Dr. Dwayne Tucker
Tennessee State University has named Dr. Dwayne Tucker interim president.
Tucker replaces Ronald Johnson, who resigned earlier this week, not quite six months after he began his tenure, citing concerns he had with the university’s board.
According to a release, Tucker is a TSU alumnus who will take a temporary leave from his role as chief executive officer of LEAD Public Schools. He will not accept a salary as Tennessee State president.
Tucker has served as both a TSU board trustee and as the chair of the TSU Foundation. Tucker variously has held the titles of CEO, chief human resource officer, chief administrative officer and president with First Data, Northwest Airlines and Alliance Data.
Ex-Clark Atlanta president Ronald Johnson was slated to be with university until July 2025
Born in Austin, Texas, and raised in Nashville, Tucker graduated from TSU in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Tucker will serve as interim president until June 30, 2025, while the board of trustees conducts a national search to hire a permanent president.
“As a proud TSU alum, I care deeply about securing the strongest possible future for my alma mater and for the students who entrust us with their education,” Tucker says in the release.
“This is why I have served all along. We have serious and important work to do, and I look forward to joining the board in doing that work transparently and with integrity. It’s the TSU way.”
The hiring of Tucker comes as TSU faces financial challenges and a noticeable enrollment drop.
Johnson was to have served in the role for one year (starting July 1) while the TSU board conducted a national search for a permanent leader to replace the since-departed Dr. Glenda Glover.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
