Roane State Community College

Feb. 12, 2015

A flight test engineer who evaluates U.S. Navy aircraft and an educator who launched a successful company are Roane State’s outstanding alumni.

The recipients are Will Hoagland of Lexington Park, Md. and Teresa Caldwell Chasteen of Kingston. Hoagland is an engineer with U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). Chasteen is president and CEO of WIN Learning, a Kingston-based education technology firm.

Hoagland, the son of Roane State emeritus professors Bill and Judy Hoagland, is a 2002 graduate of Midway High School. He finished his associate of science at Roane State in 2005. Hoagland graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

Hoagland joined NAVAIR as an engineer assigned to aircraft testing and evaluation. His roles have included integrated communications test and evaluation flight test engineer supporting the VH-71A presidential helicopter program; deputy assistant program manager for test and evaluation supporting the E-6B Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office; and E-6B block I upgrade test and evaluation flight test engineer supporting the E-6B Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office.

Hoagland is responsible for analyzing flight test data and determining the safety and effectiveness of flight systems. He completed the Naval Air Systems Command Engineer and Scientist Development Program and has logged approximately 100 flight test hours.

While Hoagland attended Roane State, he participated in campus activities and in athletics. He traveled to England, Scotland and Wales with the college’s European Studies program. When Hoagland returns home, he regularly attends college events. In nominating Hoagland for the Outstanding Alumni Award, Dr. Don Miller wrote, “Roane State could not have a better ambassador than Will Hoagland.”

“Roane State was critical for me coming from a small high school,” Hoagland said. “The small class sizes and engaging teachers allowed me to sample a variety of opportunities. It was a big help to engage with the professors and get guidance on where my life would take me.”

Chasteen graduated from Roane County High School in 1978 and attended Roane State from 1977-1980. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Tennessee and completed a post-doctoral program in education policy and governance at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Chasteen returned to Roane State as an assistant professor from 1985-1993. She later taught at Pellissippi State, Hiwassee College and Tennessee Tech University.

Chasteen and her brother, Matt Caldwell, co-founded Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) in 1996. More than 10 million students have participated in WIN Learning’s programs. WIN has clients in all 50 states and 10 countries, and the company won three national awards for its curriculum in 2014.

Chasteen co-authored the book “It's the Educonomy, Stupid! Redefining America's Workforce System: A Practitioner's Guide.” EdTech Digest in 2011 named her among 100 People Making a Difference for Digital Learning Now.

Chasteen has worked with Roane State on numerous grant projects. She is heavily involved in the community and in nonprofit work, including raising funds for Knox Area Rescue Ministries and assisting with Relay for Life. Chasteen climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2012 to raise funds for Treasures of Africa AIDS Orphanage.

Chasteen is married to the Rev. Eddie Chasteen. They have two children, Blake and Jessica, and one grandchild, Antonia. All four of Chasteen’s siblings attended Roane State as did her mother, Marie Caldwell.

“Roane State was a godsend for me and my family that enabled a very disadvantaged family to achieve the American Dream,” Chasteen said. “We are forever grateful and indebted to Roane State.”