Search Committee

Mitch Edgeworth

Mitch Edgeworth (’94) serves as the chair of the presidential search committee. He also serves as vice chair of the Lipscomb Board of Trustees as well as on the board management, development and finance committees of the board.

Mitch has focused his career in the healthcare sector with over 23 years of extensive healthcare experience, serving in a variety of operational and strategic leadership roles and now serves as president of HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Division.

Mitch received an MBA from Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Mike Adams

Mike Adams (’70) serves on the academic life and board management committees of the board.

Mike has had a distinguished career in higher education. He served as the president of Centre College from 1988-1997, the president of the University of Georgia from 1997- 2013 and as chancellor of Pepperdine University from 2014-2018.

Mike received a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

Cicely Simpson

Cicely Simpson (’96) serves as chair of the student life committee as well as a member of the executive and academic life committees of the board.

Cicely is founder and CEO of Summit Public Affairs. Previously she was executive vice president, public affairs for the National Restaurant Association; vice president of government affairs at Dunkin’ Brands Group; and is a former legislative director for Rep. Jim Cooper and Rep. Lincoln Davis, both from Tennessee.

Cicely received a J.D. from Pepperdine School of Law.

Neika Stephens

Neika Stephens serves on the Lipscomb Academy and development committees of the board.

Neika has had a distinguished career in public relations and communications. She was executive vice president at Show Biz, Inc.

Lipscomb awarded Neika an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2012.

Pat Bethel

Pat Bethel (’72) serves as chair of the Lipscomb Black Alumni Council.

Pat is project and program management senior principal consultant at NTT Data Services.

Pat received an MBA degree from The George Washington University.

Brad Schultz

Brad Schultz is head of school at Lipscomb Academy.

Brad previously served as head of school at Cross Schools in Bluffton, South Carolina, and as chief innovation officer at Greater Atlanta Christian School.

Brad received an Ed.D. from Georgia Southern University.

Melanie Grogan

Melanie Grogan serves as the director of spiritual formation and Mustang Life at Lipscomb Academy Lower School.

Melanie was a pediatric nurse for 20 years before joining Lipscomb Academy. She is completing her master's degree in Christian Ministry at Lipscomb University, expecting to graduate in May 2021.

Mimi Vance

Mimi Vance (’21) serves as the president of the Student Government Association.

Mimi is a law, justice and society major and political science minor at Lipscomb University. Mimi serves as a legislative intern for the Tennessee General Assembly.

David Holmes

David Holmes serves as dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and as professor of English.

David taught at Pepperdine University before coming to Lipscomb. He has held several distinguished academic posts including visiting associate professor of rhetoric and composition at Arizona State University (2008) and the Langston Hughes Visiting Professor at the University of Kansas (2013).

David received his doctorate in English from the University of Southern California.

Chelsia Harris

Chelsia Harris serves as the executive director of the School of Nursing.

Chelsia's clinical experience includes practice in medical-surgical acute care, outpatient cardiology, preventive health, primary family practice, and occupational and home health.

Chelsia received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Chris Gonzalez

Chris Gonzalez serves as director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program and associate professor of psychology.

Chris received his Ph.D. in family social science from University of Minnesota.

Lee Camp

Lee Camp (’89) serves as professor of theology and ethics. In 2017 he was awarded the permanent designation as university "outstanding teacher."

Lee is host and creator of Tokens Show, a live event theology variety show.

Lee received a Ph.D. in moral theology and Christian ethics from the University of Notre Dame.

Jeff Baughn

Jeff Baughn serves as senior vice president of finance and technology.

Jeff served as vice president within the financial services sector at IBM prior to his appointment at Lipscomb. Previously he worked at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Anderson Consulting.

Jeff received a B.B.A. from Harding University.

Brandon Rosenthal

Brandon Rosenthal (’03) serves as head coach of the Lipscomb volleyball team.

Brandon has coached volleyball at Lipscomb for 18 seasons. He has led the team to seven NCAA tournament appearances, six ASUN tournament championships and 15 consecutive trips to the ASUN tournament.

Brandon received an MBA from Lipscomb University.

Trustee Representation