By Gerard Flanagan, news writer and photographer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Dr. H. Keith Spears recalls the time when he wanted to return to Christian higher education but was torn on the next step in his life.
Spears was considering a move to Campbellsville University, which he first visited in 1999 to attend a presidential inauguration, but he had been called to another university, leaving him with what he described as a “burden” to work through.
A phone call to his brother solidified his next steps.
“He said, ‘God wanted to know if you were committed,’” Spears said at the 40th annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Service at Campbellsville University. “Were you really committed to Christian higher education? He led you to that school.’”
Spears served as chancellor for university system advancement and 11th president at Campbellsville University. He also served as vice president of communication, senior vice president and assistant to the president at Campbellsville University.
He retired from Campbellsville University July 1.
Employees with five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service to Campbellsville University were recognized at the service.
The Faculty and Staff Recognition Program was established in 1984 as a way to recognize publicly those who have served Campbellsville University.
That burden for Spears lifted immediately, he said, and he joined Campbellsville University in 2009 as vice president for regional and graduate education.
Spears was in California recently at the commencement ceremony for the Campbellsville University’s Phillips Graduate Institute. At the ceremony, Cathy Wexler, a former professor for Campbellsville who still teaches as an adjunct, addressed the graduates. She is the daughter of the late film producer Haskell Wexler.
“Cathy asked our graduates not to forget the faculty, the role models, and we do think it’s a good idea for us to visit with our role models,” Spears said. “I still do that.”
One such role model for Spears is his 92-year-old cousin, John Raines, who lives in California. While he was in California for the commencement ceremony, Spears paid a visit to Raines, who retired as the agent-in-charge for the Pacific Realm for the CIA.
“At age 92, still paying tribute to my role model,” Spears said.
He told the faculty and staff of Campbellsville University, “We have now crossed paths, and I can’t be more thankful, and I appreciate the words, but I cannot be more thankful God has led me here.”
He described his 14 years at Campbellsville University as 14 years of “inspiration,” and he thanked his colleagues for their support during difficult times.
“I see a wonderful horizon ahead of us,” Spears said.
He told his colleagues they have his “undying gratitude.”
“You have taken this institution to new horizons that were never envisioned when I came here in 1999,” Spears said. “You changed Campbellsville University, but you still kept the caring institution with a Christian mission, and that’s what’s so important.
“That will affirm people today and transform people tomorrow.”
Dr. Donna Hedgepath, provost and vice president for academic affairs, told the faculty and staff, “Whether it’s one year or 25 years, it’s all important, because we’re all working toward the same mission.”
Dr. Joseph Hopkins, president of Campbellsville University, expressed his gratitude to the university’s employees.
“This is such an important occasion, where we recognize not only this accomplishment, but those who stick with it, those who persevere through the ups and downs and the arounds to be a part of this triumph the university has seen over the last decade,” Hopkins noted.
“I want to say what a tribute it is to the institution but to you as individuals for being those people of character and strength to help us to build this kind of legacy. We’re so grateful.”
Faculty receiving emeriti status include Dr. Carolyn Garrison, professor emeritus of education; Dr. James Moore, professor emeritus of music; Dr. Mike Page, professor emeritus of biology; Dr. Billy H. Stout, professor emeritus of education;
Dr. Robert Street, professor emeritus of business; Dr. Darlene Eastridge, professor emeritus of social work; Stan McKinney, professor emeritus of Mass Communication; Dr. M. Wesley Roberts, professor emeritus of music;
Dr. Beverly Rowland, professor emeritus of nursing; Dr. Donna Wise, professor emeritus of Human Performance; Dr. Damon Eubank, professor emeritus of history (posthumously); Dr. Janet Miller, professor emeritus of mathematics; Dr. Beverly Ennis, professor of education;
and Dr. Mary Jane Chaffee, professor emeritus of English.
Faculty and staff who retired in the past year, listed with their title at retirement, are as follows: Jack Beard, grounds team leader; Dr. Mary Jane Chaffee, professor of English; Brenda Porter, custodian; Otto Tennant, senior vice president for operations and administration;
Pam Tennant, student center coordinator; Eric Graves, head men’s and women’s bowling coach; Joan C. McKinney, director of university communications; and Alice Steele, clinical support specialist in the School of Education.
Faculty and staff who passed away in the past year include Jennifer Tinnell, instructor of music; Tim Heilman, director of development; and Dr. Damon Eubank, former chair of the Department of Social Science and professor of history.
Employees recognized for 25 years of service are as follows: Dr. Lisa McArthur, professor of music, and Bob Stotts, director of custodial services.
Employees recognized for 20 years of service are as follows: Dr. Eric Bruns, professor of psychology and consulting psychologist; Ginger Colvin, head women basketball’s coach; Dr. Jason Garrett, professor of communication;
Lynn Henderson, general carpenter and locksmith; Daran Kennon, community education coordinator; Adam Preston, head men’s soccer head coach; and Dr. Johana Weisenberger, professor of Spanish.
Employees recognized for 15 years of service are as follows: Jackie Abell, custodian; Dr. Bill Budai, associate dean of the School of Music and professor of piano; Paula Caldwell, academic coordinator; Kyle Caven, head tennis coach.
Don Cheatham, assistant professor of education and computer information systems; Kyle Davis, director of campus safety and security; Miranda Denney, assistant women’s basketball coach; Dr. Michele Dickens, dean of the School of Nursing;
Dr. Amanda Ewing, associate professor of business and economics; Lisa Ferguson, director of purchasing; Dr. Shane Garrison, dean of CU Online; Ed Goble, creative director; Jim Hardy, director of athletics; Vernon Humphress, serviceman;
Dr. Sharon Hundley, professor of education and Early Childhood Education and Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education chair; Tim Rogers, instructor in Human Performance; Dr. Michelle Tucker, dean of the Carver School of Social Work; and Rhonda Vale, clinical/lab coordinator.
Employees recognized for 10 years of service are as follows: Alex Adams, head women’s soccer coach; Dr. Carmen Arranz Ordas, associate professor of Spanish; Matt Atwood, assistant football coach; Mark Blakeman, assistant director of campus safety and security;
Trent Creason, campus minister; Dr. Lisa Fulks, associate professor of education and special education; Dr. Chuck Hamilton, associate professor of education; Lorri Hardy, secretary for football, baseball and Human Performance;
David Harrity, assistant professor of English at the Louisville Education Center; Dr. Tim Hooker, instructor of international studies and SPOL accreditation administrator; Dr. Jennifer Lanham, associate professor of social work;
Dr. Robin Magruder, associate professor of education and chair of undergraduate programs; Lee Miracle, head women’s wrestling coach; Dr. Saulo Moura, instructor in music; Dr. E.J. Pavy, academic systems coordinator;
Dr. Renee Sartin, associate professor of social work and Bachelor of Social Work site director; Robyn Sollberger, director of financial aid; Beth Sprowles, admissions coordinator in the Carver School of Social Work; and Lloyd Wilds, maintenance serviceman.
Employees recognized for five years of service are as follows:
Dr. Ehimwenma Aimiuwu, assistant professor of computer information services/computer science at the Louisville Education Center; Dr. Wes Auberry, associate professor of business; Gennifer Bayless, secretary for the Carver School of Social Work;
Dr. Gulsebnem Bishop, assistant professor of computer information services/computer science at the Louisville Education Center; Shaelyn Bishop, instructor in biology; Dr. Quiana D. Bradshaw, assistant professor of computer information services/computer science at the Louisville Education Center;
Neil Caldwell, assistant professor of social work; Steven Carpenter, regional project manager and serviceman at the Conover Education Center; Kasey Childers-Moss, administrative coordinator for barbering, cosmetology and esthetics;
Dalton Christopher, director of athletics at the Conover Education Center; Zach Clements, assistant director of athletics communications and multimedia; Lindsey Cochran, director of chiropractic enrollment; Samantha Coffey, student accounts clerk;
Keri Coots, instructor of sports medicine; Alexandria D. Dalton, communications and project manager in the Office of University Communications; Leslie Davis, advertising and social media coordinator;
Dr. Madison Duncan, director of business outcomes assessment and advising; Kendall Evanoff, data specialist in the Office of the Registrar; Dr. Jimmie Flores, assistant professor of business at the Louisville Education Center; Cheri Fox, instructor in barbering;
Dr. Mark Fulford, professor of business; Earl Giles, custodian; Jaimie Gilpin, assistant director of student accounts; Ana G. Gonzalez Silva, academic support specialist at the Louisville Education Center;
Sarah Griffin, success and career coach coordinator at the Conover Education Center; Dr. Rahsheeno Griffith, professor of marriage and family therapy at the Louisville Education Center; Terri Hall, custodian; Pete Hedgepath, director of fishing programs; Deborah Holt, instructor in education;
Mark Holtzclaw, service technician; Connie Johnson, instructor in barbering at the Noe Education Center; Kameron Jones, spirit shop coordinator at the Conover Education Center; Dr. John Kenney, instructor in business at the Los Angeles Education Center;
Dr. Khara Kinkade, assistant professor of social work; Maree Leake, international student advisor at the Louisville Education Center; Thomas Lyon, assistant professor of English, Seth Manley, special projects videographer; Sara Mardis, clinical counselor;
Alex Meade, television programming and production director and instructor of Mass Communication; Amber Meade, communications operations manager in the Office of University Communications; Sandra Medley, instructor in Allied Health;
Dr. Jonathan Moore, assistant professor of biology and director of Clay Hill Memorial Forest; CJ Moritz, head e-sports coach; Blaine Mullins, instructor in mathematics; Dr. Nagamani Palla; instructor in computer science/lead professor for BA 500 at the Louisville Education Center;
Ana A. Perez-Cruz, international student advisor at the Louisville Education Center; Dr. Abiodun C. Robert, assistant professor of computer information services/computer science at the Louisville Education Center;
Tammy Robinson, certificate admissions counselor at the Noe Education Center; Dr. Seneca Rodriguez, associate professor of education; Sam Ross, office assistant in the Office of the President; Dr. Vincent Scovetta, associate professor of computer science;
Dr. Dennis Short, assistant vice president for chiropractic and dean of chiropractic operations; Brett Sowell, assistant women’s basketball coach; Dr. Josh Switzer, assistant vice president for strategic initiatives and instructor of business;
Paula Taylor, cosmetology instructor at the Noe Education Center; Jason Travis, regional marketing coordinator; Holly Trowbridge, director of corporate and foundation relations; Dana Vaughn-Crews, cashier and account clerk at the Louisville Education Center;
Kelly Vink, coordinator for strategic planning and administrative compliance; Lacy Walker, assistant director of the Office of International Student Services and Designated School Officer at the Louisville Education Center; Dr. Rocky Wallace, associate professor of education;
Kinzie Wells, reference and electronic resources librarian; and Josh Williams, assistant athletic trainer.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.