懂色帝鈥檚 Alma Rutledge Selected for TBR Chancellor鈥檚 Fellowship
For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, 懂色帝 Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.
(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) - 懂色帝 has announced the selection of Alma Rutledge to the Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor鈥檚 Fellowship Class of 2026鈥�27.
Rutledge is one of 12 faculty and staff members chosen from across the College System of Tennessee, representing community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology statewide. She serves as interim associate vice president for student success and experience at 懂色帝.
鈥淚 am honored to be selected for the TBR Chancellor鈥檚 Fellowship and grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside colleagues from across the state who are deeply committed to student success,鈥� Rutledge said. "This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly and look forward to bringing back insights that will help 懂色帝 strengthen support for students and expand pathways to their success.鈥�
The nine-month Chancellor鈥檚 Fellowship is designed to develop leadership talent across the system. The program strengthens participants鈥� understanding of education and workforce policy at the institutional, system and state levels while preparing them for executive leadership roles in higher education.
The fellowship program launched in 2025, with its inaugural class concluding work in March. Members of the second class represent eight community colleges and four TCATs and serve in academic, student services and administrative roles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to announce and congratulate the members of this second Chancellor鈥檚 Fellowship class,鈥� TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings said. 鈥淟eadership development is one of our major responsibilities to ensure student success, and I鈥檓 confident this class will advance the high standards set by the inaugural group.鈥�
Rutledge was nominated for her work in student engagement, data-driven decision-making and equity initiatives. Her leadership has focused on building collaborative teams and prioritizing holistic student support while fostering academic excellence. A first-generation college graduate and daughter of immigrants, Rutledge has mentored students through the tnAchieves program and helped develop emerging leaders through 懂色帝 Tennessee鈥檚 annual Student Leadership Institute.
She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree and a Master of Business Administration from Union University and is pursuing a doctorate in higher and adult education at the University of Memphis.
Other members of the Chancellor鈥檚 Fellowship Class of 2026鈥�27 include:
- Dr. Ryan Badeau, Columbia State Community College
- Shasta Carroll, TCAT Hohenwald
- Kim Christmon, Volunteer State Community College
- Jessica Green, TCAT Chattanooga
- Kandra Hire, TCAT Hartsville
- Dr. Angela Hughes, Pellissippi State Community College
- Chris Lykins, Chattanooga State Community College
- Dr. Levi Mayer, TCAT Dickson
- Julie Mula, Jackson State Community College
- Dr. Willie Thomas, Cleveland State Community College
- Dr. Nathan Weber, Northeast State Community College
The class will launch in June with an orientation held in conjunction with the quarterly meeting of the Tennessee Board of Regents. Monthly sessions will continue throughout the academic year.
The Chancellor鈥檚 Fellowship is one of three programs within the Maxine Smith Leadership Series, which honors the late Maxine Smith, a former TBR board member and champion of educational opportunity. The series supports leadership development and innovation in Tennessee鈥檚 public higher education system and also includes the Emerging Leaders Fellowship and the Faculty Innovation Fellowship.