The faculty and staff at Chattanooga State Community College met their new president Tuesday afternoon.
Flora Tydings took the helm of the college this week, and those in attendance at her reception seemed to agree: It's time to move forward with a new leader.
New Chattanooga State President Dr. Flora Tydings speaks to staff and attendees Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at a reception in her honor in the lobby of the Health Science Center.Confidently, the president stood before the 100 or so members of the college's community who gathered in the Health Sciences Center and spoke about the future of the school.
"We are going to make some changes that are sound, and that have good principles behind them," she said to the crowd. " And [these] are going to take us to the next level, and we're going to do it as a team."
Tydings follows the reign of former President Jim Catanzaro, who retired in December after 24 years as head of the school. Catanzaro left in a tornado of controversy that surfaced after he hired a young woman he met while vacationing in Barbados to be his second in command, even though she lacked the bachelor's degree required for the job.
Tydings comes well qualified with more than 10 years as president at Athens (Ga.) Technical College. Many in the Athens community credit her for being a driving force behind bringing one of Caterpillar's assembly plants there. That plant now employs 1,400 people. She also doubled enrollment at the school while she was its leader, and the college had $70 million worth of new buildings and capital improvements during her tenure.
Barry Jennison, dean of business and information technology, has been at the college for four years, and said he believes the Chattanooga State community is glad to have Tydings here and eager to move on from the past year's distractions.
"We all feel more settled now," he said. "Through all the transitions we've felt a little distracted, I'd say, and now we can get back to focus."
Biology professor David Wollert, who has been at the college since 2008, said he believes the faculty is "optimistic and open-minded" about having a new leader.
"There is a sense that we are ready for a change," he said.
Tom Griscom, member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, praised the way Tydings has worked since starting at the school Monday. He talked about how she already is out in the city making connections, "and that really is a great way to start and that is what Chattanooga is all about," he said.
Dean of Fine Arts and Humanities Darrin Hassevoort echoed Griscom's comment, saying he is excited that Tydings plans to be connected in the community and focus on workforce developments and the arts.
"I think we have a lot of excitement about her," Hassevoort said. "We've been through a lot and are really hopeful about the future."
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.