Board Approves Anthony Wise as President for PSCC

The Tennessee Board of Regents today unanimously approved L. Anthony Wise Jr. as the new president of Pellissippi State Community College.

Wise will assume the presidency on July 1, replacing Allen Edwards, who has served at the college’s helm since 1993.

“Dr. Wise has demonstrated his commitment to student success and his commitment to Pellissippi State,” said TBR Chancellor John Morgan. “He was the choice that best positions Pellissippi State to continue moving forward on the very ambitious pathway that the college has already embarked upon under the leadership of Dr. Edwards. Dr. Wise is well positioned to continue that leadership and will be a very fine president.”

Wise currently serves as vice president of learning at PSCC after advancing through a variety of academic roles throughout his 12 years at the college. He began teaching history at PSCC in 1998 and was appointed head of the Liberal Arts Department in 2004. He chaired the college’s Foundations of Excellence program to study and improve the first-year experience for students at community colleges and was selected to participate in the first Regents Academic Leadership Institute. In 2007 he was appointed vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, which transformed into his current position.

Wise earned his bachelor’s degree in history and business economics from Wofford College, his master’s degree in United States History from Wake Forest University and his Ph.D. in history from the University of Tennessee.

He was recommended by Chancellor Morgan after a national search by the 17-member search committee, which included representation from the college faculty, staff, alumni and students; community members; and regents from the TBR.

The Tennessee Board of Regents is the nation’s sixth largest higher education system, governing 46 post-secondary educational institutions. The TBR system includes six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 27 technology centers, providing programs in 90 of Tennessee’s 95 counties to more than 200,000 students.

The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus serving approximately 140,000 students. The system is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.