DR. CHRISTY BLOUNT | DIANE AUSTIN | DR. MARY RADFORD
Dr. Christy Blount (left), associate professor of nursing; Diane Austin (center), assistant professor of nursing; and Dr. Mary Radford, professor of nursing and chair of the Department of Nursing, presented at the Coordinated School Health Summer West Region Professional Development conference June 16 in Brownsville.
In addition to presentations, these faculty provided hands-on skills competency trainings for school nurses in West Tennessee. The event was sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Education. The Department of Nursing’s Mobile Health Education Unit was utilized to transport the presenters, equipment and supplies for the event.
DR. CASSIE BURKS
Dr. Cassie Burks, assistant professor of nursing, presented at 2026 joint conference of the American Association for the History of Nursing and the American Association for the History of Medicine, held June 3-7 in Buffalo, New York. The presentation, “Using AI in Course Development for a Nursing History Course,” addressed the integration of generative artificial intelligence in curriculum design. The session highlighted practical strategies for using technology to streamline course development and foster student engagement with health care and nursing.
DR. LAURA HATCH
Dr. Laura Hatch, assistant professor of accounting, was featured in the “Ask the Experts” portion of WalletHub.com’s June 25 presentation, “What is Loud Budgeting?”
According to the presentation, “Loud budgeting is a personal finance trend that encourages people to be vocal about their budget and speak up when they can’t afford to spend more. It was popularized on TikTok, and it’s a way for people to avoid overspending and reduce peer pressure from friends.
“Around 1 in 5 Americans exceed their monthly budgets, according to a recent WalletHub survey, and loud budgeting can be a good way for people to keep themselves on track and avoid the temptation to purchase luxuries they can’t afford.”
Hatch answered questions such as “Do you think loud budgeting is an effective strategy?”, “What are some drawbacks to loud budgeting?”, “What are some tips that can help someone balance loud budgeting with their social life?” and “Do you think loud budgeting is just a fad?”
The WalletHub.com presentation can be seen at this site.
DR. MICHAEL O’NEILL
Director of Public Safety Dr. Michael O’Neill received the Legion of Merit on July 4. Brig. Gen. Clint Mead, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, presented the award. O’Neill retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a command sergeant major in May 2024, but administrative delays postponed final approval of the award until May 2026.
The award reads that it was bestowed “for exceptionally meritorious service as the 6th Brigade (Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations) command sergeant major culminating 36 years of service to the United States Military.
“Command Sergeant Major Michael O’Neill distinguished himself as a leader and mentor to the entire organization. His dedication to the training and education mission created a lasting impact on 6th Brigade and the Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations community that will persist for years to come. His actions brought great credit upon himself, the 6th Brigade (CA/PO), the 102d Training Division (Maneuver Support), and the United States Army Reserve.”
DR. DERRICK SHEPARD
Dr. Derrick Shepard, counseling program coordinator, has been appointed co-chair of the state division committee for the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), beginning a one-year leadership term that runs from July 1 through June 30, 2027.
In this role, Shepard will help advance ACES’ mission of strengthening state divisions for counselor educators nationwide, facilitating committee meetings, coordinating the completion of committee charges and serving as a liaison between individual state divisions and the ACES Governing Council.
This appointment builds on Shepard’s continued leadership in counselor education, including his service as treasurer of the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
