As the new president of Cleveland State Community College finishes up her first month on the job, Ty Stone said she has big plans for 3,000-student school.
"What I'm spending my time doing now is listening and learning about this institution," Stone said. "I have a transition team that has been brought together, and we are going to be very deliberate about understanding what our faculty says the college is and what the college needs."
Stone is the first female and first Black president to lead the college.
"I don't know if that part has really sunk in with me yet," Stone said in a recent phone interview.
Stone was tapped to lead Cleveland State in May after the Tennessee Board of Regents conducted a national search. She succeeded former President Bill Seymour, who retired this summer after about eight years at the helm.
"I've worked in large state universities, small private colleges and, of course, community colleges," Seymour said of his 43-year career in higher education administration. "I've loved them all - actually, community colleges the most. I ended my career in the best spot I could."
As she continues serving as president, Stone hopes to build on the work that Seymour started.
"For the last 8 1/2 years, the college has had an awesome president with a great vision," Stone said. "So, my real focus is on making sure that I fill those shoes and continue the great work that has already been accomplished at the college."
Stone said she was drawn to Cleveland State after seeing the work the college has been doing in the community, particularly the opening of the McMinn Higher Education Center earlier this summer.
Before Seymour's retirement, he and Stone were able to spend time together and discuss projects.
"He was very gracious with his time," Stone said. "He's mentioned to me that if I need anything, I can definitely call him. He's been a great supporter."
Though Seymour was not involved in the selection process for the new president, he's confident that Stone will be a great fit at the college.
"She knows about leadership, and she knows about the diversity of work that needs to be done," Seymour said. "This tells me that she has a capacity for work that will really help her as a college president."
This isn't Stone's first time in a leadership position. She was previously the president of Jefferson Community College in Watertown, New York.
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Stone earned her doctorate in organization and management at Capella University and her master's in business administration with a concentration in organizational strategy at Trinity University. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration at Washington Adventist University.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Stone has been named twice to the City & State New York Higher Education Power 100 list of higher education leaders, public officials and philanthropists.
She had been president of Jefferson since 2017. Stone previously served in leadership roles at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, from 2010-17, including as vice president for strategic initiatives and vice president for business operations.
Stone also has had experience in business and served as an air traffic controller in the U.S. Air Force.