Tennessee’s former education commissioner, Candice McQueen, has been named to lead Nashville’s Lipscomb University. Her appointment was announced Thursday.
She becomes the first woman to lead the institution. That’s a more significant step than on most campuses, because Lipscomb is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, which don’t allow women to lead churches.
“I am honored and humbled to be chosen to serve as the president of Lipscomb University,” McQueen said in a statement. “I know firsthand how life changing this community can be, and I want to ensure that experience for countless others for many years to come.”
McQueen succeeds Randy Lowry, who served as president for 16 years.
She taught at Lipscomb and rose to become dean of the education college. She was appointed education commissioner by former Gov. Bill Haslam and has led the education nonprofit National Institute of Excellence in Teaching since then.
McQueen takes on her new duties as Lipscomb president next month.
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