Meet the Keystone Staff

Sherry Tignor comes to Union after 25 years in secondary education serving as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor and middle and upper school administrator. Sherry holds a Bachelor of Science from Union University and Master of Education in Guidance with additional graduate studies from the University of Memphis. Sherry has served at Union for 15 years working with incoming freshman students and the past 6 years developing and giving leadership to the Keystone program. With her colleague, Susan Hopper, they authored three student workbooks for freshmen students: Wisdom for the Journey, Christian Learning and the University Experience, and Discovering My Design. They hosted, with People Management Minnesota, a DMD workshop for universities and colleges featuring Os Guinness as the keynote speaker. They are also National Academic Advising Association certified trainers. In the Fall of 2004, with Dr. Jimmy Davis and Dr. Charles Fowler, they completed a 9 week Bible Study, my design: His Purpose which has been piloted in 10 churches in Tennessee.

Julie Watson grew up in California where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Communications at Cal State University, Stanislaus. After college, she worked with students in an academic resource center at Long Island University and then transitioned into a position working with Au Pairs, where she developed courses and taught international students about American history and culture. Julie moved to Tennessee in 2007, when her husband joined the Political Science faculty at Union, and had the privilege of joining the Keystone support staff in 2008. She feels blessed to be a part of the Union community along with her husband, five children, and two dogs.

Student Workers

Amiee Brassart is currently a junior Elementary Education major at Union and has been tutoring for the Keystone program since early 2011. She is very involved in campus life at Union, serving as a Resident Advisor, member of the Student Activities Council, member of the University Singers and Proclamation, and participant in the Student Government Association. Amiee also volunteers as a tutor for the local community ministry, J Crib.

Kyleigh Carter is a junior Social Work major at Union who, alongside Amiee, has served as a Keystone tutor for the past year. She transferred to Union as a sophomore and quickly immersed herself in the Union and Jackson communities, including serving as one of the student coordinators for the Union branch of the community ministry, Room in the Inn.

Erin Boswell received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Education from Union University and returned to serve Keystone students in 2010, after two years of teaching English in universities and developing extracurricular English programs in Ukraine. She and her husband met while students and now both work at Union, seeking to be a part of its unique mission and community. Erin's time as a Union student instilled in her a passion for education and for sharing Union's vision with current students.

Olivia Abernathy received her Bachelors of Social Work from Union University in 2011. She then spent time in Waco, Texas serving and advising at-risk women in a short-term housing program. Olivia then returned to Union and completed a Masters in Social Work in 2012. Olivia's husband, Jon, also serves at Union. Her knowledge of counseling and unique experiences in social work give her the ability to meet students where they are and provide one-on-one support. She feels thankful to be a part of the Union community along with her husband and is confident that the Lord has many blessings in store for the Keystone program.