TBR staffers honored by Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education

Two Tennessee Board of Regents staff members were honored by the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) during its 2025 annual conference.

• Dr. Heidi Leming, vice chancellor for student success and strategic partnerships, won the inaugural NASPA Public Policy Division Professional Award for her excellence in contributions to higher education and supporting NASPA’s mission of leadership through policy development and advocacy for students. The award also specifically highlights positive higher education activism and innovative programs.
  
• Dr. Leming and Dr. Regina Watkins, director of veteran enrollment and benefits, were presented the Silver Award for Excellence in Commuter, Off-Campus, Military-Connected, Non-Traditional and Related Programs, for their Researching Student Veteran Academic Success work. The award highlights innovative initiatives relating to programs, policies, procedures, best practices, or services provided for students at off-campus locations or in the community, students who do not live on campus, non-traditional aged students, non-traditional format for studies, and military-connected students. Timea Taylor, a graduate assistant at the time, also worked on the project and has since joined the TBR Office of Student Success team.

Each year at its annual conference, NASPA recognizes the outstanding contributions of members who are transforming higher education through exceptional programs, innovative services, and effective administration. NASPA's Excellence Awards cover twelve categories crucial to the success of students and the continued growth of the student affairs profession. Its 2025 annual conference included more than 6,000 registered participants from across the U.S.

As vice chancellor since 2017 and a TBR senior staff member since 2014, Leming works closely with student affairs officers at TBR’s community and technical colleges. She has helped lead such student success programs and initiatives as high impact practices, academic mindset, accessibility initiatives, international education, support for low-income and first-generation students, and others.

Watkins was appointed TBR director of veteran enrollment and benefits in 2022 and works directly with the system’s colleges in support of their work administering veteran education benefits. She previously served more than 20 years providing operational leadership as Campus Director of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Ft. Campbell Campus. She has experience working at both community and technical colleges. She is an adjunct professor instructing in an online Doctor of Business Administration program, an advisory board member of a national nursing college, and current communications director of the TN Educational Association of Veterans Program Administrators (TEAVPA).