TICUA Staff Members

Dr. Claude O. Pressnell, Jr. - President x201

Dr. Pressnell, a native Kansan, has spent nearly 20 years in higher education administration. He began his career at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri as the Director of Admissions and Marketing and quickly gained the additional responsibility of the Student Affairs division.

He holds a doctorate in higher education administration/educational leadership from Vanderbilt University. While attending Vanderbilt he served as the Director of Financial Assistance and Assistant Professor of Religion at Belmont University. After this he served as the Founding Executive Director of the Institute for Family Studies, Executive Director of the Tennessee Foundation for Independent Colleges, and since 2000 has served as President of TICUA.

In 2003 the United States Senate appointed Pressnell to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. The Committee serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the United States Congress and the Secretary of Education on student aid issues. He currently serves as an international advisor on higher education reform in the Balkan region of Europe. He also serves on the Strategic Planning Team for the University of Prishtina, Kosovo.

Pressnell is married to the former Kristina Falcone and they have five children.

Dr. Susanna L. Baxter - Chief Operating Officer x203

Dr. Baxter began her work in the area of member services with the Association in 2000. Prior to her employment with TICUA, Baxter worked at a small college in North Carolina as the dean of students. She is a graduate of Pfeiffer University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian education and religion and of Vanderbilt University with both Master and Doctorate of education degrees.

Ms. Joan Chappell - Director of Administrative Services x202

Ms. Chappell began work with TICUA in November 1990. She has many years experience working for several for-profit companies in their administrative services areas. In 1985 she earned the CPS designation as awarded by the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Mr. Gregg Conroy - Executive Director, TICUA Benefit Consortium x206

Mr. Conroy has more than 30 years experience in employee benefits, compensation and human resources. He started his career as a group life and health underwriter. Since then he has worked for corporations, consulting and record keeping firms in a variety of roles and responsibilities. He has been responsible for strategic planning, program design, implementation and administration for all areas of human resources including compensation, benefits, employment, employee relations and compliance. Since 2002 he has served as Executive Director of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Benefits Consortium.

Conroy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and later earned the designations of Certified Employee Benefit Specialist and Senior Professional in Human Resources. He is a Fellow of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists and a member of other national and regional benefits and human resources professional associations. He is also a CEBS and CFP college course instructor, a published author and speaker on compensation and benefits topics.

Dr. Patrick L. Meldrim – Senior Director of Research and Public Affairs x204

Dr. Meldrim joined the TICUA staff in September 2007 after eighteen years of student affairs work at various institutions including Wittenberg University (OH), University of Rochester (NY), Vanderbilt University (TN), and Austin Peay State University (TN). Meldrim holds a doctorate in higher education leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University and both a Bachelor of Arts degree (biology/psychology) and Master of Science degree (higher education counseling) from the University of Rochester.

Ms. Amy Heckman - Assistant Director of Technology and Data Systems x208

Ms. Heckman joined the TICUA staff in January 2008. Prior to working at TICUA, she worked at Union University as a Staff Assistant in the Office of Student Financial Planning. Heckman is also a graduate of Union University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science in 2003.

Ms. Darlene Thornton - Administrative Coordinator, TICUA Benefit Consortium x207
Ms. Thornton has more than 10 years experience in employee benefits. Since starting her career in payroll and benefits administration for a Nashville-based financial institution she has since worked for healthcare and automotive related companies. In these roles she has been responsible for customer service to employees nationwide as well as having key responsibilities in their "back office" operations.

Thornton is a native of Tennessee and graduated from East High School in Nashville.

1031 17th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37212
TEL 615.242.6400 FAX 615.242.8033

Click here for directions to our office.