New Division Names Unveiled at Jackson State Community College

Following an internal restructure to streamline and enhance the college, Jackson State Community College (JSCC) has unveiled new names for the college’s divisions under the direction of JSCC President Dr. Carol A. Rothstein.

The newly renamed divisions are as follows:

• The School of Healthcare Professions
• The School of Business, Industry, and Technology
• The School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• The School of Math and Natural Sciences

“We wanted to create a sense of unity across our divisions through this renaming process and also to help shape the identity of our divisions,” said Dr. Rothstein. “Our programs are award-winning and taught by some incredibly talented and caring instructors that you won’t find elsewhere. It was only fitting that these names reflect this excellence and that the college is a place for students to come and enhance their education through our collective schools.”

Through the college’s new division names, JSCC also restructured the former Nursing Division and Health Science Division to unify them under one name as the School of Healthcare Professions.

Following an extensive search to establish a Dean for this new division, JSCC appointed Chrystal Taylor as the new Dean for the School of Healthcare Professions.

Taylor brings over twenty years of experience in the healthcare field as well as ten years in higher education to the role. She most recently served as Department Chair and Assistant Professor for the Health Sciences program at JSCC where she has worked for over a decade. In her previous position, Taylor was instrumental in directing and growing three of JSCC’s certificate programs (Healthcare Technician, Patient Care Technician, and Medical Coding) and the A.A.S. Health Sciences degree. She has also fulfilled the role of Principal Investigator and budget manager for the Delta Regional Workforce grant that has been awarded over 1.7 million dollars.

“I’m honored and incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” said Taylor. “Seeing the progress made over the past decade that I’ve been with Jackson State has been inspiring, and to now have the opportunity to pour back into and lead this division is truly an honor. We have already begun making great strides, and I’m excited and proud of what we’ve achieved and will continue achieving in the future.”

During her time at JSCC, Taylor also worked in numerous other positions. In 2014, she served as a Registered Nurse for Baptist Memorial Hospital before being promoted to Head Nurse until her departure in 2020. She was an RN Supervisor for Laurelwood Healthcare from 2017-2018, and an RN and Charge Nurse at Jackson Madison County General Hospital from 2014-2015. Taylor has also served as a Clinical Supervisor School Nurse and Consultant for the Jackson Madison County School System since 2011.

Taylor holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lambuth University, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Management and Strategic Leadership from the University of Memphis (U of M), and an Associate of Science in Nursing (JSCC). She is currently in the process of earning a doctorate in Adult Education from U of M and is expected to graduate in December 2026.

“Chrystal is a product of our nursing program and has proven through her own program leadership and development to be a true asset to the college,” said Transitional Vice President of Academic Affairs Sara Youngerman. “She brings a great wealth of knowledge, leadership, and ingenuity to the role, and I’m excited to see our Healthcare Professions continue to be the best in the state and across the region.”

In the last few years, Taylor has been recognized for her hard work and dedication through multiple awards such as the 2023 Rural Health Association of Tennessee Community Collaboration Award, the 2023 Tennessee Department of Health Recognition for Contributions to the Healthcare Workforce, and the 2022 Jackson State Community College New Horizons Award Excellence in Teaching.

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