STEMSATIONAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the MTSU Governing Board
- Student
- Voting Trustee
Andrew "Drew" Carpenter, Student Trustee, acquired a Bachelor of Science in Community and Public Health and a Minor in Music from Middle Tennessee State University in 2021. During his undergraduate tenure, he was involved in, and led, several student organizations across our vibrant campus community. Immediately following undergraduate graduation, he began a Master of Business Administration with a Healthcare Management concentration. Simultaneously, Drew began his first professional role as the Director of Strategic Growth for Sigma Pi Fraternity, one of the organizations he served during his collegiate tenure. After continuing his education and gaining additional work experience, Drew ultimately hopes to pursue a career in Healthcare Administration.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Specialist - Design
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Specialist
Job Titles:
- 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
Job Titles:
- Manager, Beef & Swine Units
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman of Zycron Inc
Job Titles:
- Dean
- Dean Media & Entertainment / Dean of Behavioral and Health Scien / Dean University Honors College
Job Titles:
- Director / School of Agriculture
Job Titles:
- Director of Market Development
Job Titles:
- 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:
- Assistant Manager, Dairy Farm
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman and CEO of Acadia Healthcare Co.
- Retired
Joey A. Jacobs is retired as past Chairman and CEO of Acadia Healthcare. With prior postings in Hospital Corporation of America's Tennessee Division and Psychiatric Solutions Inc., he was awarded MTSU's Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award in 2013. He serves on the board of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Jacobs received his bachelor's degree from MTSU.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Marketing
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff
- Executive Assistant to the President
Job Titles:
- Assistant Manager, Horse Barn
Job Titles:
- Director, MTSU Farm Laboratories
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Coordinator, School of Agricultur
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:
- Secretary
- Executive Aide, Horse Science
Rick Cottle, Faculty Trustee is a 25+ year textile/apparel industry veteran who earned a B.S. Textile Technology from Auburn University in 1984, an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2003, and a Ph.D. in Consumer Affairs from Auburn University in 2012. He spent his time in the textile/apparel industry in roles like manufacturing management, industrial engineering, cost accounting, marketing, and sales. Rick joined MTSU's College of Behavioral & Health Sciences in 2013 and teaches a broad spectrum of topics within the textile/apparel industry. Dr. Cottle's research focuses on Three-Dimensional (3D) Body Scanning as it pertains to the fit of apparel items to the human body. His experience as a board member includes the Rutherford County Arts Alliance, Mainstreet Murfreesboro, Nashville Fashion Alliance, and Nashville Fashion Week.
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:
- Investment Advisor
- Member of the MTSU Governing Board
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 )