Governor Appoints First Local Board for Tennessee State University

NASHVILLE, TN — Gov. Bill Haslam continued naming his appointees to the first-ever local boards of six state universities spun out from control of the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Today, he named eight members to the board of Tennessee State University:

• Dr. Deborah Cole, president and CEO of Citizens Savings Bank & Trust Co.
• Stephen Corbeil, president of TriStar Division of Hospital Corporation of America
• Bill Freeman, chairman of real estate development firm Freeman Webb, Inc.
• Dr. Richard Allen Lewis, owner of Lewis & Wright Funeral Home
• Pam Martin, president of Cushion Employer Services and member of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission
• Obie McKenzie, managing director of BlackRock, Inc.
• Dr. Edith Peterson Mitchell, president of the National Medical Association and clinical professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology for the Kimmel Cancer Center
• Bishop Joseph Walker III, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Nashville and International Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship

Perhaps surprisingly for a Republican governor, Haslam appointed Freeman, who was unsuccessful in his bid to become Mayor of Nashville in 2015 and is a high-powered Democratic Party fundraiser.

Haslam also appoints members to local governing boards for Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Memphis.

Subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, the board appointments are effective January 16, 2017. If confirmed, board members will undergo orientation and professional development delivered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The TSU board will assume responsibility upon the first called meeting by Haslam.