Dr. Shanna Jackson began serving as president of Nashville State Community College in 2018 where she oversees the comprehensive community college that serves over 8,000 students throughout its seven-county, six-campus service region. Prior to her appointment, Jackson served as the associate vice president and chief operating officer of the Williamson Campus for Columbia State Community College.
Jackson began her career in manufacturing working for the Pillsbury Company and General Mills. An opportunity to teach business courses part time started the path to a career in higher education that spans more than 20 years.
In addition to the Ascension Saint Thomas Board of Directors, Jackson serves on the boards of Alignment Nashville, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Higher Education Initiative, and Wilson County Industrial Board, and is on the advisory councils for Nashville’s Leadership Public Education and SCORE. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., International Women’s Forum, Nashville’s Agenda, and Women in Higher Education in Tennessee, where she is a presidential advisor and former president and state chair.
Jackson earned a bachelor of science in business administration and an MBA from Florida A&M University and an Ed.D. in administration and supervision from Tennessee State University.