{"id":1051,"date":"2021-11-23T16:10:35","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T16:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ww2.nscc.edu\/thensccvoice\/?page_id=1051"},"modified":"2021-11-23T17:59:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T17:59:29","slug":"november-2021-volume-5-issue-4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ww2.nscc.edu\/thensccvoice\/november-2021-volume-5-issue-4\/","title":{"rendered":"November 2021 Volume 5 Issue 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Update from the President<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Dr. Shanna L. Jackson<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Greetings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each day I give thanks for the opportunity to serve this college and our community as the President of Nashville State.  Other than being a mother, it has been the most challenging yet rewarding position I have ever held.  Nashville State, we have the amazing opportunity to make a difference in not just our individual students but their families and our communities. That is why we must rise to the challenge to become a Student Ready College <\/strong>and elevate our focus on post-completion success. Always remember your \u201cwhy,\u201d because the work you do matters.  I am thankful for each of you.  Below are updates from the Office of the President:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support \u2013 <\/strong>As I mentioned before, it is ok \u201cnot\u201d to be ok.  I recognize that just as our students face barriers and challenges, so do individual employees.  I hope that you appreciate and take advantage of the creative weekly activities addressing mental health and wellness that our constituency leaders Jessica Rabb, Katrina Dubree, and Rene Johnston and others are providing. Please remember EAP services are also offered at no cost to all benefit-eligible employees and eligible family members. Visit Here4tn.com<\/a> <\/em>for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOAR Award update<\/strong> \u2013 Please join me in congratulating our amazing student Kerra Weiting <\/strong>who spoke during fall Convocation.  Kerra represented Nashville State in the regional SOAR Award competition and is advancing as a finalist in the State Competition that will take place in March.  This is the third consecutive year that a Nashville State student has won the regional competition!  Best wishes to Neely Ann Sheucraft and Carol Gentry who will also compete in the regional competition for faculty and staff.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Enrollment<\/strong> \u2013 Early Registration for Spring started this month.  Special thanks to our Institutional Research team for expanding the enrollment dashboard.  We can now sort enrollment data for several key factors.  As of November 16th<\/sup>, we are up 3.2% in headcount but down 4.5% in FTE. Current enrollment information can be found at Enrollment Tracking Report: Spring 2022.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humphreys County Campus <\/strong>\u2013 We are continuing to work with the county to fully re-open the campus. I want to thank all who participated in the Waverly clean-up efforts last month.  There is still much to be done to restore our community in Waverly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing the Good<\/strong> \u2013 There are many wonderful things happening at Nashville State! Please use this Good News Submission Form<\/a> to recognize an individual (faculty, staff, or student), department, program, or group that has had a significant accomplishment or made a difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never doubt that you are important not just to this college but also to me. It is because of the collective efforts of our college community that we remain Nashville State Strong<\/strong>!  Moving Forward,<\/em> we will begin to fully integrate our Core Values LEADS<\/strong> into the fabric of our work as we forge ahead in our Vision 2030<\/strong> efforts.  I am excited about our future and what we will accomplish together! When Nashville State LEADS, Students SUCCEED!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Johannah Williams Named Dean of STEM Division<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Tom Hayden, Associate Vice President, Office of Communications and Marketing<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Johannah Williams has been hired as the dean of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) division. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Johannah B. Williams<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor years, Nashville State Community College has produced well-educated, career-ready professionals in all program areas of the STEM division,\u201d said Dr. Carol Rothstein, vice president of Academic Affairs at Nashville State. \u201cWith Dr. Williams\u2019 leadership, we will be taking our STEM programs to another level through continued investment in faculty and by building new and strengthening existing local partnerships to create pathways for graduates and employers.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Williams plans on boosting underrepresented minority participation in STEM. Nashville State is part of the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) program that seeks to increase the number of students of color in STEM fields. She was a student participant in LSAMP while at the University of Mississippi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nashville State\u2019s STEM division offers associate degrees and technical certificates in several high-demand, growth, and paying career program areas including architecture and construction, computer technology, electrical and mechanical, health sciences, and math and natural sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2021 Architectural Design Technology A.A.S. graduate William Rucker said, \u201cThe programs I used while I was at Nashville State are the same that I use in my career.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Rucker, who went to Nashville State tuition-free using the Tennessee Reconnect grant, is working at Enfinity Engineering in Brentwood, where he designs plumbing systems for hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNashville State Community College has been a critical local workforce solution partner, graduating thousands of Tennesseans that have gone onto exciting and fruitful careers,\u201d said Dr. Williams. \u201cWith Nashville\u2019s rapid economic development rise, growing local talent has become even more important. Nashville State is going to continue connecting to respective industries while innovating and expanding programs.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding local tech talent has become more important in recent years with existing companies and new ones flocking to the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston Douglas, a field service specialist with Affinity Technology Partners in Brentwood said, \u201cNashville State prepared me with ample hands-on training with equipment in the classroom that included server and networking racks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2020 graduate who earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Information Technology, went on to say, \u201cThe amount of hands-on training helped elevate my confidence and prowess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams brings a drive to innovate and a wealth of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most recently, Williams held the position of associate vice president of STEM and Workforce Programs for Phi Theta Kappa, the nation\u2019s largest honor society for community college students. She primarily focused on research, development, and coordination of the society\u2019s STEM and workforce curriculum and instruction services, with a focus on promoting student engagement and success, and workforce readiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over a 15-year period, Williams held a few different positions at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, serving as an adjunct instructor, instructor, and mentor in Computer Science and STEM. For several years, Williams was chair of the chemistry, physics, and computer science department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Williams was engaged with community and professional activities in Jackson, Mississippi, and Atlanta, Georgia. She looks forward to getting involved in the Nashville area.  She holds numerous professional licensures and certifications and is the recipient of several honors and awards. Williams earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from The University of Southern Mississippi. She also holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University and a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science from Alcorn State University. Dr. Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science with a minor in Spanish from the University of Mississippi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Advising Chat Connections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Jessica Rabb, Ph.D., Professor of Biology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Advising Chat is a chance for students to ask quick questions of faculty and staff while logged into D2L. Here is what the Advising Chat widget looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Advising Chat widget<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Advising Chat is staffed by real people: faculty and staff volunteers. This fall we had 19 volunteers. Thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n