Tabitha Turner
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Nashville has never been short on ambitious women — professionals who dream bigger, work harder, and open doors for those who follow.
From entrepreneurs and executives to creatives, advocates, and innovators, these women are making an impact in their industries, strengthening our community, and proving that success is even more meaningful when it’s shared. They are leaving a lasting mark on Music City — one bold decision at a time.
In your own words, how would you describe what you do?
As Dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University, I serve as both the chief executive officer and chief academic officer of a complex, multi-million-dollar enterprise. My responsibility is to provide strategic leadership for the college while ensuring academic excellence across our undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs. My role is to build an environment where students, faculty, and industry partners can thrive while advancing the economic and workforce needs of Middle Tennessee.
What were you like growing up, and when did you first begin to imagine the path you’re on today?
Growing up, I was curious, determined, and always eager to learn. However, becoming a business school dean was never part of my original plan. The night I met Dr. Marlene Reed was life-altering. She was my first female business professor, and it did not happen until my junior year in college.
What are three professional accomplishments that mean a lot to you?
1. Earning my Ph.D. at age 46 while working full-time and raising children. This achievement represents perseverance, determination, and a belief that it is never too late to pursue your goals.
2. Becoming a Business School Dean. Women remain underrepresented in business school leadership, with fewer than 30 percent of business deans being female. Earning this role was both professionally rewarding and personally significant.
3. Serving as the only female business dean within the Tennessee State University System. This distinction reminds me of the importance of representation and the responsibility to serve as a role model for future generations of women leaders.
What do you love most about what you do?
What I love most is the opportunity to transform lives. Every day, I have the privilege of helping students prepare for meaningful careers and successful futures.
What advice would you offer young women who hope to follow a path similar to yours?
My educational journey was anything but traditional. It took me eight years to complete my undergraduate degree and four years to earn my MBA while working full-time and raising children. Then, at age 43, with my children grown, I decided to return to school and pursue a Ph.D., which I completed at 46.
Those experiences taught me that your starting point does not determine your destination.
My advice to young women is simple:
First, do not let anyone else define your potential. Set ambitious goals and believe you can achieve them, even when the path forward is unclear. Second, be willing to embrace challenges that stretch you. Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.
Third, seek mentors and sponsors who will encourage you, advocate for you, and provide honest feedback.
Fourth, remember that careers are rarely linear. Think of your career as a lattice rather than a ladder. Some of the most important opportunities in my life came from unexpected directions, relationships, and experiences.