Following eight months of service as interim president, Dwayne Tucker has been officially named the ninth president of Tennessee State University in Nashville.
As of the fall 2024 semester, Tennessee State University enrolls about 5,100 undergraduate students and 1,300 graduate students, according to the HBCU’s latest data. Black students represent about 82 percent of the undergraduate population.
President Tucker has led Tennessee State University through a recent period of financial turmoil. In December 2024, he was named the HBCU’s interim president following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor, Ronald Johnson. Just weeks before, Tennessee State University administrators had told members of the board of trustees—which at the time, included current President Tucker—that the university was headed towards a $46 million deficit, following a sharp drop in enrollment. Since assuming his presidency, Tucker has gained support from state officials, who have recently stepped in to help stabilize the HBCU’s finances and operations through the reallocation of grant funding initially intended for campus maintenance projects.
A Tennessee State University alumnus, President Tucker has extensive leadership experience in sales, operations, marketing, public relations, information technology, law, human resources, and finance. Before his interim appointment, he was the CEO of LEAD Public Schools, a network of five charter middle and high schools in the Nashville area. Previously, he held executive positions with First Data, Northwest Airlines, and Alliance Data.
“I thank the board of trustees, students, faculty, staff, and our alumni for their support as we continue this journey,” said President Tucker. “My focus remains on putting TSU on a path to sustainability. With the help of our state legislators, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the Tennessee Board of Regents, and other supporters, we will extend the legacy of TSU.”
