Lee Faculty Members Earn Promotions

Five Lee University faculty members have earned promotion in rank to professor from associate professor and include Drs. Blayne Carroll, Susan Carter, Rachel Reneslacis, Patty Silverman, and Linda Thompson.

Dr. Blayne Carroll joined the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics as an associate professor in 2006. Prior to coming to Lee, Dr. Carroll had been an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at Berry College, a visiting assistant professor of mathematics at Dickinson College, and a dean’s teaching fellow at Emory University.  He also worked for Educational Testing Service developing standardized tests including the SAT, GRE, GMAT, and AP Calculus exams.  Dr. Carroll continues to serve as a consultant with ETS for the GRE, AP Calculus, and the Major Field Test in Mathematics programs.

Dr. Carroll earned his PhD and MS degrees in mathematics from Emory University in Atlanta with a specialty in graph theory and combinatorics. He graduated summa cum laude from Butler University in Indianapolis with a BS in mathematics.

Dr. Susan Carter joined the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences in 2001. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses including Marriage and Family, Psychology of Human Sexuality, Lifespan Development and Psychology of Gender.  Dr. Carter is a published author and researcher in the areas of child and adolescent sexuality and marriage/family relationships. Her current field of research deals with child and teen internet safety issues as well as best practices in sexuality education for churches and schools.

Dr. Carter received her PhD in human development and family studies from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, her MEd in counselor education and counseling psychology from UTC, and her BA in psychology from Lee College in 1987.

Dr. Rachel Reneslacis joined the faculty of the Department of Language and Literature in the fall of 1999.  She currently directs the university’s writing programs and teaches both general core and advanced writing courses. Prior to Lee, she was a visiting professor at colleges in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Kenya. 

Dr. Reneslacis earned her PhD in rhetoric and composition from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, her master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and her bachelor’s from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Va.

Dr. Patty Silverman joined Lee’s faculty in the fall of 2000 as an assistant professor of public relations. Prior to her appointment at Lee, she worked 20 years in various public relations positions in three states.  She is the discipline coordinator for the PR major for the Communication Arts Department. She also serves as the internship coordinator for public relations, advertising and media writing students and is the founder and co-faculty advisor for the Lee Chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). Dr. Silverman also spearheaded the yearlong process to earn Lee's public relations program the prestigious national certification, Certification in Education for Public Relations.

Dr. Silverman earned a PhD in communication from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, her master's degree from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., and her bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University.

Dr. Linda Thompson serves as the chair of the Department of Vocal Music at Lee University. Thompson's research and teaching interests include preservice teacher development, sociological aspects of music education, and music for special learners. She has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences and is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Therapy, Music Educators' Journal, and General Music Today.  In addition, she serves as the editor for the book series “Advances in Music Education Research.”

Dr. Thompson received her PhD in music education from University of Arizona, which included a minor in teaching and teacher education, an MS in education and music from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her BS in secondary music education from Northern State University. 

Seven other Lee University faculty members have earned promotion in rank. Four faculty earned a promotion to associate professor from assistant professor, and include Drs. Sherry Kasper, Mike Iosia, Kimberly Moffett, and Christine Williams. Mary Dukes, Randell Ferguson, and Catherine Mantooth also earned a promotion in rank. 

Dr. Sherry Kasper joined Lee’s Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in 2007. She has taught classes such as Principles of Biology II, Cell Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology. Dr. Kasper also participates in research at the University of Tennessee each summer. She takes Lee students with her, providing them an opportunity to be involved in research as an undergraduate student. 

Dr. Kasper holds a PhD from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and a BA from Maryville College. 

Dr. Mike Iosia joined the Department of Health, Exercise Science and Secondary Education as an assistant professor of exercise physiology in the fall of 2007. Prior to pursuing his PhD, Dr. Iosia spent nine years as a strength and conditioning coach at the NCAA Division IA level. In addition, he had coaching stops at the University of Southern Mississippi, Auburn University, Tulane University, and spent the last year of his PhD studies as an intern in the Crimson Tide weight room. 

Dr. Iosia earned his PhD from the University of Alabama, his MEd from Auburn University, and his BS from the University of Southern Mississippi. 

Dr. Kimberly Moffett joined the Helen DeVos College of Education in 2004 as an assistant professor of education. She is a behavior analyst in the state of Tennessee and serves on several educational committees. Dr. Moffett has been named to the lists of Who’s Who Among American Teachers, Who’s Who Among American Women, Cambridge Who’s Who for Executives, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs, and in 2012, was recognized as an Elite American Educator. 

Dr. Moffett serves on the national committee for the Council of Exceptional Children and is on the State of Tennessee Board for CEC and Lee University chapter sponsor. She earned her PhD and BS from Tennessee Tech University. 

Dr. Christine Williams joined the Lee University Theatre faculty in 2007 and since has directed several student productions including “Sabrina Fair,” “The Trojan Women,” “An Ideal Husband,” “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” “The Winter's Tale,” “My Fair Lady” and “Tartuffe.”  

Dr. Williams has published several articles and book reviews on Tudor theatre history and other areas of theatre in journals, as well as presented papers at national and regional conferences. She also serves as an officer in the Theatre as Liberal Art focus group of the Association for Theatre in Higher Learning.  

Dr. Williams earned her PhD and MA from Bowling Green State University, and her BA from the University of Dallas. 

Both Mary Dukes and Randell Ferguson have earned a promotion in rank to associate lecturer from lecturer. 

Ms. Dukes joined the Lee faculty in the Department of Communication Arts in the fall of 1999. She is currently the discipline coordinator for the Digital Media Studies program.  Her courses cover all areas of media production including camera work, writing and broadcast journalism. During her professional career, Ms. Dukes was the television producer for the Voice of Salvation in Cleveland a news director at WSCF/WAMT in Titusville, Fla., and worked as on-air talent and production staff for several radio stations in central Florida. She holds memberships with the Southern States Communication Association, and Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society. 

Ms. Dukes received her MA in communication and her BA as a double major in radio/television and film from the University of Central Florida.  Ms. Dukes is currently a PhD candidate in mass communication at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

Mr. Ferguson joined Lee as visiting lecturer in mathematics in the fall of 2007. Prior to Lee, he worked in public schools as both a mathematics teacher and administrator for more than 30 years. His administrative positions included assistant principal, principal and secondary supervisor for Bradley County Schools. Mr. Ferguson has presented at the PLATO Learning Education and Technology Conference on the use of technology for credit recovery and in alternative classrooms. While at Lee, Mr. Ferguson has focused on improving the effectiveness of future educators in the area of mathematics. 

Mr. Ferguson holds an MS and a BS from UTC. 

Catherine Mantooth also received a promotion in rank, moving to senior lecturer from lecturer. 

Ms. Mantooth came to Lee in 2005 from Springfield, Mo. as the Theatre Technical Director in the Department of Communication Arts. Prior to Lee, she served as adjunct faculty at Evangel University.  Ms. Mantooth's theatre background is in the technical arenas of scenic construction, scenic design, light design, stage management and props creation. During the school year Ms. Mantooth is most often found backstage, working in the scene shop, or in the design lab encouraging her student designers to explore their theatrical imaginations. 

Ms. Mantooth earned her MA in theatre arts at Missouri State University and her BFA in technical design theatre from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.