Board of Regents to meet Oct. 23 to consider appointment of president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Shelbyville

The Tennessee Board of Regents will hold a special called meeting Oct. 23 to consider the appointment of a new president at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Shelbyville. The new president will succeed former president Ivan Jones, who retired Sept. 1.

Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings will recommend Laura Monks of Fayetteville for the position. Ms. Monks has served as assistant director of the technical college since March 2016 and interim president since Sept. 1. She previously worked at Motlow State Community College from 1994 to 2016 -- her last 11 years there in the college’s administration, including service as dean of students and athletic director and director of Motlow’s Fayetteville Center.

She earned her Master of Education degree, with a concentration in administration and supervision in higher education, and her Bachelor of Business Administration, with a concentration in computer information systems and a minor in business administration, from Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her Associate of Science degree, with an emphasis in business administration, from Motlow State Community College.

The chancellor’s recommendation follows a three-month search that included review of 38 candidates by a search committee led by Board of Regents Member MaryLou Apple and which included faculty, staff and students of the college, community and industry leaders. The Board of Regents appoints presidents of all the community and technical colleges under its governance.

The board will hear Dr. Tydings’ recommendation in a special telephone conference meeting called by Gov. Bill Haslam, the chairman of the Board of Regents, set for 4 p.m. CT Oct. 23. The meeting is open to the public and media to listen in. For dial-in information, contact TBR communications director Rick Locker at 615-366-4417 orrick.locker@tbr.edu.