Roane State One Stop director chosen for Maxine Smith Fellows Program.

Bob Fowler
| Special on The Oak Ridger

Tanya Shephard, Director of the Roane State Community College One Stop Program, is among 13 faculty and staff from the Tennessee College System enrolling in the 2021-22 class of the Maxine Smith Fellows program.

This is the program’s 15th cohort and is named after the late Maxine Smith, who was instrumental in the desegregation of Memphis public schools.

Shephard has been with Roane State since April 2020, overseeing the one-stop offices on the Community College campuses in Roane County and Oak Ridge.

The One Stop strives to provide timely, trustworthy and knowledgeable answers and solutions to each student’s unique situation. The office assists students with a variety of questions ranging from questions about financial assistance to applications for certificates.

Shephard holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida and worked for five years in a variety of roles at Valencia College in the Orlando area. She also participated in internal leadership programs in Valencia.

“I am absolutely honored to be part of this year’s cohort,” said Shephard. “I look forward to working with other university professors in our region.

“Participating in the Maxine Smith Scholarship Program gives me an opportunity to learn ways to better serve our students and communities in Roane State. It’s an opportunity I’m grateful and excited for. “

“Tanya is one of the smartest, hardest working people I know,” said Jamie Stringer, vice president, student services and innovation. “She’s a great leader who takes care of her team while keeping it to the highest standards. She has made it her business to support our students and make One Stop as good as possible. “

“More than that, she’s unwavering,” added Stinger. “She was hired during the pandemic, was off campus for months, and still managed to reorganize staff, retrain and turn the one stop into a virtual experience for students who cannot come on campus. It has a positive influence on our area and the university as a whole. “

The Maxine Smith Fellows Program provides professional development, education, and promotion opportunities to participants from traditionally underrepresented groups in the Tennessee college system, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), and the state’s locally administered public universities. The members meet monthly for one year.

In addition to the professional development of class members, the program stimulates increased collaboration between institutions, the development of a nationwide network for program participants and a general increase in the diversity of ideas, thoughts and experiences within the higher management positions in Tennessee educational institutions.

“Maxine Smith Fellows alumni have advanced to leadership positions, including seven fellows who later served as presidents of colleges and universities in Tennessee and other states. Many of them have said that the experience of the Maxine Smith Fellows contributed to their success. “said Wendy J. Thompson, TBR Vice Chancellor for Organizational Effectiveness and Program Administrator for the Maxine Smith Fellows.

The Tennessee college system is the largest higher education system in the state, managing 40 post-secondary education institutions with over 200 teaching locations. The TBR system includes 13 community colleges and 27 applied technology colleges.

Bob Fowler is a writer from Roane State.

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/roane-state-one-stop-director-chosen-for-maxine-smith-fellows-program/