June 2026 Volume 9 Issue 11

---

---

It is time to recognize the powerful impact of Nashville State alumni and celebrate those who are leading with purpose!

The Falcon Awards spotlight alumni who have gone beyond career success to create meaningful change in their communities. These individuals lead, serve, and inspire others, showing what it truly means to be a Falcon.

Do you know a Nashville State alum whose achievements, leadership, or service deserve recognition? This is your chance to share their story and help us celebrate their impact.

🏆Award Categories:

Distinguished Alumni of the Year
Honors an alum who has achieved excellence in their profession while demonstrating strong leadership through service and making a lasting difference in their community. Nominees must have graduated from or completed at least two semesters at Nashville State Community College or Nashville State Technical Institute.

Outstanding Young Alumni of the Year
Recognizes an emerging leader who is building momentum in their career while actively contributing to their community. Nominees must have graduated from or completed at least two semesters at Nashville State within the past 10 years.

Self-nominations are encouraged, so don’t be shy! Nominate here: 2026 Nominations

Join us in celebrating the Falcons who continue to make an impact across our communities and beyond. For more information contact Sierra Leach at (615) 229-5809 or alumnirelations@nscc.edu

---

---

There are moments in this work that remind us exactly why we do what we do. Our recent Ready to Reconnect Certificate Ceremony was one of those moments.

What began as a workforce development initiative designed to reconnect adults to education and career pathways has grown into a life-changing movement that has now impacted more than 300 individuals across the Nashville community. This year’s ceremony was not simply a graduation it was a celebration of resilience, determination, and the power of second chances.

With more than 100 family members, community partners, faculty, staff, and supporters gathered in the room, the energy was undeniable. The atmosphere was filled with joy, pride, and encouragement as graduates crossed the stage to receive certificates representing months of hard work, growth, and perseverance.

One of the most powerful moments of the afternoon came from our student speakers. Their voices carried truth, honesty, and strength as they shared stories of struggle, rebuilding, and triumph. They reminded everyone in attendance that success is rarely a straight line, but it is always possible when determination meets opportunity. Their testimonies reflected not only academic achievement, but personal transformation.

Following the ceremony, graduates and guests gathered to celebrate, share memories, take photographs, and enjoy cake and punch together a simple but meaningful reminder that community is at the heart of everything we do.

More Than 300 Lives Changed

Over the past three years, Ready to Reconnect has proudly served more than 300 adult learners throughout Davidson County. Each participant entered our program carrying a different story, but all shared one thing in common: the courage to return, rebuild, and invest in their future.

Whether pursuing careers in healthcare, skilled trades, technology, or industry certifications, our students continue to prove that when barriers are removed and support is consistent, transformation is inevitable.

As I watched our graduates cross the stage, I was reminded once again that workforce development is not just about employment. It is about transformation. It is about helping individuals reconnect with their purpose, rebuild their confidence, and rejoice in their accomplishments.

---

The Difference Maker: Ego Mindset Training

One of the defining elements that sets Ready to Reconnect apart is our intentional focus on whole-person development. Technical training matters. Certifications matter. Industry credentials matter. But long-term success requires something deeper: emotional resilience, self-awareness, accountability, and the ability to lead oneself through challenge.

This is where Ego Mindset Training becomes essential. Our Ego Mindset framework helps students understand how thought patterns, emotional responses, and internal narratives influence performance, persistence, and professional behavior. Students learn how to regulate emotional reactions, take ownership of decisions, strengthen communication, and develop the confidence required to navigate both academic and workplace environments.

The impact has been undeniable. We continue to see increased persistence, stronger engagement, improved communication skills, and a deeper sense of purpose among our participants.

Because of this impact, I am honored to share the Ego Mindset framework with Nashville State faculty during Fall Convocation this August. This session will provide educators with practical mindset strategies to better support, engage, and empower adult learners across all campuses.

---

Looking Ahead: A New Year of Opportunity

While we celebrate three years of impact, we are also stepping boldly into a new chapter of expansion, innovation, and opportunity. This upcoming year, Ready to Reconnect will offer an expanded lineup of workforce pathways, seminars, and professional development experiences designed to meet the evolving needs of our students and regional employers, including:

---

Medical Assistant Pathway

High-demand clinical training preparing students for essential roles in healthcare and patient support services.

---

Heavy Equipment Operations

Hands-on technical training designed for careers in construction, infrastructure, and transportation industries. Students gain real-world experience operating heavy machinery while building safety awareness, technical skill, and workforce readiness for high-demand, family-sustaining careers.

---

Drone and Surveying Technology

Cutting-edge instruction in aerial mapping, surveying, and data collection, preparing students for emerging roles in technical and engineering-related industries.

---

Financial Education Seminar

A practical and empowering series focused on budgeting, credit building, saving strategies, and long-term financial wellness.

---

Mastering the Interview Workshop

An immersive experience designed to strengthen communication, build executive presence, and prepare students to confidently navigate competitive hiring processes.

---

The Future Starts Here

Three years ago, Ready to Reconnect was built on a simple but powerful belief: that every individual deserves access to opportunity and a pathway forward. Today, with more than 300 success stories and counting, that belief has become reality. To our graduates thank you. Your courage, persistence, and transformation are the heartbeat of this program.

To our faculty, staff, and community partners, thank you for believing in this mission and standing beside our students every step of the way. And to those preparing to join us this fall we are ready for you. The future is not something we wait for. It is something we build.

And your next chapter starts now.

---

---

Santiago 2026: International Conference on Assessing Quality in Higher Education

How do we keep students on the path to graduation? In June, I traveled 5,000 miles to land in winter in Santiago, Chile to share a Nashville State motivation strategy. With only 60 participants, and only two from community colleges, this international conference kept us together the entire time – to discuss the emerging trends in assessing and improving quality in higher education.  

Here’s what I heard.

• How do we assess true student learning in the age of AI? Do our current assessment tools grapple with the AI impact? We need to make sure our Nashville State students are doing the critical thinking when we assess their learning.
• How do we shift from a compliance culture, assessing to check accreditation boxes, to an improvement culture? This is a common struggle. How do we humanize the process to help us all see the potential for growth with meaningful assessment?
• How do we assess the Return on Investment of higher education? Much of the conversation is centered on students’ post-graduation salary. I shared that at a community college time is money. How are we helping students complete college and achieve their degree as quickly as possible? These time metrics also matter.

Here’s what I said.  

THE PROBLEM – If students understand the connection between their degree and a career that’s motivation to stay in college and graduate. The problem is in the first week of college, when NSCC 1010 our First-Year Experience class begins, it’s hard to make that connection. Students may have selected a degree because they had to – to receive financial aid, and the typical first semester classes are not obviously linked to a career during week one of the course. 

THE SOLUTION – Yet we wanted to do something in week one of NSCC 1010 that would show students the purpose of Nashville State. Fortunately, TBR supported our partnership with Motivate Lab. Motivate Lab consists of researchers of learning motivation. Motivation research shows that students that make personal connections to college are more likely to stay in college. In 2018, Motivate Lab said let’s get your students to answer this question: How does Nashville State reflect and reinforce your personal values?

THE VALUES – The students have personal values that first week of college, they may not have thought about them, articulated them, but they have them, personal values that drive what they do. We don’t say values are right or wrong. We help students express their values and then we help them see that Nashville State can reflect and reinforce every single one.

THE IMPACT – We found that the NSCC 1010 students that did this activity felt more motivated to stay in college and had less belonging uncertainty. So, we have been doing this activity in all NSCC 1010 sections since 2019. This activity serves as our NSCC 1010 compass – guiding how we talk and discuss all aspects of the first-year experience. When we start talking about degrees and career connections, we will make personal connections like the matches between students’ personal strengths to a degree and career.

THE PARTNERSHIP – What this has taught me is that when we take research and put it into practice it impacts the researchers and the practitioners. Motivate Lab can say it’s working at Nashville State, and we can point to Motivate Lab and say this is why it is working. And we both continue to take this strategy in new directions that we could not have done without what we think is the “magic” of the partnership.

Arriving in Chile at sunrise on a red-eye flight. Chile is only 100 to 200 miles wide with the Andes Mountains taking up much of that width.

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino – These are wooden statues put on top of tombs of the Mapuche, the largest indigenous group of South America, primarily residing in what is now south and central Chile.

Plaza de Armas with my father Michael Rabb – My father travels year-round – no home – just a backpack – so, I am most likely to see him on my travels. This trip coincided with Father’s Day.

Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos – This museum records the events of the military dictatorship in Chile that started September 11, 1973, in particular the torture, death and disappearance of thousands. In a moving tribute, this wall had pictures of some of the many desaparacidos (the disappeared).

---

---

Summer is in full swing, and I am excited about the great work happening across Nashville State. While the summer months in higher education are often a bit quieter, we have been busy serving students enrolled in summer courses and workforce training programs.

This summer, we have once again partnered with the Belmont Fast Forward program to offer incoming freshmen two weeks of free summer programming. Students will take NSCC 1010 at no cost and participate in Lunch & Learn workshops covering a variety of topics. The program will serve approximately 60 students at our North Davidson and Southeast campuses.

The Center for Workforce Development continues to expand opportunities for our community. This summer, the Center offered its first Drone Pilot course, where students learned the fundamentals of drone operation. The team is also launching its first Land Surveying course in partnership with Barge Design Solutions.

In addition, the workforce team hosted its Ready to Reconnect graduation ceremony, where 42 students earned credentials in ESL, Medical Assisting, Heavy Equipment, IT, Welding, Hospitality/Culinary, and Drone Piloting. I am especially proud to share that the Center’s most recent Central Sterile Processing Technician cohort achieved a 100% national certification pass rate.

Know someone interested in Emergency Medical Services (EMS)? We can now serve them! The Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board recently approved our application to offer an EMS program at the Dickson campus. Our first cohort will begin this fall.

As we prepare for another academic year, thank you for all you do to support our students and our mission. I am proud of what we continue to accomplish, and I look forward to continuing the momentum.

Have a wonderful rest of your summer.

---

---

Human Resources Update

By Connie Daniel, Senior Administrative Assistant, Human Resources

June 2026

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

New Hires
Nicole Giallombardo	Purchasing Assistant	Office of Purchasing & Contracts

---

We do not have any employees in a new role this month.

New Roles

---

Please join us in saying farewell to these NSCC employees!

Separations
Carly Freeman	Library Assistant	Office of Learning Resources
Jayme Hay	Student Success Advisor	Office of the Student Success Center – SE Campus
Catina Johnson	Student Services Specialist III	North Davidson Campus
Keri Laprarie	Assistant Director Financial Aid	Office of Financial Aid
Megan Murray	Business Operations Coordinator	Office of the Center for Workforce Development & Continuing Education
Jack Wallace	Associate Professor	School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---