Seven Lee Faculty Receive Tenure

Following its annual board meeting in January, the Lee University Board of Directors awarded tenure to seven faculty members, effective August 2018. The new tenured faculty members are Jonathan Cornett, Sarah Schlosser, Laura Singletary, David Smartt, Kirstee Williams, William Woolfitt, and Alan Wyatt. 

Dr. Cornett is an assistant professor of biology in Lee’s Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics. He earned his Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in genetics and molecular biology from Emory University and completed postdoctoral studies in the Department of Genetics at the Yale University School of Medicine. While at Yale, he held fellowships with both the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Cancer Institute. He received his Bachelor of Science (BS) from Lee University. 

Dr. Cornett’s research has focused on developing genetic approaches to identify genes involved in human diseases and exploring the molecular function of those genes. His publications include articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Genetics, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, and PLoS One. 

Dr. Schlosser joined Lee’s faculty in 2012, where she currently serves as an assistant professor of chemistry. She earned her PhD and Master of Science (MS) from Purdue University and her BS from Lee University.  

She teaches the introductory chemistry course for nursing majors along with physical science and earth and space science to non-science majors, as well as advising and teaching science education majors. Dr. Schlosser’s work on a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant allows her to interact with science and math majors through the iMASS (Integrated Math and Science Scholars) program. 

Dr. Singletary is an assistant professor of mathematics in Lee’s Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics. She earned her PhD in mathematics education from the University of Georgia and was awarded the Presidential Graduate Fellowship. She received her Master of Arts in teaching (MAT) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees from Lee University.

She has published research in such publications as Mathematical Thinking and Learning, Educational Studies in Mathematics, Mathematics Teacher Educator, and School Science and Mathematics. 

Dr. Smartt, an assistant professor of business in Lee’s School of Business, joined the faculty in 2012. He teaches principles of management, organizational behavior, and business ethics, as well as organizational theory for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Prior to his arrival at Lee, Dr. Smartt served 29 years on active duty as a U.S. Army chaplain achieving the rank of Colonel. Among his many duties, Dr. Smartt served at the Pentagon as director of resource management on the staff of the Army Chief of Chaplains. He completed his active duty service as the 38th Commandant of the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School, the Army’s training base for chaplains and religious affairs specialists. 

Dr. Smartt earned his PhD from Northcentral University, his MS from U.S. Army War College, his MBA from Syracuse University, and his BA from Lee University.  He is also a graduate of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and an ordained bishop in the Church of God. 

Dr. Williams serves as an assistant professor of psychology in Lee’s Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences. She earned her PhD and MS in marriage and family therapy from Loma Linda University in Southern California and her BA from Southern Adventist University. She is the program and clinical director of Lee’s Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program. Her areas of expertise are in infidelity treatment, sexual health related concerns, and adoption-related processes.

She is a clinical fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), an AAMFT-approved supervisor and has completed her five-year term on the editorial board for the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. Dr. Williams is passionate about marriage and family therapy, social justice, adoption, orphan care, and diversity-related issues. 

Dr. Woolfitt teaches classes such as rhetoric and research, fiction writing, poetry writing, editing and publishing, and African American literature. He joined Lee’s Department of Language & Literature in 2012, where he is an assistant professor of creative writing. He is the author of three poetry collections: “Beauty Strip,” “Charles of the Desert,” and “Spring Up Everlasting.” His fiction chapbook, “The Boy with Fire in His Mouth,” won the Epiphany Editions contest.  

His poems, short stories, and essays have been published in more than 100 literary journals, magazines, and anthologies. He earned his PhD and Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) from The Pennsylvania State University, his Master of Arts (MA) from Hollins University, and his BA from Fairmont State College. 

Mr. Wyatt is an assistant professor of music at the Lee University School of Music and has served on the faculty since 1996. He received his Master of Music (MM) and his Bachelor of Music (BM) from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He teaches courses such as applied saxophone, commercial music theory and history, and jazz improvisation. 

Mr. Wyatt is the director of the Lee University Jazz Ensemble and serves as the area coordinator for music business. He has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, among others. Mr. Wyatt has also shared the stage with several artists, including Frank Sinatra, Jr., The Temptations, The Four Tops, Natalie Cole, Hank Jones, and Clay Aiken, among others.