Hedgepath tells CU employees they are people ‘who want to make CU a special place’

By Gerard Flanagan, lead writer and communications specialist, Office of Marketing and Communications

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Speaking recently at Campbellsville University’s Faculty and Staff Recognition Service, Dr. Donna Hedgepath took some time to thank her colleagues for the thoughtfulness and kindness they have shown during her 20 years as a Campbellsville University employee.

“The moments, the recognitions, the receptions and lunches and cards and gifts, just overwhelming. But at the same time, I’m not surprised because that’s just who you all are. You’re just so kind and thoughtful, she said.

Hedgepath, who served as CU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs before becoming the 14^thpresident of Wayland Baptist University on July 1, shared that working at CU had always been a dream job while she was a student.

“Now that I am here, and I have worked here this long, about 20 years full-time, to think that I am leaving seems kind of crazy to me, because I never thought I would,” Hedgepath said.

Hedgepath added that during challenging and confusing times, “We have held each other up with lots of love and prayer and honest conversations.”

“From my perspective and leadership at CU, I consider the faculty and staff to be some of the best,” Hedgepath stated. “I’ve been spoiled to some extent because I work with such great people. You’re just good people. You’re people who love the students and families we serve.

“We’re people who want to make this a special place. We’re here because we love it, and we want everyone else to love it like we do. Even if one life is changed, that effort is worth it.”

Hedgepath shared, “CU has done something to my heart.”

“Geography is not going to change that,” she said.

She also shared what she told CU’s graduates at commencement in May.

“When I was speaking to the master’s graduates, I wanted to leave them with the fact that, even through failure, there is restoration to wholeness,” she said. “Through wholeness, there is always life after failure.”

Hedgepath also shared the comments she gave to the undergraduate graduates at commencement.

“I wanted them to walk away knowing that they were made for more, more than what they thought they deserved or could ever do,” Hedgepath said.

Hedgepath closed by telling her colleagues at CU, “The only thing I can really say is that I love you. I love you with all of my heart. I will miss you.”

The Faculty and Staff Recognition Program was established in 1984 to publicly recognize those who have served Campbellsville University.

Employees recognized are as follows, listed by years of service:

Forty years – Joe Foster, associate professor of business and economics

Thirty years – Dr. Dottie Davis, professor of education; and Jill Roberts, assistant professor of accounting

Twenty-five years – Sheila D. Douglas, office assistant for constituent relations and special projects; Dr. Benji Kelly, vice president for advancement; and Christy D. Spurling, student loan coordinator

Twenty years – Rollin L. Gentry, physical plant center operations coordinator at CU’s Louisville Education; Chris Gibbs, IT Infrastructure Manager; Dr. Donna Hedgepath, who served as provost and vice president for academic affairs; Franky L. James, head men’s wrestling coach;

Dr. Richie Kessler, professor of environmental science; Scott Necessary, executive director of dual credit enrollment; and Dr. Scott Wigginton, professor of pastoral ministries and counseling and Master of Marriage and Family Therapy Main Campus liaison.

Fifteen Years – Natalie R. Burdette, director of annual giving; Bill Cassell, assistant professor of criminal justice; Chris Davis, director of facilities operations; Dr. Joe Early, director of research and creative scholarship and professor of theology;

Todd Gupton, groundskeeper at CU’s Clay Hill Memorial Forest; Dr. Thomas Jeffrey, professor of business; Dr. Ashlee Matney, chair of the Department of Mathematics and associate professor of mathematics; and Dr. Matthew Oliver, professor of English

Ten years – Kay Bell, international student advisor; Amy Berry, environmental educator and instructor in environmental science; Elijah Coffey, director of residence life; Meagan Davidson, assistant vice president for strategic enrollment planning;

Dr. Ken Hollis, professor of theology in Marriage and Family Therapy and director of Marriage and Family Therapy; Kelly Joplin, associate professor of social work and Harrodsburg Bachelor of Social Work Site Coordinator;

Mark Lancaster, network support analyst; Matt Payton, general manager of WLCU-TV/FM and director of broadcast services; Lacey Rodriguez, lead instructor for cosmetology; Angela Russell, director of mailroom and retail operations;

Kaitlyn Sanfilippo, head athletic trainer; and Justin Watson, assistant professor of theology.

Five years – Lee D. Alexander, international student advisor; Dr. Denis Santos, associate professor of music; Jamie Benningfield, senior staff accountant; Dr. Dale Bertram, professor of marriage and family therapy; Dr. Panagnimba Bonkoungou, assistant professor of French;

Ravinder S. Brar, international student advisor; Jennifer Brodie, senior academic advisor; Hunter Brown, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator; CJ Burgess, broadcast operations coordinator;

Dr. Randy Christopher, marriage and family therapy clinical director at CU’s Los Angeles Education Center; Shelby Coe, academic support specialist at the Louisville Education Center; Bill Coffey, security officer; Kimberly Conover, administrative assistant for athletics at CU-Harrodsburg;

Dr. Dianna Cooper-Bolinskey, professor of social work and Master of Social Work program director; Ceanna Denham, secretary for Academic Affairs; Kristin Dowdy, assistant professor of theater;

Dr. Nancy Duresky, associate professor of business at the Los Angeles Education Center; Michelle Eastham, director of Allied Health and Limited Medical Radiography; Scott Erwin, senior international student advisor and Graduate Business Program assistant director of communications at the Louisville Education Center;

Amber Fannin, director of international admissions at the Louisville Education Center; Ashley Fox, director of alumni relations; Nicholas Gargano, international student advisor at the Louisville Education Center; Michele Gipson, institutional research assistant;

Dr. Ryan Gipson, assistant professor of mathematics; Amanda Goforth, director of the Center for Global Engagement; Jen Goodin, assistant director of certificate admissions; Dr. Tammy Harris, assistant professor of nursing;

Dr. Emily Hayden, assistant professor of criminal justice; Justin Howard, instructor in Allied Health at CU’s Noe Education Center in Somerset; Angela Humphrey, financial aid advisor at CU-Harrodsburg;

Marvin Isham, maintenance coordinator at the Conover Education Center; Barbara Jankovich, instructor in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Los Angeles Education Center; Caleb Jones, international student advisor at the Louisville Education Center;

Dr. Preston Jones, interim dean for the School of Business, Economics and Technology; Donald Judd, instructor in HVAC; Dr. Jamie Killion, associate professor of music; Darryn Litton, enrollment specialist at the Noe Education Center;

Kevin Maples, who served as director of CU-Harrodsburg; Tori Mattingly, international student advisor; Fereshteh Mazdyasni, instructor in marriage and family therapy at the Los Angeles Education Center; Alia McClendon, community theatre manager;

Shahbaz Munawar, academic specialist and IT support at the Louisville Education Center; Brooklyn Newton, custodian; Dr. Kiran Palla, assistant professor of business and IT management at the Louisville Education Center;

Anthony Patterson, instructor in business at CU-Harrodsburg; Carmen Perozo, international student advisor at the Louisville Education Center; Brett Pierce, assistant director of athletics communications and multimedia;

Tina Price, cosmetology instructor; Steven Rapson, maintenance serviceman at the Louisville Education Center; Morella Meneses, academic support specialist at the Louisville Education Center; Dr. Indra Sahu, associate professor of physics;

Dominic Sanfilippo, graduate admissions counselor; Berishna Scharringhausen, international student advisor at the Louisville Education Center; Lea Schmitt, who served as an instructor in clinical nursing; Dr. Lisa Singleton, associate professor of business;

Kyle Smith, maintenance serviceman; Jason Sneed, assistant supervisor of grounds; Austin Sparrow, head men’s basketball coach at CU-Harrodsburg; Rebecca Spurling, cosmetology instructor; Paige Squires, director of budget and reporting; Sandra Stillwell, CU Online coordinator;

Holly Tackett, office assistant for the Division of Natural Science; Paige Taylor, international student advisor at the Louisville Education Center; Peter Thomas, director for immigration student services;

Anthony Thompson, assistant coach for CU’s men’s and women’s track and field team; Kaitlyn Von Bergen, circulation associate; Tony Watkins, executive director of clinical education and counseling services; Dr. Terry Wilder, professor of New Testament and Greek;

Ruby J. Wilson, secretary and office manager for the Division of Humanities; Elly Wright, assistant athletic trainer; and Dan Yates, regional marketing coordinator at CU-Harrodsburg.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.