The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) appointed Dr. Jothany Reed as its Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective August 30, 2021. She is the chief academic officer of the College System of Tennessee – the state’s 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, and the online TN eCampus.
With over 26 years of experience, Dr. Reed demonstrates a passion for teaching, learning, and developing innovative system models to support academic and workforce programs, partnerships, and policies. She has served in progressive academic leadership roles in system offices, community colleges, and universities in Tennessee, Texas, and California.
As Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Reed established the Industry-Driven Education Aligned Learning (IDEAL) Workforce Model, TBR’s collaborative framework for Academic Affairs and the Center for Workforce Development’s scaling of workforce training regionally and statewide through a multimodal approach. This model is being highlighted as a Best Practice in the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s 2024 Supply and Demand Report. She also led the design of the inaugural, multi-agency charrette for the 2024 Tennessee Workforce Convening hosted by the TN Board of Regents, the TN Department of Economic & Community Development, and the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development that engaged over 250 business and industry leaders.
Dr. Reed has also bolstered new workforce partnerships with Amazon; Google; Apple; Metro Nashville Police Department; TennCare; TN Forestry Association; Floor Covering Education Foundation; The Ingram Group; TN Center for Health Workforce Development; and the National Tile Contractors Association. Her office also expanded educational partnerships with UT Knoxville, Tennessee State University, UT Martin, and the University of Memphis.
Dr. Reed established the TBR Center for Apprenticeship to expand registered apprenticeships across TBR colleges, which supported a 26% increase in apprenticeships; expanded TCAT to Community College articulation agreements from 7 to 33 articulation pathways where students receive up to 45 college credits; created the Academic Affairs Leadership Academy; implemented Competency-Based General Education courses; and expanded the Correctional Education Initiative (CEI) in TN Department of Correction facilities, with 616 graduates to date.
An advocate of student success, Dr. Reed received special congressional recognition from the United States House of Representatives during her tenure in California, as well as certificates of recognition from the California State Senate and the California State Assembly. She received the Heritage Award from California State Assemblyman Henry T. Perea and was inducted into the State Center Community College District Wall of Honor in California.
She was the recipient of a Proclamation for Women's Month from San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor,presented to her by the Wounded Warriors Battalion at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. She also received the Trusted Leaders Award, the Corazon Leadership Award, and the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Alamo Colleges District in Texas. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Reed earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at California State University, Fresno; her Master of Arts in English, and her Bachelor of Arts in English at Tennessee State University. She resides in Nashville with her husband, Dr. Norman Reed, Sr., and her daughter Ajani. Her son Rudo lives in Texas. Her family also includes two pugs and a tortoise.
