TRACS - Commission and Staff

Commission and Staff

	Left to Right Row 1 (Front): Dr. Russell G. Fitzgerald, Executive Director (VA), Dr. Boyd Rist, Accreditation Commission Chairman (VA) Row 2: Dr. Benson Karanja (GA), Dr. Elaine Copeland (SC), Dr. Barkev Trachian (NC, Ernest Mall (IL), Dr. Timothy W. Eaton - TRACS Regional Coordinator (OK), Dr. Paul Chappell - TRACS Regional Coordinator (CA) Row 3: Dr. John Borek (GA), Dr. Gary Weier (SC), Dr. Earl S. Mills - TRACS Associate Executive Director (VA), Dr. Beth D. Ashburn (NC), Dr. C. Wayne Freeberg (FL), Dr. David Beck - TRACS Associate Director of Seminaries Row 4: Dr. James Flanagan (GA), Dr. Carl Screiber (CA), Dr. Constance L. Pearson - Secretary (TN), Charles T. Shoemaker - Vice-Chairman/CEO (FL), Dr. Michael J. Adams (WA), H. Beau Baez - Legal Counsel Row 5 (Back): Dr. Jeffrey Amsbaugh (GA), Stuart Page (NY), Dr. David R. Nicholas (CA), Donald R. Lesle - TRACS Associate Director for Finance (VA), Dr. R. Jeffrey McCann - TRACS Associate Executive Director (NC) Not Pictured: Dr. William Bowden (MD)

	*Dr. Russell G. Fitzgerald*, TRACS Executive Director, holds a B.S. from Frostburg State University (MD), an M.A. and Ed.D. from West Virginia University. Additional postgraduate studies were completed at the University of New Hampshire and Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Having been associated with TRACS since 1988, Dr. Fitzgerald assumed the Directorship of the agency in 1997. Dr. Fitzgerald has worked to ensure the soundness and quality of TRACS. He has many years of educational, administrative, and accreditation experience, including Regional accrediting consulting, serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Graduate Dean at Liberty University (VA), and serving as Professor at Fairmont State College, Davis and Elkins College, and Concord College (WV).

	*Dr. Jeff McCann,* Associate Executive Director, received a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a C.A.S. and M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a B.R.E. from Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School, and a B.S. from Winston-Salem State University. He completed additional studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and High Point University. He has served as the Chair of Teacher Education, Vice President of Academics, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, and Acting Executive Vice President at Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School. He has taught from five-year kindergarten through graduate school as well as in international settings. He currently serves on the boards of two mission agencies. He joined TRACS in 1996 as a Regional Coordinator .

	*Dr. Earl S. Mills,* Associate Executive Director, received his A.A. a B.S. and M.S, Degrees from Western Michigan University, Ed. D. from Wayne State University. He has been associated with TRACS since 1980 and has served as Executive Director, Consultant, Commissioner and Associate Executive Director. He has fifteen years of Industrial experience serving as a design engineer, research engineer and Plant Manager for several companies. He has served for thirty years as a teacher, Department Chairman, Director of External Studies at Central Michigan University, V.P of Research and Development, Provost at Liberty University and President of Christian Heritage College (currently San Diego Christian College). After serving as an Educational Consultant for seven years, Dr. Mills rejoined the TRACS Staff in 2007 with the focus on assisting institutions in their development. A major focus will be on instruction and student outcome.

	*Dr. Boyd Rist*, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Liberty University, was elected as Chair of the Accreditation Commission at its November 2003 meeting. Dr. Rist previously served as Vice Chair of the Commission and brings to the position leadership experience in the accrediting process. Dr. Rist received a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, an M.A. from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. from the University of South Dakota.

	*Charles Shoemaker,* Executive Vice President of Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida, was elected as Vice Chair of the Accreditation Commission at the November, 2003 meeting. Dr. Shoemaker has served as a Commissioner and has been active in working with institutions in the accrediting process as well as carrying the TRACS banner in his travels.

	Donald R. Leslie joined the TRACS staff as Associate Director for Finance, in January 2004. He earned a B.S. in Accounting at Bob Jones University, and his M.B.A. from Lynchburg College. He received his professional license as a CPA in 1975. Mr. Leslie began his career in 1966 with Price Waterhouse, Certified Public Accountants. In 1976, he accepted a position as Controller and later became Vice President of Finance with Liberty University. In 1990, he established his own accounting and audit firm. He has audited and consulted with many educational institutions.

	Dr. David Beck works primarily with seminaries, international education, and various colleges in the eastern U.S. He received a Ph.D. from Boston University, M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and B.A. from Houghton College. He has completed additional graduate study at the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Beck has spent many years traveling and teaching abroad (which he continues to do) and has been with TRACS since 1998. He is also the Dean of Graduate Studies at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

	*Dr. Paul Chappell* is Executive Vice President of The King's College and Seminary in Van Nuys, California. Dr. Chappell works with those institutions in the Western United States. He joined TRACS as a Regional Coordinator in November of 2001. Dr. Chappell received a Ph.D. and M. Phil. from Drew University, M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary; Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and B.A. from Oral Roberts University.

	*Timothy Eaton* is President of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, OK, and works primarily with TRACS institutions in the southeast and midwest U.S. He completed his Ph.D. & M.Ed. at the University of Oklahoma, an M.Div. at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Th.B. at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College. He is presently a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Oklahoma. Tim has been with TRACS since 1998 and is also in charge of the TRACS Reliability-Validity Study.

	*Gwen Riggleman* is the TRACS Projects Manager. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from Davis and Elkins College. Gwen handles various tasks at TRACS including the UPDATE Newsletter design/layout/editing, planning and general management of the Annual Conference, brochure design, and general computer work. She has been with TRACS since 1995. Gwen and her husband, Newt, have three children: son Skye, and twin daughters Kara and Kayla. .

	*Joann Fitzgerald* has served TRACS as Administrative Assistant since 1995. She is graduate of Catherman's Business College with experience in the corporate as well as educational domain. She has the primary responsibility of overseeing the day-to-day office operations and staff management. Her duties also include the coordination of on-site team visits, as well as the preparation of various reports and publications. She and Dr. Fitzgerald have two children and five grandchildren.

	*Evon Hall*, TRACS Records Manager since 1996, has been in the secretarial profession for more than 20 years. She ensures that all records are properly organized and filed. She also handles day-to-day basic accounting matters/bill paying, computer work, and general office duties. Her husband, Jim Hall, is currently heading up the Ark Research Project, in search of Noah's Ark. They have a daughter and two grandsons.

	*Meryl Lee Sawyer* joined TRACS as an Administrative Assistant in 2004. She earned a B.A. in French from Grove City College where she eventually returned to serve as Secretary/Administrative Assistant in the Executive Office. She later served as Administrative Assistant to the Executive Vice President and Academic Dean of Blue Mountain College. Meryl Lee is married to Ted Sawyer, a math teacher in Warren County School District in Front Royal, Virginia. The Sawyers have one daughter, Leigh, and two granddaughters.

	*Caitlin Swain,* Databases and Web Manager, has been a part of TRACS since March 2005. She is a Lynchburg native having lived in the Lynchburg/Forest area her entire life. Caitlin was Homeschooled K-12 and graduated in 2003. She continues her education in the field of Web & Graphics Design through self-learning and classes at the local community college.

Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
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