About Meriwether
For decades the American citizen has been under attack: plummeting academic standards, the omission of God from daily life, ever-increasing media consumption, the reformation of our social institutions, and the deconstruction of the American identity itself.
Meriwether Academy exists to serve the men and boys of America and to revitalize the American spirit. We host dinner events, study clubs, men’s retreats, and outdoor excursions.
Our classical approach to academics is anchored in the curriculum of our Founding Fathers. We look back to the wisdom of the Western Tradition for clues on how we can build a better future for generations to come.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to grow fraternal networks and educational societies across America. Our ultimate goal is the development of boys’ schools, beginning in Tennessee and seeded in every state, where young men have the opportunity to experience a rich and rigorous classical and outdoor education.
Meet the Team
Warren Steury is the founder and President of Meriwether Academy. At sixteen he spent nearly three months in the wilderness, an experience that forged his conviction that challenge, discipline, and rites of passage are essential to the formation of young men. A media producer, entrepreneur, and writer, he attended Appalachian State University and contributes to various publications on matters of history and culture. He lives in Nashville, TN, where he enjoys hiking the hills of Tennessee, studying history and philosophy, and spending time with his friends.
Brian Daniel Mounce is a Tennessee Attorney specializing in federal criminal law. Throughout his career, he has actively engaged in contributing to various legal and academic journals and news outlets. Mr. Mounce frequently lectures on constitutional theory, history, and American political philosophy at various universities. He holds a law degree with honors from Tulane and an MSc with honors from the London School of Economics.
Tom Gatlin is a twenty-three-year technology executive, Eagle Scout, and Army veteran. He holds a Master’s in Business from HEC Paris, is a cofounder of ClaraPay, and previously founded and led a digital banking venture through federal regulatory approval. He authored Tennessee legislation restructuring the Tennessee State Guard, signed into law in 2025. In his spare time he translates manuscripts from Greek, Russian, and Romanian monasteries into English, with five published works, and can be found outdoors fly fishing or competing in marksmanship events.
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former Group Commander with the 932nd Air Wing, this decorated veteran served in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and played a key role in casualty evacuation at U.S. Transportation Command. Successful business developer and operator of a multi-venture holding company spanning real estate, construction, disaster recovery, and healthcare. He is also the author of A Line in the Sand and a motivational speaker on leadership and personal growth.
Dr. Mark Anderson is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Belmont University. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Classical Studies from Vanderbilt University, and his scholarship centers on ancient philosophy, Plato, Nietzsche, and Greek language and culture. He is the author of numerous books, including Plato and Nietzsche: Their Philosophical Art, and founded the Philologoi, a weekly philosophy discussion group at Belmont.
Dr. Jason Pedicone is the President and Co-Founder of The Paideia Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the study of the classical humanities. He earned his Ph.D. in Classics from Princeton University and has taught Latin, Greek, and the history of classical scholarship at universities in the U.S. and Europe. In 2015 he received the Society for Classical Studies’ President’s Award for outstanding achievements in promoting the study of classics.
Dr. Alex Petkas is the creator and host of Cost of Glory, a podcast that retells the lives of the great Greek and Roman statesmen of Plutarch’s Parallel Lives and draws out their practical wisdom for modern leaders. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from Princeton University and taught at Princeton, UC San Diego, and Fresno State before leaving the academy. He is also Co-Founder and CEO of The Classical Society, a network devoted to reviving the classical spirit in Western leadership culture.
Joe Allen writes for Chronicles, The Federalist, Human Events, The National Pulse, Parabola, Salvo, Bannon’s War Room, and Protocol. He holds a master’s degree from Boston University, where he studied cognitive science and human evolution as they pertain to religion. As an arena rigger, he has toured the world for rock n’ roll, country, rap, classical, and cage-fighting productions.
Samuel Vélez-Ramírez is a husband and father. He attended the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and earned a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. In his free time, he enjoys going on walks with his wife and son, filming videos of his life, and reading. He lives in Columbia, TN.
Andrew Rozario is a video and film producer living with his family in Nashville, TN. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy and The University of Dallas, and the first feature film he worked on was O Brother, Where Art Thou?. In his free time he enjoys visiting Tennessee waterfalls and reading poetry.
Dr. Joshua Trevino leads our Chattanooga Book Club Chapter. He combines a few unexpected areas of expertise: a PhD in Political Philosophy from the University of Dallas, years of teaching in classical schools, and nearly a decade as a financial advisor. He especially enjoys working with professors, musicians, writers, and classical educators, helping them develop sound financial habits that create the conditions for financial security and stewardship. If you are curious about “financial advising and planning with the Aristotelian End in mind,” he would enjoy the conversation, and you can connect with him on LinkedIn.