Update from the President
by Dr. Shanna L. Jackson
Greetings Fellow Falcons,
The days of summer are flying by, and a new academic year is just around the corner. Our campuses are busy helping new and returning students prepare for a great fall semester. In addition, our Facilities and TSD teams are hard at work ensuring our buildings and systems will be ready to go on day one. But I also want to highlight another small but mighty team that spends countless hours every summer completing the year-end process, preparing financial statements, and launching the new fiscal year budget. They are a critical part of the college and are charged with making sure we have what we need to operate and serve our students. We would not keep Moving Forward without them, and I want to extend a special thanks to Vice President Jennifer Rector and her team for all that they do to support the college. Below are a few updates from the Office of the President:
Jackson Foundation (Dickson) – On June 9 a small ceremony was held at the Dickson Campus with the Jackson Foundation and TCAT Dickson to celebrate naming the building after Dr. James T. Jackson, M.D. The building name was approved during the TBR Quarterly Board Meeting in March. In addition, TBR Regent Todd Kaestner presented the Jackson Foundation with the Regents Award of Excellence in Philanthropy. This is a competitive award among the Community and Technical Colleges for which only four are selected each year. We are grateful to the Jackson Foundation for the historic $10 million gift to the Nashville State Foundation to support the construction of the Dickson Campus. The Grand Opening for the Dickson Center for Higher Education is planned for Monday, October 12 at 11am. Everyone is invited to the event.
Convocation – Convocationis Thursday, August 13 from 8am-3:30pm at the White Bridge campus. This in-person event is required for all full-time and regular part-time employees unless otherwise directed by your supervisor. Temporary or adjunct employees are welcome to attend! The day will include college updates, service awards, a keynote speaker, lunch sponsored by the Foundation, the ACUE Pinning and Faculty Meeting, afternoon professional learning sessions – and, of course, opportunities to connect with your fellow employees. The theme this year is Welcome to Music City. You are invited to wear your favorite music genre, band or concert apparel; the dress code is casual.
Enrollment Update – Summer classes are approaching the end of term. Dashboard tracking ended July 7 with a 7.5% increase in headcount and a 6.3% increase in FTE. As of July 21, Fall was up 5.8% in headcount and 8.3% in FTE. Stay data informed by visiting the Data Access Page which also has information regarding applications, persistence and retention data. Please contact Institutional Research if you have any questions.
Wellness – This is your monthly reminder that it is ok to not be ok. Life often throws us curveballs. Some people can adjust more easily than others. For those who find themselves having a hard time or know others who are struggling, please remember that there are programs and resources available online through Partners for Health and Emotional Wellbeing Solutions (formerly EAP).
I am excited about starting a new academic year. We are continuing to make good progress on our Vision 2030 targets and building a Culture of Excellence in People, Places, Programs and Partnerships. Individually and collectively, we are making a positive impact on our college, students, and community. It is an honor to serve and a joy to work with the Nashville State Dream Team!
Summer Momentum Continues at East Davidson Campus Workforce Center
By Joseph P. Johnson, Executive Director, The Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education
Summer often offers an opportunity for a slower pace, but June and July have been filled with activity at the East Davidson Camus Workforce Center. Through workforce training, employer engagement, healthcare programs, and emerging technology initiatives, the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education has continued to connect students, job seekers, employers, and community partners with opportunities that support career growth and regional workforce needs.
The summer started strong in June with a variety of workforce development activities and planning initiatives. East Davidson hosted Department of Education planning sessions, training opportunities for community partners, continued preparations for Ready to Reconnect orientation programming, and welcomed classes including Imagine Hospitality CPR training and Balfour Property Management training. These activities reflected the broad range of workforce services offered through the East Davidson campus and demonstrated our commitment to meeting the needs of employers and learners across multiple industries.
July continued that momentum with several important hiring and workforce development events. One day in particular, July 15, provided a snapshot of the energy and activity taking place throughout the summer. During a three-hour American Job Center Job Fair, 109 job seekers visited the East Davidson Workforce Center to connect with employers from across the region. Participating organizations included: Southwest Airlines, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Harvard Maintenance, Patriot Safeguard Traffic, The Liberty Group, Sitters & More Homecare, Contemporary Services Corporation, Slim & Husky’s, and others.
Also on this day, while more than 100 job seekers connected with employers and explored career opportunities, 22 trainees were welcomed across a Basic Life Support (BLS) training class, and two new Medical Assistant cohorts began their training at the Center. These activities highlighted the Center’s unique ability to meet workforce development needs across multiple industries while serving a diverse range of learners, job seekers, employers, and industry partners.
The summer also highlighted Nashville State’s commitment to emerging technologies and innovation. Workforce’s Director of IT Partnerships shared practical artificial intelligence insights with students at the Southeast Campus, helping them better understand how AI is shaping today’s workplace and how they can leverage these tools in their education and careers.
Another milestone was reached with the successful completion of the first drone training course held at North Davidson. As industries increasingly adopt drone technology for inspection, logistics, agriculture, public safety, and other applications, the program represents an exciting addition to Nashville State’s growing workforce training portfolio and another example of the College’s ability to respond to evolving employer needs.
Healthcare workforce programs have also remained highly active throughout the summer. Since June, dozens of participants have completed Basic Life Support training, earning industry-recognized credentials, and gaining essential lifesaving skills. Through our partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Assistant Cohort 16 completed training on July 16 with an outstanding 100% certification rate, while Medical Assistant Cohort 17 launched just days earlier. Additional programs, including Central Sterile training and the Rural Pharmacy Technician program, continue to help prepare participants for in-demand healthcare careers throughout the region.
These accomplishments represent just a portion of the activity taking place throughout the summer. From job fairs and credentialing programs to healthcare training, artificial intelligence education, drone technology instruction, and employer partnerships, the East Davidson Workforce Center continues to create opportunities that make a difference for students, employers, and the communities we serve.
And the momentum is not slowing down. August is already shaping up to be another busy month as the East Davidson Workforce Center prepares to host the FBI Nashville Accelerated EMT Program during the first week of August, adding another important workforce training initiative to an already active season.
The energy and momentum seen throughout June and July reflect the dedication of our staff, students, employers, and community partners. Together, we are helping build pathways to employment, career advancement, and lifelong learning while strengthening the workforce across our region.
Growing More Than Crops
by Jessica Rabb PhD, Biology Professor and NSCC 1010 Course Lead
TSU’s College of Agriculture offers Nashville State students research, scholarships, and pathways into business, health, environmental, and technology careers.
In spring 2026, Nashville State Community College and Tennessee State University (TSU) formed the Tiger Track Transfer Program. This program includes pre-enrollment counseling and scholarships for Nashville State transfer students on their way to TSU. The Tiger Track I will shine a ‘grow-light’ on today is TSU’s College of Agriculture (TSUAg). As the only land-grant university in middle Tennessee, TSUAg is particularly important to TSU’s mission and therefore has a large and robust applied research program to solve not only agricultural but also economic and social problems. Our students have opportunities to do undergraduate research at TSUAg even before they transfer. TSUAg includes the following diverse departments that could attract our transfer students in business, health sciences, environmental sciences and computer sciences.
TSUAg Departments & Nashville State Transfer Student Matches
- Agribusiness – Business, Economics, Finance, Marketing and Management transfer students can study and research business globalization and consumer demand
- Agricultural Sciences
- Plant Diseases – Biology, Health Sciences and Pre-Health Professions transfer students can study and research the causes and treatments of infectious diseases in plants
- Digital Agriculture – Computer Science, Information Systems, and Geography transfer students can study and apply geographic information systems (GIS)
- Plant Biotechnology and Genetics – Biology, Health Sciences and Pre-Health Professions transfer students can use cutting edge gene editing techniques to promote disease resistance or increased health benefits in plants
- Environmental Science – Biology and Chemistry transfer students can study and research topics like habitat loss, wildlife ecology and pollution remediation.
- Food and Animal Science – Biology, Chemistry, Health Sciences, Pre-Health Professions, and Nutrition and Food Science transfer students can study advances in nutrition, food safety, and animal welfare
- Human Sciences
- Child Development and Family Studies – Psychology, Sociology, and Childhood and Family Development transfer students will find opportunities for community outreach and counseling at all age levels
- Fashion Merchandizing and Product Development – Business, Economics, Finance, Marketing and Management transfer students will find opportunities for entrepreneurship, product development and marketing
- Food And Nutrition Sciences – Biology, Chemistry, Health Sciences, Pre-Health Professions, and Nutrition and Food Science transfer students will find opportunities for community outreach and health education
I know all about TSUAg thanks in large part to a Nashville State and TSUAg graduate Katrina Seaman who is now a research project manager at TSUAg. She introduced me to TSUAg faculty in March. Then Agricultural Science Professors Korsi Dumenyo, Ph.D. and Ali Taheri, Ph.D., visited Nashville State’s STEM School in April and invited us to visit TSUAg in May. Dr. Dumenyo gathered TSUAg faculty and staff for our visit. We made introductions and discussed the importance of growing our partnership and future collaboration for Nashville State students.
Advisors and faculty across Nashville State can help connect our transfer students to this amazing transfer opportunity. It is never too early to get our transfer students to consider where they will transfer and the Tiger Track to TSUAg should be at the top of many Nashville State students’ list.
College of Agriculture Presentation to Nashville State STEM faculty, May 11, 2026
Katrina Seaman (TSU – and NSCC Alum), Mike Knap – During TSUAg Presentation
De’Etra Young, Associate Dean for Academics and Land-Grant Programs, During TSUAg Presentation
TSUAg Greenhouse: Korsi Dumenyo (TSU), Ali Taheri (TSU), Gracie King, Mike Knap, Jessica Rabb, Jennifer Knapp, Mary Womack
The Journey to Possibility: What One Graduation Reminded Me About the Work We Do Every Day
By Sandra Timberlake, Student Support Specialist, Welcome Center, Southeast Campus
On July 11, I had the privilege of serving as the keynote speaker for the YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee Family Learning Center’s Class of 2026, honoring 26 adult learners who earned their high school equivalency diplomas. As I looked across the room, I didn’t just see graduates preparing to receive a credential. I saw parents, employees, caregivers, and individuals whose journeys had been shaped by obstacles, perseverance, and the courage to begin again.
As each graduate crossed the stage, smiles reflected years of determination, while family members and friends applauded with unmistakable pride. They weren’t simply celebrating a diploma—they were celebrating perseverance, hope, and the promise of new possibilities. Although every graduate’s story was unique, they all shared one thing in common: they chose to keep moving forward.
As I prepared my remarks, I found myself reflecting on a quote that has stayed with me over the years: “Be grateful for the obstacles in your life. They have come to strengthen you as you continue on your journey.”
As I looked at those graduates, I realized how true those words were. Every obstacle had taught them something. For some, it taught patience and built confidence. For others, it developed resilience and courage. And for many, it revealed strengths they never knew they possessed, strengthening their commitment to keep moving forward. That is what made their accomplishments so inspiring.
One of my favorite moments when working with adult learners is witnessing the instant they realize, “It is not too late for me.” That realization changes more than an educational path—it changes how people see themselves and what they believe is possible. What once felt out of reach suddenly becomes attainable.
That experience reminded me that this is exactly what I have the privilege of witnessing every day at Nashville State Community College’s Southeast Campus—and what my colleagues experience across all of our campuses. Whether we are welcoming a prospective student, answering questions in the Welcome Center, advising, teaching in the classroom, connecting students with resources, or simply offering a word of encouragement, we are doing far more than helping someone earn a credential. Together, we help students discover the confidence, courage, and commitment they may not have realized they possessed.
Every day, we have the opportunity to help students discover possibilities they may never have imagined for themselves. Sometimes the most meaningful moments are not found in major milestones but in simple conversations, a reassuring smile, or someone taking the time to say, “You’ve got this.” Those moments may seem ordinary to us, but for a student standing at a crossroads, they can become the reason they choose to keep going.
As faculty and staff, we may never fully know the impact of our work. Yet every interaction has the potential to change the course of someone’s life. The graduates I met on July 11 reminded me that education is about so much more than earning a diploma. It is about restoring confidence, opening doors, strengthening families, and creating opportunities that can influence generations to come.
As we welcome students throughout the coming year, may we never underestimate the power of our everyday interactions. Every conversation has the potential to encourage. Every act of kindness has the ability to inspire. Every opportunity we provide can help someone believe in a future they may not have thought was possible. Because every student who walks through our doors is on a journey. Sometimes, all they need is someone to help them take the next step on their journey to possibility.
Human Resources Update
By Connie Daniel, Senior Administrative Assistant, Human Resources
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Nashville State’s newest employee!
| New Hires | ||
| Katie Bear | Financial Aid Technical Clerk | Office of Financial Aid |
| William Boland | Security Guard | Office of Police and Security |
| Shanghtin Tawng | Security Guard | Office of Police and Security |
| Stephanie Welfare | Testing Technician II | Clarksville Campus |
Please join us in congratulating Nashville State’s employees who are in a new role!
| New Roles | ||
| Hailee Schweickhardt | Sr Administrative Assistant | Office of Vice President of Business and Finance |
| Michael Sostre | Assistant Director | Office of Student Success Center |
Please join us in saying farewell to these NSCC employees!
| Separations | ||
| Candace Battles | Sterile Processing Educator | Office of Workforce Development and Continuing Education |
| Evelyn Hadley | Director | Office of Career and Transfer Services |
| Haleigh Portillo | Student Success Advisor | Office of Student Success Center |
Sparking Inspiration: IGNITE! Marks Four Years of Empowering Educators
By Jennifer Goncalves – Associate Professor/Program Coordinator, Early Childhood Education
This is the fourth consecutive year that NSCC has hosted the IGNITE! Early Childhood Educator Conference. With that, I felt it was time to update the college on this amazing event held each summer.
The IGNITE! Conference was held July 21-24th. The event kicked off with our webinar series, where early childhood educators from across the globe may log in to professional development trainings provided by industry leaders in Early Childhood Education. On the evening of Tuesday, July 21st, the Ignite! Early Childhood Champion Awards were held, honoring our community’s early childhood educators and legislative champions, highlighting their important work, and encouraging community engagement in early childhood education. Our emcee, WSMV 4’s Lauren Lowrey, recognized outstanding achievements and contributions from educators. Esteemed guests included Nashville-Davidson County Metro Mayor Freddie O’Connell and 2025 Ignite! Educator of the Year, Gigi Kinzouza (and yes, she attended NSCC! Go Falcons!)
The in-person training day was held on Friday, July 24th. 450 educators were welcomed to the White Bridge Campus for a day of training and connection. Special thanks to Dr. Christie Ferguson, Dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies, for providing a warm welcome before the keynote address.
The Early Childhood Education Department sponsored the session: Men in Early Childhood Education: Voices, journeys, and pathways forward. With less than 3% of male teachers working in the field, this remains a critical area of advocacy. We were delighted to welcome two of our own NSCC alums, Dontaine Oglesby and Preston Carter, to the panel discussion to discuss their journey as educators and the importance of men working in early education.
I want to thank everyone who continues to contribute to this event each year. I am proud to be part of a college that recognizes the critical role that early childhood educators play in the lives of children and families—hosting the IGNITE! Conference reinforces our college’s commitment to the community and the education of young children.
I’d also like to highlight the establishment of the Early Childhood Education Scholarship. This helps fulfill a deep need among students who struggle to finance their future careers as educators. We welcome donations through the NSCC Foundation.
Falcons’ News on NSCC.edu
by Tom Hayden, Associate Vice President, Office of Communications and Marketing
Nashville State Partners with American Academy of Medical Sales to Launch Workforce Training Program
https://www.nscc.edu/news/nashville-state-partners-with-american-academy-of-medical-sales-to-launch-workforce-training-program.php
Siblings Find Success and a Future While at Nashville State
https://nscc.edu/news/siblings-find-success-and-a-future-while-at-nashville-state.php
Dickson Center of Higher Education Building Named after Dr. James T. Jackson, M.D.
https://nscc.edu/news/dickson-center-of-higher-education-building-named-after-dr-james-t-jackson-md.php
Nashville State Community College Foundation Announces Five New Board Members
https://nscc.edu/news/nashville-state-foundation-announces-five-new-board-members.php
Project Reroute Supports Justice-impacted Students at Nashville State
https://nscc.edu/news/project-reroute-supports-justice-impacted-students-at-nashville-state.php
The NSCC Voice
Founded 2017
Cliff Rockstead, Managing Editor
David Gerth, Assistant Managing Editor
Kevin Woods, Layout
July 2026 Contributors
Connie Daniel
Jennifer Goncalves
Tom Hayden
Dr. Shanna L. Jackson
Joseph P. Johnson
Jessica Rabb
Sandra Timberlake