TSU Alumnus and Trustee Dwayne Tucker named Interim President

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University is pleased to announce that alumnus Dwayne Tucker is the institutions new interim president. The TSU Board of Trustees made the appointment on Friday, December 13, during a special called meeting. Tucker, who was a member of the Board of Trustees, relinquished his seat to assume the position until a permanent president is named. He takes over the role without accepting a salary.

“I am both honored and humbled by this appointment,” Tucker said. “As a proud TSU alum, I care deeply about securing the strongest possible future for my alma mater and for the students who entrust us with their education. This is why I have served all along. We have serious and important work to do, and I look forward to joining the board in doing that work transparently and with integrity. It’s the TSU way.”

The appointment comes while TSU students and faculty are on winter break for the holidays. However, Student Government Association President Chrishonda O’Quinn was quick to respond and shared that she is eager to work with the new interim president.

“I am confident that Interim President Tucker’s deep understanding of the university’s culture and history will enable him to make a meaningful impact during his six-month tenure,” O’Quinn stated.

“The leadership and administrative transitions that our students have navigated this semester alone have been incredibly challenging for them. With Interim President Tucker officially being seated in the role, I am hopeful that we can strengthen student morale and overall experience, advocate more effectively for state support and accountability, and enhance the university’s reputation and brand.”

“As faculty we are glad to see a proud TSU alum take over the role as interim president,” added Dr. Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi, chair of the TSU faculty senate. “Mr. Tucker has a distinguished career in academia and the corporate sector. He is a man of honor and accepted this role gratis. I am sure with his outstanding experience and leadership TSU can overcome the current challenges.”

Prior to Tucker’s selection as interim president, he served as the CEO of LEAD Public Schools, a network of six public charter schools in the Metro Nashville area.

Tucker’s diverse business background and turnaround work with underperforming business units has resulted in a broad understanding of core corporate functions, including sales, operations, marketing, public relations, information technology, legal, human resources, and finance/accounting.

Serving as both a leader of human capital and an operations executive in the financial services and transportation industries, he has held the titles of CEO, chief human resource officer, chief administrative officer and president with companies including First Data, Northwest Airlines and Alliance Data.

The Board will continue its search for a permanent president during Tucker’s interim tenure. This leadership transition is part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the university and address its financial issues, which have been a significant concern for state lawmakers and the TSU community.