MEET OUR STAFF
Timothy Eaton, Ph.D.
President
Ph.D. and M.Ed., University of Oklahoma; M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; M.A., Randall University; B.Th., Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College; and advanced studies, Harvard University: Harvard Institutes of Higher Education.
Before accepting the Presidency of TRACS, Dr. Eaton served for over 15 years as an institutional president. He has served as a faculty member, plus various administrative positions in Higher Education for more than 30 years. His expertise in research is reflected in his book: “Path to the Professoriate: For High-achieving, First-generation College Students,” Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller Actiengesellschaft & Co. KG., 2009.
Since 1996 Dr. Eaton has served as the Principal Investigator for the Reliability and Validity Study by TRACS. He has led six successful institutional self-studies for candidacy or accreditation with both state and USDE recognized accrediting agencies. He has served as either a visiting team member or TRACS Representative on over 30 on-site evaluation team visits and as TRACS President since 2016.
Ron Cannon, D.Min.
Vice President of Operations (COO)
D.Min., Assemblies of God Theological Seminary; M.A.T.S., World Evangelism Bible College and Seminary; B.A., Intercultural Ministry, World Evangelism Bible College and Seminary
Dr. Cannon has served as a missionary, pastor, and more recently as an administrator and faculty member. He has more than fifteen years experience in the areas of education and administration. He has served on numerous evaluation team visits for TRACS. Dr. Cannon helped to pioneer and subsequently served as the President and Chief Academic Officer at Leyte Gulf Bible College in Dulag, Leyte, Philippines. He served as the Vice-President for Student Development for 2 years, the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Registrar for 8 years, and the Executive Vice-President in Charge of Daily Operations for 2 years; all at Messenger College of Joplin, Missouri (now Euless, Texas).
Dr. Cannon’s strengths lie in the areas of Academic Programs and Administration and Faculty/Staff Relations. Dr. Cannon is married to Kim Cannon. They have five children – Andrew, Stephen, Rebekah, Sarah and Seth.
Tanmay Pramanik, D.R.E.
Vice President of Institutional Compliance
D.R.E., Temple Baptist Seminary; M.Min., Cincinnati Christian University; B.A., Economics, Political Science and Sociology, Bangalore University, India
Dr. Pramanik has over two decades in educational, administrative, and accreditation experience. Prior to joining TRACS in 2010, he served on numerous evaluation team visits for TRACS as a peer evaluator. Dr. Pramanik has provided organizational leadership in the development and support of Temple Baptist College’s strategic priorities and accreditation initiatives. He served in many capacities at Temple Baptist College including the Chair of Arts & Science, Dean of Student Affairs, and Vice-President of Enrollment Services and Institutional Effectiveness.
He has presented at academic and religious conferences in the United States as well as numerous foreign countries. Dr. Pramanik has particular strengths in the institutional effectiveness process and pioneered assessment strategies to measure student learning at Temple Baptist College. On the national front, Dr. Pramanik contributes to educational quality by serving as a member of the ‘Committee on Recognition’ for the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Among his hobbies and interests, Dr. Pramanik enjoys playing the piano, guitar, leading worship, and reading on apologetics and comparative religions. He and his wife, Dina live in Lynchburg, VA.
John Harbison, D.Min.
Vice President of Institutional Compliance
D.Min., Covenant Theological Seminary; M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary; M.A.R., Westminster Theological Seminary; B.S., Forestry, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. John Harbison served at Community Christian College for 11 years, first as Dean of Students, and then as Vice President for Academic Affairs. He was the director of accreditation and assessment and the college’s pastor during that time. He also has had the opportunity to serve on a number of TRACS visiting teams. Before his work at the college, he was a staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ, and he spent 13 years as a pastor in churches in Pennsylvania and Colorado. In addition, he has published a book through Kirkdale Press called Keeping Christ in Ministry.
Dr. Harbison’s areas of strength lie in assessment and academic affairs. He is married and has two sons and one granddaughter. He and his wife, Roberta, live in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Matthew Beemer, Ph.D.
Vice President of Institutional Compliance
Ph.D., Louisiana State University; M.A., B.S., Pensacola Christian College
Dr. Beemer has served administratively in Christian Higher Education for over three decades. He served as Dean of Communicative Arts and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Pensacola Christian College over a twenty year span before becoming the Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at Trinity Baptist College. At both institutions, he was instrumental in the development of multiple academic programs as well as providing oversight to support areas, including the Registrar’s office and Learning Resources. In addition, he has taught communications courses from the freshmen through the graduate level. Prior to joining the TRACS staff, he served as a TRACS commissioner for 11 years and served on several evaluation team visits.
Dr. Beemer’s strengths lie in academic program development, faculty development, and general administration.
He is an avid cyclist, logging miles every chance he gets. In addition, he enjoys playing the piano and teaching an adult Bible Fellowship class each week. He and his wife, Judy, have three children and live in Jacksonville, Florida.
Barry Griffith
Chief Financial Officer
B. S., Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Mr. Griffith’s career path has included work as an accountant, financial analyst, general contractor, Vice President of a heating and air conditioning company, and over 13 years as an administrator at Piedmont Baptist College & Graduate School overseeing the business office, technology department, and maintenance functions of the institution. In this capacity, he served on the President’s Cabinet and routinely gave reports to the Board of Trustees.
Barry is dedicated to seeing incredibly gifted men and women serve the Lord Jesus, using the knowledge and guidance they receive during their years at a Christian college.
Meryl Lee Sawyer
Vice President of Administration
Additional studies, Texas Wesleyan University; B.A., French, Grove City College
After graduating from college, Meryl Lee taught in the Elementary French Program in Butler, PA. For sixteen years she owned and managed a retail-clothing store. In 1989 she returned to Grove City College to become Secretary/Administrative Assistant in the Executive Office.
Later she served as Administrative Assistant to the Executive Vice President and Academic Dean of Blue Mountain College, MS.
Meryl Lee joined TRACS as an Administrative Assistant in 2004.
Andy Carrein, Ed.S.
Director of I.T.
Ph.D. (ABD) Education, Regent University;
Ed.S. Educational Technology and Online Learning, Regent University;
M.A. Biblical Studies, Carolina University;
M.A. Ministry, Foothills Theological Schools;
B.A. Biblical Studies, Carolina University;
A.A. Religion and Church Administration, Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute
Mr. Andy Carrein previously served at a member institution as the Coordinator of Academic Technology. In 2020, the Carrein family left the USA and started relocating to the beautiful & tropical country of Belize to serve the people in severely poverty stricken areas. At that same time, he started serving at TRACS as a part-time remote contractor to implement a new digital portal that now encompasses all areas of compliance documents and interactions with the member institutions.
While serving in this capacity, TRACS started adding more responsibilities and opportunities for Mr. Carrein. After a year-and-half, TRACS offered Mr. Andy Carrein a full-time position as the I.T. Director in the summer of 2022.
Kristen Runion
Receptionist & Data Control Manager
B. A., English, Bluefield College
During Kristen’s time in college, she gained over four years of experience as a bank teller, working at First Century Bank in Bluefield. After graduating, Kristen served as Assistant Office Manager at Crossroads Camp and Conference Center in Lowesville, VA.
After moving to Lynchburg in 2008, she worked as co-manager of a shoe store and as a server in several restaurants.
Kristen joined TRACS in 2011.
Katie Hunter
Accounting Associate
Associate’s Degree, Computer Applications Programming, National College
Katie joined TRACS as the Team Visit Clerk in 2009.
Christie Crosswhite
Team Visit & Conference Coordinator
Associate’s Degree in Computer Programming, Johnston Community College; Associate of Arts in Business, Louisburg College
After graduating from college, Christie worked at the North Carolina Department of Transportation as an Applications Computer Programmer for eight years. In 2003, Christie and her family moved to Forest, Virginia, where she homeschooled her children for nine years. She attends Forest Baptist Church and served as the Word of Life Administrator for the children’s ministry for seven years.
Christie is married to Todd and has four children: Kacie, Tiffany, Emily and Jesse. She joined TRACS in 2012.
Kyu Hyun Lee, D.Min.
TRACS Korean Representative
D.Min. and M.A., Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary; M.Div., Chongshin University & Chongshin Theological Seminary; B.A., Kookmin University
Dr. Lee currently serves as Vice President for International Affairs for Faith International University (FIU). He has served FIU for 26 years, leading the Korean Department as Executive Dean. He also has served as a faculty member in Practical Theology (including Counseling and Leadership areas). He has developed many classes and translated teaching materials into Korean.
As an ordained minister, he served 17 years in the fields of Pastoral Ministry and Pastoral Care and Counseling in three Presbyterian churches in Korea and four churches in Federal Way and Tacoma, WA. He also has served the public and the King County Police Department for over 13 years as a police chaplain, providing crisis and grief counseling and emergency care and intervention, etc.
Dr. Lee has been associated with TRACS for over 20 years through institutional self-study for his institution and has served as an on-site evaluator on more than 20 visiting teams. On most of these visits, he has carried the added responsibility of Team Chair. He also has served the TRACS Commission by providing translation and consulting services. At TRACS annual conferences, Dr. Lee has led the Korean Roundtable Discussion and presented the Visiting Team Member Training in the Korean language.