NASHVILLE – Jill Salyers, Tusculum University’s vice president of advancement, marketing and communications, has expanded her skill set with her graduation from a rigorous leadership development program.
Jill Salyers
Salyers recently completed the Executive Leadership Institute as a Presnell Fellow of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association. The nine-month program strengthens campus leadership teams and prepares individuals for college or university executive roles. Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum’s president, picked Salyers, who has served at the university since February 2018, to participate in the program.
“We were excited to add Jill to Tusculum’s Executive Cabinet after she demonstrated outstanding leadership in her prior positions,” Hurley said. “Jill has proved to be an excellent leader for us in our transition to university status as we implement multiple initiatives that will position Tusculum for long-term, sustained success. Her additional leadership development through this program will benefit Tusculum well into the future.”
During her time in the program, Salyers enhanced her knowledge in areas such as institutional governance, educational policy and politics, strategic planning, friendraising, fundraising, public relations, internal and external communications, enrollment management, academics and faculty relations as well as financial management.
TICUA said fellows have the opportunity to learn from TICUA-member presidents and content experts and to explore solutions through data-driven decision-making.
“The Executive Leadership Institute provided me with tremendous insight, and I am grateful for the sharing of best practices,” Salyers said. “I developed long-term relationships with the other fellows, who I greatly respect and would not hesitate to contact for advice. This program has sharpened my leadership skills and will be valuable as I collaborate with my colleagues on the Tusculum cabinet and our faculty and staff.”
Salyers is a Tusculum alumna who earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. Before joining the Tusculum cabinet, she served for five years as the Tri-Cities field director for former U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. She also held leadership positions with United Way of Greater Kingsport and Eastern Eight Community Development Corp.