category: Campus News Carson-Newman welcomes ACA President, ’81 alumna to address graduates at Winter Commencement category: Campus News | November 12, 2021 Dr. Beth Rushing '81, president of the Appalachian College Association will deliever the Winter Commencement address on Dec. 10. JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman University will hold its Winter Commencement ceremony on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. in the Sevierville Convention Center. Dr. Beth Rushing, a 1981 C-N alumna, will address the December graduates. Rushing is president of the Appalachian College Association (ACA), a consortium of 34 private colleges and universities in Appalachia that offers collaborative opportunities and support for faculty, staff and students at member institutions. “We are so honored to have one of our own to return and speak to our graduates,” said University President Charles A. Fowler. “Throughout her career, Dr. Rushing has consistently demonstrated what it means to be a servant-leader. Her unwavering commitment to advancing higher education is to be commended, and her example is one our graduates can look to as they prepare for this new life-chapter of serving Christ and serving others.” Prior to her 2017 appointment as president of the ACA, Rushing served as chief academic officer at Guilford College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and the University of Washington Tacoma. She also served as dean of Arts and Sciences at Georgia College, and department Chair at the University of Tennessee at Martin. She began her academic career on the faculty of the Department of Sociology at Kent State University. After receiving her baccalaureate degree in sociology from C-N, she earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Duke University. Her scholarly work has focused on the sociology of work, gender and health. She served as president of the Southern Sociological Society and of Sociologists for Women in Society. She is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Leadership Award from the University of Washington Tacoma, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Professor at Georgia College, University Teaching Council Award from Kent State University, and Outstanding Faculty Member from Kent State’s Mortar Board. Beth and her husband, Michael Gass, live in Walland, Tennessee. Those unable to attend will be able to view the ceremony online at: cn.edu/live Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is a Christian liberal arts-based university affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Carson-Newman offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Dr. Beth Rushing '81, president of the Appalachian College Association will deliever the Winter Commencement address on Dec. 10.
Campus News Samaritan House Family Ministries named Non-Profit of the Year Samaritan House Family Ministries was selected as the Non-Profit of the Year for Jefferson County. The ministry is a component of Carson-Newman University’s Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS). The […]
Campus News Carson-Newman takes top honors in national marketing and advertising awards Carson-Newman University’s Marketing and Communications Office was among the top winners in multiple categories in the 2022 Collegiate Advertising Awards. The Collegiate Advertising Awards is a national program recognizing higher […]
Campus News Carson-Newman students spend Spring Break helping others, sharing the gospel “God is at work.” That was the consensus following Carson-Newman students’ return to campus after serving on GenSend mission trips. Thirty-six students along with members of the C-N community forwent […]