Dr. Arlene Nicholas-Phillips

Dr. Arlene Nicholas-Phillips serves as Executive Assistant to the President of Tennessee State University as well as the University’s Liaison to the Governing Board, Global Initiatives & Partnerships and to the World Bank Group HBCU Alliance. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the College of Education. In addition to ensuring the daily administrative operations of the President’s Office, she is expanding the TSU footprint on the global market. This Trinidad born native continues to open academic doors for scholars throughout the Caribbean and other developing nations. 

Dr. Nicholas-Phillips is a credentialed leader as depicted by her academic accomplishments. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership, a Masters degree in Strategic Leadership and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration with her research area in Global Open Education. She has presented at several national and international conferences. Having owned several successful businesses in her past, and having served as a financial analyst, this entrepreneur also enjoys teaching others about finance. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee State University Federal Credit Union, as well as a member of its Supervisory Committee. 

Dr. Nicholas-Phillips is a member many professional organizations, including the Women in Higher Education of Tennessee (WHET), where she also serves as the TSU institutional member for WHET, the Council of Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the National Association of Corporate Relations Officers (NACRO). She has been recognized as a Global Scholar by the U.S. Department of Education. She has led and participated in several study abroad programs including Johannesburg, South Africa; Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; and Accra, Ghana. She has recently returned from India where she successfully established strategic partnerships with four universities in India.  

Dr. Nicholas-Phillips enjoys yoga and singing. She is a classically trained singer and is a proud member of the Concert Choral of Nashville. She has served on the International Music Committee of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated and is a proud member of Psi Zeta Omega Chapter.