Former Southwest Workforce Development Vice President James Willis dies at 80
By Marketing and Communications Staff
Former Southwest Vice President of Workforce
Development James Floyd Willis
Former Southwest Tennessee Community College Vice President of Workforce Development, Dr. James “Jim” Floyd Willis, 80, died on July 6, 2022.
Willis’ illustrious career in education began in November 1993 when State Technical Institute at Memphis Director of Student Placement Bill Cavanaugh recruited Willis to be his assistant.
Cavanaugh and Willis created workforce development trainings that would service the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee providing students access and resources to earn trades and degrees at two or four-year institutions.
After serving under the wing of Cavanaugh for several years, Willis was promoted to director of business, industry and government at State Tech.
“I’m going to miss my good friend and colleague, Jim,” Cavanaugh said. “We served the Memphis community and surrounding states together for many years. Helping students reach their potential in their careers is the reason we went into the education profession.”
Willis also was an integral part of the Shelby State Community College and State Tech merger which birthed Southwest Tennessee Community College in 2000. Former Southwest President, Dr. Nathan L. Essex, remembers when Willis moved his Macon Cove Campus office to the Union Avenue Campus in a physical show of support to solidify the union between the two schools. Essex said this example of selflessness defined Willis as the passionate and caring person everyone loved.
“Jim was very instrumental in the merger of Southwest. He was a great influence and all about the community,” Essex said. “He was vivacious and loving, and I had great admiration for Jim. He will truly be missed.”
Willis passionately served the college under Essex until he retired in June 2007.
In This Issue...
- From the President
- Southwest graduate Aaron Turner lands IT internship with AutoZone
- Center for Access autism camp empowers students to succeed in college
- HONORS ACADEMY STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Where Are They Now?
- Southwest’s Brittani Morganfield and ImagineU students invent travel safety app
- Police Services and Public Safety Director Angela Webb appointed IACLEA’s vice president of finance
- Southwest student and advocate for Walker Holmes advocate credits Southwest for giving her a voice for change
- Former Southwest Workforce Development Vice President James Willis dies at 80
- Welcome Aboard!
- SALUQI CORNER: Saluqi-scholars win individual and team NJCAA and TCCAA honors
- Saluqi Saturday brings students ready to start their journey
- Shawn Loth named Southwest’s women soccer coach
- Southwest’s Summer Institute tackles topics and tactics, from pedagogy to the pandemic
- tnAchieves Summer Institute ends year two with 100 percent student completion
- Fall Convocation challenges college community to stay relevant
- President’s Leadership Retreat focuses on continued excellence
- Jacqueline Taylor named Southwest’s new chief strategy officer and chief of staff