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