Members of first Emerging Leaders Fellowship class announced
TBR - The College System of Tennessee today announced the 13 members of the inaugural Emerging Leaders Fellowship class, representing faculty and staff from community and technical colleges across the state.
The Emerging Leaders Fellowship is designed to cultivate the leadership potential of rising professionals and administrators within the state’s system of community colleges and colleges of applied technology.
Members of the Emerging Leaders Fellowship Class of 2027 are:
- Cindy Beverley – Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Hartsville
- Catelyn Cochran - Dyersburg State Community College
- Salvatore Evangelista - TCAT Dickson
- Lindsay Hager - Nashville State Community College
- Adam Johnson - TCAT Jackson
- Rebecca McDonough - Pellissippi State Community College
- Dr. Cody Miller - Roane State Community College
- Nahomi Ortiz - Chattanooga State Community College
- Dr. Marci Reiter - Cleveland State Community College
- Sarah Swett - Northeast State Community College
- Jerriona Walker - Motlow State Community College
- Carrie Wilson - Walters State Community College
- Brian York - Tennessee Board of Regents system office
“We’re proud to welcome the members of this first Emerging Leaders class. Leadership development is one of our major responsibilities to help ensure the success of our students in the years ahead. I’m confident that every member of this class will set high standards for future cohorts,” said TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.
The class launches with an orientation session in December, followed by monthly meetings through April. Specific program objectives include:
- Development of essential leadership skills, including communication, decision-making, and team management.
- Providing a foundational understanding of higher education operations, governance, and policy.
- Encouraging innovative thinking and problem-solving to address current and future challenges in higher education.
- Building networks and collaborative relationships to support professional growth and institutional effectiveness.
The Emerging Leaders Fellowship is the newest of the three programs comprising the Maxine Smith Leadership Series, named in honor of the late Maxine Smith of Memphis, a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents from 1996 to 2006 and a pioneering leader in the pursuit of educational opportunity. The overarching mission is to help develop emerging and future leaders and encourage innovation in Tennessee’s public higher education system. The other two components are the Chancellor’s Fellowship and Faculty Innovation Fellowship programs.
More information is available at Maxine Smith Leadership Series | Tennessee Board of Regents.
The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 22 colleges of applied technology, and the online TN eCampus serving approximately 170,000 students. The system is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.