June 2022 Volume 5 Issue 11

Due to a disability that severely affected his health, particularly his heart, Sean Brady needed to drop out of his chosen university. Through time and care, he got his body healthy again for a second chance at earning his degree.

At the encouragement of friends who had attended Nashville State, he enrolled.

“Two years later, I feel like my friends undersold how amazing everyone at Nashville State is,” said Brady, who graduated in May 2022 with a degree in Political Science.

“Honestly, it is one of the best experiences I have ever had.”

Leading up to graduation, Sean had applied to Yale University’s Eli Whitney Students Program. It is for non-traditional students, at least five years removed from high school and have experience in a field of professional interest.

“They realize that non-traditional students have different experiences and problems than most students that go straight from high school to college. Like Nashville State, they value non-traditional voices and will do all they can to help them succeed.”

The College’s Career Services department prepares students for everything from job interviews and making professional connections to resume assistance. Sean took advantage of the free service provided.

“We looked over my CV and ran through basic interview questions and talking points. Nicole (Hubbs) (Director of the Welcome Center and Career Services) even independently searched and found information about my interview that I had missed in my research. Things might not have worked out as well if it weren’t for Nicole!”

Brady was accepted into Yale and has enrolled for the Fall 2022 semester, where he plans to earn a dual degree in Political Science and Linguistics.

“I plan on going to law school and helping craft and defend voting rights legislation. I want to use my degree in linguistics to cut through the pernicious political discourse that surrounds this topic.”

We wish you success in Connecticut and beyond, Sean. Remember, you are Nashville State strong. We are proud of you.

The English, Humanities, and Creative Technologies Division at Nashville State Community College has a new dean. Dr. Michael Sundblad, former dean of Liberal Arts, Business, and Information Technology at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois, was chosen after a nationwide search and started at NSCC on June 1, 2022.

As dean, Dr. Sundblad will be responsible for academic, programmatic, managerial, and fiscal oversight and leadership of the division that has English, Communications, Creative Technologies, Humanities and Arts, and English as a Second Language programs.

“Dr. Sundblad brings a deep desire to lead the division to new heights by building on its success, supporting his faculty, and helping to make Nashville State the national leader in achieving equitable outcomes for our diverse community of learners,” said Dr. Carol Rothstein, vice president of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development.       

Before joining Lewis and Clark Community College, Sundblad served as associate professor of Music and the chair of the Performing Arts Department at Thomas Nelson Community College in Virginia, a role he held for 14 years. While at TNCC, he founded and conducted musical theatre productions and the summer light opera series. Sundblad spearheaded a statewide initiative that led to the adoption of a degree structure completely new to Virginia, the Associate of Fine Arts (AFA). Dr. Sundblad currently co-teaches Quantitative Research Methods for doctoral music education students at Boston University each January.

He has worked as the music director for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra in Virginia, was the founding music director of the Joliet Symphony Orchestra at the University of St. Francis, and taught at Elgin Community College and North Central College, all three in Illinois.

“I am excited about the College’s vision, mission, and the core values and being a leader to engrain them in the internal culture and how we serve students and support each other,” said Sundblad. “It is an exciting time to be at Nashville State and I am ready to get ready to work.”

Sundblad holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from North Central College, a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Illinois State University, and a doctorate in Music Education from Boston University.

His dissertation research focused on student evaluations of marginalized community college instructors in the context of humanities courses. Dr. Sundblad is continuing his interest in research through the lens of equity in higher education: He has an article scheduled to run in Community College Review and is working on another research project examining barriers experienced by community college students who seek to enter the teaching profession.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) and Nashville State Community College (NSCC) have developed an innovative partnership to help attract and retain a specific student population that is decreasing nationwide – Black male college students. On May 18, APSU and NSCC officially endorsed the Black Male Bridge Program Memo of Understanding, making it easier than ever for these students to earn a college degree.

“This is an important and exciting partnership for both our schools and our community,” Mike Licari, APSU president, said. “Nashville State will welcome these students to campus, providing them with the services and support they need to succeed, and once they’ve earned an associate degree, the Bridge program members will be guaranteed admission into Austin Peay.”

“Nashville State is excited about expanding our partnering with APSU to meet community needs,” said Nashville State President Dr. Shanna L. Jackson. “Access to education is not enough. Our college has been working to identify and remove barriers to completion for all students. The opportunity to work with APSU to provide wrap-around support for black men is just one part of our bold strategy to increase post-completion success.”

In 2018, the Education Trust – a nationally renowned nonprofit – reported that only 26.5 percent of the country’s Black men had college degrees, compared to 44.3 percent of white men. Two years after that report, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, causing college enrollment among Black men to eventually fall by 14.3 percent – one of the largest demographic population drops in the country.

Earlier this spring, the PBS NewsHour reported how the pandemic caused these students to leave campuses “in droves,” leading university admission officers and policymakers to rethink how they should recruit these students.

“We spent the last several months looking at the hurdles these students face when enrolling in college,” Dannelle Whiteside, APSU vice president for legal affairs and organizational strategy, said. “It didn’t take long to see that, by partnering with Nashville State, we could help students through our collected resources, giving them access to specialized mentoring programs, housing, and other support services.”

“We began talking strategically about how we can create a system where students feel like they belong and succeed while in school and afterward,” Kathleen Akers, Nashville State’s Clarksville campus director said. “Nashville State is excited to launch this partnership with APSU and thank them for being great partners in this meaningful, impactful, and life-altering venture.”

The Black Male Bridge (BMB) program will begin this fall with eligible students first enrolling at Nashville State. While attending classes at the community college’s Clarksville campus, BMB students will be able to take advantage of APSU’s student services, including housing, dining, University recreation facilities, and student tickets to athletic events.

The BMB students who choose to live at Austin Peay will be part of the Black Male Bridge living and learning community, housed in one of APSU’s residence halls.

Each semester, BMB students will participate in targeted academic success programming, mentoring, professional development and coaching, and social programming at both schools. BMB advisers and other academic support staff also will work to ensure the program’s participants stay on track toward earning an associate degree at Nashville State and a bachelor’s degree at Austin Peay.

At Nashville State, BMB participants will have access to academic advising, free tutoring, support services, and academic success workshops. At Austin Peay, BMB participants will have a dedicated academic adviser, tutoring resources such as the Writing Center, and other student support services such as Career Services, Student Health Services, and the Counseling Center.

As Austin Peay students, BMB participants will also join the University’s Achievers and Scholars Initiative, housed within APSU’s Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center. That program also provides resources and incentives that encourage student success among Black male students.

For information on the BMB program, including scholarships, housing, financial aid, and other resources, visit https://www.apsu.edu/aacc/a-s/.