Leadership Team
![]() |
Dametraus Jaggers, PhD.
|
Dr. Dametraus Jaggers is an experienced higher education leader, scholar and researcher. His has diverse experience in higher education student affairs, academic affairs and faculty roles. Prior to Austin Peay, Dr. Jaggers was the Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan at Tennessee State University. As the Senior Director of the Dowdy Multicultural Center at West Chester University, Dr. Jaggers provided leadership and strategic direction for student multicultural programming and student success initiatives.
![]() |
Whitney Milliken
|
Whitney Milliken is a Clarksville native and began her career at Austin Peay in 2008. Her professional experience includes work as an academic advisor and student success coordinator working with CoAL students. Whitney has prior experience coordinating the Peer Leader program, teaching peer leadership courses, APSU 1000, and PASS 0900. Whitney is passionate about helping students be successful and helping them navigate their way through the college experience.
![]() |
Mary Lawman
|
Mary Lawman has worked at APSU since the spring of 2017, helping students strengthen the skills that will help them succeed in college. Initially, with the Academic Support Center, Mary worked as the academic alert coordinator. She continues working with students in Student Success as an advisor and student success coordinator. Before moving to Ft. Campbell, Mary worked for McNeese State University as the Fort Polk program coordinator. She has also lived in Virginia and Heidelberg, Germany. Before frequent moves with the military, Mary worked for Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, as the assistant director of admissions.
![]() |
Ajay Thompson
|
Ajay Thompson joined the Student Success team in July 2019. Ajay was formerly an Academic Advisor, and she wrote: "I love that I have the opportunity to support students as they make their transition into the University, help them overcome challenges, and connect them with opportunities to make their first-year experience at Austin Peay great." Ajay has previous experience in college student affairs and admissions. Ajay currently serves as an adjunct instructor for APSU 1000, APSU 4010, and PASS 0900. She has a Bachelor of Science from Texas Christian University and a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
![]() |
Mark Gray
|
Mark Gray has over 30 years of experience in the field of education. Mark has worked at APSU for the last 12 years helping academically at-risk students succeed. First, with the TRIO Student Support Services program and now with the Center for Teaching and Learning, Mark has worked as an advisor and student success coordinator while at Austin Peay. Mark was also a teacher for ten years on the high school level, an adjunct instructor for four years on the community college level, and served as an Associate Professor for five years at Vincennes University. In addition, Mark’s career has included working for eight years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a soil scientist and conservationist.
|
![]() |
Ryan Combs
|
Ryan Combs joins the Student Success staff after working in APSU Athletics from 2016-2021. In the athletics department, Ryan served as the Director of Student-Athlete Development and oversaw the academic success of APSU baseball, volleyball, women’s basketball, and soccer student-athletes. Originally from Hazard, Ky, Ryan received his Bachelors and Masters from Belmont University, and is currently working towards his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at APSU.