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Student Success:
Mentoring
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The faculty and student relationships at Milligan are one of the college’s greatest resources for students. Our faculty are wholeheartedly committed to the development of our students—both in and out of class. Each year, we have a group of faculty and staff who commit to serving as mentors to entering students. These mentors are available for any questions students may have—please take advantage of their expertise!
At Milligan, you will be paired with a faculty or staff mentor, based on your academic interest. If you haven't decided on a major yet, your mentor will help guide you through the core curriculum and career assessments to help you discern God's call.
In addition to meeting regularly with your mentor on campus, mentors frequently have students over for dinner, games, movies, Bible studies, and often worship together. Your mentor will help you successfully navigate through your first year as a college student. From there, you will be ready to work closely with an academic advisor in your major, who will lead you through to your graduation.
Meet Your Mentors
 John Paul Abner, 423.975.8013
Dr. Abner received his PhD from the University of Florida in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. He co-mentors with his wife, Pam, and they have 3 kids, a horse (Red), and a dog (Sugar). Dr. Abner has a small private practice and consults with the East Tennessee Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody where he is trying to help improve services to foster children by training area therapists in Parent Child Interaction Therapy. He is researching the efficacy of a new treatment for autistic spectrum disorders. He is an avid hiker, volleyball, and basketball player. |
 Alice Anthony, 423.461.8970
Professor Alice Anthony completed her master of fine arts in photography at East Tennessee State University, and pursues her professional interests in the classroom at Milligan and by developing the artistic skills of youth in the community. She also pursues ongoing photo projects, including an ongoing photo project on Elvis fans in Graceland, and regularly displays her art in local and national venues. Professor Anthony and her husband, Steve, will be taking a cruise to the Mediterranean and Holy Land in May. She has two cats, GW and Reece (the roof-climbing dynamo), two godchildren, and one great-godchild, Alleigh. |
 Carolyn Carter, 423.461.8670
With passions in database management, systems analysis and design, and web theory and design, Dr. Carter completed graduate studies from East Tennessee State University, University of Evansville, and then received her PhD from Virginia Tech. Her husband, Milton, is Director of Lifelong Learning and teaches geography at Milligan. They have two spoiled cocker spaniels - Oreo and Cocoa. |
 Theresa Garbe, 423.461.8718
Milligan's Director of Alumni Relations for the past 11 years, Ms. Garbe received a BA from Milligan in communications and humanities-French and will receive a Master of Divinity degree from Emmanuel School of Religion this May. She has been married for 17 years to a wonderfully supportive husband and is blessed with three active kids--ages 12, 10 and 6. If she had free time, she would spend it hiking, gardening and cooking. One of her favorite pastimes is eating good chocolate--you can always find some in her office. |
 John Jackson, 423.461.8794
Dr. John Jackson hails from out west by way of Durham, NC, and has settled into the smooth life of northeast TN. He serves as professor of Bible and humanities and completed his doctoral work in Old Testament studies at Duke University. John's wife, Mary serves as Milligan's reference librarian (students will all get to know her in their composition courses) and is typically known as a great source of baked goods for our students. They share a love of cooking and travel. They live in Elizabethton with their two children. |
 Diane Junker, 423.461.8907
Hailing from Minnesota, Dr. Junker started off her college learning right here at Milligan, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She went on to receive her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and then a Master's in Nursing from the University of Tennessee. Her hobbies include cooking, sewing, decorating, and reading. Dr. Junker is an active member of the missions committee at First Christian Church in Johnson City and also plays the organ at FCC. |
 Lori Mills, 423.461.8663
Dr. Mills completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Louisville and now teaches in that field here at Milligan. Her particular academic interests include the theory and practice of counseling, positive psychology, and sport psychology. She and her husband happily have their hands full with three boys. While a student here at Milligan, Dr. Mills played both basketball and volleyball. She loves sports of all kinds and she likes to read. |
 Bruce Montgomery, 423.461.8776
PhD in Interpersonal and Public Communication from Bowling Green State University, along with a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, Dr. Montgomery has worked in Communications at Milligan for 14 years, and before that worked 27 years as a preaching minister. He is also a former chaplain for the New York Yankees AAA team. The Columbus Clippers, and was State Director of FCA in Ohio. A few years ago he became a found member of Higher Ministries, a ministry to church leaders and local congregations. He has traveled widely in the area providing workshops in conflict management, team building, and strategic planning. Bruce has a strong interest in storytelling, and he is in the process of becoming a performing member of the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild which is a group of local professional storytellers. He is also currently serving as Interim Minister at Westside Christian Church in Jonesborough. He is married and has three children and seven grandchildren. |
 Carrie Swanay, 423.461.8795
Graduating from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor's in Communications/Broadcasting, again from ETSU with a Master's in Instructional Technology, and finally from Virginia Tech with a PhD in Instructional Technology with an emphasis in Digital media, Dr. Swanay loves working with all aspects of multimedia, video production and editing. She has two pugs (Ellie- for Eleanor Roosevelt and BB) and enjoys riding her 750 Honda motorcycle. |
 Ted Thomas, 423.461.8996
Prof. Ted N. Thomas is a modern European historian who specializes in Church--State conflicts in Nazi Germany. In addition to history courses, he teaches sophomore Humanities and German. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, having completed his undergraduate work at Pepperdine University. He and his wife Jane-Anne (married 40 years!) spent nearly seven years in Heidelberg, Germany, where Prof. Thomas preached and taught in the Bibelschule Heidelberg. The Thomas family likes to sing and make things grow in the garden. Prof. Thomas is currently in an interim ministry with Oak Grove Christian Church.
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 Michael Whitney, 423.461.8908
Professor Whitney hails from New Hampshire, and he completed his undergraduate degree in biochemistry at Messiah College. He continued his education by earning a PhD in genetics from Penn State. Milligan was very pleased to welcome Dr. Whitney to campus in the Fall of 2008. He and his wife of nine years have three sons. When he's not in the classroom or with his family, you'll find Dr. Whitney playing guitar, sports and video games.
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