Pellissippi State Foundation, Alumni & Friends

06/24/2026

📣 We're hiring!

We're looking for an Alumni Coordinator who loves building relationships, bringing people together, and creating meaningful experiences that strengthen the Pellissippi State community. If you're passionate about event planning, community engagement, fundraising, or higher education, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

This role offers the opportunity to:
🎓 Develop and lead alumni engagement programs
📣 Highlight alumni achievements through communications and social media
🤝 Build relationships with graduates, donors, and community partners
⛳ Plan and execute our signature Swing Big for Students fundraising event
💙 Support fundraising efforts that directly impact student success

Know someone who would be a great fit? Share this post with them!

Apply Here: https://careers.tbr.edu/jobs/alumni-coordinator-knoxville-tennessee-united-states

06/17/2026

Today’s Where Are They Now Wednesday highlights Pellissippi State alumna Robin Bingham, whose education at the College helped launch a successful career in accounting and entrepreneurship. Robin is currently a Broker and REALTOR® with Wallace Real Estate in Knoxville, Tennessee, and also serves as a Tennessee Real Estate Educational Foundation (TREEF) State Instructor. She helps buyers and sellers throughout Knoxville and East Tennessee with professional guidance grounded in preparation, integrity, and clear communication.

With more than eight years of real estate experience and a 20-year background in tax and accounting, Robin brings strong attention to detail and practical planning skills to every client relationship. Her areas of expertise include first-time homebuyers, 55+ transitions, military and veteran buyers, lakefront properties, and sellers preparing their homes for the market. Robin credits her accounting education and experience with providing the foundation that allowed her to become a successful entrepreneur and business owner.

Robin chose to attend Pellissippi State because it was an affordable option that allowed her to begin working and building her career in less time. The College provided an accessible pathway to higher education while equipping her with the skills needed to enter the workforce and pursue her professional goals.

One of Robin’s most memorable experiences at Pellissippi State was serving as a Student Ambassador. As one of the College’s first Ambassadors, she had the opportunity to represent Pellissippi State, connect with fellow students, and develop leadership skills that would serve her throughout her career. The experience helped build her confidence and reinforced the importance of service and community involvement.

Robin credits Pellissippi State with opening the door to an exciting and challenging career in accounting. Her degree helped her begin her professional journey in accounting and provided the foundation that allowed her to grow into tax accounting and eventually business ownership. The knowledge, discipline, and work ethic she developed during her time at the College continue to benefit her today.

Her advice to current and future Pellissippi State students is to keep investing in themselves. Robin believes education creates opportunities, opens doors, and provides a stronger foundation for the future. She encourages students to remember that success does not look the same for everyone. Whether through a two-year degree, four-year degree, trade school, certification, military service, or specialized training, the most important thing is to continue learning, growing, and moving forward.

Robin reminds students that pursuing their goals will require sacrifice, focus, and determination, but the effort is worth it. She encourages them to take a leap of faith, stay committed during difficult times, and continue showing up for the person they are becoming. Looking back, she is grateful she had the courage to start and the perseverance to continue, and she hopes others will have the same confidence in their own future.

06/16/2026

Thank You, Christy Newman!

The Pellissippi State Foundation is honored to recognize Christy Newman for her outstanding service on the Foundation Board from 2018–2026.

During her tenure, Christy served on both the Development Committee and Executive Committee, culminating in her leadership as Board Chair from 2023–2025. As chair, she guided the Foundation through several milestone events celebrating Pellissippi State's 50th Anniversary, helping showcase the College's impact on our community and region.

A passionate advocate for workforce development, Christy has partnered with Pellissippi State for many years to promote STEM careers and create opportunities for students. Her leadership was instrumental in establishing the Earn and Learn Program at Arconic, providing valuable pathways for students to gain education and hands-on experience simultaneously.

Christy's dedication, vision, and unwavering support have made a lasting impact on the Foundation and the College. We are pleased that she will continue her connection to Pellissippi State as a member of the Board Emeritus.

Thank you, Christy, for being a true friend of Pellissippi State and a champion for our students and community.

06/12/2026

Thank You, Paul Sponcia!

The Pellissippi State Foundation extends our sincere gratitude to outgoing board member Paul Sponcia for his dedicated service from 2020–2026.

As Membership Committee Chair from 2024–2026, Paul played a pivotal role in strengthening our board recruitment and governance efforts. His leadership elevated the committee’s work through innovative tracking tools that helped ensure our board membership reflected the communities we serve while aligning with the future fundraising priorities of the College.

Paul has long been a champion for community colleges and their critical role in workforce development. His thoughtful leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to student success have made a lasting impact on the Foundation and Pellissippi State.

Thank you, Paul, for your service, partnership, and friendship.

06/09/2026

Thank you Prisma Health Blount Memorial Hospital for your support of Pellissippi State’s Radiological Technology and Surgical Technology Programs. Together, we are building a strong healthcare workforce!

We're honored to receive the 2026 Excellence in Partnership award from Pellissippi State Community College and Pellissippi State Foundation, Alumni & Friends!

06/03/2026

Thank you, Arconic Tennessee Operations!

Students will discover how engineers use programming to solve real-world problems. Through hands-on challenges and interactive projects, campers will develop a foundation in Python while developing critical thinking skills. During this camp, students will learn core Python programming concepts, solv...

06/03/2026

Today’s Where Are They Now Wednesday feature highlights Pellissippi State Community College alumna Heather Overton, who has built a career in business operations and leadership while maintaining a long-standing commitment to service and engagement with Pellissippi State.

Heather serves as Director of Administration at Johnson Architecture, Inc. (JAI), a Knoxville-based architecture and interior design firm that helps shape communities across the region. Since joining the firm in 2009, she has grown into a leadership role as one of the firm’s newest partners, focusing on supporting people, processes, and operations. Her work centers on human resources, accounting, and administrative systems that allow the team to deliver exceptional service to clients.

She attended Pellissippi State from 1994 to 1997 as a first-generation college student. During her time as a student, she was actively involved in campus life as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, a Student Ambassador, and a Student Telecounselor. She was also a recipient of the Faculty Council Scholarship and earned the Outstanding Graduate of the Year Award in Social and Behavioral Sciences in 1997. These experiences helped build her confidence and laid a strong foundation for her academic and professional path.

One of Heather’s most memorable experiences from her time at Pellissippi State was the support and encouragement she received from a biology professor during a difficult period in the course. After struggling early on, she was at risk of failing and feeling discouraged. Instead of giving up, her professor met with her regularly, sometimes daily, to help her understand the material and rebuild her confidence. By the end of the semester, she had earned an A. That experience left a lasting impression and reinforced the importance of perseverance and mentorship.

Heather credits Pellissippi State with providing far more than an education. It gave her leadership opportunities, meaningful relationships, and a lifelong commitment to service. Her continued involvement with the College reflects that impact, including service with the PSCC Alumni Association as a member and campaign co-chair, participation on the PSCC President Search Committee in 2010, receipt of the Peggy Willson Alumni Volunteer Award in 2018, and service on the PSCC Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2022, including work on both the Membership and Executive Committees.

Her advice to current and future Pellissippi State students is to take full advantage of every opportunity available. She encourages students to get involved, build relationships with faculty and staff, ask questions, and seek support when needed. She emphasizes that some of the most meaningful growth happens outside the classroom through engagement, mentorship, and service. Heather reminds students that the confidence and foundation built at Pellissippi State can carry forward in powerful and lasting ways.

We are proud to highlight Heather and her continued impact as a professional leader and dedicated advocate for Pellissippi State Community College. Her journey is a reminder that opportunity, encouragement, and involvement can shape a lifelong path of success and service.

05/25/2026

Remembering the heroes who made our freedoms possible. Grateful today and every day!❤️💙

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Jessie Tipton, Academic Coordinator and Instructor of Video Production Technology at Pellissippi State Community College, on receiving the Foundation's Roger Crowe Excellence in Teaching Award.

Jessie’s innovative, hands-on approach to teaching connects students with real-world experiences—from major community productions to international opportunities—while fostering an inclusive environment where creativity and confidence thrive. His commitment to student success is shaping the next generation of media professionals.

05/19/2026

Congratulations to Angela Hughes, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs at Pellissippi State Community College, on receiving the Foundation's Innovations Award.

Angela has led the development of Pellissippi Pathways, a transformative initiative grounded in the guided pathways model that integrates career readiness, experiential learning, and student engagement across academic programs. Her work is reshaping how the college prepares students for transfer and the workforce—strengthening outcomes for students, the institution, and the community.