Leadership & Staff
Dr. Leonard Clemons joined Austin Peay State University as Vice President for Student Affairs on July 10, 2023. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Clemons earned his Doctorate in Higher Education from the University of Miami and his Master of Science in adult and higher education from Northern Illinois University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies from Kentucky State University, serves on multiple national academic associations and has delivered several regional presentations on student success strategies.
Dr. Clemons has more than 10 years of experience working within academic and student affairs structures at multiple universities. He has served in leadership positions that help drive student success and engagement that align with a curricular journey to create thriving student experiences. Some of his previous roles include associate vice provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the assistant dean of students at the University of Chicago, and assistant dean for Student Services at the University of Miami.
Dr. Clemons is passionate about higher education with engagement in many professional associations including National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). His service spans into the community with time as a previous board member with the local United Way and American Red Cross in Knoxville. Dr. Clemons also served as Regional President for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. of which he is an active member.
With an impressive career, Dr. Michelle Martin brings over 20 years of diversified
higher education experience and a strong fiscal and operations background to this
important role. She joins us from Louisiana State University where she served as director
for Operations and Business for the institution's Online and Continuing Education
program. In this role she administered a $47 million budget which included leading
teams for innovative fiscal strategy, operational excellence, and driving continuous
progress to support program and institution goals. Prior to LSU, she served as the
business administrator for the College of Education at Texas Southern University where
she managed human and fiscal resources, led grant compliance, directed operating and
capital budgets, and assisted with a successful NCATE accreditation.
Her dedication to higher education and service spans through her publications on student
success, research in higher education finance and economic impact, contributions to
university service, and engagement in the greater local community.
Dr. Martin earned her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from The Catholic University
of America, followed by her master of business administration from Texas Southern
University. She obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education from Jackson State
University. She is an active member of the National Association of Women MBAs, National
Black MBA Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
With an impressive career, Dr. Gilmore brings 17 years of diversified higher education
experience and a strong background in housing and residence life to this role. She
joins us from Bellarmine University where she served as director for Housing and Residence
Life in the Division of Student Affairs. In this role she led the housing and residence
life operations, strategy and vision to promote student success and holistic development.
Dr. Gilmore has served as an institutional leader with many campus-wide efforts and
prior to her ascension at Bellarmine, she served as a retention administrator at Western
Kentucky University where she contributed to the development of new programs to boost
retention and persistence. She also served as a scholarship advisor, faculty advisor,
and property advisor for a chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority for many years.
Dr. Gilmore earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, followed by earning two master's degrees at Western Kentucky University - a Master of Public Administration and Master of Arts in education for counseling and student affairs. She obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education leadership at Bellarmine University. She's an active member of the Southern Association for College and Student Affairs (SACSA), Kentucky Association of Housing Officers, and served as faculty for Stars College program of the Association of College and University Housing Officers (ACUHO-I).
Dr. Gilmore provides strategic oversight of Community Care and Standards, Community
Engagement and Sustainability, Housing, Residence Life and Dining Services, and Student
Life and Engagement. She also leads campus-wide efforts on student engagement and
student support intervention, goal one of the division strategic plan, and co-chairs
the all new Govs Care Team.
With an experienced background, David brings over 20 years of higher education experience within the area of health and well-being. David most recently served as director of University Recreation and the Foy Fitness & Recreation Center, a role he’s held since 2003. In this role, David’s leadership included the construction and opening of the $11.5M Foy Center with the creation of the $1.5M university pool and aquatics complex and additional outdoor recreation spaces. Prior to APSU, David served at Old Dominion University in recreational sports. Additionally, David served in a dual role as Chief Diversity Officer at APSU from 2016 – 2019.
David earned his Bachelor of Science from Appalachian State University followed by his Master of Science in education from Old Dominion University. He is an active member, and past president, of National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
David provides strategic oversight of University Recreation, Boyd Health Services, Counseling Services and Student Disability Resource Center. He also serves as the Student Affairs lead to driving health and well-being initiatives, lead goal three of the division strategic plan, and co-chair the all new Govs Care Team.
Sharon was born and raised in Ohio and began her Govs journey in 2006 as a full-time
staff member. Since then, she has completed her bachelor's degree in general studies
with multidisciplinary concentrations in psychology and health and her master's degree
in clinical mental health counseling. She has worked in several offices on campus
over the years. With many years of experience in the mental health field and a background
in mental health counseling, Sharon interacts with students, faculty and staff employing
empathy and genuine positive regard while providing a safe and nonjudgemental space.
Sharon's desire as a higher education professional in Student Affairs and the Care
Coordinator is for students to experience that they are not alone, we are here to
help, and there are many resources on campus designed to help students to stay safe
and healthy and to succeed at Austin Peay.
Sharon is proud to be a Gov for almost 20 years and is also an artist who enjoys painting
and drawing and anything creative. She enjoys time at the beach, gardening, crocheting
and has an interest in interior design. She has two children attending APSU and two
fur babies, a 3-legged cat named Raja and a sweet, old Chihuahua named Chimi.
Prior to joining APSU, Dr. Bryant was a newspaper journalist and later worked in marketing
and publicity on Music Row in Nashville. She earned her doctorate from Trevecca Nazarene
University, her Master of Science degree from APSU, and her Bachelor of Science from
Middle Tennessee State University. In her current role she is responsible for division
assessment and institutional effectiveness compliance. She supervises the department
of Student Publications, which houses The All State student newspaper (and formerly the APSU yearbook The Monocle) and other publications
and communications. Her team produces the Student Handbook, and she created and published
the former New Student Guide and the Parent and Family Guide. She coordinates the
Austin Peay Parent & Family Association, and she is responsible for the APSU Parent
and Family Portal and other parent communications. Dr. Bryant has taught the University
101 course for several years and greatly enjoys working with her students.
In previous years, she brought notable speakers to campus including, among others,
Emmy award-winning journalist and national correspondent Byron Pitts; Judy Shepard,
activist, author and mother of murdered Wyoming student Matthew Shepard; Nikki Giovanni,
poet, author, professor and activist; Frank Warren, author of PostSecret books and
blogs; Dr. Terrance Roberts known for lessons from the "Little Rock Nine"; and Soledad
O'Brien, award-winning broadcast journalist. She coordinated the Student Organization
and Leader Awards for 12 years adding several awards to recognize outstanding students
including the Veteran Student of the Year and the Adult Student Leader of the Year.
She previously coordinated the Unity Celebration Event and International Night, and
earlier in her APSU career she worked with Student Government Association, advised
the Student Allocations Committee, and coordinated the Governors Ambassadors. She
has presented at both regional and national conferences.
She is a member and APSU Circle advisor of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership
Honor Society, member of Laurel Wreath Honor Society, SACSA (Southern Association
for College Student Affairs), member of College Media Advisers (CMA) and holds a CMA
Adviser Certification, Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), National Association
of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and Student Affairs Assessment Leaders
(SAAL). Dr. Bryant is an alumnae of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and enjoys serving
as a volunteer mentor with the Tennessee Achieves program. She is the mother of three
sons and a daughter.
Claudia was born in Ft. Hood, Texas, but moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, in 1996 when her father was stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, as part of the 5th Special Forces Group. Claudia graduated from Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in radiologic technology. She earned a master's degree in public health in community health and preventive medicine from Baylor University in 2021. After working in medical imaging for 13 years, she is excited to be working at her Alma Mater and helping students stay well, safe, and connected. Claudia enjoys spending time with her family and watching anything sports related.
Michael serves as the coordinator of Student Publications and Communications. In that
role, he serves as the adviser to the student newspaper, The All State, and coordinates
and designs publications and communications for the division.
Michael brings an award-winning 25-plus year career that spans multiple states in
newspaper journalism, marketing, media, design and photography. Some of his photography
has been published in Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, Street & Smith, & Women’s
World Magazine. He also serves as the official championship photographer for the Ohio
Valley Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournament and he has served as the
director of photography for the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Michael
earned a Bachelor of Arts in administration of justice from Southern Illinois University
Carbondale.
When Micheal has free time, you can find him cheering on his favorite sports teams and spending time with his wife, Cassie, and their three boys who may or may not be all named after Spider-Man characters, but they are, and the letters just so happen to coincide with the letters of his favorite sandwich.
Lynne has been an employee of Austin Peay since August 1990 and joined the Student Affairs division in 1995. She earned a Bachelor of Scince in sociology and is a Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Little Sister, an alumnae of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and is the on campus advisor for the Rho Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. She is a Clarksville native and is active in the community at Trinity Episcopal Church, as a board member of Academy for Academic Excellence School and as a vocalist in two local bands.
Vanessya was born in Clarksville and raised in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, as the youngest
child of a military family. She has been employed with Austin Peay State University
since April 1992 and started working in the Minority Affairs Office. She later joined
the team in Student Affairs in 1996. She earned a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication
with a minor in Religious Studies and a Master of Arts in Corporate Communication
from Austin Peay. In her free time Vanessya loves gardening, reading and Chicago Style
Stepping.
Brit was born in Blufton, Indiana and moved to Middle Tennessee in 1996. She is an
APSU alum with a Bachelor of Science in music education. She moved to Clarksville
following graduation. She worked as an elementary school music teacher in the Robertson
and Clarksville-Montgomery County School systems from 2015-2022 and was honored to
receive School Level Teacher of the Year in 2020. Brit joined Student Affairs Assessment
in July 2023. In her free time Brit enjoys cooking, songwriting and performing in
musical groups around Clarksville.