Buckner appointed acting provost, VP for Academic Affairs

(Jan. 8, 2019) JEFFERSON CITY, TN – Carson-Newman Interim President Paul Percy has appointed Dr. Jeremy Buckner as acting provost and vice president for Academic Affairs of the University during the interim period. Buckner succeeds Percy who had previously served in the leadership role.

Buckner joined Carson-Newman’s faculty in 2008 as director of music education. He was later named chair of the Music Department, a role he filled until 2015 when he was named to his most recent position of dean of Adult and Graduate Studies.

“I have full confidence in Jeremy’s ability to lead Academic Affairs based on his outstanding performance the past three and half years as dean of adult and graduate studies,” said Percy. “He has a heart for Carson-Newman’s mission in higher education. Over the last few years, I’ve gotten to witness his leadership style, his ability to solve problems, and work affectively with members of the campus community on a wide range of issues. He will serve us well as we continue to grow.”

A Texas native and Morristown resident, Buckner has a background of teaching in the areas of music pedagogy, field experience preparation and supervision, and musicianship. His scholarly activities include research and presentation in areas of musical perception of beat and rhythm, musical behavior and preferences among children, and efficacy beliefs in pre-service music teachers. A 2011 Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar, Buckner spent four days with musicians, music researchers, music educators, and music advocates from around the world in Salzburg, Austria developing a resolution for the importance and necessity for access to music in education.

Buckner has served in such leadership roles as representing the University with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and led the successful NASM accreditation reaffirmation efforts for the institution. He also led C-N’s academic departments as chair of the Chairs Council, a result of a new flat-administrative model at the University that he helped design and implement. He also serves on the Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Committee, Vision 2020 Implementation Team and the Strategic Enrollment Management Committee.

In his role as dean, he led an overhaul of C-N’s graduate admissions process, promoting efficient and effective communication. He coordinated with campus leadership in developing a new landing page for adult and graduate programs and reduced application length.

Buckner is an alumnus of Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education degrees, as well as his PhD in fine arts.