GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University is ensuring a strong pipeline of leadership in the for-profit, nonprofit and ministry realms with the introduction of an innovative new master’s degree that will utilize a hands-on approach for students to refine this important skill.
Dr. John Alpers, left, and Dr. Thomas Nuzzi discuss the master’s program.
Beginning this fall, Tusculum will offer a Master of Arts in Leadership, which can be completed in 12 or 17 months and includes options for online or in-person coursework. This program not only supports the student, but the collaborative approach with companies and other organizations is also designed to help them by strengthening the skill sets of their employees.
“High-caliber leadership matters in all sectors of the economy and in ministering to others,” said Dr. David Cook, Tusculum’s provost and vice president of academic affairs. “We are part of the solution with a well-conceived program that blends instruction with practical application and prepares students to positively influence their organizations. This program will foster a pioneering spirt that will result in a stronger workforce and meaningful impact on individuals. All ships will rise.”
Details about the degree
Housed under Tusculum’s Business Division, the master’s in leadership will offer four concentrations:
- Human resources
- Hotel/hospitality management
- Nonprofit and faith-based leadership
- Business
Students will take 19 credit hours of core courses followed by 14-15 hours in their concentration.
The core courses will develop students’ skills in subjects such as leadership fundamentals, leadership in conflict and adversity, communication and influence, organizational culture and change, and servant leadership and values in practice. For each course, students will also need to obtain one credit hour from workshops that enable the students the ability to apply what they learned to real-world scenarios that are tied to local employer needs. This meshes with the element of Tusculum’s mission that highlights active and experiential learning.
“Graduates of this program will stand out in the job market,” said Dr. John Alpers, assistant dean of Tusculum’s Business Division. “Each student will graduate with a portfolio of six to eight applied leadership projects completed in partnership with local employers. Tusculum students will have not just studied leadership under expert professors and practitioners in their field but have demonstrated it in ways that will have them ready for the next steps in their careers.”
The partnerships with local companies, nonprofits and public agencies to complete these projects tap into motivated graduate students to address issues, serve as a talent incubator for the region and grow jobs.
The courses in the concentrations will take a deep dive into those areas, such as guest experience strategy and design; strategic labor and employment law; and nonprofit governance, legal issues and board relations. Other topics that will be covered include innovation and technology in hospitality leadership, advanced talent acquisition and workforce planning and marketing and fundraising for mission impact.
Dr. Thomas Nuzzi details the Master of Arts in Leadership with a group.
Dr. Thomas Nuzzi discusses the Master of Arts in Leadership.
The program aligns with Tusculum’s mission in additional ways by teaching them to lead with character and values and serve their communities and organizations. It also connects with the mission by helping students communicate effectively, respond ethically and courageously to challenges and engage in meaningful and purpose-driven leadership.
Earning this degree is affordable. The cost is about $18,000, a figure that is competitive with other leadership degrees that are not structured as effectively as Tusculum’s. Through the corporate partnership program, the university will pay one third of the cost if the individual and his or her employer or church pays one third each. The university’s Office of Financial Aid is available to help students develop a payment structure for their third that works for them.
The program’s origins
Tusculum established the Master of Arts in Leadership after conducting a new program study in 2024 and 2025. This program scored strongly in the evaluation. As part of the study, Tusculum consulted leaders in industry; nonprofits; and hotel, hospitality and tourism at an advisory task force meeting.
Through this session, the university learned there was a strong regional need for leadership training that integrates communication, conflict management, crisis response, innovation and organizational change. Tusculum learned there was a shortage of accessible and flexible graduate-level leadership programs in East Tennessee. Additionally, it became clear employers wanted a program that emphasized applied skills, values-based leadership and community engagement.
University leaders involved faculty members at every stage of the program’s examination and discovered the professors overwhelmingly supported the initiative. In fact, faculty members picked the curriculum they felt best suited student needs. The Faculty Assembly approved the program in November.
“We are excited about this new degree and know we have the faculty in place who will mentor students and provide first-rate instruction on the theories of the different aspects of leadership,” Dr. Cook said. “At the same time, we have structured this program to invite individuals who are leaders in their field to share their knowledge with our students as part of the coursework. When you combine these teachers with the projects students will complete and the spiritual and ethical components of the program, students will receive an excellent and marketable degree and fulfill their calling.”
Program leaders for this degree
Dr. Cook provided valuable stewardship in developing this degree having previously created a master’s program in leadership at a higher education institution earlier in his career. But he was not alone in pulling together the Tusculum degree. Tusculum’s business faculty brought comprehensive experience to the table that will be invaluable in helping shape the program.
Dr. Thomas Nuzzi, middle, shares information about the Master of Arts in Leadership.
To oversee the degree, Tusculum selected Dr. Thomas Nuzzi as the program director. He holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University and specialist degrees in educational leadership from Nova and in administration and supervision from City University of New York Queens College.
He most recently served as a graduate school professor at Western Michigan University, where he helped the educational leadership unit attain accreditation and taught several courses in the program. He also established and arranged a systematic and orderly process for the university’s Principled Internship Program. Likewise, Dr. Nuzzi served as a graduate studies instructor at Cornerstone University in Michigan and Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois.
Dr. Nuzzi has an extensive résumé in consulting, serving clients such as Charles Schwab, Edward Jones, Western Michigan, Chicago Public Schools, Battle Creek Public Schools and United Leadership Partners. His duties included leadership coaching and designing a district leadership program.
He also has served as a city manager, human resources director, school superintendent, finance director and principal. He is certified in artificial intelligence instruction.
“I am grateful to be entrusted with helping launch this master’s degree and look forward to collaborating with stakeholders across the university and in the community,” Dr. Nuzzi said. “This program has been thoroughly reviewed, and the administration and faculty have given a lot of thought to the degree’s design. Admirably, this degree has considered the needs of the workforce and developed impressive ties with companies and other organizations. Having so many groups invested in this program’s success will ensure this degree produces excellent results.”
Additional information about the degree is available at https://www.tusculum.edu/mal. Individuals with questions can email Dr. Nuzzi at tnuzzi@tusculum.edu or the Office of Admission at admission@tusculum.edu. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.