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News: Roane State cuts ribbon on new health science wing, names campus in honor of Cumberland County couple

A group of people standing with a sign.

September 13, 2024

Roane State hosted a special ceremony at its Cumberland County Campus on September 12, 2024, celebrating two major milestones: the completion of a new health science wing named for a state representative and the dedication of the entire campus in memory of two of the site’s strongest local supporters.

College leadership joined Speaker of the House of Representatives Cameron Sexton and members of his family to cut the ribbon for the new Cameron Sexton Health Science Wing. The addition was finished over the summer and is currently home to the first-ever nursing cohort at the campus in Crossville. The expansion includes flexible labs and classrooms to help meet the increased demand for health science education in the area.

A ribbon cutting ceremony at a college campus.

“Our community and workforce partners told us they need more skilled healthcare workers, and we have answered that call with this campus expansion, new equipment, and increased opportunities for students,” said Dr. Chris Whaley, president of Roane State. “This space is already helping eliminate barriers to success by reducing required travel for students and serving them close to home. The project would not have been possible without local and state support, particularly from Speaker Cameron Sexton.”

“When you see the names of the families around this campus who have supported this community and Roane State, you know they had gratitude in their hearts,” Speaker Sexton said during his remarks to the crowd. “It’s an honor for me to join them, but the opportunity I have to serve Tennessee and the Upper Cumberland Region is thanks to everyone in this room. I stand here today because of you, and I hope I can continue to give back.”

An estimated 150 health science students from Cumberland and Fentress counties alone are expected to benefit from reduced commute times during their foundational course years.

In addition to the expansion, the event honored a local couple who were instrumental in bringing a Roane State campus to Cumberland County – Diane and Jay Brown. The Browns played a major role in forming the plan for a permanent campus, then helped lead the fundraising effort to build the facility.

To honor them, the signage at the entrance to the facility along Cook Road now bears the name “Diane and Jay Brown Campus.”

“As part of the early strategic planning team, we truly would not be here today if it were not for the efforts of Diane and Jay Brown,” said Teresa Duncan, Roane State’s vice president of workforce and community development, and native of Crab Orchard. “Both Diane and Jay helped leverage local support for years to make this campus a reality and they continued that fierce support for the remainder of their lives. The Browns have forever impacted Roane State, its students, and this community we so proudly serve, and we are honored to place their name on this campus.”

A large group of people standing inside a college campus lobby.

The campus in Cumberland County is Roane State’s third largest of ten locations. It opened its doors in 1998 and was the first permanent campus to be constructed when the college began serving additional counties in East Tennessee.

The total estimated cost of the health science wing expansion was $2.5 million. The State of Tennessee funded $1.7 million, and local government provided a combined $250,000 between donations from the City of Crossville and Cumberland County.

Roane State Foundation has been raising the funds needed to fully furnish the added space and provide scholarships for student needs. With the latest donations, the campaign is more than halfway to its goal of $800,000. To learn more about the future of the project or to make a direct donation, visit roanestate.edu/cccdonate.

Roane State’s Cumberland County Campus is located at 2567 Cook Road in Crossville. Dewayne McGhee is director of the campus and can be reached by emailing mcgheefd@roanestate.edu or calling (931) 456-9880.

Additional information about this site can be found online at roanestate.edu/cumberland.

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