February 1, 2024
Roane State’s Fentress County Campus welcomed a new site director in late 2023. Cheryl Tays joined the college in November and is currently working at the RSCC campus in Clarkrange.
Tays and her team will move into Roane State’s new Fentress County Higher Education Center in Jamestown next year. The new campus is set to replace the Clarkrange location and is expected to open by the fall of 2025.
“This is an incredibly exciting time to be coming on board with Roane State as they embark on the construction of a new, permanent campus for Fentress County,” Tays explained. “I’m thrilled to see this project become a reality for our students and the communities we serve.”
Tays has worked in higher education as an adjunct instructor, instructional designer, and most recently as a competency-based education curriculum coordinator with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). Tays also served in secondary education, teaching a variety of career and technical education (CTE) courses including business, marketing, and information technology.
Once a Roane State student herself, Tays received an Outstanding Alumni Award from Roane State Foundation for 2022. She finished her bachelor’s degree at Tennessee Technological University in business management and accounting.
“After working in accounting for just a few years, I felt a strong calling to education,” Tays said. “I was able to build a business and marketing education program at Alvin C. York Institute and then set a goal for myself of transitioning to post-secondary education.”
Tays obtained her master’s in human resource development at UT Knoxville, then earned an education specialist degree in educational leadership from Tennessee Tech and a second master’s degree in instructional design.
In her role as campus director, Tays has been assisting current and prospective students in Fentress County, visiting high schools, collaborating with local business and industry, and sharing the opportunities provided by Roane State.
“Helping students craft a strategic educational path toward their degree as they pave the way to a promising career is truly fulfilling,” Tays said. “I’m honored to be part of their journey.”
Roane State’s Fentress County Campus is currently located at 6844 South York Hwy in Clarkrange. The new campus is being constructed in the 800-block of Old Highway 127 S in Jamestown. A groundbreaking ceremony is being planned for early April.
More information about the Fentress County Campus is available at roanestate.edu/fentress.
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