At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast

At tnAchieves, we like to put a big tent around the word college. College is not just four-year universities. It also includes community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs). While many may think of TCATs as being separate, they DO belong under the college umbrella; the word college is right there in the name! Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce means we believe EVERYONE...

Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce isn’t something that tnAchieves does alone. It takes support and partnership from a variety of partners. That includes our state’s government. tnAchieves expanded to be a statewide organization during former Tennessee Governor (and current tnAchieves Board member) Bill Haslam’s time in office. His support and enthusiasm were crucial in the creation and impleme...

Ever wondered how tnAchieves began? We started in 2008 as knoxAchieves. It began as a conversation…and an idea on a whiteboard. That brainstorming idea grew into a workforce development initiative in Knox County. From there it continued to grow and scale (hence our podcast name) before becoming the statewide and nationally recognized organization it is today. tnAchieves would have never gotten off...

In 2008, tnAchieves was launched as knoxAchieves. It began as a workforce development initiative in Knox County. Since then, tnAchieves has grown to become a nationally recognized college access and success program. One of the main components we’re known for is the launch and partnership of the TN Promise scholarship statewide. Along the way, we’ve learned lots of lessons about what works and what...

If you’re talking about the higher education landscape in the state of Tennessee, you can’t do it without talking about THEC/TSAC. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (THEC/TSAC) is the layer between higher education and the state government that thinks through the needs of higher education and the policies needed to support it. THEC serves as that ce...

The Lumina Foundation is a private philanthropy foundation that is devoted to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to everyone. One of the things it’s best known for is setting a goal for the nation around post-secondary attainment. That includes Tennessee’s Drive to 55 goal which aims to increase the percentage of working age Tennesseans with a college degree or certific...

In May, SoFi and tnAchieves launched a partnership alongside Tennessee native Kelsea Ballerini called The Rising Stars Program. The goal is to equip the next generation of Tennessee students with the tools to achieve financial independence. As part of the partnership, SoFi is equipping all tnAchieves students with a financial planning curriculum to cover topics like budgeting, investing and saving...

Donna Linderman is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success for the State University of New York. In her current role and previous role at the City University of New York , Donna has been instrumental in revolutionizing student-focused support. As you listen, you may hear a few acronyms you'll want to be familiar with: • SUNY – State University of New York • CUNY – City University of New Yor...

Nathalie Gazzaneo serves as the Co-Director of The Project on Workforce at Harvard University. This innovative project is researching and providing guidance on closing the college to career gap and ensure future workforce needs are met. In this episode, we dig into the research The Project on Workforce is focused on like the Workforce Almanac. We also talk pragmatically about today’s workforce nee...

In this episode of At Scale, the tnAchieves Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Stephen Streiffer, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), one of the nation’s most advanced research institutions and a major economic engine for the Southeastern United States. As ORNL continues to lead groundbreaking work in fields like energy, national security, and especially artificial intelligence (AI), Dr. S...

In this episode of At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, hosts Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling sit down with Dr. Martha Kanter, CEO Emerita of College Promise and former U.S. Under Secretary of Education, along with Rosye Cloud, Interim CEO of College Promise. Together, they explore the mission and nationwide impact of the College Promise movement—expanding access to high-quality post-secondary op...

In the second episode of At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, SCORE President & CEO David Mansouri joins the conversation to discuss the evolving landscape of education and workforce development in Tennessee. The episode centers around SCORE’s strategic priorities, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration and the role of meaningful data analysis in driving outcomes. Mansouri highl...

In the first episode of At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, hosts Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling welcome two visionary leaders in education: Dr. Jon Rysewyk, Superintendent of Knox County Schools, and Dr. Anthony Wise, President of Pellissippi State Community College. The discussion ranges from Knox County Schools' new 865 Academies to how Pellissippi State Community College has innovated to me...

**Welcome to At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, where we explore the bold, complex, and transformative work of tnAchieves—a Tennessee-based organization dedicated to breaking barriers and building opportunities for students pursuing college credentials. **Hosted by Krissy DeAlejandro, President & CEO of tnAchieves, this podcast dives into the challenges, solutions, and innovations driving stude...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the tnAchieves podcast! Join our hosts, Senior Director of Mentors Tyler Ford and Outreach Manager Baylor Williamson, as they delve into the critical role volunteer mentors play during the summer months in preparing students for their upcoming college journey in the fall. In this episode, Tyler and Baylor share practical tips, effective strategies, and real-...

tnAchieves Sr. Director of Mentors Tyler Ford is joined by tnAchieves Director of COMPLETE Emily Jones to discuss the upcoming July 1 community service deadline. Learn how you can support your students as they complete this important TN Promise requirement!

In this episode, Tyler Ford sits down with Ben Sterling to discuss how mentors should be preparing to work with students this summer! Summer is a critical time for students as they graduate from high school, register for classes and make final preparations to begin in the fall. Remaining connected with your students and celebrating victories can lead to enhanced mentoring relationships! Please con...

The tnAchieves Summer Bridge Program is a FREE, 14-day program designed to help students who have not tested into college-level courses enter college more confident, both socially and academically! Held at community colleges across the state, the tnAchieves Summer Bridge Program gives you the opportunity to gain college experience, meet professors and make new friends! Specifically, if students ha...

Check out the audio from the February 2024 tnAchieves Mentor Webinar focused on kicking off the 2024 mentor program. This episode provides insight into beginning your mentoring experience and establishing connections with students. Connect with our team anytime you have questions by emailing mentors@tnAchieves.org and following us on social media at @tnAchieves!

In this episode of the Mentor Moment, we dig into how mentors can help their students complete the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and highlight how tnAchieves is helping students navigate the financial aid landscape. Host Tyler Ford is joined by Allison Johnson, Director of Knox Access, a transformative pilot program in Knox County designed to increase Knox County's col...

* tnAchieves is excited to announce The Mentor Moment podcast! * The Mentor Moment is a podcast influenced by and designed for tnAchieves mentors! Join Tyler Ford from tnAchieves every other week for an episode highlighting tips and best practices to enhance your mentoring experience. Subscribe to tnAchieves in your favorite podcast feed to always stay up to date with episodes. Thank you for volun...

Hear from three individuals that represent the first person in their family to attend college. We hope this discussion inspires you to Find Your Why! Learn more about #FindYourWhyTN​ at tnAchieves.org/findyourwhy. Get to know each panelist: Krissy DeAlejandro: https://youtu.be/i1kqxAIROnU​ Sumner Deason: https://youtu.be/DdRWFuloxzc​ Mike Ragsdale: https://youtu.be/QxcG8ELuep8

More than a decade has passed since knoxAchieves was launched from a whiteboard in the Knox County Mayor's office, but Executive Director Krissy DeAlejandro's commitment to student success has not wavered. Since 2008, tnAchieves has grown, innovated and paved pathways for all students, including those that are the first in their families to pursue college. The seventh installment of our podcast di...

Tennessee provides each high school senior the opportunity to earn a post-secondary credential tuition and mandatory-fee free through a first-of-its-kind Promise scholarship. Communities, cities, colleges and even other states have looked to Tennessee for guidance in launching their own Promise programs. Hear from Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams from the Upjohn Institute and Dr. Celeste Carruthers from...

The fifth episode of the tnAchieves podcast features two longtime mentors, Janice Bettis and John Cagle. Joining us in 2011, Janice and John share what brought them to tnAchieves, what keeps them engaged and how tnAchieves has impacted their communities.