Faculty Category: Staff

DAVIA SULLIVAN

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Library Assistant
Work Email: dsullivan@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-547-1374
Location: Vise Library
Category: Staff
Department: Doris & Harry Vise University Library
Degrees:
A.A., Cumberland University
B.A., Cumberland University
Bio:

Davia Sullivan is a lifelong Lebanon native and a second-generation alum of Cumberland University. She joined the Vise Library staff in the fall of 2022 as a library assistant. Prior to joining the Vise Library, she received both her A.A. and B.A. at Cumberland University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a major in General Studies and a minor in History.

She is also a member of Phi Gamma Mu honor society. Currently, she is acquiring her master’s degree
from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in Information Sciences.

Davia can be found writing fictional stories, watching Marvel films, listening to rock music,
reading books of all genres, or spending time with her family and cats in her free time.

SAMANTHA YOUNG

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Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach
Work Email: syoung@cumberland.edu
Location: Dallas Floyd Arena
Category: Staff
Department: Athletic Department
Degrees:
B.A., Spalding University

JOSHUA RIAL

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Enrollment Specialist for Undergraduate Students- Central Tennessee Region
Work Email: jrial@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-257-9703
Location: Memorial Hall
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
B.F.A., Cumberland University
B.A., Western Carolina University

LAUREN POWELL

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Assistant Softball Coach
Work Email: lpowell@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-257-9501
Location: CU Softball Field
Category: Staff
Department: Athletic Department
Degrees:
B.A., Tennessee State University
M.B.A, Tennessee State University

CHRIS PADILLA

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Head Men's Volleyball Coach
Work Email: cpadilla@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-453-6330
Location: Dallas Floyd Arena
Category: Staff
Department: Athletic Department

DANIELA DORANTES

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Administrative Assistant for Oakley School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts
Work Email: ddorantes@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-547-1331
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 210-A
Category: Staff
School: The Millard and JJ Oakley School of Humanities, Education and the Arts
Bio:

Ms. Dorantes joined the staff of Cumberland University in August 2022. She is the administrative assistant for the Oakley School. She lives in Cookeville, TN with her two children. Prior to coming to Cumberland, Daniela worked as a Family Support Specialist providing in home visitations to first time parents sharing activities to promote bonding, milestone screenings, access to community resources, and prenatal/parent support.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, shopping, and exploring new places with her children.

ALEXIS AYLOR

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Enrollment Specialist for Graduate and Transfer Students
Work Email: aylor@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-257-8892
Location: Office of Admissions
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
A.S., Volunteer State Community College
B.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:

Alexis was originally born in Fort Worth, Texas, but was raised in Watertown, Tennessee. Alexis is a graduate of Watertown High School. After high school.  Alexis received her Associates Degree in Secondary Education from Volunteer State Community College. Alexis then continued her studies at Middle Tennessee State University. Where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in History and Minor in Psychology

Alexis B.S. Degree in History, especially Military History, is influenced by her father, brother, and twin brother who served in the United States Marine Corps.

Outside of being an Enrollment Specialists for Athletes here at Cumberland. Alexis loves and enjoys raising her to pride and joy. Her daughter Isabelle and son Elijah. Alexis and her two children not only love going on a week’s vacation to the beach or the mountains. They also like to hop in the car and go on last minute road trips to unique and interesting places like Buc-ee’s.

JOEY A. CLARK

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Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
Work Email: jclark@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: 615-547-1307
Location: Catron Alumni House
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Marketing and Communications
Degrees:
B.A., The University of Tennessee Knoxville
M.ED., Middle Tennessee State University
Bio:

Joey Clark joined the Cumberland University family as Executive Director of Marketing and Communications in July of 2022. Clark is a Wilson County native and was born and raised in Lebanon, TN.

After graduating from Lebanon High School in 2010, Clark went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) and a Master of Higher Education Administration and Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Joey is responsible for leading the strategic efforts of the Marketing and Communications team as they create and sustain a comprehensive and coordinated communications and marketing plan aimed to help all branches of the university attain their goals and objectives.

KARI SMITH

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Executive Director of Enrollment Services
Work Email: kesmith@cumberland.edu
Work Phone: (615) 547-1243
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 106C
Category: Staff
Department: Office of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Financial Services
Degrees:
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
M.S.P., Cumberland University
Bio:

Kari is joining us from Lipscomb University where she spent almost 4 years in Graduate Recruitment and Operations. Her specialty focused on improving graduate recruitment processes and training faculty/staff on admissions systems.

Kari has a Bachelor’s Degree from MTSU and all but her thesis completed in Applied Behavioral Analysis. Kari is a native of Nashville, but has lived in Lebanon for the past two years. She is happily married to her husband Aaron and has two girls, Scarlett (7) and Violet (6).

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