Candice McQueen Will Be the First Woman President of Lipscomb University in Nashville

Candice McQueen was named the eighteenth president of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. When she takes office on September 7, Dr. McQueen will be the first woman to lead the university in its 130-year history.

Lipscomb University, which is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, enrolls nearly 3,000 undergraduate students and more than 1,700 graduate students, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 60 percent of the undergraduate student body.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen to serve as the president of Lipscomb University,” Dr. McQueen said. “Lipscomb is a truly remarkable place where students grow in their faith and character while building toward their careers — all in partnership with exceptional faculty and staff who are leaders in their field. I know firsthand how life-changing this community can be, and I want to ensure that experience for countless others for many years to come.”

Dr. McQueen most recently served as CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, a national nonprofit founded by the Milken Education Foundation. She is the former commissioner of education for the state of Tennessee. Dr. McQueen has also served as senior vice president and dean of Lipscomb University’s College of Education. She first joined the faculty at the university in 2001.

Dr. McQueen earned a bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University. She holds a master’s degree in school administration from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in curriculum studies from the University of Texas.