The McClurkan Award is presented to those whose lives and service reflect Trevecca’s values but who did not graduate from the University.
Nykolaus Reed
Nykolaus Reed, a faculty member in Trevecca’s biology department since 2013, attended Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and later Meharry Medical College for biomedical studies. He went on to pursue Ph.D. research on DNA sequences and conducted his dissertation work at Vanderbilt’s Center for Human Genetics. He initially became a member of the Trevecca community when he taught life science as an adjunct professor while completing a Vanderbilt postdoctoral fellowship.
Reed was awarded Trevecca’s 2022 undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award for his thoughtfulness, passion and ability to share his love and expertise in biology with his students. He prioritizes teaching scientific literacy and believes it’s crucial to navigating an ever-changing world.
“My goal is to help students find where they can excel and experience joy,” Reed shared. “In my own journey, I was initially determined to become a medical doctor. Then I shadowed some doctors and I quickly realized that being a medical doctor wasn’t the direction for me. A shift in focus can be scary, but it was the best decision for me. That’s what I want my students to realize. Your initial direction doesn’t have to be your only direction.”
The Generational Impact Award is given to a current or former Trevecca employee who has impacted students for more than three decades.
Tim Green
Over the course of his 34 years at Trevecca, Tim Green has served as the University chaplain, a professor of Old Testament literature and theology and now as dean of the Millard Reed School of Theology & Christian Ministry. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, and prior to arriving at Trevecca, he held pastoral roles in Hendersonville, Tenn.; Cincinnati; and Nashville.
Green has authored numerous books and articles and is a frequent speaker and lecturer throughout the United States and around the world, teaching theology classes in Central and Eastern Europe. Trevecca has been a place of formation for Green, who sees the community as deeply interwoven with his calling. He finds great joy in sharing his love of Scripture with students and encouraging them as they discover their mission and passions.
“One of my greatest prayers is that each of my students will imagine in meaningful and life-giving ways how the Lord is calling them to engage in the deepest dreams and mission of God for the world,” he said. “I hope that my life embodies the spirit and mind of Jesus Christ, and that my students take away from my classes an authentic picture of Jesus as well as a desire to be transformed into his image.”
The Mackey Leadership Awards are presented to Trevecca alumni who have excelled in leadership.
Amy Alexander
Amy Alexander graduated from Trevecca’s marriage and family therapy master’s program in 2005. She went on to co-found The Refuge Center, a counseling center in Franklin, Tenn., that emphasizes excellence in care and affordability, alongside fellow graduate Jennifer Thames. Alexander now serves as the center’s executive director.
Since opening in 2005, the Refuge Center has grown to include 30 employees, 20 contract therapists and 20 interns. The center recently moved to a 15,200-square-foot facility that will allow for 40,000 counseling sessions annually. The state-of-the-art campus includes an outdoor prayer chapel, walking trails, a prayer labyrinth and a playground for children.
As a therapist, Alexander’s clinical focus includes trauma; domestic and sexual violence; grief and loss; and identity work. She is passionate about helping clients thrive, find freedom and live healthy and whole lives.
“Much of the dream of The Refuge Center came during my time in the Trevecca graduate counseling program, where professors and leaders provided a solid foundation of mentorship, wisdom, guidance, vision and support,” she said. “I feel blessed to lead an organization that is making such a systemic impact in our community and beyond. I believe we are just scratching the surface of providing the most excellent, whole-person care available.”
Darryl Griffin
Darryl Griffin’s professional journey exemplifies leadership rooted in faith. A 2014 alumnus of Trevecca’s Master of Arts in organizational leadership (MOL) program, Griffin’s career has been driven by a commitment to service and responsibility.
As the national associate executive vice president for the American Heart Association based in the Dallas area, Griffin attributes much of his impact to the spiritual discipline of prayer. Cultivating a prayer life where he routinely asks for guidance and the opportunity to help others has shaped his career and allowed him to rise through leadership ranks with a focus on empowering his colleagues.
His Christ-centered approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration and the importance of embracing differing perspectives. Griffin values “positive conflict,” where open dialogue and constructive criticism are embraced to achieve the best outcomes.
“Learning how to operate within that space brings out the best in everybody,” he said, adding that this mindset motivates him to lead with influence rather than authority alone. Griffin says his Trevecca education contributed greatly to his leadership philosophy. “Understanding myself and my emotional intelligence was crucial,” he explained. Trevecca’s MOL program has helped him manage emotional responses and foster effective relationships—essential skills for any leader.
Matthew Mullins
Matthew Mullins graduated from Trevecca with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting in 1997. After earning an MBA from Tennessee State University, he worked for 17 years at Momentum, a Nashville healthcare software company, eventually becoming its CFO and executive director.
Mullins decided to switch courses in his career in 2017 and become a lawyer. He earned his law degree from Belmont University in 2021 and then founded Momentum Law in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., providing estate and business planning services. He also teaches business law as a part-time instructor at Trevecca.
In 2010, Mullins was instrumental in starting the Trevecca Association for Business and Leadership (TABL), an organization that facilitates ongoing opportunities for alumni and friends of the University in the business community to network, connect and learn from local leaders in Middle Tennessee.
Beyond the strong academic foundation he received at Trevecca, Mullins met his wife, Keely, at the University and developed friendships that still enrich his life today. He believes his journey highlights Trevecca’s impact on both the professional and personal lives of students.“Trevecca has provided me with opportunities to give back to a community that has given me so much,” Mullins said. “It’s been a cornerstone in my life.”
The T-Award recognizes Trevecca alumni who have devoted their lives to serving and ministering to others. The award is presented each year to one minister and one layperson.
T-Award, Ministerial
Julie Stevens
For more than three decades, Julie Stevens has worked in community engagement and pastoral service. She graduated from Trevecca with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1992, but not before starting an outreach ministry during her senior year that would eventually reach as many as 600 children a week in underserved neighborhoods.
She went on to serve as director of campus ministries at Trevecca and also worked in pastoral service at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene. After earning a master’s in religion from Trevecca in 2002, she served at churches in Texas, California, Ohio and Kansas while continuing to be involved in community engagement ministries and adjunct teaching roles at three Nazarene universities.
In 2023, after more than 30 years working in children’s ministry, she became lead pastor of Living Hope Church of the Nazarene in Centerville, Ohio.
“All of us have a circle of influence, no matter our age or our job,” she said. “The Lord calls us to engage our world. I believe there’s a holy urgency to get outside the walls of the church. This is needed now more than ever. That’s my hope and prayer as a pastor.”
T-Award, Laypersons
Dan and Melanie Eaton
Dan and Melanie Eaton have a heart for addressing the crucial need of affordable housing in Middle Tennessee. They have spent much of their lives focusing on ministry efforts, whether through affordable housing initiatives, helping Nashville’s homeless population, supporting students at Trevecca or serving in the mission field overseas.
Since 2020, Dan has worked as director of housing development at Affordable Housing Resources, a Nashville nonprofit dedicated to building homes and making homeownership a reality for low- and moderate-income buyers. Melanie works for the same organization as the grant coordinator for rental assistance. Since 2023, she’s secured more than $2 million through grants from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency that has helped renters avoid eviction in the face of rising rent costs.
The couple met at Trevecca as students and married in 1985. Melanie earned her bachelor’s degree in social work that same year, while Dan graduated in 1986 with a dual bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. He went on to earn an MBA with a focus on economic development from Eastern University in St. David’s, Pa.
The Eatons’ calling is one they pray brings hope to Nashvillians. “Housing is an integral part of people’s lives,” said Melanie. “We view our work as a fulfillment of what the Lord expects us to do. Our faith is meant to be an active faith. We want to be involved in what God cares about—the homeless and the vulnerable. These populations are near to His heart.”
The First Chapter Award is presented to a recent Trevecca alumnus or alumna who has begun a distinguished professional career.
James Austin Johnson
James Austin Johnson’s journey from Trevecca to the cast of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) is a testament to his dedication and passion for the performing arts.
Growing up in Nashville, Johnson was immersed in theatre from a young age, making his debut in Trevecca’s production of “The Music Man” as a third grader. His early involvement in church and community theater laid a solid foundation for his future career.
As a student at Trevecca, Johnson initially pursued a path in literature, driven by a desire to become a writer. However, his passion for performance persisted. Balancing his studies with stand-up gigs, he would perform off campus to hone his comedy skills. Johnson’s versatility led him to switch his major to mass communication, focusing on film and comedy. His involvement in various productions became a cornerstone of his artistic development.
After graduating from Trevecca in 2011, Johnson moved to Los Angeles, where he navigated the competitive landscape of comedy and acting. His perseverance paid off with notable roles, including a part in the Coen Brothers’ film “Hail Caesar.” His breakthrough came in 2021, when he became a featured player on SNL and quickly made an impact with his unique comedic style. He was promoted to repertory status on the show in 2023. He also voiced the character Pouchy in the 2024 Pixar animated film “Inside Out 2.”
“I’m grateful for my time at Trevecca,” he said. “There are a lot of positives to going to a smaller private school that doesn’t have your exact major. It draws resourcefulness out of you and forces you to think about ways to be creative.”
