Chattanooga State Community College faculty and staff are earning recognition across Tennessee’s higher education system, with new appointments to both the Tennessee Board of Regents and a statewide leadership development program.  

Clomeisha Tumlin, Department Head and Associate Professor in Chattanooga State’s Business and Industry Division, has been appointed Faculty Regent for the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), representing community colleges across the state. Appointed by Governor Bill Lee, Tumlin will serve a two-year term through June 30, 2027.  

Tumlin has been with ChattState since 2015. In her new role, she will help represent faculty perspectives and contribute to system-level decision-making. 

Chattanooga State is also represented in the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Chancellor’s Fellowship Class of 2026–27, a nine-month leadership development program designed to cultivate emerging leaders across the state’s public higher education system. 

Chris Lykins, marketing director, and Jessica Green, dean of TCAT at ChattState, are among 12 participants selected for the cohort, which includes faculty and staff from community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology statewide. 

The program begins with orientation in June, held in conjunction with a Tennessee Board of Regents meeting, and continues with monthly sessions throughout the academic year. 

The Chancellor’s Fellowship is part of the Maxine Smith Leadership Series, which supports leadership development and innovation across Tennessee’s higher education institutions.  

Together, these recognitions highlight Chattanooga State’s role in developing leaders who contribute not only to the college, but to the future of higher education across Tennessee. 

“These recognitions reflect the skills and leadership we see every day at Chattanooga State,” said Dr. Rebecca Ashford, president of Chattanooga State. “Our faculty and staff are making meaningful contributions not only on our campus, but to the future of higher education across Tennessee.”