Chattanooga State Community College faculty and staff are earning recognition across Tennessee’s higher education system, highlighted by the appointment of Clomeisha Tumlin as Faculty Regent for the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR).
Tumlin, department head and associate professor in Chattanooga State Community College’s Business and Industry Division, has been appointed by Governor Bill Lee to serve a two-year term through June 30, 2027.
In the role, she will represent faculty perspectives from community colleges across the state and contribute to system-wide decision-making affecting higher education institutions in Tennessee.
A Faculty Regent serves as a formal member of the Tennessee Board of Regents and helps shape policies governing the state’s community colleges and Colleges of Applied Technology. Responsibilities include participating in board meetings, reviewing and approving budgets, advocating for faculty concerns, helping guide institutional leadership decisions, and contributing to academic policy discussions.
Tumlin, who has served at Chattanooga State since 2015, said her work has focused on advancing student success, career readiness, and high-impact educational practices designed to prepare students for employment and long-term professional growth.
Prior to entering higher education, she spent more than a decade in human resources within the healthcare industry, gaining experience in workforce development, employee relations, and organizational leadership.
Currently serving as department head and associate professor in Chattanooga State’s Business and Industry Division, Tumlin previously served as president of the Faculty Senate during the 2024–2025 academic year and held the position of president-elect from 2022 to 2024.
Her professional leadership extends beyond campus. Tumlin serves as treasurer for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce East Brainerd Council and Community Haven boards and participates on the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga’s Together We Can Scholarship Board and Chattanooga State Community College’s Business Advisory Board.
Tumlin earned bachelor’s degrees in human resources and general management, along with a master’s degree in business, from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
According to Tennessee law, the Tennessee Board of Regents oversees the governance and management of the state’s community college and technical college system. When legislation approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2025 is fully implemented, the board will consist of 21 members, including public representatives, faculty, students, and ex-officio state officials.
The board’s mission includes governing Tennessee’s community colleges and Colleges of Applied Technology, coordinating educational systems while preserving institutional independence, improving operational effectiveness through centralized services, strengthening accountability for state funding, and ensuring public oversight of postsecondary education.
“These recognitions reflect the skills and leadership we see every day at Chattanooga State,” said Dr. Rebecca Ashford, president of Chattanooga State. “Our faculty and staff are making meaningful contributions not only on our campus, but to the future of higher education across Tennessee.”