TBR Appoints Dr. Saul Reyes as Next Walters State President
August 6, 2025
Dr. Saul Reyes to Become Fifth President
In a special called meeting today, the Tennessee Board of Regents appointed Dr. Saul
Reyes as the next president of Walters State Community College. He will assume office
as the college’s fifth president effective Sept. 8.
Dr. Reyes is currently vice president for enrollment management and student affairs
at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, where he has served in senior leadership
roles since January 2015. He has more than 35 years of professional experience in
higher education, including service as an instructor, counselor, advisor, and in several
leadership positions.
The board’s vote was unanimous for his appointment, following his recommendation for
the presidency by TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings. “Dr. Reyes is an accomplished leader
with the experience and skills necessary to build upon Walters State’s strong foundation
and to guide the college toward an even more successful future,” she said.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to the Tennessee Board of Regents and Chancellor
Tydings for placing their trust in me. Walters State holds a special place in the
heart of the community, and I’m excited to join its talented faculty and staff in
the meaningful work of empowering students,” Dr. Reyes said. “Together, we’ll continue
to transform lives through education and workforce training, creating opportunities
that uplift individuals, families, and the region we serve.”
He told the board that he and his wife visited Morristown and the East Tennessee region
served by the college just prior to campus interviews and forums for presidential
finalists last month. “We walked on each of the campuses and talked in the communities
to people and asked them about their perspectives on the college,” and learned the
special place the college holds in their hearts, he said.
Dr. Reyes earned an Ed.D. in higher education leadership at the University of South
Florida, a master of arts in counseling at West Virginia University, and a bachelor
of science in youth ministries and biblical studies at Gordon College. He began his
career in 1986 as an assistant chaplain, career advisor and adjunct instructor at
Bethany College in West Virginia. He has also served at the University of Connecticut,
Centre College in Kentucky, Jacksonville University in Florida, Florida Southern College,
the University of South Florida, and Polk State College in Florida prior to joining
the College of Central Florida as vice president for student affairs in 2015. His
complete resume is available on the WSCC presidential search webpage at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-walters-state-community-college.
He will succeed Dr. Tony Miksa, who served as president for nine years until his resignation
this summer to serve as president of a community college in Kansas. Dr. Tom Sewell
is serving as interim president. The president is the college’s chief executive officer.
Reyes was one of three finalists selected by a 16-member search advisory committee
composed of four Board of Regents members, representatives of the college’s students,
faculty, staff and alumni, and civic and business leaders from the community. The
finalists participated in public forums on the Morristown campus July 21-23. After
the forums, Tydings reviewed input from the public and the campus community, conducted
further interviews with the candidates, and consulted with the search committee to
select one candidate for recommendation to the board.
Regent Miles Burdine described the search process, which included the open forums
with the finalists and an open forum on campus April 22 providing the public and campus
community an opportunity to voice their views on the aspirations and needs of the
college in the selection of its next president. “It was my privilege to serve on the
committee as the chair, along with many others who were very focused and very enthusiastic
about the process… The involvement of Walters State’s faculty, staff, students, community
members and industry leaders in the presidential search process was truly commendable,”
he said.
Board Vice Chair Emily Reynolds and the chancellor joined Regent Burdine in thanking
the search committee members. “This process is one of the most important things that
we as a board do and we take it very seriously. We have a process that works, and
it does engage people from the community. It’s so critical to get to the right decision
in these searches. So, thanks to everyone who gave so generously of their time,” Regent
Reynolds said.
Walters State is a public community college established in 1970 and primarily serving
Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Sevier and
Union counties. In addition to its main campus in Morristown, the college has the
Niswonger Campus in Greeneville, the Sevier County Campus, the Claiborne County Campus,
and the Newport Center. For more information, visit the college's website at https://ws.edu/.
Wednesday’s meeting was livestreamed and is archived for viewing anytime on the TBR
website at https://www.tbr.edu/board/august-6-2025-special-called-board-meeting. Board materials detailing the two agenda items are posted at the same meeting link.