August 2026 Volume 10 Issue 1

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We are thrilled to announce this year’s Falcon Awards Honorees. The Falcon Awards is our annual celebration of Nashville State alumni who have gone beyond professional success to embrace a higher purpose. These honorees have built careers while creating opportunities that strengthen and uplift their communities. Their achievements and service inspire others and highlight the impact of donors and volunteers whose generosity opens doors for students and creates lasting change across Middle Tennessee.

The Falcon Awards also shine a light on the donors and volunteers whose generosity and dedication make this work possible. By giving their time, resources, and support, they help open doors for students and create lasting impact across Middle Tennessee. Together, our alumni, donors, and volunteers embody the spirit of service, achievement, and community that defines Nashville State Community College.

Join us for an evening of celebration and inspiration on Tuesday, October 20th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Nashville State Community, White Bridge Campus – Falcon Theater

As a member of our Falcon Family, you are invited to join the celebration with two discounted tickets for $50 each.
Simply use the access code FS26FA at https://event.gives/falconawards26.

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Human Resources Update

By Connie Daniel, Senior Administrative Assistant, Human Resources

August 2026

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Nashville State’s newest employees!

New Hires
Husni Abdelqader	Director	Office of Financial Aid
Oliver Brown	Instructor, Reading Support	Southeast Campus
Gina Bullington	Instructor, Nursing	School of Health Sciences
Kristin Burnette	Instructor, Biology	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Corianna Chauncy	Tutor Coordinator, Writing	Office of the Learning Center
Miranda Cheatham	Librarian	Office of Learning Resources
Hannah Cole	Student Success Advisor, Nash Grad	Office of Student Success Center
Rhyder Cowart	Instructor, History	School of Business and Professional Studies
Brady Duncan	Instructor, History	School of Business and Professional Studies
Fayeja Easmin	Instructor, Mathematics	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Christopher Evancho	Admissions and Records Clerk	Office of Admissions and Records
Jennifer Huddleston	Senior Administrative Associate	Office of Vice President of Academic Affairs
Lesa Kauffman	Senior Administrative Associate	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Timothy Kennedy	Computer Technican	Office of Technology Services
Tina Long	Student Success Advisor	Office of the Student Success Center
Lyle Morgan	Student Success Advisor	Office of the Student Success Center
William Mullins	Director, Culinary Arts and Hospitality	School of Business and Professional Studies
Anastasia Nichol	Student Success Advisor	Office of the Student Success Center
Nhanlinh Nguyen	Instructor, Business	School of Business and Professional Studies
Heriberto Palacio	Instructor, Art	School of Arts and Humanities
Ann Rowley	Student Services Specialist III	Clarksville Campus
Rinku Sen	Instructor, Computer Information Technology	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Surbhi Sharma	Instructor, Biology	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Jackson Strick	Student Success Advisor	Office of Student Success Center
Katherine Wallace	Instructor, Biology	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Shelby Webb	Access Services Coordinator	Office of the Access Center
Hafiz Zaheer	Instructor, Chemistry	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

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Please join us in congratulating Nashville State’s employees who are in a new role!

New Roles
Ashley Barrett	Instructor, Surgical Technology	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Jameson Bear	Senior Accountant	Office of Finance and Accounting
Daniel Bua	Instructor, Culinary Arts	School of Business and Professional Studies
Nadia ElChaer	Instructor, Surgical Technology	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Sharley Ross	Instructor, Mathematics	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

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Please join us in saying farewell to these NSCC employees!

Separations
Kristian S Morgan	Instructor, Culinary Arts	School of Business and Professional Studies
Maryellen Nash	Instructional Designer	Office of Online Learning
Wendy O’Barr	Temp Tutor	Office of Learning Resources
James Pegler	Instructor, History	School of Business and Professional Studies
Amelia Rinehart	Associate Professor	School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Dwanna Shelton	Police Officer	Office of Police and Security
Vincent Steele	Police Officer	Office of Police and Security

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The Center for Workforce Development & Continuing Education continues to expand apprenticeship opportunities that connect students to high-demand careers while helping employers build and strengthen their workforce pipelines. Through partnerships across healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing operations, and information technology, Nashville State is creating pathways that combine classroom instruction, paid work experience, industry credentials, and long-term career advancement.

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Healthcare Apprenticeships Growing

In 2026, the Center expanded into healthcare apprenticeships through partnerships with Tennessee Oncology and TriStar/HCA. Five Medical Assistant apprentices have completed their classroom instruction and are now gaining valuable on-the-job experience as they work toward journeyworker status. In addition, three Patient Care Technician-Advanced apprentices recently began training and are expected to transition into full-time employment, creating new opportunities in critical healthcare occupations.

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Addressing Teacher Shortages Through Apprenticeship

Through the Tennessee Grow Your Own (GYO) initiative, Nashville State is helping address teacher shortages by preparing future educators in local communities. The program is a collaborative effort between the Center for Workforce Development & Continuing Education, the School of Business & Professional Services and NSCC’s Clarksville and Humphreys County Campuses.

Together, the College supports teacher apprenticeship cohorts in the Clarksville-Montgomery County and Humphreys County school systems. Currently, 59 teacher apprentices are participating across multiple cohorts. The Workforce Development team manages apprenticeship registration, work-based learning documentation, and compliance requirements while working closely with faculty and school district partners to support apprentice success.

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Supporting Industrial Careers

The Center’s partnership with Chemours in New Johnsonville continues to create opportunities for students pursuing careers in advanced manufacturing and industrial operations. In 2026, two apprentices completed both their Industrial Process Control Technology associate degree and apprenticeship requirements. The program prepares participants for careers in process monitoring, operations, maintenance, and industrial safety. Three additional apprentices are currently enrolled and are expected to complete their degree and apprenticeship training in 2027.

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Building the Region’s IT Talent Pipeline

Nashville State and Caterpillar Financial Services will celebrate the graduation of two apprentices from the program’s third cohort this September. Since launching in 2023, the partnership has successfully guided three cohorts from the classroom into full-time technology careers.

Developed through a partnership between the Center for Workforce Development & Continuing Education and the School of STEM, the apprenticeship combines an associate degree with extensive paid technical training, creating a direct pathway from education to employment. Representatives from Cat Financial and Caterpillar Inc. will begin recruiting students for the program’s fifth cohort in October 2026.

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Looking Ahead

With nearly 75 apprentices currently participating across healthcare, education, industrial operations, and information technology programs, the Center for Workforce Development & Continuing Education continues to expand opportunities that connect students to careers while helping employers build a skilled workforce.

The Center welcomes opportunities to partner with academic schools, faculty, and employer partners interested in exploring apprenticeship models for their students and industries. Faculty and staff who work with credit students and believe apprenticeship opportunities could benefit their programs are encouraged to connect with the Center. Whether adapting an existing program or developing a new apprenticeship pathway, the Center stands ready to collaborate on creating additional earn-and-learn opportunities that help students gain valuable experience while meeting workforce needs across the region.

Faculty, staff, and employer partners interested in learning more about apprenticeship opportunities or exploring the development of a new apprenticeship program should contact Rob Tudor, Director IT Partnerships, at robert.tudor@nscc.edu.

Through these partnerships, Nashville State apprenticeship programs continue to provide students with a direct pathway from education to employment while helping regional employers build the skilled workforce needed for the future.

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Hello! This is my yearly reminder that the library has resources and services for staff and faculty!

• You have access to all our databases whether on campus or anywhere in the world. (Except for places with weird firewalls.)
• You can request that a book or article be delivered through interlibrary loan from libraries across the country.
• You can get research assistance in-person, through our chat box, or email.
• We have lots of books!  (Including a subscription to Libby!)
• Our databases include access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
• We have programs throughout the year that you can participate in.

What’s new this year?

1. A fantastic librarian: Miranda (Randi) Cheatham.
2. Databases: Stat!Ref, a full-text healthcare library, and Ditkit (Draw It to Know It), anatomy.

Come check us out (see what I did there?) at https://nscc.libguides.com/libraryhome

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Do you have an idea that could enhance student success, improve engagement, or support innovation at Nashville State? The Faculty & Staff Mini-Grant Program may help bring your project to life.

Mini-Grants provide funding for projects led by full-time Nashville State faculty and staff with a total project budget of $3,000 or less. Funding is available on a rolling basis, which means applications are reviewed throughout the year. However, funding is limited, and once all available funds have been awarded, no additional Mini-Grant funding will be available during the current fiscal year. Please, keep requests in line with what you need for your project.

Before applying, please take time to carefully read the Mini-Grant instructions and application requirements. Eligibility, funding limitations, project expectations, and reporting requirements are all explained in detail within the application materials.

You should also plan ahead. Funded projects typically take an average of eight weeks from application submission to implementation, with four weeks being the minimum timeframe under ideal circumstances. If your project is tied to a specific semester, event, or deadline, early planning is strongly encouraged.

If you missed the Mini-Grant presentation at Convocation, you can review the presentation materials here:

Convocation Mini-Grant Presentation Link

Open Grant Office Hours

Have questions about Mini-Grants or other grant opportunities? Stop by during Open Grant Office Hours:

• September 9 – North Davidson Campus (all morning)
  
• October 23 – Southeast Campus (all morning)
  
• November 10 – Humphreys County Campus (all morning)
  
• November 10 – Dickson Campus (all afternoon)
  
• Clarksville Campus – Date coming soon
  
• East Davidson Campus – Date coming soon
  
• White Bridge Road – Available by appointment

Whether you’re exploring a new idea, looking for funding options, or preparing an application, Grant Office Hours are an opportunity to discuss your project and get guidance before you apply.

For complete eligibility requirements, application instructions, and funding guidelines, please review the Mini-Grant application materials. We look forward to helping you turn innovative ideas into impactful projects for Nashville State students.

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We have a number of changes and updates in the Student Affairs unit. New staff have been added, and current staff members have changed roles and updated their qualifications.

Jennifer Rines started as the Director of the Success Center in April.  Jennifer comes with over 15 years of experience in higher education and is currently pursuing her EdD in Higher Education at Vanderbilt University. She is known to be innovative and a problem solver who uses data, best practice, and experience to inform decision making. She has been described as a collaborative thought partner who works to ensure there are no silos between academic and student affairs. We are excited to have her leading the student success team.

Michael Sostre started as the Assistant Director of the Student Success Center in June and will be responsible for the supervision and management of the Nashville GRAD/Flex program. Michael, who has a master’s degree in higher education, served as a Student Success Advisor for the past three years at the Southeast Campus. He is described as having a warm disposition that allows students to feel comfortable confiding in him when they have challenges or concerns. Michael is known to be a self-motivated team player who successfully generates ideas that are easily implemented and improves programs and services to students. He will continue to focus on providing Davidson County students with support and resources and looking for ways to expand the program.

Andrew Burton has accepted the position of Director of Career and Transfer Services. Andrew has a master’s degree in administration and supervision. Prior to coming to Nashville State, Andrew worked as a Program Director and faculty member in Pharmacy Technology. During this time, he developed externships and employee partnerships to serve the students in his program. At Nashville State, Andrew served as a Student Success Advisor for the past year and a half on the White Bridge Road campus. During that time, he helped to secure a $30,000 grant to support professional development and student success initiatives. Andrew is known for his ability to communicate and connect with others and is student centric in his focus. This next year, Andrew will focus on strengthening the partnerships between Nashville State and employers and university partners.

Jeffery Johnson, Student Resource Manager, recently passed the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) licensing exam after many years and a few unexpected detours. Along the way, he worked in social work research, helping develop virtual reality tools for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder; in healthcare technology sales, helping build closed-loop referral systems in communities; and in policy work for the national administrator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. He also spent two years training and serving as an Army helicopter pilot. No matter where life took him, social work was always the path he hoped to return to. He is grateful to have reached this milestone and excited to bring that professional expertise to his work with students at Nashville State Community College.

We are fortunate to have this dedicated team working in Student Affairs!

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We hope you had a restorative summer.

A new semester brings fresh ideas and exciting possibilities for teaching and learning. As Fall 2026 gets under way, we’d like to welcome you back and share a few highlights of what is happening at The Teaching Center.

As a reminder, the mission of The Teaching Center is to support all faculty in pursuit of instructional excellence with a focus on enriching student learning experiences. The Center creates and curates training opportunities and shares information that positively impacts the classroom. We strive to enhance a responsive teaching community that is committed to empowering success, innovation, collaboration, learning, and engagement.

We hope to build community among faculty and share pertinent information, resources, or strategies that create quality student learning experiences. We also serve as a mentor or consultant as you develop and refine your teaching practices.

Beginning this Fall 2026, Maayan Ornath, Yvonne Simerman, and Jennifer Goncalves have joined The Teaching Center. They will serve a two-year term from 2026-2028 and will join our current Faculty Fellows: Harlan Pease, Jessica Rabb, and Rachel Lewis.

 Visit our website for the full professional development calendar, professional development session proposal form, learn more about our current Faculty Fellows, and see any action items, news, or other resources.  

We kicked off the semester with a terrific 5-day conference August 14-21 exploring topics on teaching and learning and connecting with each other. If you weren’t able to attend you can view the session recordings in the Teaching Center Hub within D2L. Thanks so much to all of you who presented, were panelists, or participated in the sessions!

Check out the two Professional Learning Communities that are running this semester: Collaborating in the Workplace and Rewiring Resilience: Supporting Gen Z Students in the Age of Anxiety. We are also very excited about our first-ever Teachers’ Learning Community which will focus on Active Learning. Join these communities for 3-7 sessions of focused learning with a group of your colleagues.

The Teaching Center D2L Hub has had some updates. You can access teaching resources from classroom management, to writing a syllabus policy for AI, to building effective feedback and assessment techniques. Our adjunct onboarding module offers an overview of the college and resources for teaching at NSCC. And the Course Lead section offers resources on expectations, roles, and best practices for keeping course content up-to-date. You can also catch previously recorded professional development sessions or see past program schedules. See how to access D2L and Teaching Center Hub.

The Teaching Center will have open hours on Tuesdays-Thursdays from 9am-4pm.
Stop by W-78 on the White Bridge Campus to grab coffee, talk about teaching, use the computers, or get some work done.

If you have questions or need support, feel free to send an email: theteachingcenter@nscc.edu

We’re looking forward to supporting another semester of meaningful teaching and learning. Reach out to us at any time!

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THANK YOU for being part of the Rhythm!

By Ryan Parker, Executive Director, NSCC Foundation

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One of the reasons that teaching NSCC 1010 First Year Experience (FYE) is so important to me is that it has impacted my biology teaching, my main job. A FYE course is known as a “high impact practice” (HIP). The data show that HIPs like an FYE course increase student success. Other proven HIPs that we promote at Nashville State include Study Abroad, Undergraduate Research, and Technology Enhanced Learning.

In NSCC 1010, a key component of our HIP is that we ask students to consider how Nashville State supports their most important personal values. So, I do this in biology class too, day one. This semester, both of my biology classes are on our prison campuses. Nashville State has four prison campuses. Here are things my biology students in one class said in August.

Nashville State and this Biology Class Support:

• A personal value of education because Nashville State sends professors that want us to succeed.

• A personal value of getting things done because we have all those homework deadlines.

• A personal value of health as we learn about human biology, diseases, food, and DNA.

• A personal value of learning new things like learning about the diversity of life.

• A personal value of freedom by using this Nashville State degree when free.

• A personal value of family by inspiring our families to go to college.

• A personal value of faith by being open and vulnerable.

• A personal value of ourselves by moving forward. 

I also share my personal values during this discussion. This year I told my incarcerated biology students that I value community, and I am grateful for the students that are in my Nashville State classes.

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