Dr. Chris Baxter
Chris Baxter is a professor of political science in UT Martin’s Department of Accounting, Finance, Economics and Political Science, teaching courses in public administration and American government. He graduated with a B.S. in political science from UT Martin in 1994 and obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. He also serves as a pre-law adviser. His research interests include constitutional law, judicial politics, and state and local government. Dr. Baxter has been on the GSH faculty since 2007.
Dr. Jessica Beckham
Jessica Beckham is an assistant professor in the Department of Mass Media & Strategic Communication, and this is her first year participating with GSH. She has 13 years of teaching experience at the university level in addition to extensive public relations and marketing experience in the healthcare industry. She holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from The University of Southern Mississippi, an M.S. in organizational communication, and a B.S. in public relations, both from Murray State University. Dr. Beckham’s research interests focus on the creation and dissemination of strategic risk communication messages surrounding public health crises and disasters. She has published articles and book chapters that address the importance of strategic message design and channel selection for disseminating information to stakeholders during crises (e.g., COVID-19, opioid epidemic, hurricane, and tornado warning messages). Additionally, she has explored how strategic communication can promote positive change within the community. When not teaching, she loves spending time with her family and dog (Dude). She is an avid coffee fan and frequently indulges in cupcakes and donuts. She encourages all to stop by her office and join her for a cup of coffee.
Dr. Chris Brown
Christopher M. Brown is a professor of philosophy at UT Martin, where he teaches courses in ancient and medieval philosophy, metaphysics and the philosophy of religion. He also co-teaches Great Works courses in the UTM University Scholars program. He received the bachelor of music degree in percussion performance from Western Michigan University, the M.A. in humanities from Western Kentucky University and the Ph.D. in philosophy from St. Louis University. Dr. Brown's recent publications include journal articles on free will in heaven and the logical problems that plague scientism. His latest book is Eternal Life and Human Happiness in Heaven: Philosophical Problems, Thomistic Solutions. The book explains and defends St. Thomas Aquinas' account of heaven. He enjoys living in Martin with his wife Merry Elizabeth and their three sons: Judah Christopher, Leopold Edward and Thomas Patrick.
Dr. David Coffey
Born in New Mexico and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, David Coffey holds a Ph.D. from TCU. He is professor of history and chair of the Department of History and Philosophy at UT Martin, where he offers classes in U.S., military and Latin American history. His books include John Bell Hood and the Struggle for Atlanta; Soldier Princess: The Life and Legend of Agnes Salm-Salm in North America, 1861-1867; and Sheridan’s Lieutenants: Phil Sheridan, His Generals, and the Final Year of the Civil War. He is a co-author of Historic Abilene: An Illustrated History, and he has contributed chapters to well-regarded anthologies on Civil War, Mexican and Texas history. He has also contributed to 10 major historical reference works and served as an editor on three award-winning, multi-volume projects: the Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War, the Encyclopedia of American Military History, and the Encyclopedia of the North American Indian Wars, 1607-1890. He is the assistant editor of the six-volume American Civil War: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection, to which he contributed more than 40 entries. He is the 2012 recipient of UT Martin’s prestigious Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award, and his most recent work is a co-authored textbook with Oxford University Press: In Harm’s Way: A History of the American Military Experience.
Ms. Sarah Haig
Sarah Haig is a professor of graphic design at UT Martin. She received her BFA and MA in graphic design from SUNY Oswego and MFA in Visual Art from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She teaches graphic design courses that range from print and branding design to web and video. She also teaches foundations level studio art courses, printmaking and book arts, and in general loves making things across mediums. She loves riding her bicycle on routes that are shaped like dinosaurs, has several t-rex costumes hidden in the Fine Arts building just in case, and loves to pet all the animals she can find.
Dr. Chris Hill
Chris Hill is associate professor of English at UT Martin, where he teaches courses in Shakespeare and in 16th and 17th century English literature. He also teaches the Renaissance Great Works course in the University Honors Program. His B.A. in English is from Samford University, and he earned the M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature from UNC-Chapel Hill. He has published essays on Elizabethan polemical prose, Edmund Spenser and 17th century English devotional poetry. His current research focuses on the rhetoric of popular anti-Puritan polemic of the late 16th century. He has received teaching and service awards both from UNC-Chapel Hill and UT-Martin.
Dr. Carrie Humphreys
Carrie Humphreys is an associate professor of political science and the international studies adviser at UT Martin. She teaches courses in comparative politics, international relations and international studies. A native westerner, she graduated with a B.A. in political science from Boise State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Utah. Dr. Humphreys is a frequent international traveler, including organizing student travel studies, and she is also the faculty adviser for UT Martin’s Model UN team and International Club. Dr. Humphreys won both the College of Business and Global Affairs Outstanding Teaching Award and UT Martin’s Outstanding Academic Advisor Award in 2022. Outside of work, you’ll find Dr. Humphreys sporting her homemade tie-dyes, playing in her garden beds, baking, and snuggling with her dog and two cats.
Ms. Tomi McCutchen
Tomi McCutchen is an instructor of Mass Media and Strategic Communication at UT Martin. She holds two bachelor's degrees from UT Martin, in communications and geography, and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. She worked as a daily newspaper copy editor for more than 10 years, and she now teaches news writing, copy editing and reporting. As coordinator of the Office of Student Publications, she advises the student newspaper, The Pacer, along with two student magazines. She has received the 2004 UT National Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award, the 2005 Coffey Outstanding Teacher Award and the 2012 Outstanding Advisor award. She also was named the Journalism Educator of the Year in 2013-2014 by the Southeast Journalism Conference. She and her husband, the Rev. George Pasley, spend their free time tending cats, dogs, ducks, and land at their city home and country farm.
Dr. Robert Nanney
Robert Nanney, professor and chair of the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication at UT Martin, teaches feature writing, communications law for professionals, professional readiness and senior seminar. He earned two B.S. degrees from UT Martin, a Master of Journalism degree from Louisiana State University and a Ph.D. in mass communication from Ohio University. Prior to joining the UT Martin faculty, he worked in the newspaper field for 15 years. He has received the UT National Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award, the UT Martin Best Adviser Award and other teaching awards. He has been with the Governor’s School for 30 years. He and his wife, Jeanie, have two children: Emily, who is an Air Force flight nurse near St. Louis, and Ryan, who is an physics/optical engineer in Wisconsin. They also have a granddaughter, Remy, who is 3.5 years old. He and his twin are the youngest of seven children. He loves to travel and is a huge fan of “The Andy Griffith Show.”