Melissa was raised on a farm in Olmstead, Kentucky. After graduating high school, she moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky where she pursued her undergraduate degree while working at Dell. At the same time, she worked with Stanford hospital during their implementation of the new electronic medical records software (EPIC).
After 4+ years at Dell, she moved into Information Technology for the automotive industry as an Information Technology Administrator. Melissa has now worn many hats in the automotive industry. She has helped open new buildings, implemented several new software, hardware, and process improvements. She has helped migrate the automotive companies she has worked with from antiquated systems to current technology. During this time, she also completed her Master of Science in Information Technology (MS-IT). Later Melissa pursued and completed her ITIL v4 Foundation Certificate.
Melissa also joined several communities during her time with automotive. She joined the Women’s Network as an events coordinator and was later promoted to the Communications Chair. The Women’s network is composed of ITW employees from different backgrounds. This is a leadership group designed to help women find their way around a male dominated industry. Melissa was also a member of Young Professional Network that is focused around helping build future leaders.
Melissa is married to Jamie Page. Together, they have a daughter. In their free time, Melissa and her family enjoy traveling. With over 10+ years in the information technology field, Melissa is excited to extend her career in higher education serving as the Director of Information Technology for Cumberland University.
Caroline Haynes, a Lebanon TN native, graduated from Lebanon High School in 2017. She then went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness with a concentration in Secondary Education from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). During her time at MTSU, she served as a Blue Elite Campus Tour Guide, working directly with prospective students and their families, as well as SGA Homecoming Director, coordinating events across campus for the student body. Additionally, Caroline worked closely with the University administration by serving on the Disability Issues Committee and aiding in the launch of MTSU Campus Life, an initiative striving to centralize student resources and increase accessibility across campus for all students. Caroline’s many passions led her to be involved in numerous student organizations within the School of Agriculture, as well as serving two years as Chapter President of Best Buddies, where she and the chapter were awarded International College Chapter of the Year. In May of 2024, Caroline earned a Master’s in Public Service Management from Cumberland University. Caroline serves annually as a Wilson County Fair Board Volunteer and the secretary of the Lebanon HS FFA Alumni and Supporters. She resides in Lebanon with her husband William, and their daughter Essie.
Mr. Guinn started his part-time employment at Cumberland University on March 1st, 2022, as the Postmaster in the school’s post office. Prior to coming to CU, he was in the teaching profession for twenty-eight years before retiring from the Lebanon Special School District.
Cumberland University is a special place for Mike, and he enjoys working on this campus. Mike tries to support the students, and interacting with them daily makes his day even better.
Mr. Chitwood was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) with a bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Conventions and Event Management.
Logan has been working with Chartwells Higher Education since 2016. Logan and has over 15 years of experience in the food service industry.
He has been with Cumberland University since the fall of 2021 working as the General Manager.
Tausha Grady began with Cumberland as the Senior Accountant in the Fall of 2021. She is a native of middle Tennessee and is proud to currently call Lebanon home.
Tausha received her B.S. in Business Administration – Accounting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2006, where she graduated with honors and was able to participate in multiple internships with public and private accounting. She then continued her education to receive a Master of Accountancy from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with an emphasis in Audit in 2007, and later obtained her CPA.
After graduation, she worked in public accounting until she and her husband were moved to Okinawa, Japan with the US Army. While in Okinawa, Tausha served in various supervisory positions in the Accounting Department of the Marine Corps Community Services in Okinawa.
At their next duty station of Fort Bragg, NC, Tausha worked as an accountant with the US Army Reserve Command until her first daughter was born. She and her family then moved to Grafenwöhr, Germany where they were able to explore all of Europe. And, then, on to Washington D.C., where Tausha had her second daughter.
Tausha and her family love to travel and explore but are happy to be back home in Middle Tennessee.
Pat Bell enters his first season as an assistant baseball coach in 2021 after spending the last three seasons at IU-Southeast. Bell will coach the hitters, catchers, and oversee baserunning for the Phoenix.
Bell comes to Cumberland fresh off a trip to the NAIA World Series at Indiana-Southeast where he spent the past three seasons. This past year, the Grenadiers went 50-16 en route to a River States Regular Season and Tournament Championship and an Opening Round Championship. The team finished in fifth place at the 2021 NAIA World Series.
The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID, but the Grenadiers were off to a terrific start at 20-1 to open up the season. He helped IU-Southeast claim the Regular Season Conference Championship as well finishing 37-20 in his first season in 2019.
Bell worked primarily with catchers and hitters at IU-Southeast and will stay in that role at Cumberland while also adding baserunning to his duties. IU-Southeast hitters last season finished third in the NAIA in hits (707), fourth in doubles (146), fifth in runs scored (554), sixth in RBIs (503), and eighth in triples (23). He coached an All-American at catcher and helped the backstops throw out 50% of runners attempting to steal, 39th best nationally.
Prior to coaching, Bell spent 10 years serving in the United States Air Force and played collegiately at Tennessee Wesleyan University where he was a part of the 2007 and 2008 Appalachian Athletic Conference championship teams.
He graduated from LaVergne High School and recently finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Administration at the University of Louisville.