Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has named Lipscomb University senior vice president and dean Candice McQueen as the next education commissioner.
McQueen oversees the College of Education and the 1,300 pre-k through 12th grade students at Lipscomb Academy.
“Lipscomb’s College of Education produces some of our state’s best teachers, and Candice gets a lot of credit for that,” Haslam said in a release. “She has taught in a classroom, so she brings both the experience of being a teacher and of preparing teachers to teach. I am grateful for her willingness to serve in this role, and I know she’ll do a great job as we continue our efforts to provide a quality education for all Tennessee students.”
In the six years McQueen has served as dean Lipscomb’s College of Education has grown by 54 percent and it has added 15 new graduate programs. McQueen also helped initiate The Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning and Innovation that aims to provide leadership training that supports high academic standards.
She also serves on the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education board and the American Association of Independent and Liberal Arts Colleges of Teacher Education executive committee.
McQueen is from Clarksville and holds degrees from Lipscomb, Vanderbilt and the University of Texas.
Current commissioner Kevin Huffman announced last month he was leaving the post to return to the private sector. McQueen begins her duties Jan. 20.
