Meet the Staff
Michael Alston, EdD
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Rights and Conduct & OED Director
malston1@uthsc.edu
Michael Alston’s employment within The University of Tennessee System spans several years with stints at UT- Martin (1989 to 1993) and UT-Knoxville (1993 to 2002), and UT Health Science Center (2002 to present). He has also worked 4 years as an adjunct instructor of psychology (i.e., Human Relations in Organizations; Human and Lifespan Development) with State Technical Institute/Southwest Tennessee Community College. As a result, Michael's work experience in higher education encompasses residence life administration, student enrollment services, undergraduate instruction, and employee relations.
He is an alumnus of The University of Tennessee at Martin earning a B.S. in Psychology (1988) and M.S. in Educational Psychology and Guidance (1991). Michael also has an Ed. D. in higher education administration from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.
Michael is a native of Brighton, Tennessee in Tipton County and graduate of Munford High School.
Alison Ponder
Equity Compliance Specialist
aponder3@uthsc.edu
As Equity Compliance Specialist in the Office of Equity and Diversity, Alison handles complaint investigations, employee relations issues, and provides training to faculty and staff regarding compliance with EEO laws and other related topics.
Alison holds a J.D. from University of California Berkeley School of Law and a B.A. from Smith College. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Marian Harris is the Compliance Coordinator in the Office of Equity and Diversity, and she started in July 2011. She has a background in customer relations, business administration and secondary education.
In the Office of Equity and Diversity her duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: monitoring departmental finances and expenditures; ADA/Sections 503 and 504 concerns and accommodations; EAP services; intake for employee relations concerns. Will also serve as the liaison for the ADA Advisory Council, coordinate service recognition programs, represent OED at new employee orientation and student orientation, and assist faculty, staff, students, residents, postdocs and the public.
She is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee at Martin earning her B.S.B.A. in Business Management (2006). Marian also completed requirements for an M.B.A. in Human Resources Management at Strayer University in Memphis, TN (2009).
Marian is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and a graduate of East High School.
Ann Denise Steverson started here at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in June of 2005. Starting out as a Temp in the General Clinical Research Center, and then moving to the Department of Medicine working with the Division of Dermatology as the Administrative Service Assistant.
As an Administrative Secretary her role is greeting and assisting students, staff, faculty, and general public needing assistance from OED.
Denise is a native of Louisville, Kentucky.
