Ever wondered how tnAchieves began? We started in 2008 as knoxAchieves. It began as a conversation…and an idea on a whiteboard. That brainstorming idea grew into a workforce development initiative in Knox County. From there it continued to grow and scale (hence our podcast name) before becoming the statewide and nationally recognized organization it is today.

tnAchieves would have never gotten off the ground in Knox County without our Board Chairman and UT System President Randy Boyd. We would not have expanded to other counties as a college access and success program. We never would never have grown into a statewide partner of the TN Promise scholarship. And we certainly wouldn’t be a main driver in Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce today.

In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, we take a trip down memory lane with Randy Boyd. It’s a reminder of how we began, the lessons we’ve learned along the way and where we’re headed. While we began as a chat on a back porch, we certainly haven’t stayed that way. He shares why support grew for this idea and what may have set it apart. Trust us, this hasn’t been an overnight success. It’s been a lot of hard work with a lot of support. But we believe it was necessary to every student realizes they belong in college and there’s a way to make that a reality. We also believe it’s crucial for our state’s economy to continue to thrive.

Tune in to hear a conversation about our origin story and how Randy continues to challenge us to think bigger and better for every student in the state of Tennessee.

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In 2008, tnAchieves was launched as knoxAchieves. It began as a workforce development initiative in Knox County. Since then, tnAchieves has grown to become a nationally recognized college access and success program. One of the main components we’re known for is the launch and partnership of the TN Promise scholarship statewide. Along the way, we’ve learned lots of lessons about what works and what doesn’t.

Those aren’t lessons we keep to ourselves.

While tnAchieves is focused first and foremost on, you guessed it, Tennessee, that doesn’t mean our knowledge is bound by our state border. We believe that ALL students deserve a supported pathway to a meaningful career. We’re committed to expanding access to high-quality post-secondary credentials of impact for every student. That’s why we’re proud share the knowledge we’ve learned along the way for other states and communities who are looking to do the same. We’re all in this together.

In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, we’re joined by Stacey Oliver and Geronimo Rodriguez from the Austin 2030 Network. Austin 2030 describes itself as a network of school, higher education, non-profit, business, civic and community leaders who are committed to improving education outcomes for children and youth in Austin, Texas. Their current focus: establish a pathway to an Austin Promise. Stacey and Geronimo talk about why they are building a better future for students in Austin, and why it will take a community-wide effort to see their goal come to fruition. As they work toward change, they invited tnAchieves to share our perspective and experience.

Tune in to hear the conversations about the lasting change they’re working toward in Austin, Texas, and the partners who are coming to the table to make this Promise a reality.

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If you’re talking about the higher education landscape in the state of Tennessee, you can’t do it without talking about THEC/TSAC. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (THEC/TSAC) is the layer between higher education and the state government that thinks through the needs of higher education and the policies needed to support it. THEC serves as that central hub to make sure every student in Tennessee is able to pursue a high-quality education and high-value credentials.

In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, THEC’s Executive Director, Dr. Steven Gentile talks about how THEC works to reduce the barriers to higher education. That means mobilizing higher education partners, like tnAchieves, to help students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It also means creating a master plan to see where we need to go in the next 5-10 years. All the work is done with the goal of clearing pathways so students have better access to higher education, which provides more economic mobility. tnAchieves and THEC share a commitment to Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce.

In July 2025, THEC, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and The Lumina Foundation announced a partnership to redesign the college admissions process. As part of the Direct Admissions pilot, seniors in the Class of 2026 will receive a letter showing which colleges, universities and TCATs have already accepted them without submitting an application. In Tennessee, it will connect automatic college admissions for students with an estimated financial aid package. The goal is to help students see where they’ve already been accepted to college and how they can afford to enroll. Hear Dr. Gentile’s thoughts on how this will revolutionize college admissions process in our state. (If you missed it, go back and listen to our podcast episode with Lumina’s Melanie Heath on their role in this groundbreaking effort!)

Tune in to get a better understanding of this new direct admissions process as well as how THEC continues to align higher education with workforce needs in our state. If that doesn’t peak your interest, there may also be a reference or two to leaping unicorns and magic wands…

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The Lumina Foundation is a private philanthropy foundation that is devoted to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to everyone. One of the things it’s best known for is setting a goal for the nation around post-secondary attainment. That includes Tennessee’s Drive to 55 goal which aims to increase the percentage of working age Tennesseans with a college degree or certificate to 55 percent by 2025. The Drive to 55 served as a launching point for the Tennessee Promise.

In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, Lumina’s Strategy Director for Access Melanie Heath talks about the next big goal Lumina is setting for 2040 and the direction it’s taking to Empower America’s Workforce Through Education and Training. It aligns directly with the tnAchieves vision to taking a human approach to Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce. One key is ensuring students are graduating with credentials of impact/value before entering the workforce. Research shows 84.7% of tnAchieves graduates are living and working in Tennessee after they graduate. These credentials will lead to a more skilled and more prepared workforce, which in turn leads to a more thriving state.

Furthermore, on July 23, 2025, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) announced a partnership with Lumina to redesign of the college admissions process. As part of this pilot, seniors in the Class of 2026 will receive a letter showing which colleges, universities and TCATs have already accepted them without submitting an application. This innovative concept is called Direct Admissions. In Tennessee, it will connect automatic college admissions for students with an estimated financial aid package. The goal is to help students see where they’ve already been accepted to college and how they can afford to enroll.

Tune in to get a better understanding of this process, and how the state of Tennessee continues to lead the way in putting students first by eliminating barriers to post-secondary education.

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In May, SoFi and tnAchieves launched a partnership alongside Tennessee native Kelsea Ballerini called The Rising Stars Program. The goal is to equip the next generation of Tennessee students with the tools to achieve financial independence. As part of the partnership, SoFi is equipping all tnAchieves students with a financial planning curriculum to cover topics like budgeting, investing and saving for future life milestones.

In this episode of At Scale, the tnAchieves Podcast, we’re joined by SoFi’s head of advice and planning Brian Walsh—aka Dr. Money. The SoFi Philosophy is to attack debt with a plan, always have a safety net, put your money to work and save for retirement (and other goals). With that philosophy in mind, Walsh explains the importance of students having access to a financial education while getting their post-secondary education and why it’s key to start healthy habits for your money now.

Research shows 84.7% of tnAchieves graduates are living and working in Tennessee after they graduate. Together we explore the importance of these graduates having financial literacy as they enter Tennessee’s workforce. Dr. Money also shares the one thing students can do RIGHT NOW to start planning financially for their future.

Tune in to discover how financial literacy for students will lead to a thriving economy in our state—and maybe learn a tip or two about planning and investing financially in your own future.

Learn more about the SoFi partnership here: https://www.tnachieves.org/news/sofi.

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Links:

• SoFi x tnAchieves Rising Stars Partnership — SoFi Partners with Kelsea Ballerini and tnAchieves to Invest $2 Million for Tennessee's Next Generation to Achieve Their Ambitions

Donna Linderman is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success for the State University of New York. In her current role and previous role at the City University of New York , Donna has been instrumental in revolutionizing student-focused support. As you listen, you may hear a few acronyms you'll want to be familiar with:

• SUNY – State University of New York

ASAP|ACE are student success programs for postsecondary students that provide participation with personal, academic and financial supports. ASAP is focused on community college students while ACE is designed to promote on-time bachelor’s degree completion at four-year institutions.

In this episode, we discuss the crucial need for holistic supports on a college campus that are designed to meet the most vulnerable students’ needs in an effort to increase degree retention and, ultimately, completion. We also talk about the importance of piloting programs based directly on student needs and how to scale them statewide to move the needle for all students.

If you want better insight into what exactly the name ‘At Scale’ means, this conversation gets right to the heart of it.

Learn more about ASAP|ACE: https://www.suny.edu/asap-ace/history/

tnAchieves: https://www.tnachieves.org/

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Nathalie Gazzaneo serves as the Co-Director of The Project on Workforce at Harvard University. This innovative project is researching and providing guidance on closing the college to career gap and ensure future workforce needs are met.

In this episode, we dig into the research The Project on Workforce is focused on like the Workforce Almanac. We also talk pragmatically about today’s workforce needs and how certain organizations and businesses are thriving in our current climate. We wrap up with advice from Nathalie on how non-profits like tnAchieves can best serve students who are navigating the journey from K12 through college to career.

We are humbled to have such a visionary leader on our podcast and thankful for Harvard University for its leadership and research in the work. We are feeling even more motivated and equipped to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce.

• Learn more about the Project on Workforce: https://www.pw.hks.harvard.edu/

• The Workforce Almanac: https://workforcealmanac.com/

• tnAchieves: https://tnachieves.org

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In this episode of At Scale, the tnAchieves Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Stephen Streiffer, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), one of the nation’s most advanced research institutions and a major economic engine for the Southeastern United States. As ORNL continues to lead groundbreaking work in fields like energy, national security, and especially artificial intelligence (AI), Dr. Streiffer offers a compelling look into how innovation at the lab is shaping not only the future of science, but also the future of Tennessee’s workforce.

Together, we explore what it takes to pursue a career at ORNL—from the educational pathways and skills in demand to the mindset needed to thrive in a fast-evolving scientific environment. Dr. Streiffer shares practical advice for students and professionals alike, discusses the role of AI in transforming industries, and highlights how ORNL is preparing for a workforce landscape that is changing at unprecedented speed.

Whether you’re a student dreaming of a career in science and technology, an educator shaping tomorrow’s talent, or a policymaker thinking about workforce development at scale, this episode delivers invaluable insights from one of Tennessee’s most influential scientific leaders.

Tune in and discover how ORNL is driving progress—and how you can be part of it.

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In this episode of At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, hosts Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling sit down with Dr. Martha Kanter, CEO Emerita of College Promise and former U.S. Under Secretary of Education, along with Rosye Cloud, Interim CEO of College Promise. Together, they explore the mission and nationwide impact of the College Promise movement—expanding access to high-quality post-secondary opportunities for students of all backgrounds. The conversation highlights the urgent need to strengthen America’s talent pipeline and the role College Promise plays in building a more equipped and prepared workforce. From policy to practice, this episode offers an inspiring look at what it takes to ensure every student has a path to success—at scale.

Learn more about College Promise at https://www.collegepromise.org/.

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In the second episode of At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, SCORE President & CEO David Mansouri joins the conversation to discuss the evolving landscape of education and workforce development in Tennessee. The episode centers around SCORE’s strategic priorities, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration and the role of meaningful data analysis in driving outcomes. Mansouri highlights how building strong, intentional connections between education and employment is vital to ensuring Tennessee students are prepared for the demands of the modern economy. The conversation explores how partnerships between education leaders, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, and employers are critical to achieving statewide progress.

About SCORE

About tnAchieves

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