Cheyenne Haddix, Administrative Assistant to Athletics. Haddix supports athletic administration and Union’s athletic teams. A Barbourville resident, she is actively engaged in the community and campus life.
[PHOTO: Cheyenne Haddix]
UCU Welcomes Local Talent and Alumni in New Roles
Maisie Nelson • October 3, 2025
Union Commonwealth University is strengthening its commitment to both students and the region by welcoming several new employees who are alumni or have strong local ties. These additions will support student success, enhance alumni connections, and reinforce Union’s role as a vital part of the community.
The following individuals recently joined the Union team:
Reverend Thom Brown, Interim Campus Minister. Brown, who also serves as minister at First United Methodist Church in Barbourville, began supporting Union’s spiritual life this summer.
[PHOTO: Rev. Thom Brown]
Savanna Nunnelley Carroll ’20, Admissions Counselor. A Pineville native and former Union student ambassador, Carroll will serve Knox County schools and will be the local counselor assisting with the new tuition-free initiative.
[PHOTO: Savanna Carroll]
Kaylan Brown ’23, Admissions Counselor. A graduate of Lynn Camp High School, Brown brings her energy and passion for Union to the admissions team.
[PHOTO: Kaylan Brown]
Terra Keith Childers ’04, Admissions and Alumni Engagement Specialist. Childers, an alumna with experience in two Pulaski County school systems, will recruit students in south-central Kentucky and partner with the development team on alumni relations and fundraising.
[PHOTO: Terra Childers]
Kate Gibson, Administrative Assistant to the President. A Barbourville resident, Gibson will provide support to the Office of the President.
[PHOTO: Kate Gibson]
Additionally, longtime staff member Sherry Jenkins has transitioned from her role as Chief of Staff to focus on alumni engagement, trustee relations, and events while continuing to support the Office of the President.
Union also welcomes back two familiar faces two through its facilities management partnership with National Management Resources. Shain Sizemore has returned to oversee the departments operations, while Shannon Miller is once again managing Union’s grounds crew.
Rafael Forti '04, '06, '18, '20 returns as Chief Strategy and Financial Officer. Forti returns after serving as CFO of the successful regional business, Barrier Roofs. In his role, he reports directly to the President and will provide strategic and financial guidance to support Union’s long-term initiatives, including major campus improvement projects.
Union Commonwealth University President Dr. DJ Washington shared his enthusiasm for these new roles.
“At Union, we’re not only investing in the success of our students but also in the strength of our community. By welcoming local leaders and dedicated alumni into these positions, we are building a team that reflects the values and spirit of Union Commonwealth University. I’m excited to see the positive impact they will have on campus and across our region.”
These new hires reflect Union’s ongoing effort to support student success while strengthening its lifelong bond with the region and the alumni who continue to shape its future.
Union Commonwealth University alumna Terra Childers ’04 is taking on an expanded role focused exclusively on alumni relations, helping the university strengthen relationships with graduates and create new ways for alumni to remain connected to their alma mater.
Following the success of its Tuition-Free Pathway in Knox County, Union Commonwealth University is expanding the initiative to Bell County, creating a new tuition-free pathway to Union for eligible graduates of the three Bell County high schools.
Union Commonwealth University (UCU) has welcomed the second cohort of its Presidential Fellows Program, the leadership initiative designed to prepare students for success through mentorship, career development, and hands-on professional experience.
Building on the success of the Tuition-Free Pathway launched in Knox County last year, Union Commonwealth University is extending the initiative to the Class of 2027.
On Family Day, students from around our region have parents and grandparents in the bleachers. However, our international students’ parents aren’t always able to make that trip. That's especially true of our men's and women's soccer rosters, where most players are from across the globe, and the games fall at the end of
Union Commonwealth University is preparing to welcome what is anticipated to be the largest freshman class in the institution's history as students return to campus for the Fall 2026 semester.
Union Commonwealth University mourns the passing of former president, Rev. Dr. Jack Carter Phillips, who died on June 30, 2026, at the age of 91 in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Union Commonwealth University donates over 6,000 in equipment to Middlesboro City Pool
This April, Union Commonwealth University’s Circles of Purpose grant program came to a close, completing a two‑year journey of vocational exploration made possible through funding from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), a program of the Council of Independent Colleges.
Union Commonwealth University celebrated its 137th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 9, as 287 graduates crossed the stage inside Robsion Arena to receive their degrees and begin the next chapter of their lives.
