May 2026 Volume 9 Issue 10

Update from the President

by Dr. Shanna L. Jackson

Greetings Fellow Falcons,  

The summer term is underway, and students are back on campus! Although the pace may be a little slower now for some, it is still a very critical time of the year as we are actively planning for the Fall 26-Spring 27 academic year.  

Below are a few updates from the Office of the President:  

Commencement – Our 62nd Commencement was held on Tuesday, May 12. A historic number of students walked the stage!  In fact, we did not have enough chairs for Faculty and Staff to sit inside the arena during the ceremony. We were not successful in finding a venue for a December graduation, but we are exploring a second Spring ceremony to accommodate our growing number of graduates. Evelyn Hadley is to be commended for her leadership! I also want to thank the Commencement committee and our host of volunteers for another wonderful ceremony.   

TBR Board Meeting – Nashville State will cohost the June Quarterly Board meeting with TCATs Nashville and Dickson. I want to extend a special thanks to Natalie Olsen, Kathleen Duff, Chris Bledsoe and all involved in planning this special event for the system. You are invited to watch the Board Meetings on June 11 from 1:00-4:30pm and Friday, June 12 from 9:00am-12:00pm in person from the second-floor balcony. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the TBR board in action and hear about system initiatives. The meetings will also be livestreamed. More details will be shared through Campus Announcements a few days before the meeting. 

Convocation – Fall Convocation will be an in-person event on the White Bridge Road campus. All full-time and regular part-time staff are expected to attend unless otherwise directed by your supervisor; temporary or adjunct employees are welcome to attend. If you are new to Nashville State, Convocation is our time as college employees to kick off the new academic year with a review of what we have accomplished and where we are headed in the new year. It is also a great time to connect with your fellow Falcons! The theme this year is MUSIC CITY — whatever your taste in music, represent it with your favorite genre, concert or band apparel (work appropriate). More details will be sent in August. 

Enrollment Update – Summer classes start this week, and Fall Registration continues. Summer enrollment is up 8% and FTE is up 7.3%. Fall is up 9.6% in HC and 13.1% 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 – For those who read the Voice routinely, I continue to leave space in my update on Wellness. It is very important that we invest in our own well-being and support each other.  Today is the day you should reach out to the programs and resources available online through Partners for Health and Emotional Wellbeing Solutions (formerly EAP) if you need to make lifestyle changes. 

We are Nashville State!  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve with each of you. Our work is making a difference.