TCAT Jackson narrows down presidential search to two candidates

Two finalists have been selected for the next president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Jackson. Both will participate in public interviews on the main campus in Jackson on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, the next step in the selection process.

The finalists are: 

John Hodgson - currently TCAT Jackson’s vice president of workforce development and a staff member there since 2000. He earned a master of science degree in rehabilitation counseling and a bachelor of science in education, both from the University of Memphis, and is enrolled in the doctor of education in educational leadership and policy analysis program at East Tennessee State University.

JacQuene Rainey - currently vice president of academic affairs at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest and a staff member in the TCAT system since 2009. She earned a doctorate of education leadership and policy analysis at East Tennessee State University, a master of business administration and a bachelor of science in organizational leadership, both at Union University.

The finalists’ resumés and other information about the search are posted on the Tennessee Board of Regents website at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-tcat-jackson.

The Sept. 4 campus interviews with the finalists are open to the public and scheduled to start at 9 a.m. with John Hodgson, followed by JacQuene Rainey at 10 a.m. The interviews are scheduled for the conference room at the TCAT Jackson campus at 2468 Technology Center Drive, Jackson, TN 38301. The public and campus community may also participate virtually via Microsoft Teams through the join meeting link provided on the search webpage above.

The next president will succeed Heath McMillian, who returned to East Tennessee in June when the Tennessee Board of Regents appointed him president of TCAT Elizabethton. Jeff Sisk, executive director of TBR’s Center for Workforce Development and a former president of TCAT Jackson, is serving as interim president of the college.

The Board approved the search criteria for the TCAT Jackson presidency at its June meeting.  The search committee was chaired by Regent Kyle Spurgeon and included Regents Mark George, Nisha Powers and Ross Roberts, and representatives of the TCAT faculty, staff, students, and community members. The committee reviewed 46 applicants and selected seven for interviews on Aug. 12 before recommending the two finalists.

After the campus interviews, TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings will review input from the campus community and public, conduct final interviews and recommend a single candidate to the Board of Regents. 

An online-survey form for public and campus community input will be posted on the webpage linked above on the day of the campus interviews Sept. 4, through Sept. 9. The board is expected to consider the appointment of the next president at its next regular quarterly meeting Sept. 20.

TCAT Jackson is one of 24 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and 13 Community Colleges comprising the College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The president is the chief executive officer of the college and reports to the Board of Regents through the Chancellor.

TCAT Jackson served over 3000 students in the 2022-23 academic year. TCAT Jackson has 27 distinct career and technical education program offerings across seven campuses and teaching locations, including its new branch campus at Stanton.