February 2024 Volume 7 Issue 7

Update from the President

by Dr. Shanna L. Jackson

Greetings Fellow Falcons,  

This month I had the opportunity to attend the Achieving the Dream (ATD) DREAM conference in Orlando, FL, with a great team from Nashville State: Donna Whitehouse, Janusz Polanowski, Derrick Dupuis, Quincy Rhoads, Kimberly Malone-Haddox, Ryan Parker, Faye Jones, Dondi Sanders, Kevin Thomas and Halen Hall (SGA President). You should see more details in future Voice editions about what we learned at DREAM.

The college joined ATD in the summer of 2018 to learn more about how to use data to develop strategies and initiatives to improve student outcomes. Our work with ATD became a cornerstone in the development of Vision 2030: A Student Ready College. I am thankful to Donna Whitehouse who has been the lead for ATD since the beginning. Even as her roles have changed at the college, she remained our liaison between our coaches and campus community.

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

Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Search Update – As previously announced, Dr. Carol Osorio will be retiring this year after a distinguished career of service.  The position has been posted and the review process will begin in March.  Tentative dates are being scheduled in April for on-campus interviews, which will include an open forum for all employees. A feedback form will also be shared with the college community.

The following individuals have agreed to serve on the Search Committee: Laura Moran, Jennifer Byrd, Derrick Dupuis, Kim Silverman, Kimberly Malone-Haddox, Connie Matthews, James Brake, Michael Sundblad, and Jill Ferrand.  Please share with those representing your area or constituency group what you view as the most important skills and experiences of our next Vice President. 

Enrollment Update – Students can still register for our 2nd 7-week courses. Stay data informed with our dashboards:

President Cabinet Minutes – A reminder that all approved Cabinet meeting minutes are posted in SharePoint/Committees. Select the President’s Cabinet folder. You can also find minutes and for all other committees in the Committees SharePoint site.

Support – Please reach out to the resources available if you or someone you care about needs support.  EAP services are offered at no cost to all benefit-eligible employees and eligible family members. Visit Here4tn.com for more information. 

As we turn towards the midpoint of the spring semester, I continue to see the positive momentum at Nashville State. Be sure to follow the college on our social media channels to see all the great things happening as we build a culture of excellence in People, Places, Programs and Partnerships. You can follow my Instagram page @nashvillestatepresident and the college @nashvillestate. This is our time, and this is our year!

ADHD at Nashville State

by Luke Moret, Reader/Scribe, Access Center

At Nashville State Community College, providing each student with adequate support and resources to succeed in the classroom is a top priority. Students registered with the Access Center are to be treated like any other student. The only change in expectations for behavior or knowledge/skill acquisition is the need to utilize approved accommodations. The Access Center, located on the White Bridge Road Campus, provides accommodations to students with documented physical, emotional, or educational disabilities and will advise faculty/staff on the approved accommodations for these students. In each monthly newsletter, we will highlight a specific diagnosis that our students have in hopes of bringing insight to the community, along with the accommodations students could receive with this diagnosis.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the US, affecting roughly 5% of the population. Less than 1% of NSCC’s student population has ADHD as a primary/secondary diagnosis, but ADHD constitutes about 20% of the total diagnoses of students who are registered with the Access Center.

Symptoms of ADHD have a large range of severity but most of them may interfere with daily functioning and could include:

  • Impulsiveness
  • Trouble with focus/multitasking
  • Hyperactivity/Restlessness
  • Difficulties with prioritizing/planning/completion
  • Forgetfulness
  • Trouble with regulating emotions

As staff or faculty who will engage with students diagnosed with ADHD, the first step is being aware of how their diagnosis can affect their daily lives. A diagnosis can lead to trouble with sleep, plus relationship and employment problems. Individuals with ADHD may describe it as spending all day with a specific goal in mind but instead, they start 6 other tasks and end up accomplishing nothing. Understanding that students affected by ADHD have brains that work and think differently can prove beneficial in your relationship with them.

Here are some of the accommodations offered to students diagnosed with ADHD:

  • Flexible assignment deadlines
  • Extra time on tests
  • Preferential seating
  • Note-taking software

If you have any questions or would like to receive additional information, please contact us or visit our webpage!

Phone: 615-353-3770
Email: accesscenter@nscc.edu
Link: https://www.nscc.edu/student-experience/student-support-resources/disability-and-accessibility-information/access-center.php

People We Meet in the Hall

by Gracie Andrews King, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, we would like to show some love to our adjuncts in February. Here are four adjuncts you may have passed in the hall or exchanged emails with who have interesting stories to tell. They enrich our community and our students’ lives as they teach. And to all the rest of our adjuncts teaching for Nashville State Community College: THANK YOU! xoxoxo

Ashley Carter MSN, RN, AMB-BC

Ashley is Clinical Faculty in the Healthcare Professions Nursing A.A.S. Degree program.

  1. Are you from Nashville? 
    No, I moved to Nashville from Jackson, Tennessee.
  2. If you are not from Nashville, what brought you here?
    I moved to Nashville to pursue a nursing career in pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. 
  3. How far do you have to drive every week to get to the campus or campuses where you teach and then back home? 
    It takes me about 20 minutes to get to the White Bridge Road campus, and then my time varies in my travel to different clinical sites. 
  4. Like comic book superheroes, most adjuncts live dual lives. When you are not a classroom superhero teaching at Nashville State, what is your alternate identity? 
    When I am not on-site at clinical, I’m doing what seems like a million other things, including pursuing my doctoral degree and working as a remote nurse coach and health advisor for the health and risk solutions department of a financial services company. 
  5. What was your favorite class or activity in high school or college, and why? 
    My favorite activity/class in college was writing. College is where I found my love of writing as a creative outlet. Since then, I’ve gone on to make several contributions to the Tennessee Nurse Magazine. Also, I was a cheerleader all through high school and played tennis in both high school and college. 
  6. What made you realize that you wanted to teach? 
    I truly had no desire or interest in teaching prior to getting involved as a preceptor and mentor in the hospital setting. From there, I decided where my interest truly lay and made the transition to the academic arena. 
  7. How do you keep motivated during those times when you are tired, there aren’t enough hours in a day to get everything done, and that job as a trapeze artist that you dreamed of when you were 10 is looking better every day? 
    My role as adjunct faculty is gratifying and fulfilling; it has been one of the best career decisions I’ve ever made. My students are my motivation; seeking their forward-thinking, hearing their stories, and seeing their sacrifice and improvement are inspiring.
  8. If you were given TWO wishes for anything that would help make your job at NSCC easier, what would, you wish for? The sky is the limit. 
    If there were two things I would wish for, it would be more time in the clinical setting with students and a variety of options for clinical settings. 
  9. Finally, is there something unique about you, your history, your life, or your friends and family that might give us a better idea of who you are? 
    I am a fierce advocate within professional nursing organizations for the nursing profession at the bedside, in academia, and beyond. I currently serve as president of the Tennessee Nurses Association – District 3, which covers Davidson County and every county that it touches except Rutherford and Wilson counties. In this role, I can shape the direction of the district under the guise of TNA’s strategic plan, advocate for nurses and healthcare, support a vibrant, growing nursing community, create impactful initiatives, support financial health, and drive positive change that helps empower nurses to thrive. 

Gary Grubb

Gary teaches in the Business and Professional Studies Division.

  1. Are you from Nashville?  
    Originally from Illinois, then NV, then on to MI. GO BLUE! 
  2. If you are not from Nashville, what brought you here?   
    Job relocation from MI to here 
  3. How far do you have to drive every week to get to the campus or campuses where you teach and then back home? 
    I live in Dickson so it depends upon where I am assigned as an adjunct. I have been to all Campuses AND have been to both the men’s and women’s prison facilities. So, an average trip when teaching on-ground would be 40 miles. I appreciate the on-line mode and believe the 7-week program works well for students and myself. 
  4. Like comic book superheroes, most adjuncts live dual lives. When you are not a classroom superhero teaching at Nashville State, what is your alternate identity?  
    I serve as a business consultant to physicians and dentists. 
  5. What was your favorite class or activity in high school or college, and why? 
    I was active in sports in HS and college, playing collegiate tennis at Northern Illinois University.  
  6. What made you realize that you wanted to teach? 
    I first started teaching in 2000 at the U of Phoenix when the school was active in Nashville. I was looking for something part-time and felt that teaching would be a natural complement to my consulting work.  
  7. How do you keep motivated during those times when you are tired, there aren’t enough hours in a day to get everything done, and that job as a trapeze artist that you dreamed of when you were 10 is looking better every day? 
    I keep motivated by realizing that I am making a difference in student’s lives or the lives of my family.  
  8. If you were given TWO wishes for anything that would help make your job at NSCC easier, what would you wish for? The sky is the limit.  
    Adjuncts should receive credit for time spent as instructors in the retirement system. I worked for the State of TN in the TN Business Enterprise program (blind program under the Federal Randolph Shepherd Act), but lost the 3 years of credit when I left the position. I have taught over 50 classes at NSCC and believe there should be recognition for the time served. This would not necessarily make my job easier but would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps you could run this up the flag pole on all adjuncts’ behalf. If I could gain 2 more years of ‘credit’ I would qualify for a modest retirement stipend.  
  9. Finally, is there something unique about you, your history, your life, or your friends and family that might give us a better idea of who you are?  
    Family-wise, I have 11 grown children, 19 grandkids, 3 dogs, 10 chickens and live with my wife of 50 years in rural Dickson County. I have traveled all over the world and enjoy visiting other cultures. I am distressed about the current situation in our country, the divisiveness, gun violence, lack of courtesy, and the movement away from the positive principles on which this country was founded. 
  10. If there is a question that I didn’t ask but you think I should have, feel free to insert it with your answer. 🙂 Purely optional. 
    Thank you for this opportunity to share. I enjoy the role I have played at NSCC and appreciate any and all adjunct classes offered. 

    One thought… and I have shared this with Dr. Roberts, the prison system students are at a distinct disadvantage due to the fact that they have no access to the internet. This denies them the ability to use the many LINKS offered in the course materials. Adjuncts must print off materials to supplement and hand deliver to class. I do not have a solution for this and try to manage by selectively providing pertinent study material to the inmates. 

Dr. Jeffrey Thompson

Dr. Thompson teaches in the School of Arts and Humanities.

  1. Are you from Nashville?
    I have lived here in Nashville since second grade, so I consider myself a Nashvillian.  
  2. If you are not from Nashville, what brought you here?
    I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and then moved to Evansville, Indiana, where I attended kindergarten and first grade.  Both of my parents were Nashvillians, so we then came home to Nashville.  
  3. How far do you have to drive every week to get to the campus or campuses where you teach and then back home?
    I drive from Bellevue 37221 to the White Bridge Road campus 37209.  
  4. Like comic-book superheroes, most adjunct instructors live dual lives. When you are not a classroom super-hero teaching at Nashville State, what is your alternate identity?
    I taught English at Tennessee State University for 35 years (1985-2020).  I was the weekend announcer at WAMB-AM & FM for 32 years (1981-2013).  I write articles, book introductions, book chapters, and whole books about popular culture (movies, TV, literature, music, comic books).  
  5. What was your favorite class or activity in high school or college, and why?
    One of my favorite classes at Hillwood High School was American Studies, an eleventh-grade English-and-history class.  At Trevecca Nazarene University, I took one quarter each of French, Spanish, Italian, and German.  I love words and language!  
  6. What made you realize that you wanted to teach?
    I wanted to help people learn.  I too am a lifelong learner.  
  7. How do you keep motivated during those times when you are tired, there aren’t enough hours in a day to get everything done, and that job as a trapeze artist that you dreamed of when you were ten is looking better every day?
    I don’t have any problem staying motivated.  Whether I’m writing a book, speaking on a podcast, playing trivia with friends, taking care of Sadie (Pomeranian dog), spending time with my family, or teaching classes at NSCC and TSU, I enjoy doing what I am doing.  
  8. If you were given two wishes for anything that would help make your job at NSCC easier, what would you wish for?
    I would wish that more students used the library and the Learning Center and that all teachers were able to teach in NSCC’s most up-to-date “smart” classrooms every semester.  
  9. Finally, is there something unique about you, your history, your life, or your friends and family that might give us a better idea of who you are?
    I have written three books about producer-director Dan Curtis, who created DARK SHADOWS, produced THE NIGHT STALKER, and directed TRILOGY OF TERROR, BURNT OFFERINGS, and THE WINDS OF WAR.  
  10. If there is a question I didn’t ask, but you think I should have, feel free to insert it with your answer.
    After graduating from Hillwood High School, I earned my B.A. in communications from Trevecca Nazarene University, my M.A. in English from Tennessee State University, and my Ph.D. in English from Middle Tennessee State University.  In addition to teaching full-time at TSU (1985-2020), I have taught English part-time at NSCC (1996-1999, 2023-present) and Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film (2009-2010).

Kjirsten Whitsell

Kjirsten teaches in the School of Arts and Humanities.

  1. Are you from Nashville?
    No, I am from a small town in Mississippi called Holcomb.
  2. If you are not from Nashville, what brought you here?
    I came here for my now-husband, Duncan. We met in college almost 10 years ago. I also came for the job opportunities that were not available to me in Mississippi.
  3. How far do you have to drive every week to get to the campus or campuses where you teach and then back home?
    I teach Virtually, so no commute!
  4. Like comic book superheroes, most adjuncts live dual lives. When you are not a classroom superhero teaching at Nashville State, what is your alternate identity?
    I work as a Patient Care Coordinator remotely, as well as doing freelance book editing. I love editing. I get to read all the best stories and give them a better foundation before they’re published.
  5. What was your favorite class or activity in high school or college, and why?
    My favorite class was always my English classes, which led to me wanting to be an English professor. I’ve always just had an affinity for words, stories, and writing. It comes naturally to me.
  6. What made you realize that you wanted to teach?
    I did some tutoring in my undergrad years, as well as teaching an after-school creative writing program. Those moments of being able to help someone strengthen their writing and understanding of literary analysis brought me joy. I love being able to help others build a strong writing foundation. It’s a bonus when they realize that they can get personal enjoyment from writing, as well.
  7. How do you keep motivated during those times when you are tired, there aren’t enough hours in a day to get everything done, and that job as a trapeze artist that you dreamed of when you were 10 is looking better every day?
    Well, trapeze artist was never for me — I’m way too clumsy. I wanted to be a mermaid (which is even more unrealistic, but imagination kept my dream alive)! What keeps me motivated is the realization that I am helping the students. What also keeps me motivated is the desire to eventually become a full-time professor.
  8. If you were given TWO wishes for anything that would help make your job at NSCC easier, what would you wish for? The sky is the limit.
    The ability to only work this job, which is my chosen career, would be my first wish!

    My second wish… simply more hours in the day or an extra day in the weekend! It’s difficult to balance 3 jobs and a personal life.
  9. Finally, is there something unique about you, your history, your life, or your friends and family that might give us a better idea of who you are?
    I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m unique. But I suppose something that helps me in my life, both professionally and personally, would be my experiences as a disabled person. Between that and other life experiences, I’ve learned to be compassionate, understanding, patient, and to have an open mind for everything and everyone.
  10. If there is a question I didn’t ask but you think I should have, feel free to insert it with your answer. 🙂 Purely optional.
    What I fill my time with when I am not working are my hobbies: board games, crocheting, diamond painting, and cuddling with the fur babies — Cuchulainn (also known as Cu or BooBoo) and Zoe (also known as Beans)!
Harlan Pease, Headshot

Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach

“A Daytime Nightmare to a New Reality”

by Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communication, School of Arts and Humanities

On February 7, I had the experience of actually living out a recurring bad dream I have.  

In this recurring dream, it’s the first day of senior year, and I am late to school.  I go to my locker, but I can’t remember my combination.  After struggling with that for 10 minutes, I decide to just go to class, but I can’t find my schedule.  After fishing through my pockets, I pull out a wadded lump of paper that I assume is my schedule, but it has gone through the laundry.  A feeling not unlike panic settles in.  

Then, suddenly, through the magic of dream logic, I am in class, but it is no longer the first day.  Mr. Leary is teaching American Government, the test is tomorrow, and I am lost.  Like wandering in the middle of the Sahara lost.  I have no idea what he’s talking about, what I was supposed to have read, etc.  The panic is real.

I sometimes think this dream shows up to punish me because I’m now a teacher, but I really wasn’t a good student, particularly in high school. That’s a story for another time, but I think it returns anytime I’m getting complacent in my teaching, just to remind me of what I was like as a student.

Anyway, back to February 7.  I had an experience that was incredibly beneficial – it’s going to make me a better teacher – but the dream, the panic, was momentarily real. 

I was going to visit Jesmin Ekther’s Organic Chemistry 2010 class.  The class is held in room A47, and I was to arrive at 8:35 (the students would be taking a test during the first 35 minutes of class).  I arrived on campus at 8:25, allowing myself 10 minutes to get to class.

So far, so good. 

Except I couldn’t find A47.  Despite 15 years of teaching at Nashville State.   

I began by looking in what I believed to be the A building.  No luck. Then I saw a sign that said “C Building” pointing to both the left and the right.  I thought both of those directions were still the A building.    

That panicked feeling from the dream began slithering up my legs …

I stopped and tried to get my bearings.  I knew the classrooms outside – I 100% knew – were numbered A1 through A5.  However, I decided I should walk out there and check, just in case.  Just in case of what, I have no idea.

I went back inside, shifting from a walk to a jog.   

I was going to be late for class.

I went in a direction I didn’t think was correct.  It wasn’t.  I turned back around and, viola, I saw a sign directing me to A 36-59.  “Jog” became a trot. 

Finally, I arrived, and, just to show the universe has a sense of humor, I had a moment to glance at a sign outside the classroom with tips for student success.  One is: “Arrive 10 minutes early.  If you’re 10 minutes early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, your late.”  Thanks, universe.

I entered the classroom at 8:35, just as the students were finishing up their test. I viewed the series of intensely concentrating faces, momentarily thankful I wasn’t taking a test – after all, I couldn’t even find the classroom – and I sat down trying to be as quiet as possible.  Professor Ekther collected the tests and began her lecture.

Suddenly, I was back in my bad dream world: I was completely lost, not having had a chemistry class in… this millennium.  Concepts whooshed over my head like a kamikaze 747. 

I struggled to remember high school chemistry, but all I could remember was where I sat, a sign that hung above the board that said “this is a labor-atory, not a lab-oratory”, and the day that our teacher brought in a case of beer so we could learn the distillation process.  For those of you who went to good schools, I swear I’m not making this up.  After we had distilled the alcohol from the beer, we were told to dump it down the drain.  Generally speaking, the drain turned out to be our stomachs, because Mr. Hedgecock, in addition to having an unfortunate surname for a high school teacher, was incredibly trusting and absent-minded (Mr. Hedgecock, if for some bizarre reason you end up reading this, I absolutely loved your class.  My not remembering is a function of time, not your teaching.  And I still remember the boiling point of alcohol).

All that aside, it was an incredible and eye-opening experience to sit in the classroom as a student. 

Here are some things I learned:

  1. I desperately wanted to use my phone.  I’m not addicted to social media, nor do I get a lot of text messages, but I really wanted to Google some of the concepts.  I was trying to remember valence electrons, and I wanted to look up that concept and clarify my understanding.  I have a “no cell phones” policy in my classes, which I still think is appropriate, but I had a moment of real empathy for students who have become acculturated to using their phones as a resource and are not able to.   I don’t know what the solution is, but I’m aware it’s something I want to solve.    
  2. Since I was lost in the lecture, my eyes were drawn to the Periodic Table.  I began to see musical chord symbols: C, F, Am, Cm, Fm, Db.  I tried to create a hybrid scale in which I could harmonize Am, Cm, and Db.  For at least three minutes I was completely zoned out while pursuing that line of thought.  Again, I experienced empathy, this time for students who show up to class unprepared.  I’m not saying students should come to class unprepared (and my experience would certainly motivate me to come to class prepared), but sitting there lost made me painfully aware of how difficult it is to try to pay attention when not prepared.  Perhaps more importantly, it made me aware of how frustrating it could be it if a student tried to prepare but didn’t know how to do so effectively. 
  3. I really, really, wanted to know what time it was. I didn’t have a watch on, and there wasn’t a clock in sight.  I tried to surreptitiously take my phone from my jacket pocket and put it inside my bookbag so I could check the time, but, despite my ninja training, I suspect Prof. Ekther saw me do it, and I’m sure the students sitting behind me saw me do it.
  4. I picked up a great strategy I can use. One of the amazing things Prof. Ekther did was use review built into the PowerPoint.  At 35 minutes into the lecture, she stopped and took a moment to ask the class how they were doing with the material.  Then she had a slide prepared with quiz-style questions, which gave the students a chance to apply the concepts they had just learned.  That week I was covering nonverbal communication.  My normal approach is to spend one class day lecturing on the material, and I then use a “lab” approach the following class day, with students applying the concepts through visual examples and analysis.  It struck me that embedding some visual images in my slide deck for analysis will allow students to apply concepts as we go over them.  It will break up the monotony of me lecturing, promote questions and discussions, and verify understanding, creating a much more cohesive and engaging experience for students.
  5. Another great thing Professor Ekther did was consistently emphasize which course objectives were being addressed and which concepts were significant for the final exam.  She also provided clear study strategies, pointing out that learning requires an active pencil-and-paper approach to working the problems. 

Seeing these strategies at work more than made up for having to live part of my bad dream.  There was also the bonus of experiencing school from a student’s perspective.  I haven’t taken a class in person in almost 20 years, and sitting in the student chair, experiencing the stress of trying to find my classroom, etc., will make me a better teacher.  Not only did I walk away from the experience with a tangible strategy to apply, I have a recharged enthusiasm for finding ways to support students as they navigate college.

If you haven’t had a chance to sit in a class recently, I strongly encourage you to do so, whatever your role at Nashville State and whatever your area of expertise.  Doing so helped me focus on the student experience and teaching in a very different way than my normal, and it’s something I’m going to make a consistent part of my growth and development as a teacher.

I’d also like to extend this invite: if anyone wants to visit one of my classes, as long as it’s not a speech or test day, you are welcome.  Just in case you’re wondering, there won’t be any beer. 

Student Success Center Workshops February and March

by Courtney Woodard, MSW, Student Resource Manager/Social Work

Take a look! Nashville State’s Student Success Center has some quick and fun workshops coming up to help out with things like time management and organization, self-care and wellness, and student success, just to name a few! Register now for an opportunity to set yourself up for success! 

Time Management and Organization: https://forms.office.com/r/6iAMEBXHxL
2/27 at 5 p.m. via Zoom

Self-Care and Wellness:https://forms.office.com/r/1hUTWk41kU
2/28 at 5 p.m. via Zoom

Degree Works and Academic Planning: https://forms.office.com/r/aGMGftFiXj
3/12 at 12:30 p.m. via Zoom

College Reflections: https://forms.office.com/r/AiAdFUPV0m
3/12 at 1 p.m. via Zoom

Non-Traditional Student Success: https://forms.office.com/r/TbvhLMZNVW
3/12 at 5 p.m. via Zoom
3/14 at 4 p.m. via Zoom

Contact information:
Courtney Woodard, MSW
she/her/hers
Student Resource Manager/Social Worker
Nashville State Community College-Southeast Campus
Office: 1324 (Inside the library) 
Email: courtney.woodard@nscc.edu
Phone: 615-229-5586
Book an appointment with me here

The Workforce Minute

by Jayla Crawford, Administrative Assistant, The Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education

My name is Jayla Crawford, and while some of you may already know me around the White Bridge campus, I wanted to take a moment to tell my story in detail. My journey started in the vibrant city of Oakland, California, where I spent my formative years immersed in the eclectic culture of the Bay Area. I graduated high school in 2016 and my goal was to go straight to a four-year college. After returning from studying abroad in Ghana my senior year, I decided it would be best to attend a community college and started my higher education journey at Chabot Community College in Hayward. In 2018, I decided to embark on a life-changing adventure and moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, with family to seek new opportunities and experiences. This transition marked a significant chapter in my life, exposing me to a different environment and a diverse community.

Upon my arrival, I went straight into the workforce and took a break from continuing my education.  In the Spring 2022 I accepted the Record Department’s Clerk position at NSCC’s White Bridge Road campus. Within a few months I convinced myself to enroll as a fulltime student at NSCC and started pursing my Associate degree. I balanced work and education, demonstrated my commitment and determination, and ultimately earned my General Studies degree in May of 2023. I continue to chase after my academic dreams by pursuing my Bachelor’s degree Interdisciplinary Studies at Tennessee State University.

My professional journey has continued to flourish! I transitioned into the role of Administrative Assistant in the Workforce Development department in June of 2023. I’m excited to be a link between the credit side of the college and the Center for Workforce Development. As an adult learner that has recently graduated, and being the youngest person of the team, I’m thrilled to offer a fresh perspective that strives to reach our diverse demographic of students! One of the duties I’ve been tasked with is expanding our department’s social media presence and I look forward to sharing all our upcoming initiatives!

Despite having a busy schedule, I remain optimistic about the future. My journey from Oakland to Clarksville, and now at Nashville State Community College and Tennessee State University, highlights my resilience and adaptability. As I strive to make a positive impact in the workforce development arena, I stand as a testament to the power of determination and the pursuit of lifelong learning. NSCC is not only my place of work, but a community that helps me reach my personal and professional goals and helps me inspire other adult learners!

Registrar’s Corner

by Cyndi Moore, Admissions and Records Front Desk Clerk

Hello NSCC Family,

We are excited to announce that Nashville State has a new Graduation Specialist, Steven Magee. He enjoys family time, traveling, and mentoring his congregation.  If you have not met him, look for him around campus and say “Hello” or call him @ 615-353-3652.   

Steven will be hosting Pop-up graduation events at each of the campuses to answer graduation questions.  Below is a copy of his schedule for February.  Please be on the lookout for his March and April schedule to be posted soon.

On February 1st, The Admissions and Records Office hosted Diploma Pick-up Day for our 229 Fall 2023 graduates. We had a great turn-out and our NSCC students were excited to receive the diplomas that they worked so hard to achieve. Below are a few pictures of our NSCC Graduates receiving their diplomas.  We are looking forward to this Spring and Summer as we currently have 611 students who have already turned in their Intent to Graduate packet for those terms.  If you know of any Spring or Summer graduates who have yet to turn in their Intent to Graduate packet, please have them contact Steven at graduation@nscc.edu.

Chris Saunders Headshot

Facilities Management Department Report

by Christopher Saunders, CFM, Executive Director of Facilities Management

Falcon Family,

This will be my last NSCC Major Projects Report, I’m relocating to San Diego at the end of February to be near family, I’ve also accepted the position of Director of Facilities Management at the Air and Space Museum. You are in great hands for the Updates as Chris Bledsoe will take over.

  • Clarksville: New Campus
    • Architects Programming w/ NSCC Management Team – Underway
    • Construction Contract – Awarded
    • Budget Value Engineering – Complete
    • Alarm Systems Contract – Complete
    • New Vending Machines Installation – Complete
    • HVAC in Existing Campus Repairs – Complete
  • Dickson:
    • New Campus Road Sign – Complete
    • New Campus Programming – Underway
    • Falcon Flags Installation – Pending
    • Directors Heating – Crack in the Wall – Underway
  • East Davidson:
    • Mechanical Maintenance Agreement – In For Approval
    • Transferring Excess Furniture – Equipment from WBR – Ongoing
  • Humphreys County: General Maintenance of the Building
    • Additional Workstation for Student Advisor – In Review
    • Ceiling Tile Repairs – Hold
  • North Davidson
    • Duct Work – Roof Repairs – Underway
    • Floor Finish Repair – Underway
    • New Monument Sign – Underway
    • HVAC Maintenance Contract – Underway
    • LRC Blinds – Underway
  • Southeast: Installation of New Chiller
    • Addressing Issues with the New Unit – underway
    • Chiller Unit Preventative Maintenance Contract – In For Approval
  • Southeast: Projects
    • Jail Gate – Complete
    • Concrete Wall and Stairs Repair – Wall On Hold – Stairs A Go
    • Sprinkler Head Replacement Project – Complete
    • NSCC – TBR – Designer Value Engineered Project Budget – Complete
    • Design Package – Out to Bid – Underway
    • Indoor Directional Signs – Pending
    • Purchasing of Laundry Equipment – Complete
    • Purchasing of Kitchen Equipment – Pending
  • White Bridge: H-K-A-C Buildings Modifications – Health Sciences Project
    • Drywall Finishing – Painting – Underway
    • Nashville Medical Equipment Installation – Underway
    • Van ID His Supplies For Move In – Underway
    • Building – Carpet Cleaning – Underway
    • Mechanical Room for Van – Underway
    • Furniture Move In – Pending
  • White Bridge: HVAC Central Plant Upgrades
    • Contract Awarded for Phase #1 – Complete
    • Phase 2 – In Design – Underway
    • C-210 HVAC – In Phase 1 of Project – Complete

The NSCC Voice

Founded 2017

Cliff Rockstead, Managing Editor
David Gerth, Assistant Managing Editor
Isabella Putman, Layout Editor

February 2024 Contributors

Dr. Gracie Andrews King
Jayla Crawford
Tom Hayden
Dr. Shanna L. Jackson
Cyndi Moore
Luke Moret
Harlan Pease
Christopher Saunders
Courtney Woodard