TN Board of Regents appoints Dr. Allana Hamilton vice chancellor for academic affairs

The Tennessee Board of Regents today approved the appointment of Dr. Allana R. Hamilton as the board’s new vice chancellor for academic affairs. She has been president of Jackson State Community College for nearly three years and has a total of 28 years of experience as a faculty member and academic officer.

The vice chancellor leads the Office of Academic Affairs at the TBR system office and is the chief academic officer for the College System of Tennessee, working with the presidents, faculty and academic officers of the 13 community colleges and 27 colleges of applied technology governed by the board.

Hamilton began her career as an adjunct professor of biology in 1991 at Northeast State Community College, where she became a full-time faculty member the following year and rose through the ranks to become the college’s vice president of academic affairs in 2008. She served in that role to January  2017 when the Board of Regents appointed her president of Jackson State.

She will assume her new role as vice chancellor Oct. 16, succeeding Dr. Randy Schulte who retired in August.

TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings appointed Dr. Jeff Sisk to serve as interim president of Jackson State until a search for the next president is concluded and the new president takes office. Sisk is president of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology at Jackson and Whiteville.

The Board of Regents will appoint a search committee soon, to be chaired by Regent Barbara Prescott. The committee will include some members of the board and representatives of the Jackson State faculty, students, staff, alumni and the broader community served by the college.

Hamilton was recommended for the vice chancellorship by a search committee that included college presidents and system staff.

Tydings cited Hamilton’s depth of experience in delivering the recommendation to the board. “Her experience is quite extensive and she is very qualified for this position. We’re excited that Dr. Hamilton will continue our efforts to ensure that our programs are high quality and working with our student success staff to help our students achieve their goals,” the chancellor said.

“I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity,” Hamilton said. “In 1991, I began my career as an adjunct faculty member teaching biology at Northeast State Community College. Student success has been my passion for 28 years. I am looking forward to working with the board, the presidents, faculty and system staff to help our students succeed, which paves the way for better lives for themselves and their families.

“I also want to thank the Jackson State faculty, staff, administration and students. They have made the Jackson community my home for almost three years.”

Hamilton earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Tusculum University, her Master of Science in biological sciences at East Tennessee State University and her Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy analysis at ETSU.

During her time as a faculty member at Northeast State from 1991 to 2008, she served as Biology Department curriculum coordinator from 1997 to 2001 and academic division chair and dean from 2001 to 2008 when she was appointed the college’s vice president for academic affairs.