni House
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Advancement
Degrees:
B.S.S.G., Middle Tennessee University
M.S.P., Cumberland University
Bio:

Caroline Haynes, a Lebanon TN native, graduated from Lebanon High School in 2017. She then went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness with a concentration in Secondary Education from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). During her time at MTSU, she served as a Blue Elite Campus Tour Guide, working directly with prospective students and their families, as well as SGA Homecoming Director, coordinating events across campus for the student body. Additionally, Caroline worked closely with the University administration by serving on the Disability Issues Committee and aiding in the launch of MTSU Campus Life, an initiative striving to centralize student resources and increase accessibility across campus for all students. Caroline’s many passions led her to be involved in numerous student organizations within the School of Agriculture, as well as serving two years as Chapter President of Best Buddies, where she and the chapter were awarded International College Chapter of the Year. In May of 2024, Caroline earned a Master’s in Public Service Management from Cumberland University. Caroline serves annually as a Wilson County Fair Board Volunteer and the secretary of the Lebanon HS FFA Alumni and Supporters. She resides in Lebanon with her husband William, and their daughter Essie.

MIKE GUINN

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Postmaster
Work Email: postoffice@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1411
Location: Post Office
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Campus/Food/Housing/Security
Degrees:
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:

Mr. Guinn started his part-time employment at Cumberland University on March 1st, 2022, as the Postmaster in the school’s post office.  Prior to coming to CU, he was in the teaching profession for twenty-eight years before retiring from the Lebanon Special School District.

Cumberland University is a special place for Mike, and he enjoys working on this campus. Mike tries to support the students, and interacting with them daily makes his day even better.

LOGAN CHITWOOD

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Director of Dining Services
Work Email: lchitwood@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (317) 529-5122
Location: Phillips Dining Hall
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Campus/Food/Housing/Security
Degrees:
B.A., Indiana University-Purdue University
Bio:

Mr. Chitwood was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) with a bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Conventions and Event Management.

Logan has been working with Chartwells Higher Education since 2016. Logan and has over 15 years of experience in the food service industry.

He has been with Cumberland University since the fall of 2021 working as the General Manager.

 

TAUSHA GRADY

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Assistant Controller
Work Email: tgrady@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1303
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 100A
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Fiscal Affairs
Degrees:
B.S., University of Tennessee Knoxville
M.A., University of Tennessee Knoxville
Bio:

Tausha Grady began with Cumberland as the Senior Accountant in the Fall of 2021.  She is a native of middle Tennessee and is proud to currently call Lebanon home.

Tausha received her B.S. in Business Administration – Accounting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2006, where she graduated with honors and was able to participate in multiple internships with public and private accounting.  She then continued her education to receive a Master of Accountancy from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with an emphasis in Audit in 2007, and later obtained her CPA.

After graduation, she worked in public accounting until she and her husband were moved to Okinawa, Japan with the US Army.  While in Okinawa, Tausha served in various supervisory positions in the Accounting Department of the Marine Corps Community Services in Okinawa.

At their next duty station of Fort Bragg, NC, Tausha worked as an accountant with the US Army Reserve Command until her first daughter was born.  She and her family then moved to Grafenwöhr, Germany where they were able to explore all of Europe.  And, then, on to Washington D.C., where Tausha had her second daughter.

Tausha and her family love to travel and explore but are happy to be back home in Middle Tennessee.

CARLA HAYNES

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Accounts Payable Associate
Work Email: chaynes@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1363
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 100A
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Fiscal Affairs
Degrees:
A.S., Volunteer State Community College
B.S., Tennessee State University
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