Pellissippi State welcomes two new academic deans

New deans at Pellissippi State; Kane Barker and Lisa Stamm. Image courtesy of PS.

KNOXVILLE — Pellissippi State has welcomed two new academic deans -- Kane Barker and Lisa Stamm. For Kane Barker, being offered the position of dean of Natural and Behavioral Sciences at Pellissippi State Community College is a dream come true.

“I grew up in Knoxville and had wanted to return for years,” said Barker, who was hired last month. “I sat down and designed my dream job, the job that would bring me back here, and it was the dean of Natural and Behavioral Sciences at Pellissippi State.

“I’m very happy to be here. I have a real heart for education in a place like Pellissippi State that allows professors to bond with students, to teach them and develop not only learning skills but introduce them to new opportunities for life.” Lisa Stamm, the new dean of the college’s Nursing Department, echoes Barker’s sentiments: “Pellissippi State truly does have a community feel. It’s a very dynamic place with lots of opportunities, and everyone is kind and supportive.

“I want to be sure the community knows about our top-notch Nursing program. I plan to continue to uphold standards that have kept our program at a 97 percent pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination and that have given us our largest freshman class ever this fall.”

The Nursing Department will continue to offer new, technologically advanced methods for students to learn, Stamm says, from dual enrollment courses in health science at local high schools to a planned simulation center at the Strawberry Plains Campus. In addition, she hopes to include more service-learning opportunities that will allow Nursing students to give back to the community and learn by doing.

In his new position, Barker hopes to continue building on his department’s past successes, including STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] and early childhood education, as well as to pursue grants for additional student scholarships and state-of-the-art equipment. Barker earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology. He and his wife of 10 years have three children.

Stamm completed an M.S. in nursing from the University of Tennessee and is currently pursuing a doctorate in health education. She has worked in cardiology, critical care and emergency units, and she has taught at local higher education institutions. Stamm and her husband have four grown children.

Published August 27, 2014