After Oregon’s win over USC, Head Coach Dan Lanning said, “We didn’t play Chattanooga State today, like some other places.” Chattanooga State may not have a football team with a national spotlight, but we know how to win for our community. For 60 years, our victories have been measured in opportunity and achievements, not touchdowns. We improve lives through access, affordability, quality education, and workforce readiness, and we continue to deliver results that matter. 

The quote that sparked headlines was meant to highlight a debate in college football about strength of schedule. That conversation about strength matters in sports, and it matters in education. 

The real strength of Chattanooga State is its impact on people and the local economy. Since 1965, more than 50,000 graduates have earned nearly 60,000 credentials through programs that lead to careers in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, technology, business, arts, and beyond. These graduates are the nurses caring for our families, the technicians keeping our industries running, the innovators shaping our future, and the creatives enriching our lives and solving problems. 

Our dedicated faculty, staff, and partners work every day to remove barriers and open doors of opportunity so students can thrive on campus and in their careers. We believe a quality education should be accessible and affordable to everyone, and Tennessee leads the way in making that possible. At Chattanooga State, we collaborate with our community to build a better future through short-term credentials, earn-and-learn programs, skilled trades, and associate or transfer degrees. 

That is why we work with local employers, university transfer partners, and high schools to offer flexible learning options and create pathways that allow students to thrive and learn without limits. Every credential earned represents a life changed and a community strengthened.  

Our work is not a game. It is a mission defined by opportunity, driven by achievement, and measured by lives improved. Sixty years and counting. 

Dr. Rebecca Ashford is the President of Chattanooga State Community College.