Vanessa Pilkinton

District: 
Faculty Regent
Term: 
2023-2024

Ms. Vanessa Pilkinton was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to serve as a Faculty Regent from 2023 to 2024. She will serve as a non-voting member until June 30, 2023 and then move into the voting faculty regent position from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

Ms. Pilkinton is a lifelong Tennessean, and serves as the Senior Dental Assisting Instructor at TCAT Dickson, serving 19 years at the College and over 30 years in the dental field. Ms. Pilkinton holds an Associate’s Degree in Business and a Dental Assisting Diploma from Nashville State Community College. She is a certified dental assistant. Ms. Pilkinton has also completed additional training at the University of Memphis and TCAT Knoxville showing her dedication to the dental profession.

She demonstrates her leadership through involvement with organizations like Heartland Dental and Hope Smiles, where she volunteers to provide free dental services to the local community, as well as the American Cancer Society, where she has served as Team Leader for Relay for Life (2010-2017) and Team Fundraising Coordinator (2010-2017). Ms. Pilkinton has also served on several committees, including SkillsUSA as Chair of the Dental Assisting Competition (2019), Advisor for Dental Assisting (2022-2023), and as Dental Assisting Fundraising Coordinator (2019-2023); TBR as the Chair of the Faculty Sick Leave Bank (2016-2019); and others within her College and the TBR System.

She has three children - a daughter who recently graduated from Tennessee State University and practices dental hygiene; a son who just graduated from high school and is planning to attend Bethel University; and a younger son who enjoys the outdoors.

Committees

Board, Academic Policies and Programs, Student Life Committee, Workforce Development Committee
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