Krissy DeAlejandro

The World's Paper Company Rooted in Memphis

September 7th, 2026  |  37 mins 33 secs

Sylvamo is headquartered in Memphis, and its investment in the city goes well beyond an address on a building. On this episode of At Scale, Neki Catron, Global Community Engagement Manager at Sylvamo, joins hosts Krissy DeAlejandro and Tyler Ford to talk about volunteerism, mentorship and why her team treats education as a strategic investment rather than charity. The conversation covers her path from Memphis native to dream job, what Sylvamo looks for in a future workforce and how MemAccess and MemCOMPLETE connect students to postsecondary credentials and careers.

Accelerating Economic Prosperity for Tennessee Students

August 24th, 2026  |  56 mins 21 secs

tnAchieves is more than programs. We represent a student-centered continuum, driving economic prosperity for Tennessee students by Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce. tnAchieves graduates will generate an estimated $40.6–$45.9 billion in lifetime earnings1 , a direct return on helping more Tennessee students complete postsecondary credentials — prosperity that extends to their families and communities.

Building Northeast Tennessee’s Workforce from the Ground Up with ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland

June 29th, 2026  |  37 mins 21 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, east tennessee, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

On this episode of At Scale, tnAchieves welcomes Dr. Brian Noland, President of East Tennessee State University, for a conversation on what it takes to build Northeast Tennessee’s workforce from the ground up. Dr. Noland shares how ETSU’s access mission, regional partnerships and student-centered supports are helping more students see a future beyond high school and a meaningful career close to home.

Connecting Leaders, Strengthening Tennessee with Leadership Tennessee's Alfred Degrafinreid

June 1st, 2026  |  41 mins 30 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

tnAchieves welcomes Alfred Degrafinreid II, President and CEO of Leadership Tennessee, to discuss leadership, education, public service and the importance of connecting leaders across Tennessee. Alfred shares his journey from Memphis to statewide leadership and reflects on how education, perseverance and service can expand opportunity for students and communities.

A County Mayor’s Playbook for Workforce Change with Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp

May 4th, 2026  |  40 mins 58 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp shares why he has made postsecondary access and career pathways a central focus of his leadership, and how expanding options beyond a traditional four-year degree is critical to building Tennessee’s future workforce.

Innovative Ideas on Student Success with Dr. Tracy Hall and Dr. Michael Torrence

April 20th, 2026  |  53 mins 15 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

In this episode of At Scale, the podcast hosted by tnAchieves, Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling sit down with Dr. Tracy Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College, and Dr. Michael Torrence, president of Motlow State Community College.

Together, they explore leadership, innovation and partnership in support of student success across Tennessee’s community colleges.

Taking the "Idea On A Whiteboard" Statewide with Governor Bill Haslam

April 6th, 2026  |  38 mins 25 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

Celebrate one year of At Scale with Governor Bill Haslam as he reflects on leadership, the creation of Tennessee Promise, and the power of a shared vision to drive statewide impact.

Tennessee's Future Workforce Framework

March 23rd, 2026  |  30 mins 26 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

In this special edition of At Scale, tnAchieves releases Tennessee’s Future Workforce Framework, a new strategy grounded in student voice and nearly two decades of experience supporting postsecondary access, persistence and workforce readiness.

Securing Futures for Middle Tennessee Students with Tara Scarlett

March 9th, 2026  |  40 mins 15 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

In this episode of At Scale, Tara Scarlett discusses expanding postsecondary access and securing stronger workforce pathways for Middle Tennessee students. The conversation explores scholarships, systems-level change, statewide education goals, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in learning. Tune in for a forward-looking discussion on leadership, collaboration, and building Tennessee’s future talent pipeline.

A Lesson in Leadership and Innovation with Chancellor Donde Plowman

February 23rd, 2026  |  41 mins

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

In Episode 23 of At Scale, Chancellor Donde Plowman of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville shares how UT is improving student outcomes through leadership, culture, and innovation. The conversation explores what it takes to create alignment in a complex institution while keeping students at the center. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

An Idea On A Whiteboard Part 2 with Mike Ragsdale

February 9th, 2026  |  34 mins 13 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

In An Idea on a Whiteboard Part 2, former Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale returns to reflect on the bold beginnings of Knox Achieves and the statewide impact that followed through Tennessee Promise. He shares why mentorship, community service, and clear workforce pathways to credentials of value remain essential for Tennessee students today. This episode is a powerful reminder that student success is not about statistics — it is about individuals, families, and opportunity across the Volunteer State.

From Exposure to Career: Healthcare in East Tennessee with UT Medical Center

December 15th, 2025  |  38 mins 43 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

Dr. Keith Gray and Craig Pickett from UT Medical Center join the tnAchieves At Scale Podcast to discuss workforce needs in East Tennessee, preparing for allied health careers, and how UT Medical and tnAchieves partner to provide students with job shadowing and career exploration opportunities inside the hospital.