ATLANTA — During Mercer University’s spring Board of Trustees meeting on April 25, new degree programs were approved in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Music and School of Medicine, and recommendations for faculty sabbaticals, tenure and promotions were ratified.
Trustees approved two new School of Music degree programs that will be based in a new Institute for Music Production: a Bachelor of Music in Production and a Bachelor of Science in Music Business. These new programs will take advantage of the University’s investment in downtown Macon’s Mercer Music at Capricorn, which includes the restored Capricorn Sound Studios, founded in 1969 by Mercer alumni Phil and Alan Walden. Students who complete the new degree programs will be prepared for careers in the growing field of music production and music management. The Institute, which will be physically housed at Capricorn, will also administer certificate programs in music production. Final approval of the programs is subject to accreditation review by the National Association of Schools of Music.
A Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies that will be offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences beginning next fall was also approved by the board. The new degree program will include two options within multidisciplinary studies: arts and humanities and social sciences. It will give students an opportunity to reflect on their multidisciplinary learning and prepare for post-graduate life.
The School of Medicine was given approval to begin a partnership with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to offer an undergraduate Accelerated Mercer Medical Scholars program. This degree track will be offered as an option in the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree. It will allow an accelerated pathway to medical school for exceptional Mercer undergraduates. Students completing this program will earn the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences after successfully completing their first year of the Mercer School of Medicine’s Doctor of Medicine program. It will be available to a limited number of highly qualified incoming undergraduates.
Faculty promotions, tenure and emeriti status approved by the board include:
School of Business
- Dr. Ahmadi Ehsan, promoted to associate professor of management, awarded tenure
- Dr. Juanita Forrester, promoted to associate professor of management, awarded tenure
- Dr. Carol Sargent, awarded tenure
College of Education
- Dr. Karyn Allee, promoted to associate professor of elementary education, awarded tenure
- Dr. Deana Ford, promoted to associate professor of educational research, awarded tenure
- Dr. Carol Isaac, promoted to professor of educational leadership
- Dr. Katherine Perrotta, promoted to associate professor of middle grades and secondary education, awarded tenure
School of Engineering
- Dr. Natalia Cardelino, promoted to associate professor of civil engineering, awarded tenure
- Dr. Hodge Jenkins, promoted to associate professor emeritus of mechanical engineering
- Dr. Dorina Mihut, promoted to professor of mechanical engineering
- Dr. Makhin Thitsa, promoted to professor of electrical and computer engineering
College of Health Professions
- Dr. Cheryl Gaddis, promoted to professor of practice in public health
- Dr. Suzanne Madden, promoted to associate professor of practice in public health
- Dr. Mary Mathis, promoted to professor of practice in public health
- Dr. David Taylor, promoted to clinical professor in physical therapy
School of Law
- Heather Baxter, awarded tenure
- Daisy Floyd, promoted to dean emerita
- Tim Floyd, promoted to professor emeritus of law
- Mark Jones, promoted to professor emeritus of law
- Craig Senn, awarded tenure
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Kevin Honeycutt, promoted to professor of philosophy
- Dr. James May, promoted to associate professor of English, awarded tenure
- Dr. Erin McClenathan, promoted to associate professor of art and design, awarded tenure
- Dr. Margaret Meadows, promoted to associate professor of chemistry, awarded tenure
- Dr. Tanya Sharon, promoted to professor emerita of psychology
- Dr. James Stanescu, promoted to associate professor of communication studies and theatre, awarded tenure
- Dr. John Stanga, promoted to associate professor of biology, awarded tenure
- Dr. Lee Troupe, promoted to associate professor of mathematics, awarded tenure
- Dr. Johnathan Yerby, awarded tenure
School of Medicine
- Dr. David Baxter, promoted to professor of internal medicine
- Dr. Elena Bozhikova, promoted to associate professor of biomedical sciences
- Dr. Raghavan Chinnadurai, promoted to associate professor of biomedical sciences, awarded tenure
- Dr. Abigail Cruz, promoted to associate professor of clinical education
- Dr. Jay Howington, promoted to associate professor of clinical education
- Dr. Erskine James, promoted to professor of clinical education
- Dr. Joshua Lane, promoted to professor of clinical education
- Dr. Jessica Lee, promoted to associate professor of clinical education
- Dr. Candi Nobles-James, promoted to professor of internal medicine
- Dr. Sarah Rotschafer, promoted to associate professor of biomedical sciences, awarded tenure
- Dr. Jeff Stephens, promoted to professor emeritus of internal medicine
College of Nursing
- Dr. Jennifer Bartlett, promoted to professor of nursing
- Dr. Tessy George, promoted to assistant professor of nursing
- Dr. Robyn Johnson, promoted to assistant professor of nursing
- Dr. Caroline Moore, promoted to assistant professor of nursing
College of Pharmacy
- Dr. Sherif Hafez, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences
Faculty sabbaticals approved by the board include:
School of Business
- Dr. Arnab Nayak, fall 2025
- Dr. Myriam Quispe-Agnoli, spring 2026
College of Education
- Dr. Sara Luke, fall 2025
School of Engineering
- Dr. Laura Lackey, academic year 2026-27
- Dr. Philip McCreanor, spring 2026
- Dr. Dorina Mihut, spring 2026
- Dr. Alireza Sarvestani, fall 2025
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Bob Allen, fall 2025
- Dr. Sara Appleby, academic year 2025-26
- Dr. Lori Johnson, fall 2025
- Dr. Yuanting Lu, spring 2026
- Dr. James May, fall 2025
- Dr. Frank McNally, spring 2026
- Dr. Katie Northcutt, spring 2026
- Tennille Shuster, spring 2026
- Chelsea Rathburn, spring 2026
College of Professional Advancement
- Dr. Feng Liu, academic year 2025-26
School of Theology
- Rev. Dr. Robert Nash, spring 2026
