Lee Welcomes 7 New Faculty To School Of Music, Nursing, And Religion

Of the 12 faculty welcomed to Lee University this fall, three join the School of Music, three join the School of Nursing, and one joins the School of Religion.

Dr. Chery Brendel joins Lee’s School of Music as an assistant professor of voice. Dr. Brendel has served as adjunct faculty at Lee since 2005, along with serving as an adjunct voice faculty for Carson-Newman, Georgia State, Arcadia, and Evangel University. While working at Southeastern University, she developed a new opera program, created and coordinated a university-sponsored community concert series, and developed curriculum for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in music and a Bachelor of Music in performance.

Dr. Brendel earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in voice performance from the University of Georgia, a Master of Music from Temple University, and a BM from Evangel University.

Dr. Luke Gambill joins the School of Music as an assistant professor of music, having served previously as a part-time instructor. Dr. Gambill has been a full-time assistant professor of music and coordinator of contemporary worship at William Carey University, a church worship leader, a publisher, writer, and arranger of church music, and has developed faith-based and church-focused worship music resources in multiple genres. At William Carey University, Dr. Gambill oversaw the audio/video aspects of the academic programs and fine arts facilities, the 110-voice campus worship choir, Restoration Band, recruiting events, and served as advisor to all worship music majors.

Dr. Gambill earned a Doctor of Worship Studies from Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, a Master of Arts from Liberty University, and a BA from Southeastern University.

Dr. Nathaniel Olson joins the School of Music as an assistant professor of voice. Prior to Lee, he served in visiting or adjunct roles at Wingate University, Elon University, Radford University, and Universitas Pelita Harapan in Indonesia. Dr. Olson recently presented as baritone soloist for “Vocal and Instrumental Laments: Claudio Monteverdi and Matthias Weckmann” at the Society for Seventeenth-Century 27th Annual Conference at Duke University.  He is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, College Music Society, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Dr. Olson holds a DMA from the University of North Carolina, an MM from Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music, and a BM from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. 

Misty Humberger joins Lee’s School of Nursing as full-time lecturer in nursing, having previously served as an adjunct clinical instructor. She has been a clinical documentation improvement specialist and orthopedic/surgical case manager at Parkridge/HCA in Chattanooga and a physician educator at HCA Healthcare. She has also served as director of operations with Amedisys Home Health in Murfreesboro and director of Patient Care Services in McMinnville/Manchester, Tn.

Ms. Humberger earned the Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Middle Tennessee State University.

Glenna Lashley joins the Lee School of Nursing as an assistant professor of nursing with 16 years of professional nursing experience, including her current role as family nurse practitioner and provider/owner of A Plus Care Family Practice in Jasper, Tennessee. In addition to her training and wide range of professional experience, Ms. Lashley has served as an adjunct clinical instructor at South University and as adjunct faculty for the Licensed Practical Nursing program at Central Georgia Technical College. 

Ms. Lashley earned her MSN from Southern Adventist University and her BSN from Georgia College.

Dr. Samantha Spinks also joins the SON faculty as an assistant professor of nursing. Prior to this appointment, she worked as an acute care nurse practitioner at East Tennessee Gastroenterology. She has served in multiple and diverse units and roles, including managerial responsibilities, at Tennova Heathcare in Cleveland, where she was named Employee of the Year in 2012. She also received the Clinical Excellence Award in 2016 at SAU. Dr. Spinks currently serves on Cleveland State’s Medical Assistant Advisory Board and is a board member for Foundation House Ministries.

She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice and an MSN from SAU. She is licensed as a registered nurse, advanced practice nurse, and a critical care registered nurse.

Dr. Julie Martinez joins the School of Religion’s Department of Christian Ministries as an assistant professor of intercultural studies and director of Lee’s intercultural studies program. She comes to Lee from the organization Serving Orphans Worldwide, where she was the transitional program director. She has also worked with People for Care and Learning as the Cambodian country director. During her time in Cambodia, Dr. Martinez developed the vision and led in the start-up, development, and governance of an international primary school for the children of cross-cultural workers. She has also worked in Chile, Honduras, and Zambia.

Dr. Martinez earned a Doctor of Philosophy in intercultural studies from Biola University, a Master of Education from Liberty University, and a BS from Lee University.