About WGU Tennessee
University governance.
Nonprofit, independent, and guided by a mission.
The mission of WGU Tennessee is to expand access to affordable higher education for Tennessee residents through online, competency-based degree programs that address key workforce needs.
Kimberly K. Estep, Ph.D., Chancellor.
Dr. Kimberly K. Estep is the chancellor of WGU Tennessee, a state-endorsed affiliate of national, nonprofit, accredited Western Governors University. WGU Tennessee launched in July 2013 with one goal: to expand working adults' access to higher education throughout Tennessee.
In her five-year tenure at the helm of the online university, which is part of former Governor Haslam's Drive to 55 initiative, Dr. Estep has worked to grow WGU Tennessee's enrollment to more than 4,300 students, with over 3,000 alumni throughout the state. She led the charge in securing articulation agreements between WGU Tennessee and all 13 community colleges in the state, as well as forming partnerships with many of Tennessee's largest and most recognizable organizations and companies.
Dr. Estep brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education to her role as WGU Tennessee's first chancellor.
Most recently, she served as vice president for academic affairs and student services at Nashville State Community College. Dr. Estep has held leadership roles at other institutions including Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee, Thomas University in Thomasville, Georgia, and Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.
Dr. Estep holds a doctorate and master's degree in history from Auburn University, a master's degree in adult education from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. from Judson College in Marion, Alabama.
She is based in WGU Tennessee's main office in Franklin and spends her time traveling the state and working with higher education, community, and business leaders to increase awareness of WGU Tennessee, boost recruitment, and establish partnerships.
She sits on the advisory board of the Virtual Academy of Business and Marketing within Metro Nashville Public Schools, is a member of the Rotary Club of Nashville, and volunteers regularly with Tennessee Achieves and Nashville literacy nonprofit Book'em. In 2016, Women in Higher Education in Tennessee (WHET) recognized her as its Woman of Achievement. In 2017-18, she was a finalist for the Nashville ATHENA Award. The Nashville Business Journal selected her as a 2019 Women of Influence recipient.
An Ozark, Alabama, native, Dr. Estep lives in Franklin with her husband, Paul Adams. They have three grown children.
WGU Tennessee governance.
WGU Tennessee is a private, nonprofit institution that was established by the state of Tennessee in partnership with Western Governors University. WGU Tennessee is led by a Chancellor and an Advisory Board who reside in Tennessee and provide guidance on the most effective ways the university can meet the need of Tennesseans.
WGU Tennessee Advisory Board
John Ingram (Chair), Chairman, Ingram Industries, Nashville
Shannon Brown, Senior Vice President, AGFS and Chief Diversity Officer, FedEx Express, Memphis
Mark Cate, President & Founder, Stones River Group, Nashville
Deborah Dover, Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President of Talent Engagement, Ballad Health, Kingsport
David A. Golden, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, Eastman, Kingsport
Carol Ross-Spang, Senior VP, Human Resources, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis
Ralph Schulz, President & CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Nashville
John Steele, Senior VP, Human Resources, HCA, Nashville
Dr. Michael Torrence, President, Motlow State Community College, Tullahoma
Karen Ward, Senior VP/Chief Human Resources Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Chattanooga
WGU Board of Trustees.
WGU Tennessee operates under the same governance as that of its parent institution, WGU: a Board of Trustees consisting of educators, industry leaders, and state governors.
Board of Trustees
Dr. Charles Sorenson, Chairman
President and CEO Emeritus
Intermountain Healthcare
John W. Bluford III
President
Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute
Cole Clark
Executive Director, Higher Education Client Relations
Deloitte Services, LP
Dr. Therese (Terry) Crane
President
Crane Associates
Joseph B. Fuller
Professor of Management Practice and Co-Director of the Managing the Future of Work Project
Harvard University
The Honorable Jim Geringer
Director, Policy & Public Sector, ESRI
Governor of Wyoming (1995 – 2003)
The Honorable Eric Holcomb
Governor
State of Indiana
Tammy Johns
CEO
Strategy & Talent
Talia Milgrom-Elcott
Co-Founder and Executive Director
100Kin10
The Honorable Jared Polis
Governor
State of Colorado
Scott D. Pulsipher
President
Western Governors University
David Simmons
President
Simmons Media Group
Dr. Samuel H. Smith
President Emeritus
Washington State University
Van Ton-Quinlivan
Chief Learning Officer
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (UHW)
Jessie Woolley-Wilson
CEO and President
Dreambox Learning
Governors of Member States
Jim Geringer, Chairman
Governor, Wyoming 1995–2003
Michael O. Leavitt, Chairman Emeritus
Governor, Utah 1993–2003
Alaska
Governor Mike Dunleavy
Arizona
Governor Doug Ducey
California
Governor Gavin Newsom
Colorado
Governor Jared Polis
Guam
Governor Lourdes Aflague Leon Guerrero
Hawaii
Governor David Ige
Idaho
Governor Brad Little
Indiana
Governor Eric Holcomb
Montana
Governor Steve Bullock
Nebraska
Governor Pete Ricketts
Nevada
Governor Steve Sisolak
New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
North Dakota
Governor Doug Burgum
Oklahoma
Governor Kevin Stitt
Oregon
Governor Kate Brown
South Dakota
Governor Kristi Noem
Texas
Governor Greg Abbott
Utah
Governor Gary Herbert
Washington
Governor Jay Inslee
Wyoming
Governor Mark Gordon
WGU's National Advisory Board.
Another crucial source of support is our National Advisory Board, made up of representatives from prestigious corporations and foundations. Members provide ongoing support and advice to the university.
WGU’s National Advisory Board is a diverse group of industry leaders. Its members help WGU foster a global, visionary perspective in the strategic planning process, ultimately enhancing our ability to fulfill our mission.
Academic program governance.
In partnership with Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee provides curriculum, learning resources, mentoring, and student services to WGU students in Tennessee. The academic programs are developed and guided by WGU administrators within several councils of scholars and industry experts.
Academic Leadership
Scott D. Pulsipher
President
MBA, Harvard University
Marni Baker Stein
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Fred Hurst
Vice President for Academic Advancement
Ph.D., Union Institute and University
Sarah DeMark
Vice President for Academic Programs
Ph.D., Arizona State University
Stacey Ludwig Johnson
Vice President, Academic Operations, Teachers College
Ph.D., University of Colorado, Denver
Mitsu Frazier
Vice President, Academic Operations, College of Business
MBA, Western Governors University
John Balderree
Vice President, Academic Operations, College of Information Technology
Master of Accounting and Financial Management, DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management; MBA, American InterContinental University
Daren Upham
Vice President, Academic Operations, College of Health Professions
MBA, American InterContinental University
Deb Eldridge
Academic Vice President, Teachers College
Ed.D., Boston University
Rashmi Prasad
Academic Vice President, College of Business
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Elke Leeds
Academic Vice President, College of Information Technology
Ph.D., Walden University
Jan Jones-Schenk
Academic Vice President, College of Health Professions
DHSc., A.T. Still University
Lucas Kavlie
Vice President for Accreditation & Compliance
Ed.D., University of North Texas
Assessment Council
Randy Bennett
Norman O. Frederiksen Chair in Assessment Innovation
ETS
Ph.D., Columbia University
C. Victor Bunderson
Professor, Instructional Psychology & Technology
Brigham Young University
Ph.D., Princeton University
Peter Ewell
Vice President
National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS)
Ph.D., Yale University
Ric Luecht
Professor of Education Research Methodology
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Lawrence Rudner
Vice President, R&D
Graduate Management Admission Council
Ph.D., The Catholic University of America
Donna L. Sundre
Professor of Psychology
Executive Director, Center for Assessment and Research Studies
James Madison University
Ed.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Health Professions Program Council
Grace Coventry
IT Strategy Principal Director
Accenture
Andrew Croshaw
CEO Leavitt Partners
Dr. Paul Handel
Former Sr. VP and Enterprise CMO
Health Care Service Corporation
Dr. Brent James
Executive Director, Institute for Health Care
Delivery Research
VP, Medical Research & Continuing
Medical Education
Intermountain Medical
Dr. Paul Keckley
Healthcare Industry Analyst & Policy Expert
Governor Mike Leavitt
Founder of Leavitt Partners
Former HHS Secretary and Governor of Utah
Delphene B. Oliver, MSN, MBA
AVP Executive Development
Hospital Corporation of America
Dale Prestipino, BSEE
Executive VP, CIO
Accolade, LLC
Dr. Ken Sharigian
SVP & Chief Strategy Officer
American Medical Association
Carol Ann D. Wilhelm, MPH, RHIA
Consultant and Adjunct Instructor
Loma Linda University, Cypress College
Nursing Advisory Council
Kathy Apple, RN, MS, CAE
Former CEO, NCSBN (retired)
David Benton, RGN, PhD, FFNF, FRCN, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Brenda Cleary, PhD, RN, FAAN
Former Director
Center to Champion Nursing
Former NC Congressional Candidate
Mark Douglas, JD, FNP, RN
Head National Medicaid Innovation
Executive Director Population Health Strategy
Linda Knodel, MSN, RN, FAAN
AONE Past President
Chief Nurse Executive, Senior Vice President, National Patient Care Services
Kaiser Permanente
Richard C. MacIntyre, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor
Samuel Merritt University
Margaret McClure, PhD, RN, FAAN
Former Chief Nursing Officer
NYU Medical Center
Co-author of the original Magnet Hospital study under the auspices of the American Academy of Nursing
Amaechi George Ozor, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN
WGU dual Alumnus from Prelicensure BSN and MSN Leadership and Management
Jane Swanson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Director
Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles
Sylvain Trepanier, DNP, RN, CENP
Regional Chief Clinical Executive
Providence St. Joseph Health
General Education Council
Milton Chen
Senior Fellow
The George Lucas Educational Foundation
Ph.D., Stanford University
Christine Johnson
Chancellor/CEO
Community Colleges of Spokane
Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder
Matt Newcomb
Associate Professor & Composition Coordinator, English Department
SUNY New Paltz
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Amelia Ross-Hammond
Professor of Music, Director, Service-Learning and Civic Engagement
Norfolk State University
Ph.D., University of Denver
Business Program Council
Frances A. Hume, SPHR GPHR
President
Hume ‘n Resources Consulting
MBA, University of Utah
Ernest E. Wessman
General Manager
Rescue Alert
MBA, University of Utah
Jim Stice
Professor
Brigham Young University
Ph.D., University of Washington
David H. Harrison
Harrison Management Consultants
MBA, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
Information Technology Program Council
Martin Carmichael
Managing Director, Business Information Security Officer
MUFG Americas
Peter Horadan
Peter Horadan Executive Vice President of Engineering & CTO
Avalara
Mischel Kwon
Founder and CEO
MKACyber
M.S., Marymount University
Kumud Majumder
Sr. Vice President (Global SME Manager - Corporate Technology Officer)
CitiGroup, NYNJ
Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
David W. Ricker
Associate Director of Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
Dartmouth College
M.A., John Carroll University
Education Program Council
John G. Conyers
Conyers JJ & Associates
Ed.D., Oklahoma State University
Richard Lesh
Rudy Distinguished Professor of Education
Retired - Indiana University
Ph.D., Indiana University
George Ann Rice
Associate Superintendent, Ret., Human Resources Division
Clark County School District, Nevada
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Ed.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Darline P. Robles
Superintendent of Schools
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Ph.D., University of Southern California
Sharon Robinson
President and CEO
American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Martha Schwartz
Retired Contract Consultant
Julie Young
President and CEO
Florida Virtual Schools
MS, University of South Florida
FAQs on university governance.
Is WGU a nonprofit or for-profit university?
WGU is a nonprofit online university that was founded by 19 U.S. governors. However, it is a private university, not a state university. WGU developed out of a vision for the future of higher education that emerged among the governors of the Western Governors Association (hence our name), but WGU operates independently with its own governance structure.
What is the role of a Program Council?
Each Program Council at WGU is composed of WGU faculty and outside experts in the field of study. The councils are responsible for guiding the development of degree programs. Each council helps define the skills and knowledge that a competent graduate should possess, helps determine the best ways to assess the competence, and monitors and reviews the relevance of each program over time.
What is WGU Tennessee?
Created through a partnership between the State of Tennessee and nationally recognized, nonprofit Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee is an online, competency-based university offering affordable, high-quality degree programs for working adults in the state.
Are WGU Tennessee students eligible for financial aid?
Like all of WGU’s students, those living in Tennessee are eligible for federal financial aid. In addition, many scholarship opportunities are available—last year WGU Tennessee awarded nearly $2 million in need-based scholarships to state residents ready to earn their degree.
Is WGU Tennessee accredited?
WGU Tennessee operates under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Degrees are granted under WGU’s current accreditation.
How is WGU Tennessee governed?
A wholly controlled subsidiary of Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee is led by a Tennessee-based chancellor. WGU Tennessee works under the guidance of an Advisory Board including corporate, community, and education leaders from the state.
Four colleges, one purpose.
WGU offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, IT, K–12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. Our programs align with the most in-demand careers in today’s job market, and we continually update our existing programs—and create new ones—to meet the most current needs of employers, the economy, and our students.
