Faculty Category: Faculty

JULIE WINDMILLER

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Assistant Professor of Nursing
Work Email: jwindmiller@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 453-6351
Location: Nursing Annex
Category: Faculty
School: The Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions
Degrees:
B.S.N., Indiana Univeristy
M.S.N., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:

Julie Windmiller has been an Assistant Professor at Cumberland University since 2009 and is currently a Simulation Nurse Educator, and teaches Adult Health II, and NCLEX Prep nursing courses. In 2001, she graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and in 2006 she graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Education. Currently she is in the final stages of her PhD in Nursing Education preparation. Julie practiced as an Emergency Department (ED) nurse for almost fifteen years as well as practiced as a Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurse. She is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing. Finally, she has published an article in the International Journal of Childbirth Education and is currently working on publishing an article related to interprofessional education. 

GEORGE WALKER

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Professor of Health, Physical Education, and Athletic Coaching
Work Email: gwalker@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (931) 547-1213
Location: Bone Hall, Room 200
Category: Faculty
School: The Millard and JJ Oakley School of Humanities, Education and the Arts
Degrees:
B.S., Tennessee Technological University
M.A., Tennessee Technological University
Ed.S., Tennessee Technological University
D.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:

Dr. George Walker began at Cumberland University in the Fall of 2003. Prior to his arrival at the university, he was an elementary/middle school principal in the Jackson County School System. Dr. Walker gained experience in the area of education by serving many years as a physical education teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as coaching football at the middle and high school levels. Along with his administration and teaching at K-12 level, he has taught at both Tennessee Technological University and Middle Tennessee State University.

Dr. Walker holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in the areas of Health and Physical Education from Tennessee Technological University. He also earned at Tennessee Technological University a Specialist in Education degree in the area of Educational Leadership. He holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Physical Education from Middle Tennessee State University.

He has received educational honors from the Tennessee State Department of Education, Tennessee Academy for School Leaders as well as the educational peer mentoring program from the Tennessee Army National Guard Special Award (Bee Like Me Program).

Along with his duties at Cumberland University, Dr. Walker serves as the Director of Tennessee Special Olympics for Area 27, Wilson County. His area of research interests deal with:

·         physical education

·         adaptive physical education & physical activity

·         healthy play

·         the impact of physical fitness on academic performance

WILLIAM TUNE

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Associate Professor of Mathematics
Work Email: wtune@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1294
Location: Labry Hall, Room 235
Category: Faculty
School: The Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business
Degrees:
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ph.D., Indiana University
Bio:

Dr. William Tune joined Cumberland University in the Fall of 2017 and teaches courses in the Mathematics program.  Prior to this, he taught mathematics courses at Motlow State Community College and Indiana University, where he received the Rothrock Teaching Award in 2013.  His research interests are in the field of Mathematical Logic, especially as it applies to natural language, the λ-calculus, and coalgebras.  He received the Robert K. Meyer Graduate Fellowship twice for his research into creating a calculus for representing monotonic patterns in natural language.

Dr. Tune also has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of the Chancellor’s Honor program and the Mathematics Honors program.  He participated in two summer undergraduate research experiences, and was selected by the Mathematics Department faculty as the 2010 Outstanding Graduate.

In addition, he has co-authored two papers: Eigenvalues and Transduction of Morphic Sequences (2014) and A Monotonicity Calculus and Its Completeness (2017).

SUMMER VERTREES

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Assistant Professor of English
Work Email: svertrees@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 257-2007
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 200C
Category: Faculty
School: The Millard and JJ Oakley School of Humanities, Education and the Arts
Degrees:
B.S., Tennessee Technological University
M.A., Tennessee Technological University
Bio:

As an educator, Summer Vertrees has taught students ranging from 7th grade summer school and high school dual enrollment to seniors at four year universities, as well as online college enrollees. One of her areas of passion is in the realm of Visual Rhetoric, and she created a class with this focus specifically for CU, which has quickly turned into a curriculum favorite. Beyond Visual Rhetoric, she has instructed courses like Advanced Composition, Shakespeare, Utopian and Dystopian Literature, Mental Health in Literature, American Literature, and more.

As a writer, Vertrees has published pieces in local magazines and newspapers, as well as in the Novus Literary Journal. Her work has been read on NPR, and she has also supported excellent student writers to help them get their work published, highlighting the exceptional content they have created while in her classroom. As a faculty member, she is proud to have started taking groups of students to travel abroad, which has now expanded into the Phoenix Flyers, a social group which focuses on all things travel. Now co-leading with a colleague, she has helped Cumberland students see the world, most recently returning from Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, with more trips on the horizon.

Personally, Vertrees enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. Most any activity that involves being outdoors makes her happy, and so does coffee.

PAUL STUMB IV

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University President and Professor
Work Email: paul.stumb@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1223
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 101
Category: Faculty
Department: Office of the President
School: The Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business
Degrees:
B.I.E., Auburn University
M.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.A.E., Cumberland University
Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Bio:

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. Paul Cavert Stumb, IV, was named President of
Cumberland University in August 2015. He has served Cumberland University since 2003,
initially as an Adjunct Professor, then as a Professor and Dean of the Labry School of Science,
Technology and Business for nearly 10 years.

Dr. Stumb holds a BS from Auburn University, an MS from the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, a Master’s in Education from Cumberland University and earned his PhD in
Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is a graduate of the Navy War
College Strategy and Policy Program and retired from the US Navy Reserves with the rank of
Commander. He previously served as an Adjunct Professor for the National Security Agency,
Georgia State University, Shorter College, and Middle Tennessee State University.

Prior to joining Cumberland University, Dr. Stumb enjoyed a successful career in the business
sector, serving in a number of increasingly responsible positions within several corporations
including American Corrugated, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, One Coast Network, Curtis 1000 Inc., Lockheed Martin, and Union Carbide Corp.

Dr. Stumb is a member of a number of professional and honor societies, and deeply involved in civic and professional activities. He is widely engaged in the Middle Tennessee community, and provides consulting services for local and regional manufacturers, municipalities, and other corporate entities.

Dr. Stumb is married to Dr. Cristy Stumb, a CU alum and former faculty member, who now owns and operates Stumb Healthcare Professionals, a primary care clinic in Lebanon, TN. Together they have four grown children and eight grandchildren.

JODI SYDENSTRICKER

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Academic Coach and Instructor
Work Email: jsydenstricker@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-453-6392
Location: Learning and Career Commons, Room 203
Category: Faculty
Department: Academic Success Center, Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
A. A., Cumberland University
B. S., Cumberland University
M.B.A., Cumberland University
Bio:

Jodi Sydenstricker is from Lebanon, TN. Jodi has been at Cumberland since 2017 when she started her academic journey at CU. Upon graduating with her bachelors, Jodi joined the Admissions team full-time in May of 2021 as the University Concierge.

In January 2022, Jodi was promoted to the Campus Visit & Guest Experience Coordinator. In October 2023, Jodi earned her MBA and started a new position as an Academic Coach and Instructor where she currently resides.

Jodi is a member of the 1842 Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honors Society, Delta Mu Delta, and served as a Graduate Studies Representative for SGA. Jodi’s favorite thing about CU is working with the students and serving the Lebanon community. Jodi’s passions outside of work include attending sporting events, traveling, and finding an enjoyable book to read.

 

NOA STROOP

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Assistant Professor of Business
Work Email: nstroop@cumberland.edu
Location: Bone Hall, Room 207
Category: Faculty
School: The Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business
Degrees:
B.S., Tennessee Technological University
M.B.A., Tennessee Technological University
D.B.A., Trevecca Nazarene University
Bio:

Dr. Noa D Stroop grew up in Wilson County, attending Mt. Juliet Christian Academy. He later acquired a BSBA and MBA from Tennessee Technological University. Finally, he earned his DBA from Trevecca Nazarene University, concentrating in Higher Education Leadership. His work history includes almost 10 years in the food service industry and an equal amount of experience in sales, marketing, and management capacities.  Dr. Stroop is now the Program Director for the Associate of Arts in Business.

Dr. Stroop is a self-proclaimed ‘goal-getter,’ having made a memory in all 50 states by 27 and earning a doctorate by 30. He is currently achieving his dream career of teaching college students’ leadership and life principles in his hometown while building a consulting firm specializing in small business growth acceleration//entrepreneurship and coaching his high school alma mater’s soccer team. He is an active member of Joy Church, residing in his hometown of Mount Juliet with his wife, Nicole, and corgi-pup, Winston. If he isn’t at CU, consulting, or coaching soccer, he is likely to be at a concert, on a river, starting a business, bingeing a show with his wife, or gaming.

RICHARD STORIE II

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Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport Science
Work Email: rstorie@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 453-6356
Location: McFarland Hall, Room 1156A
Category: Faculty
School: The Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions
Degrees:
B.Ed., University of Toledo
M.A., Adelphi University
Ed.D., Trevecca Nazarene University
Bio:

Dr. Richard “Dick” Storie began at Cumberland University in 2011 teaching in the Exercise and Sport Science Program. He is a former faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas, Austin and Director of the UT Fitness & Performance Center. In addition to academia, Dr. Storie has held various positions in hospitals working primarily in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. These experiences led him to start-up and administrator opportunities with three highly acclaimed Medical Fitness Centers that incorporate fitness, physical therapy, physician services, and community health promotion. These achievements garnered him the first ever co-recipient of the National Apple Achievement Award as a pioneer in Medical Fitness awarded by Modern Healthcare.

Dr. Storie has been involved in a number of entrepreneurial ventures, including a consulting firm specializing in athletic physiological testing, injury prevention, and performance enhancement that he founded and operated for 11 years. During that time, Dr. Storie served on two U.S. Olympic Committees addressing High Performance Athletics, and he has served as a Sport Physiology Consultant to the Nashville Predators since 2006.

He has served on numerous committees and boards throughout the industry, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) National Committee on Certification, and Education Chair for the Medical Fitness Association. He currently serves on the ACSM Professional Education Committee, Exercise Science Education Committee, and holds several ACSM certifications.

His research has been published and presented nationally, including anaerobic power assessment and training outcomes in various populations; dose-response relationships during physical activity; and cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and functional responses to acute and chronic exercise and therapeutic interventions.

 

STEPHEN SPANN

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Director of the Library and Instructor
Work Email: sspann@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1354
Location: Vise Library
Category: Faculty
Department: Doris & Harry Vise University Library
Degrees:
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
J.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S.I.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Bio:

Steve joined the Vise Library staff in the fall of 2019 as a Librarian and Instructor. He earned his Masters of Science in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee in the spring of 2019. Steve had two practicum experiences in 2018, one at Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School Library and one at Vanderbilt University’s Law School Library. He also worked as a reference librarian at the Williamson County Public Library in Franklin, Tennessee while he was pursuing his M.S.I.S. 

Steve grew up in the Bellevue community of Nashville. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from Middle Tennessee State University in 1981. He was a member of the school’s debate team. He then earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tennessee in 1984. He spent the next 25 years practicing law in Nashville, working for the Middle District of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, law firms King and Ballow, and Sherrard and Roe, and in the legal departments of First American National Bank and Gaylord Entertainment Company. He was involved in a wide variety of legal issues, but worked primarily in contracts, labor and employment law, general business litigation, and intellectual property.  

Steve is a member of the Pi Gamma Mu honor society, the Tennessee Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the American Library Association, the Tennessee Historical Society, and the Abraham Lincoln Association.

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