MILLIGAN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Men 's Basketball Assistant Coach
Anthony served as professor of art and communications for 28 years. In the fall of 1992, Anthony was instrumental in the creation of the fine arts core curriculum for photography majors. She served as a new-student mentor since the program's inception and has remained an active member of the Milligan Arts Council.
Anthony holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Memphis and a master's degree in the fine arts from East Tennessee State University. She has been a featured photographer in numerous photographic exhibitions, publications and art collections through out the United States. Her most notable works include "Graceland," a photo series, and "Migrant Workers of Unicoi County."
Job Titles:
- Director, Center for Calling and Career Development
Job Titles:
- Wellness Center Assistant
Job Titles:
- Retired Investment Banker
Job Titles:
- Professor of Church History
Job Titles:
- Head Volleyball Coach Adjunct Instructor of Exercise Science
Doneva Bays began her sixth season (2013-14) at the helm of the Milligan women's volleyball program after taking over the program's reigns before the 2008 season.
In 2014, Bays was assigned a startup men's program which competed as a club team for its first season.
Bays also served as head coach of the Coast Volleyball Club in San Diego, Calif., which was under the direction of volleyball great Mary Jo Peppler. Bays started her coaching career as a graduate assistant for East Tennessee State University. Before coming to back to Milligan, Bays served as assistant director of recreation for Scott County (Va.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Christian Ministries
Curtis Booher holds a bachelor of arts degree in Bible from Milligan College (1985) and a master of divinity degree and a doctor of ministry degree from Emmanuel Christian Seminary (2001, 2010). While at Emmanuel he received the Joe Dampier Award for excellence in Christian Ministries. Booher also serves as a preaching minister at Crossroads Christian Church in Gray, Tenn. He is also a consultant for the Youth in Ministry (YiM) program at Milligan and authored the book "Why I am?" a guidebook for teens published by YiM. In previous years, Booher held the position of assistant baseball coach at Milligan. His teaching experience includes multiple stints as guest speaker and lecturer for Emmanuel School of Religion (ESR) classes. He has also led ESR Spiritual Formation groups. Booher has given multiple presentations in churches and colleges throughout the U.S.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Jason Bembry has been teaching at Emmanuel since 2005. He teaches Intermediate Hebrew and Old Testament Introduction each year and two other courses, Old Testament Theology and The Old Testament Prophetic Tradition, on a regular basis. Additionally, Dr. Bembry teaches a number of exegesis courses in the Pentateuch, the Deuteronomistic History (Joshua - 2Kings), the Prophets, and the book of Daniel. Dr. Bembry also teaches Aramaic, Ugaritic, and a course on the Septuagint on a three year cycle. He has offered a fully online version of Elementary Hebrew since 2008.
His peer-reviewed articles have appeared in the Journal of Semitic Studies, Maarav: A Journal for the Study of Northwest Semitic Languages and Literatures, and Theology Today. His book reviews have been published in Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Maarav, Hebrew Studies Journal, Journal of Near Eastern Studies and Stone-Campbell Journal. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the American Schools of Oriental Research, and Catholic Biblical Association. His first book, Yahweh's Coming of Age, (Eisenbrauns 2011) is available through Amazon. It is an examination of why God is depicted as an old man in the title "Ancient of Days" in Daniel 7. Dr. Bembry published Walking in the Prophetic Tradition: Models of Speaking Truth and Acting in Love for Everyday People in November of 2018.
Dr. Bembry's initial ministry experience came in an overseas mission experience in Prague, Czech Republic where he lived for a year working with other missionaries evangelizing among college age students. While living in Boston, Dr. Bembry worked as a college minister within a local church in a ministry that served numerous schools in the Boston area. He currently serves on a Czech Mission Team that does outreach ministry in Litomerice, Czech Republic.
Dr. Bembry holds the Ph.D. degree from Harvard University where he focused on Pre-Exilic history and Northwest Semitic, especially Ugaritic. Dr. Bembry received his B. A. from Lipscomb University, M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and he has taught part time at Harvard, Gordon-Conwell, Lipscomb University and Pepperdine University and full time at Milligan College. His areas of interest in the Old Testament include Hebrew and Aramaic language and Old Testament Theology - especially the theology of the prophets. Dr. Bembry is married and has 3 sons. He enjoys coaching baseball, and spending time with his family.
Courses Taught
Languages
Elementary Hebrew
Intermediate Hebrew
Biblical Aramaic
Ugaritic
Septuagint
Exegesis
Daniel
Genesis
Deuteronomy
The Deuteronomistic History
Isaiah
Amos and Hosea
Theologically Oriented Courses
Old Testament Theology
The Old Testament Prophetic Tradition
Job Titles:
- Professor of Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Counseling Director of Academic Advising
Dr. John-Paul Abner graduated with a bachelor's of science degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 1987 and graduated from the University of Florida with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Child and Adolescent emphasis) in August of 1996. Following three years of teaching at East Tennessee State University, he joined the faculty of Milligan College in 1999. He is now a professor in psychology and research coordinator for the occupational therapy graduate program.
In addition to his roles at Milligan College, he is a licensed psychologist in the state of Tennessee and currently supervises a psychology clinic where doctoral students provide psychotherapy and assessment for children and adolescents. His areas of interests and expertise include learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety disorders, and Parent Child Interaction Therapy with oppositional defiant children. He is also working with the ETSU Center of Excellence for Children in state custody to help disseminate Parent Child Interaction Therapy to therapists in the community to improve services for children who have been maltreated. he has published research examining the effects of PCIT on children with autism. He is currently one of 20 people recognized by PCIT International as a PCIT Master trainer and serves is the Chairperson of the PCIT International Training Committee. He trains therapists both nationally and internationally.
He and his wife, Pam, have three children. They attend Grandview Christian Church in Johnson City, TN.
Expertise Topics: Impact: Parent/Child Interaction Therapy; Childhood Anxiety Disorders, Discipline Issues; Childhood Psychopathology; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Parenting Issues; Child Maltreatment
Kristal Dove Bohlman has taught full-time at Milligan since 2015. Since childhood, when her parents brought her to visit their alma mater, Kristal has considered Milligan home and sees it as a gift to teach at a school that she loves so dearly. In addition to holding a Bachelor of Science from Milligan in Business Administration and History, Bohlman obtained her International MBA from the University of South Carolina and MA in Christian Formation and Ministry from Wheaton College, and a Doctorate of Business Administration from Anderson University. Prior to joining Milligan's faculty full-time, she spent many years serving in Residence Life at both Wheaton and Milligan and as the Director of Campus Activities at Milligan. Additional non-profit work experience includes serving as the Director of Marketing and Outreach at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, MD, as well as years spent directing a church planting marketing support organization. Bohlman also has experience in both the financial services industry and working as a financial analyst for the Disney Corporation.
Whenever she is not teaching or cheering on her students at Milligan events, Bohlman enjoys serving at her local church, Christ Community; playing tennis; and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the North American Patristics Society
Lee Blackburn holds a bachelor of arts degree in English and history from Milligan College (2000), a master of theological studies degree from the University of Notre Dame (2002), and a doctorate in theology from Notre Dame. He has received multiple awards and honors, including passing his Doctoral Candidacy Exam with High Honors and his Master of Theological Studies Exit Exam with Distinction. Blackburn held multiple graduate assistant positions at Notre Dame and previously served as adjunct instructor at Atlanta Christian College, where he taught a wide variety of courses.
Blackburn has given multiple presentations throughout the U.S. and United Kingdom on topics regarding early church history. He has published articles in the Stone-Campbell Journal and Studia Patristica and book reviews in several other journals.
Blackburn is a member of the North American Patristics Society and the Society of Biblical Literature. He and his wife, Kirstin, have four children, Seamus, Callum, Alastair and Harriett.
Michael Blouin holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Vermont (2006) and a doctorate from Michigan State University (2012). Peer-reviewed articles by Blouin have appeared in a wide range of journals, including The Journal of American Studies and Extrapolation. He recently published a monograph entitled Japan and the Cosmopolitan Gothic: Specters of Modernity (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). His areas of interest include critical theory, cultural studies, film studies, and transnationalism. He co-designed an Honors program for Milligan, alongside Dr. Amy Edmonds. They currently co-chair the program.
Blouin is an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He and his wife Kate Emmerich have a daughter, Emerson.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Academic Affairs Dean
Rich Aubrey is in his 30 th year at Milligan. He served for 27 years as the women's basketball coach and then another two and a half years as campus minister. One constant throughout his tenure has been teaching. He served as full-time faculty in Education and has also taught courses in Humanities and Exercise Science. He continues to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Education.
In August of 2022, it was announced that Aubrey would assume the role of Interim Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean at the beginning of 2023.
Aubrey earned a BA in 1985 and MEd in 1993 from Milligan, and previously served as the Director of Teacher Education for Milligan. He also completed his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in 1998 from East Tennessee State University. Before coming back to work at his alma mater, he taught and coached for 8 years in local school systems.
As a basketball coach at Milligan, his teams won over 500 games, 11 Conference championships, and six Conference Champions of Character Awards. Aubrey was named Conference Coach of Character in 2006, 2013, and 2020. He was honored as the NAIA's National Coach of Character in 2013.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director of Physician Assistant Studies
Johnson City physician and 1988 Milligan alum Dr. Ron Blackmore serves part-time as medical director. He is a family physician at Blue Ridge Family Medicine and as chairman of the board of State of Franklin Healthcare Associates in Johnson City. Blackmore received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Milligan. In addition, he has served on numerous international mission trips. He is board certified in Family Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Digital Marketing Specialist
Job Titles:
- Women 's Basketball Assistant Coach
Jeff Bourn joined the Milligan women's basketball staff in August 2014 after more than 12 years of multi-recreational coaching experience.
Prior to Milligan, Bourn coached girls middle school basketball at Moncure School in Moncure, North Carolina, for four seasons. During his time at Moncure School, Bourn was actively involved in Young Life and also gained additional coaching experience with girls and boys soccer, cross-country and track.
Job Titles:
- University Archivist & Information Resources Librarian
Leslie Bean joined Milligan University's business and finance team as Human Resources Director in January 2020 following 10 years of experience in human resources, payroll and benefits administration, and other academic and administrative positions at Johnson University (Knoxville, TN) and The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD).
She earned a bachelor's degree in History and Biblical Studies from Johnson University and a master's degree in American History from East Tennessee State University. She also holds certification through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-Certified Professional) and is an active member of the College & University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), including serving as a Board Member for the CUPA-HR Tennessee Chapter for two terms from 2019-2021.
Outside of the office, Leslie volunteers her time as the chair of the Personnel Committee at her church and is a board member of the Christian HolyLand Foundation. She also enjoys spending time and traveling with her family and exploring the mountains of East Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant / Kingsport, TN
Paul Blowers is the Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History. He is a scholar of patristics and early Christianity and has written also on the Stone-Campbell heritage.
Dr. Blowers graduated from Milligan College and Emmanuel Christian Seminary, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a John O'Brien Fellow. He is a former President of the North American Patristics Society and Associate Editor of the Journal of Early Christian Studies, and in 2017-18 was a Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology. Among other works Paul has authored are Visions and Faces of the Tragic: The Mimesis of Tragedy and the Folly of Salvation in Early Christian Literature (2020), Maximus the Confessor: Jesus Christ and the Transfiguration of the World (2016), Drama of the Divine Economy: Creator and Creation in Early Christian Theology and Piety (2012), Exegesis and Spiritual Pedagogy in Maximus the Confessor (1991). He is co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Biblical Interpretation (2019) and has two works of translation of early Christian texts, Moral Formation and the Virtuous Life (2019), and On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ: Selected Writings of St. Maximus the Confessor (2003). He also has articles in the Journal of Early Christian Studies, Vigiliae Christianae, Studia Patristica, Pro Ecclesia, Church History, Modern Theology, and Studies in Christian Ethics. He has also produced long essays for The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies, the Cambridge History of Christianity, the Oxford Handbook to Maximus the Confessor, and the Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation. He edited and translated The Bible in Greek Christian Antiquity (1997) and was a general editor of The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement (2004).
Paul has presented papers and lectures for the North American Patristics Society, Oxford Patristics Conference, and various specialized conferences including the International Symposium on Maximus the Confessor in Belgrade, Serbia (2012) and the Seventh International Conference on Maximus the Confessor in the Republic of Georgia (2019).
Beyond the classroom, Paul is an active member of Grandview Christian Church and a volunteer chaplain. He and his wife Sandy, a nurse and teacher, have four children and fourteen grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Retired Higher Ed Administrator
Job Titles:
- Director of Technical Services
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head Baseball Coach
Barnett joined Milligan's athletics staff as head baseball coach in May 2019. A native of Johnson City, Barnett comes most recently from Walters State Community College where he served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Barnett served as a graduate assistant at Lincoln Memorial University from 2013 to 2014, helping the school win the South Atlantic Conference for the first time in 54 years. This followed a successful playing career during his time as a student-athlete at ETSU.
Job Titles:
- Retired Minister / Meridian, ID
Job Titles:
- Contractor / Jonesborough, TN
Barr has over 30 years of experience with disc golf and has been instrumental in bringing major tournaments to the region. As a tournament director, Barr has hosted 65 professionally sanctioned events, including the 2017 United States Women's Disc Golf Championship and the upcoming Professional Masters World Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee. As a competitor, Barr has won 81 professionally sanctioned events.