NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – If you attended the 2026 National Urban League Conference in Nashville, chances are you crossed paths with a Tennessee State University graduate.
Whether welcoming students to campus, leading conversations, receiving national recognition, or building connections with future leaders, TSU’s presence was felt throughout the six-day conference. Hosted at the Music City Center, the national event focused on economic opportunity, education, and community empowerment, bringing together thousands of business executives, elected officials, educators, entrepreneurs, and advocates from across the country. As Nashville’s only public HBCU, Tennessee State University played a significant role throughout the week, highlighting its commitment to preparing leaders who continue making an impact in their communities and professions.
That commitment was on full display as TSU welcomed more than 300 middle and high school students to campus for the National Urban League Youth Leadership Summit. The students explored academic programs, experienced campus life, and participated in leadership development activities designed to prepare them for future success.
“Opening our campus to the National Urban League Youth Leadership Summit reflects who we are as an institution,” said TSU President Dwayne Tucker. “We want every student who visits TSU to see that higher education is within reach and that this University is a place where leadership is cultivated and futures are transformed.”
While TSU welcomed future leaders to campus through the Youth Leadership Summit, the conference also celebrated members of the University’s own community whose leadership continues to make an impact. During the National Urban League Women of Power Awards Luncheon, TSU Director of Alumni Relations Debbie Howard was recognized as one of seven awardees for her leadership and service. “It’s such a privilege to be recognized for the work that you absolutely love to do,” Howard said on the stage in front of hundreds.
She dedicated the honor to TSU and her colleagues.
“Working at an HBCU, your work is never complete at the end of the day,” Howard said. “TSU, I dedicate this award to you as well. Thank you, National Urban League, for seeing me and valuing the work that I do in this space.”
Many TSU alumni said the University’s visibility throughout the conference reflected a legacy they experienced firsthand and now work to pass on to others. Among them was LaKeisha Pickett, chief financial officer of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee and a 2003 TSU mathematics graduate. Seeing her alma mater represented throughout the conference was a reminder of the University’s lasting impact.
“Seeing TSU alumni here at this national conference is exciting because it shows that TSU poured into us the desire to give back to our communities, to think, work and serve just like our motto,” Pickett said. She said hosting the Youth Leadership Summit reflected TSU’s commitment to investing in the next generation. “We’re constantly pouring into our kids because we want them to come right behind us,” she said. “We’re building the next generation while building legacy.” Pickett credited TSU with preparing her to succeed professionally through opportunities like the Honors College. “Everything was learned from TSU,” she said. “I praise my alma mater for preparing me to be in these spaces.”
That same legacy is already taking shape among TSU’s newest graduates, many of whom are beginning careers centered on service and community impact. Jalen Edwards, a 2024 graduate who now serves as a program manager with the Urban League after beginning as an intern, said TSU equipped him with skills that translated directly into his career. “All the things TSU teaches us, take that in, hold on to it, and go out there and be the best version of yourself that you can,” Edwards said.
He said one of the most meaningful aspects of the conference was connecting with executives and leaders who looked like him while gaining valuable professional experience.
Edwards was among many TSU alumni whose leadership and professional accomplishments were on display throughout the conference. Among them were Tennessee State Representative Harold Love Jr.; Wells Fargo Executive Vice President Georgette “Gigi” Dixon; Nissan executive and Urban League of Middle Tennessee Board Chair Chandra Vassar; AARP Tennessee State Director Mia McNeil; and Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry. Throughout the week, TSU alumni contributed as speakers, panelists, and community leaders, reflecting the University’s broad impact across business, government, and civic leadership.
TSU’s presence extended beyond the conference’s leadership programming. The Chairman’s Reception also featured a performance by the Grammy Award-winning Aristocrat of Bands, showcasing one of the University’s most celebrated traditions before a national audience. From students experiencing a college campus for the first time to recent graduates launching careers in service and accomplished alumni leading corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies, Tennessee State University’s influence was evident throughout the National Urban League Conference.
