June 19, 2025
Four TMU education students recognized at state capitol for contributions to “Teach in the Peach” website
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Four education students from Truett McConnell University were recognized at the Georgia State Capitol on February 18, 2025, for their significant contributions to the development of the newly launched Teach in the Peach website. This innovative platform, designed to support teacher recruitment and retention, aims to assist both current and prospective educators in finding job opportunities and securing benefits as they embark on or continue their careers in education.
The Teach in the Peach website, which went live on February 18, is part of the Georgia Department of Education’s initiative to establish Georgia as the “#1 State for Teachers to Teach.” The website serves as an essential resource for students preparing to enter the job market, as well as for teachers across the state seeking new opportunities in education.
Senior education majors Grace Hendrix (Elementary Education), Kaileigh McFarland (Middle Grade Education), Davis Richardson (Middle Grade Education), and EJ Smith (Elementary Education) worked closely with Ms. Christy Todd of the GaDOE to develop ideas aimed at recruiting future educators. All four students are currently engaged in full-time student teaching and are actively applying and interviewing for teaching positions for the upcoming school year.
“I am incredibly proud of these students for their dedication to this important initiative, especially as they balance their academic commitments with their involvement in such a meaningful project,” said Taylor Gilleland, chair of the Walpot School of Education at TMU.
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Adjunct appointed to Mountain Circuit Superior Court
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp recently announced the appointment of the Honorable Judge Nichole Carswell to the Mountain Circuit Superior Court, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Chan Caudell. In addition to her judicial role, Judge Carswell serves as an adjunct professor of business law at Truett McConnell University.
“We are immensely proud of Judge Carswell and her well-deserved appointment to the Mountain Circuit Superior Court," said Dr. Kimberly Maiocco, dean of the College of Professional Studies at Truett McConnell University.
“She has been an invaluable resource to our business students, generously sharing her legal expertise. We are grateful for her contributions to both our academic community and the surrounding region.”
Judge Carswell currently holds the position of juvenile court judge for the Mountain Judicial Circuit and serves as the presiding judge for the Mountain Judicial Circuit Family Dependency Treatment Court. Prior to her judicial appointment, she was a partner at McLure, Ramsay, Dickerson & Escoe in Toccoa, where she practiced in areas including family law, adoptions, real estate law, appellate law, probate, and general litigation.
Judge Carswell earned her bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and her Juris Doctor from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. She resides in Habersham County with her husband and two children.
“The scholarship and character of Judge Carswell represents so much of what Truett McConnell University hopes to provide for our students,” stated TMU President Dr. Emir Caner. “Her expertise in law, her love for the next generation, and her stellar experience now at the Mountain Circuit Superior Court grants our students access to the knowledge and experience of those excelling in their respective fields.”
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TMU’s Alumni Executive Committee members to plan for the coming year
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Truett McConnell’s Alumni Executive Committee members met Saturday, March 15th to plan for the coming year. They reflected on the successes of this year – a total of twelve alumni-centric events were hosted by TMU in the past year – and they forged ahead in developing ways to engage and build relationships with alumni.
Three different TMU Connect Events were hosted at local churches over the summer, drawing alumni around the state together. Many returned to campus for the opening of the Dr. Charles F. Stanley Global Impact Center, a space dedicated to the academic growth of students as they are equipped to live out their calling. The center showcases the photography of Dr. Stanley and a collection of artifacts from his ministry.
A gala, held to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Rielin & Salmen School of Nursing, was held in October and featured Dr. Ben Carson as the keynote speaker. Over 180 alumni, donors, faculty, and students gathered to celebrate God’s faithfulness and provision for the school. In November, dozens of alumni gathered for a benefit concert honoring Dr. Becky Lombard, who taught music at TMU for fourteen years.
This spring has also been full of alumni-related events – the 2025 Friends and Family Weekend featured the first ever TRUEtt Love, an event for married couples who both attended TMU, as well as an alumni luncheon with over 150 guests in attendance. The School of Business hosted its Annual Networking Event in March, welcoming alumni, students, and over two dozen business professionals to campus. On April 12th, a golf tournament will be held for TMU’s baseball alumni.
The calendar of alumni events for the coming year is already filling. A Clay Shooting Event will be held in October, and a 15th Anniversary Dinner celebrating the Hans Hut School of Business will be held in the spring of 2026. The event highlights 15 years of the four-year business degree.
2026 will also be 80 years of Truett McConnell University. Reflecting the renewed energy of the Alumni Association, membership has grown rapidly over the past year and donations by TMU alumni have grown 81% compared to the previous year.
“Our alumni openly embrace and support the mission of our university, which is to equip students with the truth, through a Biblically-centered education, to fulfill the Great Commission. And we fulfill this mission with over 60 different academic programs delivered on-campus, online, through dual enrollment, or by continuing education and offer undergraduate, graduate, and now, doctoral degrees. Our Alumni Association is growing rapidly, as is our university,” said Dr. Stacy Hall, vice president for Advancement.
Tate Gaines, president of the AEC, shared, “I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve as the President of the AEC. I look forward to working with our team to strengthen our alumni community and its involvement in the life of current TMU students."
Alumni can continue to stay involved through joining the TMU Alumni Association and inviting friends and former classmates to join along with them. They are also encouraged to update their contact information on the website and be involved on social media through following TMU and sharing its posts. Another way that alumni can help TMU is to attend alumni events and invite others to join them. Finally, they can send their students to TMU.
“I’m so grateful for our dedicated Alumni Executive Committee members who, due to their love for TMU, give up their time freely to formulate strategies on how best to engage and support TMU Alumni and the University. Our time together this past weekend was wonderful and I’m super excited about all the events we have planned for our alumni in the coming months. Our nearly 11,000 living alumni are truly a family, and we value each of them, and as always, welcome them back to campus,” stated Hall.
