Former Regent Judy Gooch Elected to SACSCOC Board of Trustees

The regional accrediting body for colleges and universities in the southeastern states has elected Judy Gooch, a former member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, to serve on its Board of Trustees.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which accredits degree-granting higher education institutions in 11 states and Latin America, focuses on educational quality as it strives to improve the effectiveness of institutions by ensuring they meet standards that address the needs of society and students. Gooch’s term as a trustee will run from January 2013 through the end of 2015.

“I am honored to serve as the Tennessee public representative Trustee for the SACS Commission on Colleges Board. My service on the Tennessee Board of Regents was so rewarding, and I look forward to applying the experience I gained as a Regent to this new position.”

Gooch will represent more than 800 institutions and be responsible for determining Commission policy, reviewing and making decisions about the accreditation of institutions, and conducting the initial review for proposed standards changes.

As a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents from 2005 through 2011, Regent Gooch represented the 3rd congressional district in East Tennessee. During her term, Gooch chaired the Tennessee Technology Centers committee. The TBR is among the nation’s largest higher education systems, governing 46 post-secondary educational institutions. The TBR system includes six universities: Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, and the University of Memphis; all 13 of Tennessee’s Community Colleges; and all of the 27 technology centers across the state.

Gooch is owner of Judy Gooch Interiors, a freelance business. She is a professional member of the Interior Design Society and a registered interior designer with the state Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.

Gooch received her Master’s degree from the University of Georgia (’76). From 1981-1993 Gooch returned to her undergraduate alma mater, Carson-Newman College (’74) as an adjunct faculty member, where she developed the interior design curriculum and participated in the accreditation process by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She received Carson-Newman’s Distinguished Alumni award for 2008-2009, and the college’s Lane Bryant Award for Community in service in1993. Gooch has served for many years on the college’s Family and Consumer Sciences Advisory Board, serving as board chair 2005-2006. She lives in Oak Ridge with her husband, Warren. They have two married sons, and one grandson.