William L. Blevins, retired Professor of Counseling, joined the Carson-Newman faculty in 1966. He has a BA degree from Carson-Newman College, a M.Div from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and an Ed.S from the University of Tennessee. He also has done postdoctoral studies at Oxford University, England. He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a licensed Professional Counselor. He has authored four books and numerous articles in professional journals, and has contributed chapters to five other books. For over twenty years he has been writing a weekly newspaper column on family matters. He is married with four children and five grandchildren.

Merrill Hawkins has been teaching at Carson-Newman since 1995 when he became a member of the Religion Faculty. In 2008, he became a member of the Graduate Counseling Program and developed the Spiritual Guidance and Care Track. After receiving a Ph.D. in Religion at Baylor University, Dr. Hawkins did postdoctoral work in Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, as well as training in the integration of Carl Jung’s thought and Christian Spirituality. His wife, Kimberly, is a member of the School of Education Faculty at Carson-Newman College.