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.

Sharon K. Anderson is the Curriculum – Grades 6 – 12 Supervisor for the Putnam County School System in Cookeville, TN.  In that position, she coordinates the curriculum alignment and implementation process for five middle schools, three high schools, and an alternative school in the district. 

She also leads the district continuous improvement process, state reporting and compliance, and academic recognitions.  Dr. Anderson holds an Ed.D. in K-12 Educational Administration with a focus in curriculum and instruction from the Tennessee State University.  She also has her EdS and MS in Instructional Leadership and BS degree in History.   

Dr. Anderson has experience as a teacher and an administrator in 5 – 12 education as a middle and high school teacher and founding principal of the PCSS online learning program, VITAL.  She has served on several AdvancED Engagement Reviews and leads the AdvancED Leadership Team for the Putnam County School System.

Elizabeth Anderson began teaching at Cumberland University in the fall of 2019. She currently teaches Freshman Composition courses for Cumberland students and high school students in the Dual Enrollment program. Ms. Anderson specializes in late nineteenth to twentieth century American literature and composition. In addition to Cumberland, she also teaches courses at Belmont University and Nashville State Community College, and previously taught at Middle Tennessee State University.  Prior to teaching at the college level since 2010, Ms. Anderson taught English grammar and literature for nine years in various K-8 schools in the middle Tennessee area. 

In addition to her undergraduate degrees, Ms. Anderson holds a Master of Arts in Education from Austin Peay State University (2006) and a Master of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University (2019). She holds memberships in numerous professional and honorary organizations and intends to begin work on her Ph.D in the near future.  Ms. Anderson resides in Nashville with her beloved ragdoll cat Isabella.

Christopher Tucker joined Cumberland University in the Spring of 2018 as an online adjunct instructor of history. His research interests include American social, cultural, and political history. His first article “Melody and Mirth on Washington Street: John Ordway and Blackface Minstrelsy in Antebellum Boston|” was published in The Historian in 2012; his second article, “I Will Pay That Price as a Poet to Speak My Truth: Feminism, Activism, and the Historical Memory of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls|” was featured in the Moravian Journal of Literature and Film in 2013. Currently, he is working on an article on police brutality and black social spaces in 1960s Springfield, Massachusetts. He has also published numerous book reviews for the North Carolina Historical Review; Journal of Popular Culture; Civil War Monitor; and Civil War History| among others.

Mr. Tucker holds a BA degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as graduate degrees from Dartmouth College (MA, Liberal Studies) and Clark University (MA, History). He has presented at academic conferences in Tennessee; Florida; throughout New England; and Birmingham, England. He has previously taught at Brandeis University; Eastern Nazarene College; and Newbury College, all in Massachusetts. He was also an employee of the Boston Red Sox from 2013-2017. He received the 2014 Boston Red Sox employee of the year for his service to the Fenway Park Tours department. A native of New England, he now lives in Florida, where he teaches full-time at the highly ranked Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School.