Faculty Department: Office of Academic Affairs

LARRY VAUGHAN

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Director of Institutional Research
Work Email: lvaughan@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1222
Location: Alumni Hall
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
B.B.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:
Larry Vaughan graduated with a BBA from Middle Tennessee State University in 1981 and worked in public accounting for 15 years.  In October 1996 he became the Director of Financial Aid at Cumberland University.  In 2006 he turned financial aid over to Beatrice LaChance and he helped create the Office of Institutional Research.  

LORRAINE (LORI) SCHOCK

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Associate Registrar
Work Email: lschock@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1227
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 116
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
A.C.Ed., Moody Bible Institute
B.A., Judson University
Bio:
Lori Schock grew up in the Southeastern portion of Michigan.  She attended Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago, IL, where she earned a degree in Christian Education/Music.  She continued to Judson University in Elgin, IL, where she received a degree in Elementary Education.  Before employment with Cumberland in 2016, she was employed as a classroom teacher with Lebanon Special School District and McClain Christian Academy.

ABBY PITTS

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Director of Student Retention and Tennessee Promise Support, and Instructor
Work Email: apitts@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 453-6344
Location: Learning and Career Commons
Category: Faculty
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
B.S. Berry College
M.A., Shorter University
Bio:
Ms. Abby Pitts began at Cumberland University in fall of 2018 as the Director of Student Retention and TN Promise Support. She also teaches Foundations of Scholarship and Learning. Prior to arriving at Cumberland, Ms. Pitts served as the Associate Director of Financial Aid at University of the Cumberlands, where she oversaw reconciliation efforts as well as financial aid administration across all campus populations. In addition, Ms. Pitts taught Career and Leadership courses. Prior to her arrival at the University of the Cumberlands, she was the Advising Coordinator at Shorter University, where she coordinated all academic advising efforts on campus and worked with first year students. Her own advising efforts centered on ensuring success of the academically at-risk student population. Ms. Pitts’ experiences in assisting incoming freshman with financial aid completion, as well as advising students while completing degree requirements, fueled a lifelong passion for ensuring all students have the opportunity to reach their goal of being a college graduate. Ms. Pitts holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing Concentration. Her graduate education is a Master of Arts in Leadership, which encompassed organizational leadership across disciplines. She has been a member of various professional academic advising and financial aid associations.  

WILLIAM (RUSTY) RICHARDSON

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Executive Director of Community Relations and External Affairs, and Instructor
Work Email: rrichardson@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1257
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 108
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
B.S., University of Tampa
M.S.P., Cumberland University
M.B.A., Cumberland University
Bio:
  Rusty has been at Cumberland University since November 2011 serving as the Vice President for Advancement and later in his current role as Executive Director of Community Relations & External Affairs. He is a seasoned veteran with almost 40 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. In his current role, Rusty is responsible for the many of the major events held by Cumberland such as the Phoenix Ball, Notes for Nurses, and Founders’ Day celebration. He also serves as the representative for Cumberland University at many local events in the community.  Prior to coming to Cumberland, Rusty served as president of the Phi Delta Theta Foundation headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Rusty is active with the Lebanon Rotary Club having held the offices of President and Treasurer. He and his wife Kathy belong to the First United Methodist Church. He is an avid racquetball player and fisherman. 

LAUREN PEDIGO

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Associate Registrar for Dual Enrollment
Work Email: lpedigo@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1321
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 116
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
A.S., Volunteer State Community College
B. A., Cumberland University
Bio:
Lauren was born and raised on a farm in Macon County, where she still resides today. She is a 2013 graduate of Macon County High School.  Lauren is a single mom to my tough-as-nails, 2.5 year old daughter, Adah Kate Pedigo.  As the daughter of Cumberland alumna, her mom aided in her love for CU at a very early age. From the age of 5, she knew Cumberland was where she wanted to go to college when she got older. Lauren lived her dream when she walked across the stage in front of Memorial Hall in May 2020.  She is a graduate of the School of Humanities, English, and the Arts, with a B.A. in Humanities and Social Sciences with a double concentration in Education and English. After graduation, she began working for the Department of Safety and Homeland Security until finding the opportunity to come "home". She feels like Cumberland has given her so much over the years, she would like to give back, here in the Registrar's office.   

TAMARA PAVAN

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University Registrar
Work Email: tpavan@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1228
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 116
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
A.A., Northeastern Christian Junior College
B.S., Ohio Valley University
Bio:
Tammi Pavan is the University Registrar and has been employed by Cumberland since July of 2009.  Prior to coming to Cumberland she served as the Registrar for Ohio Valley University.   Mrs. Pavan earned an Associate of Arts degree from Northeastern Christian Junior College, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Ohio Valley University.  Previous to working in Higher Education she worked in the financial services industry as a Supervisor of Broker Dealer Operations and Wire Trade Specialist holding a series 7 and 24 License.  

C. WILLIAM (BILL) MCKEE

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Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor
Work Email: bmckee@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1311
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 116
Category: Faculty
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
School: The School of Humanities, Education and the Arts
Degrees:
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.Ed., Auburn University
Ed.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Bio:
Dr. C. William (Bill) McKee is currently Cumberland University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Education and Public Service Management. He has served the institution in a number of other administrative posts including Executive Vice President and Dean. Additionally, he was previously an administrator at Georgia Southwestern State University. A Nashville native, Dr. McKee graduated from the University School of Nashville (USN) and then earned the B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), the M.Ed. in Counseling and Student Personnel from Auburn University, and the Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville). Additionally, he is a graduate of the Carnegie-Mellon University Academic Leadership Institute, the American Council of Education/National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Stevens Institute on Leadership and Administration, as well as the University of Georgia Leadership Institute. Believing that part of the responsibility of a great University is to impact the community, Dr. McKee practices as well as teaches public service management. He devotes many hours of volunteer service to provide leadership in a variety of governmental and not-for-profit agencies and organizations in middle Tennessee. His involvement in the campus community includes advising Alpha Lambda Delta (the freshman honor society) and Omicron Delta Kappa (the national leadership honor society). Current teaching responsibilities for Dr. McKee include graduate courses in public service such as community issues, professional communications, and public policy, and an undergraduate class in the foundation and history of education. Dr. McKee’s research interests and projects include researching with co-researcher Carolyn Bridges Gregory the political and biographical sketches of the 36 individuals who have served as Tennessee Secretaries of State, developing biographical studies on United States Supreme Court Justice Horace Harman Lurton (a Cumberland University graduate), and Rear Admiral Fran McKee (the first woman appointed as an unrestricted Admiral in the history of the United States Navy); working with co-researchers W. Mark Tew, Th.D., William F. Ritchie, Ph.D., and Susan M. (Mitzy) Johnson-Mills, M.S. on studying faculty development opportunities in higher education; and collaborating with Joshua M. Hayden, Ed.D. on both faculty leadership on college and university campuses. Dr. McKee regularly serves as a consultant to institutions of higher education, is a workshop leader, and presenter at both local and regional conferences.

ETHAN LANNOM

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Director of Student Success and Instructor
Work Email: elannom@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1295
Location: Learning and Career Commons, Room 122
Category: Faculty
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
B.A., Middle Tennessee State University
M.A.T., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:
Mr. Ethan Lannom began working at Cumberland University in fall of 2019 as the Director of Student Success.  He also teaches Foundations of Scholarship and Learning and has taught Spanish at the university since 2016. Prior to arriving at Cumberland, he taught Spanish courses at Lipscomb University, Nashville State Community College and Columbia State Community College. Mr. Lannom holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and Foreign Language with a concentration in Spanish.  His graduate education is a Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in foreign languages.  

DONNA HILDERBRAND

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Associate Registrar
Work Email: dhilderbrand@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1320
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 116
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Degrees:
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:
Donna is a native of Wilson County, Tennessee. She attended Middle Tennessee State University where she studied history, education, and biology. She was previously employed as a high school teacher by the Wilson County School District, and has also been employed in the healthcare industry at both TriStar Summit Hospital and St. Thomas Medical Partners.   
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