Sewanee’s Fourth of July Parade Committee is proud to announce that Vice Chancellor Nancy J. Berner and David B. Coe are the Grand Marshals for 2022!

Nancy J. Berner and David B. Coe met and married while in graduate school, and moved to Sewanee in 1992, when Nancy was hired by the University as an Assistant Professor of Biology. She wasted no time making herself an integral part of the University community. In just her second year as a faculty member, she proposed and helped establish “Scientific Sewanee,” which later developed into “Scholarship Sewanee,” an annual event that highlights undergraduate research, scholarship, and artistic works. She served as Chair of the Department of Biology, and secured many grants that allowed her to maintain an active research laboratory where she mentored undergraduates. In 2009, she was named the William Henderson Professor of Biology.

In 2012, Nancy joined the University Administration, serving as Associate Provost, Vice Provost for Planning and Administration, and then Provost. During her time in these positions, she was Title IX coordinator for the University and eventually established the Title IX office. She led efforts to diversify the University’s faculty, staff, and student body, and she oversaw the reaffirmation of the University’s accreditation.

In January of 2022, with the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Reuben Brigety, nominated by President Biden to become U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, Nancy became Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South, the first woman in the history of the school to serve as Vice-Chancellor.

Meanwhile, David, after completing his Ph.D. in United States history, embarked on a career as a writer of fantasy. Over the past twenty-five years, David has published, under his own name, and also under the pen name D.B. Jackson, more than two dozen novels and as many short stories. He is a recipient of the William Crawford Fantasy Award as well as an Audie Award. His novels have been translated into a dozen languages. He has also edited four short story anthologies, and has published a collection of his own short fiction.

Together, Nancy and David have raised two daughters, Alexis (Alex) and Erin. Both attended Sewanee Elementary School and St. Andrews-Sewanee before leaving Sewanee to attend college, Alex at New York University and Erin at Elon University. Nancy has been a soccer league referee, and a summer swim league timer and scorekeeper. David has been treasurer of the soccer league, and a swim league stroke and turn judge. He has also served as Vice President and President of the SAS Parents’ Council and as coordinator of the Sewanee Food Buying Club. Both Nancy and David have served on the Sewanee Community Council.

They are proud and honored to be chosen as Grand Marshals for the 2022 July Fourth parade.

Themes and Grand Marshals throughout the Years

1986        TENNESSEE HOMECOMING

GM –ARTHUR BEN CHITTY

1987        COMMUNITY SPIRIT FOR ALL

GM –JAMES AVENT

1988        AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - SEWANEE THE BEAUTIFUL

GM –MAJORS FAMILY

1989        HAPPINESS IS...

GM –SAM AND JOAN WILLIAMSON

1990        CELEBRATE FREEDOM

GM –LON AND KATHRYN VARNELL

1991        A SALUTE TO AMERICA'S HEROES

GM –CLINTON WILLIAMS

1992        THE 4TH:  A GREAT TIME FOR REUNION

GM –FINNEYS

1993        SEWANEE GOES COUNTRY

GM –STORMIN' NORMAN FROM 93.3 COUNTRY

1994        THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

GM –ERIC ELLIS & STUDENTS FROM SES

1995        A DECADE OF FIREWORKS & FUN - A TENNESSEE TRADITION

GM –ARTHUR BEN CHITTY

1996        200 YEARS OF VOLUNTEERS - A BICENTENNIAL BLAST

GM –CHIEF DAVID GREEN

1997        A FAIRY TALE 4TH OF JULY

GM –PAUL AND EVELYN MOONEY

1998        EVENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

GM –BILL AND BETTY KERSHNER

1999        A CENTURY TO REMEMBER

GM –MYRTIS KEPPLER AND MARTHA MCCRORY

2000        SEWANEE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

GM –JOEL AND TRUDY CUNNINGHAM

2001        2001:  AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY

GM –DUVIE CRAVENS

2002        A SALUTE TO AMERICA’S HEROES

GM –SEWANEE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT & EMS

2003        GOD BLESS AMERICA

GM – ACTIVE / RETIRED VETERANS / MILITARY

2004        AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

GM – DORA TURNER

2005        AMERICA – LAND OF THE FREE

GM –JACK GESSELL

2006        CELEBRATE THE GRAND OL’ FLAG

GM –LOUISE IRWIN AND INA MYERS AND MONTY ADAMS

AND HENRY ARNOLD (HONORARY)

2007        CELEBRATING OUR FOUNDING FATHERS

GM –HARRY YEATMAN

2008        SEWANEE GOES GREEN FOR THE RED, WHITE, & BLUE

GM –JOE AND MARY SUE CUSHMAN

2009        AN OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH

GM –JOE DAVID MCBEE

IN MEMORY OF DARLA SHERRILL

2010        A STAR SPANGLED 4TH

GM -JOHN AND BONNIE MCCARDELL

2011        25 YEARS OF CELEBRATING THE 4TH

GM -GERALDINE PICCARD AND DAVID GREEN

2012        A YANKEE DOODLE 4TH

GM -JAMES AND LULA BURNETT

2013        AN APPLIE PIE 4THOF JULY

GM -ANNE LORENZ AND BETTY CARPENTER

2014        A RAZZLE DAZZLE 4THOF JULY

GM - CESAR LEAL AND GARY STURGIS

2015        SEWANEE PURPLE MOUNTAIN’S MAJESTY

GM -STEVE BLOUNT

2016        30 YEARS OF SEWANEE 4THOF JULY CELEBRATIONS

GM - MIKE MAXON

2017        MAY THE 4THBE WITH YOU

GM - ERIC AND MICHELLE BENJAMIN

2018        SEA TO SHINING SEA

GM - JOHN GASS BRATTON

2019        PEACE, LOVE, & FIREWORKS

GM - JOHN AND BONNIE GREEN

2021        MASK-ERADE

GM - DIXON AND ANNWYN MYERS

2022        HOT DIGGITY ALL-AMERICAN DOGS

GM - NANCY J. BERNER AND DAVID B. COE