Dr. Matthew Hensley

Leadership Tennessee, a collective with a mission to foster non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance, has named Dr. Matt Hensley of East Tennessee State University to the Leadership Tennessee NEXT program.

Hensley is an assistant professor in ETSU’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The East Tennessee native holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and taught middle and high school social studies.  He was a K-12 natural history museum educator before entering higher education.

Hensley is a published author whose research interests include exploring alternative approaches to teaching and learning social studies; educational technology; visual literacy; critical social media literacy; inquiry-based learning grounded in the National Council for the Social Studies’ College, Career and Civic Life Framework; and social studies teacher preparation and professional development.

In addition, Hensley was elected to the Greeneville City Council as one of two representatives of Ward Two earlier this month.

“I am honored to be selected for the prestigious Leadership Tennessee NEXT program this fall,” Hensley said. “Alongside 31 exceptional leaders from diverse geographic and industry backgrounds, we will visit all three Grand Divisions of Tennessee to gain a firsthand understanding of our state’s biggest challenges. 

“For me, this program is about more than just identifying and fixing problems; it’s about unlocking potential. With the insights gained, I look forward to contributing to the advancement of Tennessee and applying what I learn to my various roles not only at ETSU but also within the greater East Tennessee region.” 

This year’s Leadership Tennessee NEXT class includes 32 representatives from 11 Tennessee counties with diverse professional experience in a wide range of sectors and industries.

The cohort is Tennessee’s only statewide leadership program focusing on existing and emerging leaders and spanning geographic and industry boundaries.

“We’re proud to offer this robust program, which provides in-depth personal and professional development to early- and mid-career professionals,” said Alfred Degrafinreid II, president and CEO of Leadership Tennessee. “We see it every year in our class participants – they grow in front of our eyes, and they take the knowledge they gained back to their day-to-day, where we start to see a ripple effect on a variety of issues.”

During each class session, members will be able to engage with those from the Signature Program, highlight issues and opportunities specific to Tennessee and promote personal skill development. The cohort’s work will begin in August and run through November.

Candidates are selected by an anonymous selection committee and evaluated based on the following criteria: professionals who excel in their fields, are engaged in service to their communities and are dedicated to improving the lives of Tennesseans.

Since Leadership Tennessee’s founding, more than 600 members have graduated from both Leadership Tennessee NEXT and the organization’s Signature Program.

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About Leadership Tennessee

Leadership Tennessee was founded in 2013 as an initiative of the College of Leadership and Public Service at Lipscomb University, and in 2021, it launched as an independent 501(c)(3). The program fosters collaborative, non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance, connecting a network of diverse leaders and engaged citizens. Citizens with demonstrated community and professional leadership from every region of the state bring their diverse backgrounds and experiences to an in-depth exploration of the complex issues facing Tennessee, with a focus on how leaders can collaborate to effectively address those issues.

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

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