Earl R. Mezoff, B.A., M.A., Ed.D., served 1978-1988

Earl Mezoff originated from Pennsylvania and graduated from Thiel College in Greenville, Penn. with a B.A.  He earned a M.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University and completed his D.Ed. in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University.  He joined the navy and served in the Pacific Theater during WWII.  Mezoff married Joan Miller and had two daughters.  After the Navy, he held positions in counseling and industrial relations at the University of Pittsburgh and at GM.  Mezoff worked at Thiel College as Director of Admissions and held other positions before leaving.  He assumed a position as Assistant to the President and Vice President at Lebanon Valley College in 1963 before moving to Nebraska.  In Nebraska, he became president of Dana College.  He helped unite Danish and German factions surrounding Dana College and eased town-gown conflicts between Dana College and the surrounding community.  He received the Cross of the Knight Order of Dannebrog in 1976 from Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.  Mezoff was nominated to the Danish Court, studied the Danish education system and established a relationship with the University of Copenhagen.  Mezoff promoted exchange student programs while at Dana College.

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Robert E. Knott, B.S., B.D., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., served 1989-2000

Robert “Bob” Knott began his educational career in 1965 by teaching Advanced Placement classes and math for R. J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, NC.  He received his B.S. degree from Wake Forest College and B.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Knott later earned his M.S. in Math from North Carolina State University.  He then taught math and served as Assistant Chaplain at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.  While at Wake Forest University, he earned a M.A. in Philosophy and Religion.  He became the Professor of Philosophy and planned major expansions at Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C.  Knott then moved to Salisbury, N.C. and worked for Catawba College in 1982.  There he filled the role of Coordinator and Director of Internal Programs.  Catawba College offered Knott the opportunity to fill numerous positions ranging from admissions, student affairs, fundraising and computer systems.  He reached the rank of Provost and Dean and acting president in 1988.

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Thomas G. Voss, Ph.D., served 1972-1978

Thomas Voss grew up in Racine, Wis.  He earned his B.A. from St. Francis College, his M.A. from Marquette University and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.  He married Jane C. Cempura and fathered five children.  Prior to arriving at Tusculum, Voss worked as the Assistant Professor of American and English Literature, had been a Fulbright Professor of American Studies at the University of Trondheim in Norway, and co-edited a six volume edition of The Letters of William Cullen Bryant that was supported and published by a NEH grant.  He learned of Tusculum College while working at the Catholic University of America.  President Cothran had met Voss in Norway and knew his credentials.  In 1970, Voss became the first Roman Catholic to be Dean of Faculty at Tusculum College.  When Cothran left, Voss assumed the role of CEO in addition to his responsibilities as Dean.  He never applied to be President, but the Board offered him the position in 1972.  Once he assumed the presidency, Voss undertook restoration of relations with 150 students that had sworn off Tusculum College.  Due to his efforts fifty of the 150 students returned to Tusculum.  Voss also raised nearly $5 million dollars during his term as president.  He left to become President of Morris Harvey College.  Upon leaving Tusculum College, Voss and his wife received honorary degrees.

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