College of Health, Education and Professional Studies
Professor Mary Tanner, Dean
Associate Professor, Tony Lease, Associate Dean
The mission of the faculty and staff in the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies is to collaboratively engage students in diverse, high quality learning with opportunities for research and service within the metropolitan community. In fulfilling this mission, the College is committed to:
- Enhancing the bodies of knowledge in each of its disciplines.
- Promoting the values and ethics of a truth-seeking, caring college.
- Serving diverse populations by preparing family and social service experts; health and lifestyle professionals; and leaders and teachers for the 21st century.
- Promoting critical partnerships with communities for the development of socially responsible leaders.
Departments within the College include the Graduate Studies Division, Health and Human Performance, Interior Design, the School of Nursing, Physical Therapy, Social Work, and the Teacher Preparation Academy. Through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, the College offers the B.S. degree in Rehabilitation Science with a concentration in Occupational Therapy.
Programs in the College have earned accreditation from the following organizations:
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Tennessee State Department of Education
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (formerly FIDER)
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
American Dietetics Association (ADA)
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (in candidacy)
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) (conditional accreditation)
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Council of Accreditation (COA) for Nurse Anesthesia
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CCATE)
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education/American Physical Therapy Association
Graduate Studies Division
Associate Professor John Freeman, Head
Health and Human Performance
Professor Gregory W. Heath, Head
Interior Design
Assistant Professor Dana Moody, Head
School of Nursing
Professor Kay Lindgren, Director
Rehabilitation Science: Occupational Therapy
Assistant Professor Susan McDonald, Coordinator
Rehabilitation Science: Physical Therapy
Associate Professor Randy Walker, Head
Social Work
Assistant Professor Valerie L. Radu, Head
Teacher Preparation Academy
Professor Valerie Rutledge, Head
