Alan Matthews has based his career on industry, and education.  At Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN, he taught for more than twenty years. Alan also taught online for several universities (Indiana Wesleyan, Bethel University, Liberty University, and Cumberland University).  Alan greatly enjoys both on-ground, and on-line teaching.

Before teaching, he was a programmer, systems analyst, project manager and director of several warehousing application development teams.

His field is Computer Information Systems. He began as a programmer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a newspaper in Pennsylvania.

Alan worked for some Fortune 100 companies including Westinghouse, Rockwell, Hertz, McDonnell Douglass; and General Mills. He gained some specialty skills/knowledge in Warehousing-Materials Movement and Project Management. The projects were challenging, involving consulting and travel.  He enjoys project work, especially Warehouse Automation, and other Warehousing Fulfillment systems.

His formal education includes a BS from Southern Nazarene University, MBA from University of Central Oklahoma, and a PhD from Nova Southeastern University,  Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  His dissertation was on Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE).  He taught at the Bachelors level, and in several MBA programs, and at the Doctoral level for Leadership Candidates at Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU).

Alan takes pride in the fact he worked in Business, and then as a professor in Academia.  

After starting as a “techie” Alan developed an appreciation for acquiring managerial and people skills, which led to him pursing an MBA. Alan believes a professor should have both industry, and academic skills. He enjoys teaching adults. He believes he can relate to “real-world” experiences.

Alan is married and has two grown sons and five grandchildren. He lived in PA, OK, FL and TN. His hobbies are music, travel, computing, and researching. His first loves are Computing and Teaching.  Alan also plays several instruments, and is currently playing the piano for his church.

Alan is a Christian and owes much to his faith. As a teen he could not select a computer vocation. He attended two Christian colleges, ENC in Boston, MA and SNU in Bethany, OK.   Alan states he is in a thrilling vocation “giving back”. “GOD is faithful. HE will guide you. You will not be disappointed when you place your life in HIS hands. ‘Faithful is HE who calls you, who also will do it’ (1Thes. 5:24)”.

He considers it a joy to work with Cumberland associates and students!  He encourages his students to never hesitate to ask questions, or to ask for his help.