Faculty Category: Staff

TIM MATHIS

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Head Football Coach
Work Email: tmathis@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1251
Location: Football Athletic Offices
Category: Staff
Department: Athletic Department
Degrees:
B.A., Georgia Southern University
M.A., Shorter University
Bio:

Cumberland University Director of Athletics Ron Pavan announced the hiring of Tim Mathis as head coach for the Phoenix on January 22, 2018. He becomes the sixth head coach since Cumberland restarted the football program in 1990. Mathis is entering his second season as the Phoenix Head Coach.

In Mathis’ first season at Cumberland, he led the Phoenix to a 5-6 (MSC 3-3) record.The Phoenix upset the number 4 ranked ranked Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders 24-21at home on Senior Day. The offense averaged 20.0 points per game while averaging 324.9 total yards per game.

Mathis served as an assistant coach for 10 seasons at Shorter University when the Hawks started their program in the NAIA in 2005. He was the team’s offensive coordinator his last five years at Shorter, including during the transition to NCAA Division II.

Mathis was a member of the Shorter staff for the inaugural season in 2005 and served five years as the team’s offensive line coach. The Hawks led the NAIA in rushing, won the Mid-South Conference championship and earned the program’s first-ever postseason playoff berth in 2008. Two players earned All-America honors and a dozen offensive linemen were named All-Mid-South during those five seasons.

He moved into the role of offensive coordinator from 2010-14, working with running backs for two seasons and quarterbacks and fullbacks the final three. Shorter ranked second nationally in rushing at 310.9 yards per game and posted 30.5 points per contest in 2010 and ranked third in the country in rushing (271.9), averaging 30.0 points per outing in 2011, the program’s last in the NAIA.

In 2012, the first transition year to Division II, the Hawks ranked ninth nationally in rushing at 268.5 yards per game and ranked third the Gulf South Conference in rushing (227.9) and second in time of possession. Shorter ranked third in total offense in 2013, with fullback Bradley Moon leading the GSC and ranking sixth in rushing yards and quarterback Eric Dodson ranking fifth in the conference in total offense.

Shorter ranked third in the Gulf South and 22nd nationally in rushing in 2014 with 225.3 yards per contest.

Mathis was the head coach the last two seasons at St. Francis High School in Alpharetta, Ga., posting a 2-8 record in 2016 with freshmen and sophomores making up 74 percent of the roster. He registered a 4-6 mark in 2017 with the Knights.

He also served one season as head coach at Franklin County High School in Eastpoint, Fla., helping the Seahawks break a 23-game losing streak and finishing the season 3-7 overall.

Prior to his time at Shorter, Mathis worked four years at Trion City Schools in Trion, Ga., coaching the offensive line all four seasons as well as serving as defensive coordinator for two years. He was also the wrestling coach for two years and the golf coach for two seasons.

Mathis earned his bachelor’s in History with a minor in Political Science from Georgia Southern in 1996 and received his master’s in Leadership from Shorter in 2010. He is married to the former Mesha Layman and the couple has two children – Abby and Hunter.

 

SUSAN MARSHALL

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Accounts Receivable Associate
Work Email: smarshall@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1355
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 105E
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Bio:

 Susan Marshall went into retail management, when she was 19 years old. She worked the first ten years for Kroger. She left and relocated to North Carolina and worked for Lowe’s Food for five years. Susan missed Middle Tennessee, so she returned to work for Kroger. She then started managing a Hallmark store in Franklin. At which time she decided that working management hours conflicted with her family time. She then came to work for Cumberland University and has enjoyed the balance of work and family. Susan has four grandchildren ages 13|7,4, and 2 which are the light of her life.

 

SCOTTY LEWIS

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Director of Campus Safety and Security
Work Email: slewis@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 476-3061
Location: Mitchell Student Center
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Campus/Food/Housing/Security
Bio:

Scotty serves as the Director, Campus Safety and Security. He is responsible for the executive oversight and delivery of safety and security services and programs on campus. 

With over thirty (30) years of highly decorated law enforcement, safety, and security experience, including but not limited to executive leadership positions as the Chief of Police, for the City of Carthage, the Director of Investigations for the State of Tennessee under Governor Sundquist and Governor Bredsen and subsequently promoted to Deputy Director/Special Agent under  Governor Haslam, Mr. Lewis brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on the CU  campus. 

During his career in law enforcement, as well as being P.O.S.T. certified, Mr. Lewis completed multiple law enforcement security and safety centric programs and is a 2002 graduate of the Government Management Institute at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. 

As for working on the team at Cumberland University, Mr. Lewis simply states, “It is one of the most rewarding opportunities of my life. To help a student and protect the CU community, I know of nothing more important I could do with my life”. 

Mr. Lewis and his family reside in his native Smith County, where he serves as Vice-Chair of the Smith County Board of Education.

TANYA LAWSON

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Controller
Work Email: tlawson@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 453-6404
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 100B
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Fiscal Affairs
Degrees:
B.B.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:

Tanya Lawson joined Cumberland in August 2021 working as a Senior Accountant.  She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree.  She came to Cumberland with over 20 years of experience in the accounting/bookkeeping field.  In her time away from her position at Cumberland she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.  She loves traveling and being outdoors.

SHANE KEELY

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Head Men's Soccer Coach
Work Email: skeely@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 453-6335
Location: CU Soccer Field
Category: Staff
Department: Athletic Department
Degrees:
B.P.S., University of Memphis
M.B.A., Christian Brothers University
Bio:

Former Christian Brothers University player and coach Shane Keely joins the Cumberland staff as a full-time assistant coach for the 2017 season.

Over the past two season at Cumberland, the Men’s Soccer program has achieved Mid-South Conference Regular Season Champions and Tournament champions. Keely primarily coachs the goalkeepers and assisted Bennett Strutz on achieving First Team All Mid-South Conference in both 2017 and 2018 as well as MSC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.

In the summer, Keely is an assistant coach for the USL League 2 Reading United in Reading, Pa. In 2018, the Reading United club went undefeated in the regular season on their way to USL League 2 Mid-Atlantic Conference Champions, Eastern Conference Champions, and National Champions Runner-Up. This past summer the team won the USL League 2 Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship for the second year in a row.

Keely served the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Christian Brothers, organizing travel, recruiting international as well as local players for the program while managing and delegating scholarships. He designed and implemented practice plans and organized and maintained team videos and analysis technology.

As a player the Dublin, Ireland, native posted three goals and one assist as a senior at CBU in 18 matches in 2014, including a pair of game-winning goals. The Bucs finished that season 14-3-1 overall, reaching the NCAA South Regional.

He spent two seasons at the University of Memphis, seeing action in 12 matches with 10 starts and registering one assist in 2012. He recorded four goals and four assists in 18 outings with nine starts in 2013, including three game-winning goals.

Keely holds a USSF D License, U18 Division 1 coach with NUSA and a U16 Division 2 girls with NUSA licences.

Keely earned his bachelor’s in Professional Studies with disciplines in Sports Management and Health Promotion from Memphis in 2014. He received a certificate in Project Management from Christian Brothers in 2014 and a master’s in Business Administration from CBU in May 2017.

 

STACY KELLY

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Associate Director of Financial Aid
Work Email: skelly@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1254
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 108E
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
B.A., Missouri Western State University
M.A.E., Cumberland University
Bio:

Stacy joined Cumberland University in May 2005 as an Accountant with the Business Office. In May 2006 Stacy moved to the Financial Aid Office as a Coordinator of Financial Aid and then was quickly promoted to Associate Director of Financial Aid. She is currently responsible for assisting current and prospective students with all aspects of the financial aid process. 

Stacy graduated from Missouri Western State University in 1996 with a dual degree in Technical Communications and English. Most recently, Stacy received her Master’s Degree in Education from Cumberland University in May 2012. She currently resides in Lebanon with her husband Lee and son Evan. She likes reading and movies and spending time with her family. 

B.A., Missouri Western State University

M.A., Education, Cumberland University

 

KRISTIN KANNON

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Executive Assistant to the Dean and Office Manager for the Janette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions
Work Email: kkannon@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1274
Location: McFarland Hall, Room 1112
Category: Staff
Degrees:
B.S., Tennessee Technological University
M.B.A., Cumberland University
Bio:

Kristin Kannon has worked at Cumberland University since spring of 2011. She is the office manager at the School of Nursing and Health Professions, where she works with students and faculty to facilitate communication, data gathering, record keeping and overall organization.

Kristin has a background in service management and customer service. She spent 12 years as a service manager at an international tropical plant company, where they installed and maintained tropical plants and atriums in 250 businesses around the Metropolitan Nashville area.

Kristin received a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Tech University in 1987 and earned a Master of Business Administration from Cumberland University in 2020.

In her spare time, she enjoys working outside in the garden, reading, and playing percussion in a local community band.

BEATRICE LACHANCE

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Executive Director of Student Financial Services
Work Email: blachance@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1244
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 108D
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
A.S., Northern Essex Community College
A.S., Northern Essex Community College
B.B.A., Cumberland University
M.B.A., Cumberland University
Bio:

Ms. LaChance joined Cumberland University in January 2006 as the Assistant Director of Student Financial Services (SFS). In October 2006, she was promoted to the Director of Financial Aid. In November 2021, Ms. LaChance was promoted to Executive Director of Student Financial Services. She oversees the Offices of Student Financial Services and Student Accounts and Billing. In addition, Ms. LaChance also acts as the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) for International Students. She oversees the administration of federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds, services and compliance, student accounts, and aspects of the international student visa process.

Ms. LaChance and her staff assist current and prospective students with all aspects of the student financial services process. She has over 25 years of experience in higher education administration in 2-year public, 4-year private, and proprietary institutions. Ms. LaChance has held positions in Compliance, Financial Services, Enrollment Services, International Student Services, and as a College Bursar.

Ms. LaChance is a Cumberland University graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Business Administration. In addition, she graduated from Northern Essex Community College with an AS in Accounting and an AS in Business Management with a concentration in Computer Applications. She is currently pursuing her DBA from Trevecca University. Originally from Salem, Massachusetts, Ms. LaChance currently resides in Lebanon, TN, and enjoys spending time with family, reading, traveling, and lifelong learning.

CHRISTIAN KIESEL

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Athletic Trainer
Work Email: ckiesel@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 453-6327
Location: Main Athletic Training Building
Category: Staff
Department: Athletic Department
Degrees:
B.S., Heidelberg University
M.S., SUNY Cortland
Bio:

Christian Kiesel began his first year as an Assistant Athletic Trainer in the Athletic Training program in August 2020. Kiesel oversees athlete care, injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation for men’s basketball, men’s soccer, and men’s and women’s bowling.

Kiesel spent the past two years as a graduate assistant at SUNY Cortland providing primary team coverage to both the men’s ice hockey and women’s field hockey programs. He also spent time providing split coverage for the Cortland baseball program. 

Prior to his graduate assistant position, Kiesel gained experience through several clinical rotations at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. He helped provide care for several of the university’s athletic teams as well as local high schools. While at Heidelberg, Kiesel also worked as a Finish Line First Responder at the Akron Half-Marathon and the Chicago Marathon.

Kiesel played soccer at Heidelberg from 2014-2017 as a forward. He saw his most action his senior season starting three games and seeing action in 16 of the team’s 17 games. Kiesel was a member of the 2014 team that won the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament championship. He earned Academic All Ohio honors in 2016, Academic All-OAC in 2016-17, Landess Award winner in 2015, 2017-18, and on the Dean’s List each of the four years.

Kiesel earned his Bachelor of Science, Athletic Training with minors in History and Wellness from Heidelberg University in May 2018. From there he went to SUNY Cortland as a Graduate Assistant for Athletic Training where he received his Master of Science, Exercise Science degree

 

 

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