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Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Sherria King selected for College System of Tennessee’s inaugural Chancellor’s Fellowship class

For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.

Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Sherria King selected for College System of Tennessee’s inaugural Chancellor’s Fellowship class(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) — Sherria King, dean of humanities, social sciences and mathematics at Southwest Tennessee Community College, has been selected as a participant in the College System of Tennessee’s 2025-26 Chancellor’s Fellowship.

King joins nine other members of the inaugural Chancellor’s Fellowship class, representing faculty and staff from community and technical colleges across the state.

The Chancellor’s Fellowship is a new cornerstone initiative of the Maxine Smith Leadership Series, designed to cultivate leadership talent among senior administrators within the college system.

This prestigious leadership development program prepares higher education professionals for future leadership roles within the Tennessee Board of Regents, the system’s governing board, through engagement in high-level projects, collaboration with senior leaders, and insights into institutional governance.

“I am deeply honored, humbled and excited to be selected for the 2025-26 Chancellor’s Fellowship,” King said. “This fellowship is an incredible opportunity to grow as a leader, collaborate with other dedicated higher education professionals and further my commitment to positively shaping the future of higher education and the students whom we serve.”

The Chancellor’s Fellowship will launch in June and is the first of three fellowship programs that will comprise the Maxine Smith Leadership Series, a set of initiatives aimed at cultivating leadership in Tennessee’s public higher education system. The Emerging Leaders Fellowship and Faculty Innovation Fellowship programs will launch later.

“We’re delighted to announce the members of this first Chancellor’s Fellowship class and excited to launch the new Maxine Smith Leadership Series,” said TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings. “Leadership development is one of our major responsibilities to ensure the success of our students in the years ahead, and I’m confident that members of this first class will light the path for the ones to follow — as Maxine Smith did in so many ways.”

“I am incredibly proud of Dr. King. Her acceptance into this program is a testament to the exceptional talent that defines our institution,” said Southwest President Tracy D. Hall. “Her contributions will have a lasting impact on the fellowship, our college and the broader community. I wish her tremendous success as she embarks on this transformative journey.”

The Chancellor’s Fellowship is specifically designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of senior administrators within the college system, deepening participants’ understanding of education and workforce policy at both the system and state levels while strengthening a leadership pipeline equipped to advance into executive roles in higher education.

Carol Ash, Southwest vice president of academic affairs and workforce development, said King has been an exemplary leader since joining the college in 2019.

“Her remarkable growth within the college, through multiple promotions, reflects her ability to lead and exceed expectations,” Ash said. “With extensive experience in both the Memphis area and the state, Dr. King is uniquely positioned to advocate for Southwest and build critical connections with thought and policy leaders. This opportunity will only further elevate her leadership, benefiting Southwest, TBR and the entire Mid-South community.”

Named after Maxine Smith, a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents from 1996 to 2006 and a pioneering figure in the pursuit of educational opportunity, the overall series equips both emerging and established leaders with the knowledge, skills and connections essential for success in Tennessee higher education.

Maxine Smith’s legacy is at the heart of the series. She played a critical role in desegregating public schools in Memphis and was a lifelong advocate for expanding access to education. The Maxine Smith Leadership Series continues her vision by focusing on leadership development for those committed to improving the state’s higher education system.

Members of the Chancellor’s Fellowship class of 2025-26 are:

  • Dr. Stephanie Barham – Northeast State Community College
  • Dr. Corey Campbell – Cleveland State Community College
  • Dr. James "Jamie" Frakes – Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
  • Daniel Inghram – Dyersburg State Community College
  • Dr. Sherria King – Southwest Tennessee Community College
  • Karen Larson – Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson
  • Kelli Roach – Chattanooga State Community College
  • Dr. Elizabeth Ross – Pellissippi State Community College
  • Dr. Michael Sundblad – Nashville State Community College
  • Jennifer Wright – Tennessee College of Applied Technology McMinnville