COLUMBIA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Dean of Students
• Department of Student Engagement & Student Services

Adam is the Dean of Student Engagement & Student Services. He has worked at Columbia State since 2013, starting off as the Student Services Coordinator at the Lawrence Campus. He leads the Department of Student Engagement that includes the Disability Resource Center, Counseling Center, Student Development, Student Employment, New Student Orientation, Student Clubs & Organizations, Student Conduct, Student Affairs Associates, and co-manages Veteran, Evening, and Transition Programs (Veteran Services, Evening Services, TN Promise, and career assistance for students).

Job Titles:

• Web Developer

Job Titles:

• Social Media & Special Events

Avery coordinates a variety of college social media accounts, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, creating relevant and engaging content for students. She is also responsible for planning several special events at the college.

Job Titles:

• Print & Digital Communications Coordinator

Carl works on print publications for the college such as the President's Annual Report, various postcards and the Admissions viewbooks. He also handles various photography projects and has won state and regional awards for his photos. Currently, he and his family are renovating a historic home in Maury County.

Job Titles:

• Assistant
• Student Affairs Associate

Cassandra is Assistant Soccer and Softball Coach & Student Affairs Associate. She has been with Columbia State since 2023. She splits her time between coaching the women's soccer and softball teams and serving as a college success advisor (academic advising)

Job Titles:

• Executive Director of Communications
• Leader for the Communications Office

Amy is the leader for the Communications Office at Columbia State. She works alongside the Communications team to plan, organize and direct the college's strategic communications and integrated marketing efforts to support the college's goals and objectives and to build the college's image and awareness of its programs using agency-quality, data-driven communications. Amy is also a proud Columbia State alum.

Job Titles:

• Professor of History

Dr. Barry Gidcomb, Professor of History and Candace Warner, Assistant Professor of Sociology will host a community presentation on their personal experiences during their May 2010 trip to Haiti. The presentation will be held on Thursday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Columbia, Tennessee. Their goal is to raise community awareness about the living conditions in Haiti as a result of the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Light refreshments will be provided. This event is free and open to the public. The Beta Kappa Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Columbia State recently co-sponsored, with the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, lectures at the Columbia and Williamson County campuses on Haiti and the challenges faced by many Haitians since the January 2010 earthquake. The presenters were faculty members Candace Warner and Barry Gidcomb, both of whom visited Haiti last May and are members of the board of a non-profit organization called Yonn Ede Lot that benefits local associations in La Montagne, a mountain community overlooking the southern coast of Haiti. In conjunction with these programs, the chapter conducted a door prize raffle at the Phi Theta Kappa Tennessee Region Honors Institute and held bake sales on the Columbia and Williamson County campuses to raise funds for The Renaissance School, a small school in La Montagne damaged by the earthquake. In addition to repairing damage to the building, Yonn Ede Lot is funding the construction of two latrines, one for boys and one for girls, and a water collection/filtration system that will provide the school with running water. Altogether, the Beta Kappa Theta chapter has raised $1,800 for The Renaissance School project.

Job Titles:

• Assistant
• Assistant Professor of Sociology
• S 2nd Blog

"I could not pass up this opportunity," said Warner. "I have always wanted to travel to China and because we would be studying China's economic and government systems-my major areas of doctoral research-it was truly the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm very thankful to several of my Columbia State colleagues for making it possible for me to travel to China in the first place-specifically, Dr. Barry Gidcomb, Gene Humphrys, and Cecelia Johnson." After a week of preliminary classes and preparation, a group of 11 students--3 doctoral students, 4 master's students, and 4 undergraduate students, along with two professors-Dr. Minzi Su, who organized the trip, and Dr. Ann-Marie Rizzo from Tennessee State University left for Beijing, China on May 22, 2009. The group spent two days in Beijing touring various scenic sites, such as Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, and the Great Wall of China. "I loved seeing Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall of China--those were my favorite tourist spots, but my favorite part of China was the interaction with the people. The Chinese people were so friendly, and so intrigued by America and Americans. But for me, learning more about their lives and culture was the most fascinating aspect of the trip. There are so many cultural experiences, as well as elements of China's economic and governance structure that I am so excited to share with my sociology students here at Columbia State." After touring Beijing and the surrounding countryside areas of Dalian, the group arrived at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics where they stayed for two weeks in the international student dormitory. The group took classes with professors from Dongbei University during the morning, sometimes all day, and on other days visited various international businesses and government agencies in the city of Dalian, an international port city with rapidly developing economic areas. Candace Warner, Columbia State's Assistant Professor of Sociology, traveled to both Beijing and Dalian, China for three weeks during May and June. Candace is completing her Ph.D. in Public Administration from the College of Public Service and Urban Affairs at Tennessee State University. Although Warner completed all required course work, as well as doctoral preliminary exams during the spring 2009 semester, she decided to enroll in a summer course-Comparative Studies in Sino-U.S. Public Administration-for the opportunity to study economic development and governance in China.

Job Titles:

• President

Dr. Janet F. Smith was named president of Columbia State Community College in late November 2007 and officially took over the presidency on February 18, 2008. Smith, the fourth president of Columbia State, returned to her native Tennessee following a distinguished career which has taken her to North Carolina, Tennessee, New York, Kentucky, and Arkansas. Dr. Smith grew up in Houston County, near Erin, Tennessee. She attended Austin Peay State University where she earned a Bachelor's degree with a major in health and physical education and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. Following Austin Peay, she earned a Doctorate in higher education from George Peabody College for Teachers, Vanderbilt University. She has participated in post-graduate studies at North Carolina State University, Indiana University, Mississippi State University and Harvard. Prior to Columbia State, Dr. Smith was President of Rich Mountain Community College in Mena, Arkansas. Throughout her career, she has held academic administrative positions at Hopkinsville Community College in Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Dyersburg State Community College, Dyersburg, Tennessee; and Isothermal Community College, Spindale, North Carolina. She has been honored by many for her leadership in community colleges including the Governor of Arkansas and the Kentucky Legislature. Under her leadership, Columbia State has received many recognitions and honors. They include: named an ASPEN Top 150 Community College; recipient of the Community College of Appalachia Innovation Award; designated an AACC Diversity Finalist; recipient of the Workforce Innovation Award from the Council on Workforce Innovation; and chosen as a Bellwether Finalist. Dr. Smith is very active in the communities that Columbia State serves - she has presented at area, state and national conferences; clubs; organizations and events. She currently serves on the following Boards: Maury County Industrial Development Board, South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance, Maury Alliance, the United Way, the Tennessee Economic Council for Women, Williamson County Chamber and Executive Committee, and the Family Support Board for the Southern Region. Nationally she serves on the board of Higher Education Research and Development Institute and the board of COMBASE (a national organization emphasizing Community Based Education). Previous service includes Maury Alliance Executive Council and Chamber Council Chair, Maury Advisory Board to First Farmers Bank, Maury County Leadership Alumni Association, Nashville Symphony Advisory Council, Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the American Association of Community College Commission on Workforce. Smith is a graduate of Leadership Maury and Leadership Middle Tennessee. In addition, Smith has served as President of the Tennessee College Association. She is married to James (Jim) W. Fowler, who is a retired community college Librarian. They reside in Columbia, Tennessee with their daughter Alexandra Hiles. Dr. Smith enjoys gardening, art, and muscle cars.

Job Titles:

• Myopia Research / Research on Development of Myopia in Children / Research Related to Development of Myopia ( Nearsightedness ) in Children
• Professor of Psychology

Dr. Katz conducted an exploratory research study with students in 15 of her classes in Fall 2006, Spring 2007, and Fall 2007 semesters. In this study, 417 students completed anonymous questionnaires about their childhood perceptions and experiences related to multiple factors, including perceived psychological stress, diet, near work, and time spent outdoors. The purpose of the research was to investigate whether these factors would show a relation to the development of myopia. Dr. Lambert conducted the statistical analyses of the research study's data. Louise Katz, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Columbia State Community College. She teaches classes at Columbia State in developmental psychology, introductory psychology, social psychology, and psychology of adjustment. She is a licensed psychologist in Tennessee.

Job Titles:

• Dean of Written, Oral, and Digital Communications Director of Learning Support

Job Titles:

• Coordinator of Behavioral Statistics

Jailya began her career with Columbia State in 2023 and is located on the Williamson Campus. Before Columbia State, Jailya worked in the Williamson County school system, where she is also an alum. She serves as the DRC Counselor for the Williamson and Lewisburg Campuses. Jailya also works closely with Robyn Brian, DRC Manager. Main Contact for: Disability services for Williamson and Lewisburg Campuses Behavioral Intervention Team Member

Job Titles:

• Mental Health Counselor

Kelsey has over 6 years of experience in treating anxiety, depression, trauma-related issues, women's issues, substance use, and domestic violence in teens and adults. She is also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) used to process traumatic memories and other adverse life experiences to bring these to an adaptive resolution. Kelsey takes appointments by telehealth.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology / University of Memphis

Job Titles:

• Staff Writer

Margaret is responsible for writing Columbia State's news releases and communicating with the media, including newspapers, radio and television stations in Middle Tennessee.

Job Titles:

• Case Manager
• Counselor

Melissa is our Counselor & Case Manager in the Counseling Center since 2018. She serves as a free resource for students for mental health counseling and consults with faculty and staff as needed. She is a licensed clinical social worker for the State of Tennessee, which allows her to provide confidential therapy to our students. Melissa provides short-term therapy and then connects students to outside resources. She also serves as the college's case manager and consults on Behavioral Intervention Team referrals. Additionally, she serves as the Columbia State's Homelessness Liaison. She is currently available for appointments via Telehealth for all campuses. Click for Melissa's bio.

Job Titles:

• Office Manager

Job Titles:

• Assistant Baseball Coach & Student Affairs Associate

Pat is an Assistant Baseball Coach & Student Affairs Associate. He has been with Columbia State since 2023. He splits his time between Athletics for coaching and assisting the Department of Student Engagement, Enrollment Services, and serving as a college success advisor assist (academic advising). Additionally, Pat assists with New Student Orientation. Pat is a native of Wantagh, New York and holds a bachelor's degree from Virginia Wesleyan College, where he was a member of the NCAA Division 3 baseball team.

Robyn is the Disability Resource Center Manager. She has been with Columbia State since 2018. She serves the Columbia, Lawrence, and Clifton Campus students who are interested in receiving disability services or registered with the DRC for services such as academic accommodations, ADA concerns, academic advising, and referrals to other offices. Additionally, she serves as Columbia State's Suicide Awareness and Prevention Liaison. Click for Robyn's bio.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Director of Learning Support / Lead Faculty for Learning Support Writing

Job Titles:

• Behavioral Intervention Team Member
• Coordinator, Student Development

Tia is our Coordinator of Student Development since 2019. She serves as the Student Government Association advisor and manages/advises the President's Leadership Society Program. Tia develops and implements student engagement opportunities for the college such as Welcome Week, Spring Fling/Spring Tailgate, and assists all five campuses in development of student activities and programming. In addition, Tia helps coordinate New Student Orientation with the Director of Student Engagement.