ETSU welcomes the following new faculty and staff to the university family:
Samuel Blevins is a utility worker/driver with Maintenance of Grounds. He was a utility worker with the City of Elizabethton before attaining his current position and is a graduate of Elizabethton High School. He has attended college and holds golf course management certification from The Ohio State University.
Dr. Chassidy Cooper is a coordinator in the Office of Equity and Diversity. She was previously an academic advisor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She holds a Ph.D. degree in interdisciplinary leadership studies from the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas.
Kenneth Cornett is technical director of the Martin Center for the Arts. Before coming to ETSU, he was a production manager at Paramount Bristol. He holds a B.B.A. from King University.
Samantha Counts is a counselor and online graduate student liaison in Academic Technology Support. She was previously an administrative and office specialist in the Office of Student Services at Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, Virginia. She holds a B.B.A. degree from King University.
Dr. Brian Earley is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine. Before coming to ETSU, he was program director of the HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) Ocala Health Family Medicine Residency Program in Ocala, Florida. He holds a D.O. degree from Kirskville College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Chad Ford is a utility worker/driver with Maintenance of Grounds.
Dr. Justin Gass is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
John Gramling is a custodian with Custodial Services.
Janet Hassen is a custodian with Custodial Services. She holds a GED from MOTT Continuing Education, Flint, Michigan, and has studied at Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan.
Jared Hedrick is a recruiter in the College of Public Health.
Crystal Lane is an instructor in Undergraduate Programs, College of Nursing. Prior to joining ETSU, she worked as a mental health nurse practitioner at Cherokee Health Systems. She holds an M.S.N. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Mellissa McKibbens is a career coach with Families First/Community Outreach.
Amy McLaughlin is a behavior health consultant at Johnson City Family Medicine Associates. She is a licensed clinical social worker who comes to ETSU from 180 Health Partners. She holds an M.S.W. degree from ETSU.
Jesse Pennington is an assistant professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
Talisha Troutt is a nurse practitioner with the Student Health Clinic, College of Nursing. Before coming to ETSU, she was a nurse practitioner at the Gray Family Clinic in Gray. She holds an M.S.N. degree with a concentration in family practice from King University.
Deanna Wood is an executive aide in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. She was previously an executive assistant with Industrial Development and Real Estate Teams, OmniTRAX, Denver. She holds a B.S. degree in physical education with a minor in business from Colorado State University.
Matthew Yelton is an assistant women’s soccer coach in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Before coming to ETSU, he was executive vice president of the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club. He holds a B.A. in English from King University.
Andrew Zapor is an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Center for Advisement and Student Excellence. He comes to ETSU from the University of Denver in Colorado, where he earned his M.A. degree in higher education and worked as a student conduct administrator.
Published June 30, 2020, as part of the Accent email newsletter for faculty and staff.
