A Year In, Reyes Points to Walters State’s People

Dr. Saul Reyes marks his first year as president of Walters State Community College this month, and he credits the college's people for making the job what it's been. 

"This place is special because of its people," Reyes said. 

Over the past year, Reyes has visited the college’s various campuses and centers and spent time across the college's 10-county service area, meeting with students, faculty, staff, employers and community leaders.  

Those conversations shaped how he thinks about the college's mission. 

"Being a community college means being part of the community," Reyes said. "It means listening to the people who live here. It means understanding what our employers need. It means creating opportunities for students and families." 

Each year, more than 1,000 Walters State students complete degrees and credentials. Reyes says the number matters less than who's behind it. 

“This place is special because of its people.” Dr. Saul Reyes President

"A first-generation student. A parent coming back to school. A high schooler earning college credit before they've got a diploma. A graduate who gets to build a career without leaving home," he said. "That's who the number is." 

Reyes has also pushed the college to work more closely with regional employers, identifying workforce gaps and building training programs to fill them. The approach starts with listening, he said, then follows with action: programs like welding and flooring grew because employers said those were the jobs going unfilled, and new programs in medical laboratory technology and cybersecurity are underway for the same reason. 

That approach has shown up in dollars, too. Students received more than $24 million in financial aid this past year, including $11 million in federal aid and $13 million in state aid. The Walters State Foundation added another $1.2 million in gifts, funding scholarships for nearly 600 students. 

The college also expanded support closer to home for one specific group. This fall, Walters State became one of just six Tennessee institutions selected for a state Veteran Initiatives Grant, adding mental health resources for veterans and military-connected students on top of the college's existing VETS Campus designation. 

Reyes said that kind of targeted response is what being a community college actually requires: noticing who needs something specific, then building it. 

Going into year two, Reyes said the priorities hold steady: keep listening, and keep building on what's already working. 

"We have different campuses, programs and communities, but we share one mission," Reyes said. "Everything comes back to creating opportunity for the people of East Tennessee." 

He's already thinking about what's ahead. 

"I'm grateful for what I've learned this first year, and for the dedicated faculty and staff who work hard each day," Reyes said. "And I'm even more excited about what comes next." 

Explore the ways Walters State is making a difference today.