CSI:MTSU - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Payroll Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Data Entry Payroll Analyst
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Marketing Specialist - Design
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- Member of the Executive & Governance Team
- Vice Chair of the Board
- Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Executive Vice President, and Vice Chair, Board of Directors of Bridgestone Americas, Inc
- Vice Chair, Retired
Christine Karbowiak Vanek, Vice Chair, retired from her roles as Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Executive Vice President, and Vice Chair - board of directors of Bridgestone Americas Inc., as well as her Executive Officer and Executive Vice President roles with Bridgestone Corporation, effective January 1, 2021. She is active in community organizations and has served on numerous boards including the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan America Society of Tennessee, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Franklin American Music City Bowl (now known as the Transperfect Music City Bowl). She has received a number of recognitions for her civic work and she recently was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Government of Japan for her work to strengthen Tennessee-Japan relations over the past nearly three decades. She holds bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Digital Content Specialist - Photo
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- Executive Chairman of Zycron Inc
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Systems Coordinator
- Executive Staff
Job Titles:
- Dean
- Dean Media & Entertainment / Dean of Behavioral and Health Scien / Dean University Honors College
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist
Job Titles:
- Administrative Associate
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Director of Market Development
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Director of Payroll Services
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit & Compliance Committee
- Member of the MTSU Governing Board
- CEO and Owner of Sprint Logistics
J.B. Baker is CEO and owner of Sprint Logistics. He attended Martin Junior College and earned his bachelor's from MTSU. He is the former owner and chairman of the board for Volunteer Express and Associated Companies, having worked at the company for 30 years. He has served on a number of professional and civic boards, including Martin Methodist College, Goodwill Industries, Saint Thomas Hospital Health Services Fund, and the Nashville Symphony.
Job Titles:
- University Counsel and Secretary to the Board
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Payroll Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Classification / Compensation Analyst
Job Titles:
- Chairman and CEO of Acadia Healthcare Co.
- Chairman in Accounting / Jones Chair Free Enterprise
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Senior Benefits Specialist
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Benefits Specialist
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff
- Executive Assistant to the President
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Coordinator - EPAF's
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Director of Employment / Employee Relations
- Employment Office
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Director of Employee Benefits
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Assistant Director of Payroll Services
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Personnel Assistant
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Payroll Coordinator
Mary Martin, Faculty Trustee, is a Professor of Mathematics in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences and is serving on the MTSU Board of Trustees for a second term. Earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from MTSU, she received her Master's and PhD. degrees in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Most recently, Martin has taught graduate and undergraduate mathematics courses, written three chapters in a book addressing mathematical modeling and pedagogy, and secured an Upward Bound grant of $1.5M for MTSU to use to benefit two Rutherford County high schools. Her past service in shared governance at MTSU and her overall experience in higher education allow her to bring an engaged and complete perspective to her role on the Board.
Michael J. Wade, CLU, ChFC, is a 1990 graduate of MTSU and an Agency Sales Leader with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, a Fortune 50 company. Michael has over twenty years experience in Insurance and Financial Services and lives in Chesterfield, MO where he has responsibility for 50 independent locations in the St. Louis metro area. Michael is also a small business owner in Tennessee. A Murfreesboro native, Michael has spent several years in key leadership roles in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri and is currently an advisor to the Board of Directors of a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization.
Molly Mihm, Student Trustee, completed her Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies with a focus in Healthcare Administration and a minor in Leadership in May of 2023. Her undergraduate studies allowed her to become involved with several campus departments. While at Middle Tennessee State University, Molly worked primarily within the Office of New Student and Family Programs with CUSTOMS, the university's program for incoming students. From 2021 to 2022, she served as a Student Orientation Assistant (SOA), and from 2022 to 2023, she served as a Student Coordinator. Her next step will be to continue her education at Middle Tennessee State University, where she will pursue a Master of Higher Education Administration degree. In addition to her studies, she is serving as a Graduate Assistant in the Student Organizations and Services office of the Center for Student and Involvement and Leadership. Her future career plans include applying her education and her years of training and campus involvement within Higher Education. She aspires to work in the Division of Student Affairs at the university.
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Founder, Owner and CEO of Wright Travel ( Retired )
Pamela J. Wright founded Wright Travel and built the company into one of the largest travel agencies in the US, with offices throughout the country. She sold it in 2015. She now is President and Managing Partner of Wright Development, a real estate investment company. She has served on numerous non-profit boards in Nashville. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from MTSU.
The University Faculty Senate chose Dr. Tony Johnston, a professor in the School of Agriculture in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, to be the first faculty trustee of the Board. Upon the Board's determination of the process for the selection of a student trustee, Ms. Lindsey Pierce Weaver, was chosen as the first student trustee of the Board. Ms. Weaver graduated from MTSU in 2016 and is pursuing her Master's in Administration and Supervision, with a concentrate in Higher Education. .
The appointees will undergo orientation and professional development delivered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, then the board will assume responsibility upon the first called meeting by the governor.
The Board will be responsible for selecting and appointing the president; setting the operating budget; approving personnel appointments; granting all degrees awarded by the University, including honorary degrees; establishing tuition and fee rates; approving contracts; and approving all rules, regulations, curriculum changes, new programs and degrees of the University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Principal at Lynwood Ventures, LLC
Pete DeLay is a Principal at Lynwood Ventures, LLC., a Nashville based investment management company. Previously he led the Nashville office of Forterra Building Products, and before that, he was the president and owner of Sherman-Dixie Concrete Industries Inc. He previously served on the board of trustees of the University of the Sewanee-University of the South and he currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Montgomery Bell Academy where he is Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign.
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Classification / Compensation Analyst
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Payroll Coordinator / Shannon
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board
- Member of the Executive & Governance Team
- Board Chairman of Haury & Smith
Stephen B. Smith, Chair, serves as Chairman of Haury and Smith Contractors Inc. He has served on a number of boards including Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati; Nashville Planning Commission; and Chairman of the Nashville Park Board. Currently, he serves on the boards of Capstar Bank and Williamson County Sports Authority. Smith received his Bachelors of Science degree from MTSU in 2011. He was elected to MTSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004, and received the Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award in 2010.
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Coordinator - I9
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Audit & Compliance Committee
- Investment Advisor
- Member of the Executive & Governance Team
- Member of the MTSU Governing Board
- Audit & Compliance
Thomas R. "Tom" Boyd is an investment advisor representative with Decker Wealth Management in Nashville. With more than four decades of experience in financial management and banking, he previously served as a senior vice president at Bank of America. Boyd graduated from MTSU with a Bachelor of Science degree, holds an M.B.A., and previously served with the Tennessee Army National Guard.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, National Health Investors ( Retired )
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Services Staff Member
- Asst. Director of Benefits
William S. "Bill" Jones is a 1982 graduate of MTSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. A nearly life-long resident of Murfreesboro, he has been in the financial services industry since graduation. He currently serves as Area Executive for Pinnacle Financial Partners with responsibilities for Rutherford and Bedford counties with over 30 years with Pinnacle and its predecessor. Currently he serves as the Chairman of the Rutherford County Industrial Development Board, as Chairman of the Ascension/St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital Board and as a member and past Chairman of the Christy-Houston Foundation in Murfreesboro. He also serves as a past President of the MTSU Foundation.