Fannie Hewlett named as interim president at Chattanooga State

A longtime Chattanooga State professor and administrator will lead the school until a permanent president takes over this summer.

In announcing the appointment of Fannie Hewlett as interim president, Tennessee Board of Regents officials said they expected her to build stability on the campus. Hewlett is a past president of the college’s faculty senate, a group that fiercely opposed former President Jim Catanzaro, who retired amid a hiring scandal last month.

“We are fortunate Dr. Hewlett, who is well respected and extremely knowledgeable about the campus and its environments, is available and eager to help guide the college during this transition period,” TBR Chancellor John Morgan said in a news release Wednesday. “Her experience and qualifications will enable Chattanooga State to continue its drive forward.”

Catanzaro came under fire for his hiring of Chief Innovations Officer Lisa Haynes, a woman he had met on vacation in Barbados but hired without a required bachelor’s degree. On his first day as interim president, TBR Vice Chancellor Warren Nichols fired Haynes last week.

Hewlett will take over for Nichols on Feb. 1 and will serve until a national search identifies a permanent president.

Hewlett has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and English, a master’s in clinical and school psychology and a doctorate in education, along with post-doctoral studies in community college leadership. She began her career at Chattanooga State in 1979 as a behavioral sciences instructor. In 1989, she was selected as the department head for social and behavioral science until she was promoted to dean, and then to vice president for academic affairs in 2001. In 2011, she was named provost and vice president through her retirement last year.

She will not be competing for the position of permanent president.

Contact staff writer Kevin Hardy at khardy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.