Mr. Cooper joined Cumberland University in August 2019 as an Adjunct Instructor of Criminal Justice. Korey earned a Master of Professional Studies in 2016 from Tennessee State University, where he studied Strategic Leadership. In 2008, he earned his Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree from Southwest University. Mr. Cooper serves as a law enforcement instructor at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in Donelson. Prior to joining the training academy, Mr. Cooper had been appointed as a Director in the Tennessee Department of Correction’s Office of Investigation & Compliance for over six years. Mr. Cooper also served for the Columbia Police Department for seventeen years. 

He is a native of Maury County, Tennessee. Mr. Cooper is actively involving in the community with volunteering and fundraising for non-profit organizations as well as community-based programs. Mr. Cooper is married and has two children with his lovely wife of over twenty years. 

Dr. Robert C. Cox is full-time employee of the Department of Finance and Administration for the State of Tennessee where he is a leader in analysis and process improvement with foster care and related fields.

He is proud to serve in the Master of Public Service Management Program offered through Cumberland University, where his teaching is centered on human relations, statistics, and research design. The research focus of Dr. Cox is transformative learning, which considers the conditions when a learner may experience a shift in worldview that is both more positive and discerning.

Robert holds a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University, an M.S. degree from Cumberland University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is contributing editor for the Journal of Transformative Education.

In 2022, Dr. Cox made the keynote address at the Transformative Learning Forum in São Paulo, Brazil, and he has had research articles published in both New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education (2023) and in the Journal of Transformative Education (2022).

He and his wife reside in Sumner County where he enjoys being active in his church and reading and collecting encyclopedia sets.

Bobby Cox began his career in education in the Warren County School District, TN in 1991 and served the district until his retirement in 2020. Bobby has served as a teacher, coach, supervisor at the district level and ended his career in K-12 education as the Superintendent of the district serving from 2012-2020. Bobby has served as an elected County Commissioner in Warren County, TN serving the people of the 12th District for 4 years.

Mr. Cox earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Arts Degree and Educational Specialist Degree from Tennesse Technological University. Bobby has served on various boards and committees at the state and national level, serving on the State Collaborative and Reforming Education (SCORE) K-12 Jobs Design Committee, Tennessee State Board of Education BEP Review Committee, Tennessee Department of Education Equity Playbook Development Team, and Tennessee Department of Education Assessment and Accountability Advisory Team just to name a few. Bobby is also the co-founder of the Citizens of Progress Scholarship program and has served as the chairman of the board of the McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce. Bobby has served as a mentor to new Superintendents with the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS), from 2015-2020 and served on the Tennessee Digital Learning Library development team to create free online instructional resources for school districts in Tennessee with the Tennessee Boards Association (TSBA).

Bobby was awarded the Upper Cumberland Superintendent of the Year award in 2017, The A.F. Bridges District Supervisor of the Year awarded by the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) in 2015 and was awarded the Tennessee State Supervisor of the Year Award by the Tennessee Department of Education in 2012. Bobby was also awarded the McMinnville Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds in 2020 and is a Paul Harris Fellow with the McMinnville Noon Rotary Club.

After his retirement, Mr. Cox began a career in partnership development serving as the Executive in Residence for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), focusing on partnership development in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Iowa.

Currently Bobby works as an Adjunct Professor with Cumberland University and as an Account Executive with Energy Systems Group (ESG). Bobby has been married t6o his wife Latisha for 31 years and they have two children Lindsey 25 and Savannah 21.

Dr. Simyka Carlton began at Cumberland University in the Summer of 2014 and teaches courses in the School of Humanities, Education and the Arts. Within the Education program, she primarily teaches Classroom Management courses. Currently, Dr. Carlton is the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator for Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Public Schools. Besides experience in classroom management, social-emotional learning, and health education, Dr. Carlton’s 25 years of experience and expertise in reflective practices, physical education, adult learning theory, and social-emotional learning have allowed her to serve as a Doctoral Content Expert at Grand Canyon University and Concordia University. Dr. Carlton has also designed doctoral courses for National University

Dr. Carlton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, a master’s in education and educational leadership, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Dr. Carlton is a published author, enjoys cooking, fishing, gardening, and spending time with her family.

With over twenty years of experience in public affairs and public administration, Toby has worked on a variety of state and local issues in the private and public sectors. Currently, he is serving in Governor Bill Lee’s administration as Assistant Commissioner at the Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Previously, he was President and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors, Executive Director of the Metro Sports Authority, a senior advisor to Bill Hagerty at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and senior advisor to Mayor Karl Dean.

Toby serves on several boards including Studio Bank, Commercial Capital BIDCO and he is the incoming board chairman for the Nashville Sports Council. Toby has an extensive background consulting in professional sports, including building First Tennessee Park and he recently worked with the ownership group to successfully navigate Nashville’s successful bid for an MLS franchise – Nashville SC.