From dissertation to “I Do”: A sweet season at Trevecca.

By Alana McLaughlin

Senior Reporter

As Rebecca Ronan settled into her office in Mackey, she turned around to find her boyfriend on one knee. 

Now, a flower arrangement sits in the corner of the office. For Rebecca Ronan, associate professor of English, it’s a reminder of her marriage. 

“This has been the sweetest season, in the sweetest place,” said Ronan.

The proposal came at an unexpected time. Ronan had completed a 7-year long Ph.D. program at Middle Tennessee State University, graduating May 2025. She then started her position at Trevecca in August. 

“It was so meaningful to me because he had been along for the end of me getting my Ph.D. and the dissertation process, hoping so badly this job would work out, how badly I wanted to teach. It was just really, really sweet and it was very symbolic,” said Ronan.

On Sept. 26, 2025, Ronan asked her then-boyfriend to deliver a mini fridge to her office after work. 

“He came, set it up, then said ‘I’ve got one more thing in the truck I’m going to go get, I’ll be right back.’ ” said Ronan. 

Ronan had no clue what was about to happen. 

“He came back up, had flowers, and I was so excited. I’m getting stuff packed up, I turn around and this man is down on one knee, right here,” said Ronan. 

Six weeks later, the Ronans solidified their union by marriage.

“We had a lot of change. We were engaged then got married in six weeks, so it was a lot of change, but it has been truly the sweetest season,” said Ronan. 

Both Ronan and her husband, Zach Ronan, obtained bachelor’s degrees from Lipscomb University. She studied English, while he studied Criminal Justice. 

Despite attending many of the same events and having friends in common, they never crossed paths until Feb. 1, 2024. 

Although Ronan knew that her job at Trevecca would be great, she didn’t expect it to be this wonderful, she said. 

Before getting her current position, she spoke with Jooly Philip, chair of the English department, about teaching adjunct classes. 

“About the time we were kind of getting a schedule, they had the position come open,” said Ronan. 

Ronan describes this as her dream job and acknowledges her faith as being responsible for it.

“There’s no way in this world, as badly as I might have wanted to be here, I couldn’t have made this happen, I think God opened those doors,” said Ronan. 

Ronan feels lucky to have her position at Trevecca.

“I mean, an opportunity like this, this role, the classes I’m getting to teach, I thought I would be 80 years old before I got to teach a Literary Criticism class,” said Ronan.

Philip acknowledges Ronan as an excellent addition to the department. 

“We are so happy to have Dr. Ronan here as a part of the department and the university,” said Philip. “We are so excited that Trevecca got to be part of an important moment in her life, and we hope that Trevecca will continue to be a blessing to her because we believe that she will be a blessing to our students and to the university as a whole.”