TBR - The College System of Tennessee launches Academic Leadership Collaborative in partnership with Vanderbilt University

TBR – The College System of Tennessee is launching the Academic Leadership Collaborative, a new professional learning opportunity developed in partnership with Vanderbilt University to support academic deans and leaders at Tennessee’s community colleges. 

The Academic Leadership Collaborative is the newest of four programs offered through the Maxine Smith Leadership Series, the Tennessee Board of Regents’ (TBR) broad initiative to strengthen leadership capacity across the state’s community and technical college system.

Developed in partnership with Vanderbilt University’s Office of Faculty Affairs, the collaborative brings together academic leaders from Tennessee community colleges for a professional development experience focused on reflection, problem-solving, and peer learning. After the first in-person session in September, participants will engage in a monthly series of structured virtual sessions through the academic year, using a collaborative inquiry process to examine real-world leadership challenges and gain practical insights from colleagues facing similar issues. The sessions will be facilitated by Eve Rifkin, associate provost in the Office of Faculty Affairs, and Jermaine Soto, senior director of faculty development, both at Vanderbilt University.

The inaugural 2026-27 cohort includes deans from all 13 Tennessee community colleges, selected by their presidents and senior leadership teams based on their roles and commitment to professional growth and collaboration. They are:

• Dr. Jimmy Barham – Dyersburg State Community College
• Dr. Caitlin Chapman – Northeast State Community College
• Dr. Anna Esquivel – Jackson State Community College
• Dr. Christie Ferguson – Nashville State Community College
• Dr. Sandra Godsey – Cleveland State Community College
• Dr. Geol Greenlee – Roane State Community College
• Tracey Hines – Columbia State Community College
• Dr. Lindsay Holland – Chattanooga State Community College
• Dr. Merve Kester Thomas – Pellissippi State Community College
• Dr. Devissi Muhammad – Southwest Tennessee Community College
• Dr. Laura Booth Patterson – Motlow State Community College
• Dr. Matthew Smith – Walters State Community College
• Dr. Shane Talbott – Volunteer State Community College 

All TBR sessions will be facilitated by partners from Vanderbilt University, who bring extensive experience in leading this collaborative leadership model. Vanderbilt has successfully implemented this program internally with its own leaders over the past several years.

“Strong institutions depend on strong academic leadership,” said Vanderbilt Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver. “At Vanderbilt, we are deeply committed to preparing leaders who can guide colleges and universities through a period of profound transformation in higher education. This collaboration reflects our belief that investing in academic leadership is essential to expanding opportunity, advancing innovation, and strengthening student success across Tennessee and beyond.”

TBR leaders expressed gratitude to Vanderbilt for the university’s partnership and stressed the importance of supporting academic leaders.

“High-quality academic leadership is essential for our colleges to succeed in their mission of educating students,” said Dr. Flora W. Tydings, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents system. “We’re grateful to Vanderbilt University for sharing its innovative, effective, and collaborative leadership development model, as well as the Vanderbilt faculty leaders who will share their expertise as they facilitate the sessions.”

Dr. Russ Deaton, TBR executive vice chancellor for policy and strategy, said the Academic Leadership Collaborative is the newest initiative in the Maxine Smith Leadership Series’ array of leadership development programs. “This valuable new addition underscores the importance that we place on supporting faculty, staff and administrators across our system, and we thank Vanderbilt for its invaluable support of our system.”