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Before coming to Freed-Hardeman in 1999, Margaret Payne completed a Ph.D. in English—the first to graduate from that program with an emphasis in women writers. She graduated from Texas Christian University (1991) with a degree in English with an emphasis in writing and the University of Oklahoma (1994) where she completed an MA in American and Native American Literature.

Since joining the faculty at FHU, she has taught courses in American and World Literature in the classroom and online, beginning and advanced writing classes, and special topics classed in Utopian Literature and literature of the Native American Renaissance. She is also active in FHU Honors College classes and activities. Payne currently enjoys presenting papers on postmodern and gender issues in literature as well as literature of the American West. She is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, the Beatrix Potter Society, the Western Literature Association, and the Tennessee Philological Association.

Matt Barker is a 2006 graduate of Freed-Hardeman with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. He completed his Master of Arts degree from Austin Peay State University and his Ph.D. from Johnson University with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership. Barker’s area of expertise lies in Speech Communication, Organizational Leadership, and sports writing. He annually teaches classes in Speech Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Small Group Communication, Public Speaking, Sport Communication, and Communication Theories.

Before joining the Communication faculty, Barker was employed as Freed-Hardeman’s Sports Information Director, serving as the Media Relations contact for FHU and its 15 collegiate sports teams.

He has been married to his wife, Lauren, since 2006. They have two children, Riley (13) and Holland (11). Barker and his family are active members at the Henderson Church of Christ, where he serves as a deacon.

Janine Dunlap came to FHU (then FHC) in the fall of 1983 as a junior transfer student. After attending a highly-regarded public university, she felt at home here and has ever since.

Dr. Dunlap received her degree in Communication/Public Relations in 1985 and came back to teach here in 1988. She has taught and advised the Public Relations curriculum since joining the faculty; she has also taught and advised students pursuing Journalism degrees. Dr. Dunlap constantly consults alumni and professionals to ensure that the curriculum is addressing current issues, technology, and skills that professionals in the field need. Each semester, she mentors students in a field lab experience, like an internship, which is a requirement for all Public Relations and Journalism majors. This experience gives students valuable experience that enhances their education and their portfolios, which helps them get jobs after graduation.

Hannah Graves graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in 2012 with a B.A. in English and Secondary Education. She spent ten years in public education and is now pursuing her M.A. in English from Ohio University. She currently teaches on-site Dual-Enrollment Composition I and II in Hickman and Chester counties. 

Perry Hardin graduated from Freed-Hardeman with a B.S. and an M.Ed. He later earned his M.A. in Spanish with a concentration in linguistics from New Mexico State University.

Prior to teaching at FHU, Perry lived and worked in Paraguay for 10 years and has spent time in ten other Latin American countries. His interests include Latin American (especially Paraguayan) history and culture, Spanish dialectology, the Guaraní language, and the influence of indigenous languages on Spanish.

John McLaughlin is a graduate of the English program at FHU. He completed his M.A. from LSU and his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama with a focus on American literature and drama. At FHU since 1996, he currently teaches courses in the freshman composition sequence, American Literature, Romantic Poetry and Prose, and Renaissance Drama.

For many years, he has combined his passions for theatre and travel by sponsoring a mostly-annual trip to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada. Dr. McLaughlin also serves as faculty sponsor for the Tennessee Iota chapter of Alpha Chi National Honor Society. He and his wife are proud parents of two fine boys.

Linda Moran studied behavioral sciences at Freed-Hardeman and Harding University before completing degrees in Spanish at the University of Texas in San Antonio.

Prior to joining the FHU faculty in the Fall of 2011, she taught students at the primary, secondary and college levels in Texas and Arkansas. Her courses encompass Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Spanish Grammar, Latin American Literature, Peninsular Literature, Latin American Civilization, and Latin American Film Studies.

Neil Segars graduated from Freed-Hardeman in 1999 with bachelor’s degrees in English and history. He earned his master’s degree in English from the University of Mississippi in 2003.

Neil is especially interested in contemporary literature, African American literary studies, and literary theory. He teaches classes on English composition, American literature, and literary theory.

Derrick Spradlin began teaching at Freed-Hardeman University in 2005 after earning degrees from David Lipscomb University (B.A. 1996), Middle Tennessee State University (M.A. 1999), and Auburn University (Ph.D. 2005), where he specialized in early American literature.

Dr. Spradlin regularly teaches English Composition I and II, American Literature I, Renaissance Drama, and FHC in WWII, the latter of which involves students researching the lives of Freed-Hardeman alumni who served in the Second World War. He has also taught American Fiction, Literary London, Edgar Allan Poe, American Drama, and Alien Lit. 

In addition, Dr. Spradlin is the head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams, and he is the faculty sponsor of FHU's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. His scholarly articles have appeared in journals such as Early American Literature, Early Modern Literary Studies, and the Explicator, among others.

Loren Warf graduated from FHU in 2008 with a degree in English. After working for several years at Pepperdine University, she began graduate study at Baylor University where she is currently a doctoral candidate in English with an emphasis in Victorian literature.

Olivia Semore came to Freed-Hardeman as a student in 2010, where she met her husband. During their ten years in ministry together, Olivia graduated from Crowley's Ridge College with a B.A. in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in New Testament Greek.