{{Short description|Black college in Nashville, Tennessee, US}} {{redirect|Tennessee State|the U.S. state|Tennessee}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Distinguish|East Tennessee State University}} {{Infobox university | name = Tennessee State University | image = Tennessee State University seal.svg | image_upright = 0.8 | image_size = 160 | motto = ''Think. Work. Serve'' | established = {{Start date and age|1912|06|19}} | accreditation = SACS | type = Public, historically black land-grant university | endowment = $91.1 million (2021)<ref>As of March 7, 2022. {{cite report |url=https://tntribune.com/hbcu-moneys-2021-top-10-hbcu-endowments/ |title=HBCU Money's 2021 Top 10 HBCU Endowments |publisher=The Tennessee Tribune |date=March 7, 2021 |access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref> | president = Dwayne Tucker | provost = Robbie K. Melton | faculty = 443 full-time & 169 part-time<ref name="nces.ed.gov">{{Cite web | url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Tennessee+State+University&s=all&id=221838 |title = College Navigator - Tennessee State University}}</ref> | students = 8,198 (fall 2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tnstate.edu/ir/FB%202022-2023%20-%20Enrollment%20by%20Student%20Level%20and%20Classification.pdf|title =Tennessee State Fall 2022 Enrollment}}</ref> | undergrad = 6,765 (fall 2023) | city = Nashville | state = Tennessee | country = United States | coor = {{Coord|36|10|00|N|86|49|50|W|region:US-TN_type:edu|display=inline,title}} | campus = Large city | campus_size = {{cvt|903|acre}} | former_names = Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State Normal School for Negroes (1912–1925)<br />Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State Normal College (1925–1927)<br />Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College (1927–1968) | colors = Blue and white<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tnstate.edu/publications/logos.aspx |title=Tennessee State University Style Guide |access-date=August 26, 2022}}</ref><br />{{color box|#0070C0}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFFFFF}} | sports_nickname = Tigers and Lady Tigers | athletics_affiliations = NCAA Division I – OVC | academic_affiliation = {{hlist|ORAU|TMCF}} | website = {{URL|www.tnstate.edu}} | logo = Tennessee State University logo.svg | footnotes = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Tennessee State University Historic District | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | image = WTN PeepHoles 052.JPG | caption = | location = 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd<br />Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | nearest_city = | area = | built = | architect = Marr & Holman, et al. | architecture = | added = June 14, 1996 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | refnum = 96000677 | mpsub = }} }}

'''Tennessee State University''' ('''Tennessee State''', '''Tenn State''', or '''TSU''') is a public historically black land-grant university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, it is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee. It is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmcf.org/about-us/our-schools/member-schools|title=Member-Schools|publisher=Thurgood Marshall College Fund|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926180255/https://www.tmcf.org/about-us/our-schools/member-schools|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tennessee State University offers 41 bachelor's degrees, 23 master's degrees, and eight doctoral degrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/undergraduate/|title=Undergraduate Programs|date=2014|publisher=Tennessee State University|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collegetuitioncompare.com/graduate/tennessee-state-university/|title=Tennessee State University - Graduate Degrees and Programs|date=2019|website=collegetuitioncompare.com|publisher= College Tuition Compare|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref> It is classified as "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".<ref>{{cite web |title=Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup |url=https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=221838 |publisher=Center for Postsecondary Education |website=carnegieclassifications.iu.edu |access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref>

==History== The university was established as the '''Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State Normal School for Negroes''' in 1912.<ref name="tnencyclopedia">{{cite web|last1=Lovett |first1=Bobby L. |title=Tennessee State University |url=http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1358 |website=The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture |publisher=Tennessee Historical Society and the University of Tennessee Press |access-date=August 24, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503202457/http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1358 |archive-date=May 3, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="lamon1">{{cite journal|last1=Lamon|first1=Lester C.|title=The Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial Normal School: Public Higher Education for Black Tennesseans|journal=Tennessee Historical Quarterly|date=Spring 1973|volume=32|issue=1|pages=42–58|jstor=42623357}}</ref> Its dedication was held on January 16, 1913.<ref name="tnencyclopedia"/> It changed its name to '''Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State Normal College''' in 1925.<ref name="tnencyclopedia"/> Two years later, in 1927, it became known as '''Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College'''.<ref name="tnencyclopedia"/>

In 1941, the Tennessee General Assembly directed the Board of Education to upgrade the educational program of the college. Three years later the first master's degrees were awarded and by 1946 the college was fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.<ref name="blackpast.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.blackpast.org/aah/tennessee-state-university-1912|title=Tennessee State University (1912- ) |publisher=The Black Past|website=www.blackpast.org|date=January 5, 2010}}</ref>

Significant expansion occurred during the presidency of Walter S. Davis between 1943 and 1968. The postwar period resulted in the construction of "70 percent of the school's facilities" and the establishment of the graduate school and four other schools.<ref name="tennesseanblackhistory">{{cite news|title=Black History Month: Walter Davis helped build TSU while president|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/02/11/black-history-month-walter-davis-helped-build-tsu-while-president/23246837/|access-date=December 18, 2017|work=The Tennessean|date=February 11, 2015}}</ref>

In 1968, the college officially changed its name to Tennessee State University. In 1979, the University of Tennessee at Nashville merged into Tennessee State due to a court mandate.<ref name="blackpast.org"/> The merger was part of the settlement of the Geier vs. Tennessee law suit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Siner |first1=Emily |title=The Debt: Almost 60 Years Ago, a Court Case at Tennessee State University Transformed Higher Education in the State |url=https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/debt-almost-60-years-ago-court-case-tennessee-state-university-transformed-higher-education |access-date=3 January 2026 |work=Tennessee Lookout |date=15 December 2025}}</ref>

In 2022, Tennessee State University was awarded $250 million from the state legislature. The funds were intended to upgrade facilities and academic programs on campus.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/tennessee-state-university-outlines-spending-plans-for-250m-from-state/ | title=Tennessee State University outlines spending plans for $250M from state | date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref> At the time of the award, the $250 million investment was the largest single investment into a historically black institution in the history of the country.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wsmv.com/2023/01/17/250m-goes-tsu-infrastructure-projects-none-used-add-on-campus-housing/ | title=$250M goes to TSU for infrastructure projects, none used to add on-campus housing | date=January 17, 2023 }}</ref>

In 2023, Tennessee State's most well known graduate, Oprah Winfrey, served as the official commencement speaker for the first time.<ref>.https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/staff/2023/05/06/what-did-oprah-winfrey-say-at-tennessee-state-universitys-graduation/70163963007/#:~:text=Oprah%20Winfrey%20delivered%20a%20hopeful,lawmakers%20as%20examples%20to%20all.</ref>

On March 28, 2024, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation that removed all of the school's board of trustees and replaced them with new members, subject to legislative confirmation. Characterizing the school as a “remarkable institution” he said, “I’m pleased to appoint these highly qualified individuals who will work alongside administrators and students to further secure TSU’s place as a leading institution.”

State legislation authorizing the governor to vacate the board of trustees was prompted by the numerous instances of financial and procedural mismanagement uncovered in recent school audits. Representative Ryan Williams specifically noted that the $250 million appropriation made by the legislature in 2022 was “completely blown through” and not used for infrastructure improvements as intended.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kruesi |first=Kimberlee |date=March 28, 2024 |title=Tennessee politicians strip historically Black university of its board |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tennessee-politicians-strip-historically-black-university-board-108631634 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=ABC News |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bunn |first1=Curtis |title=Tennessee lawmakers dismantle HBCU’s board of trustees, to the dismay of students and alumni |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/tennessee-state-university-board-trustees-removed-rcna145615 |website=NBC News |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref>

Tennessee State University is divided into 10 schools and colleges and has seen steady growth since its inception. It remains the only public university in Nashville. Its health science program is the largest in the state and one of the largest in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/academic_programs/index.aspx|title=Academic Programs|first=Tennessee State|last=University|website=www.tnstate.edu}}</ref>

==Campus== The {{convert|500|acre|km2}} main campus has more than 65 buildings, and is located in a residential setting at 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee State's main campus has the most acres of any college campus in Nashville. The Avon Williams campus is located downtown, near the center of the Nashville business and government district. Tennessee State offers on-campus housing to students. There are on-campus dorms and two apartment complexes for upperclassmen. On-campus facilities include dormitories Wilson Hall, Watson Hall, Eppse Hall, Boyd Hall, Rudolph Hall, Hale Hall, as well as the Ford Complex and New Residence Complex, TSU's two on-campus apartment complexes.

==Academics== {{Infobox US university ranking | USNWR_NU = 29 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities; 392-434 in National Universities <ref>{{cite web|title=Tennessee State University |access-date=August 31, 2018 |website=U.S. News & World Report |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/tennessee-state-3522 }}</ref> | Wamo_NU = 100 <ref>{{cite web |title=2018 National Universities Rankings |access-date=August 31, 2018 |website=Washington Monthly |url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2018college-guide?ranking=2018-rankings-national-universities |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829221903/https://washingtonmonthly.com/2018college-guide?ranking=2018-rankings-national-universities |url-status=dead }}</ref> }} The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/academic_programs/colleges/ |title=Division of Academic Affairs |publisher=Tennessee State University |date=January 2, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=221838 |title=Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education |publisher=Indiana University |date=2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

The university is organized into the following schools and colleges:

*College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Sciences<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/agriculture/ |title=College of Agriculture |publisher=Tennessee State University |date=June 4, 2018|access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *College of Business<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/business/ |title=College of Business |publisher=Tennessee State University |date=August 1, 2018|access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *College of Education<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnstate.edu/coe/ |title=College of Education |publisher=Tennessee State University |date=July 30, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *College of Engineering<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnstate.edu/engineering/ |title=College of Engineering|publisher=Tennessee State University |date=August 30, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *College of Health Sciences<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnstate.edu/health_sciences/ |title=College of Health Sciences|publisher=Tennessee State University |date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *College of Liberal Arts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnstate.edu/cla/ |title=College of Liberal Arts|publisher=Tennessee State University |date=July 5, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *College of Life and Physical Sciences<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnstate.edu/sciences/ |title=College of Life and Physical Sciences|publisher=Tennessee State University |date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *College of Public Service<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnstate.edu/cpsua/ |title=College of Public Service|publisher=Tennessee State University |date=August 30, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> *University Honors College<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/honors/about/index.aspx |title=University Honors Program |publisher=Tennessee State University |date=October 31, 1995 |access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref> *School of Graduate and Professional Studies<ref>{{Cite web |title=Graduate School - TSU |url=https://www.tnstate.edu/graduate/ |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.tnstate.edu}}</ref>

The College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It was the first institution in Nashville to earn the accreditation of both its undergraduate and graduate business programs in 1994. The psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Programs in the College of Engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or the National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT). The Master of Public Health program was accredited in 2015 by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).<ref>{{cite web |title=Master of Public Health Program at Tennessee State University Receives Full Accreditation |url=http://www.tnstate.edu/phas/mphaccreditation.aspx |access-date=July 12, 2018}}</ref>

==Student life== {| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;" |+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023<ref>{{cite web |title= College Scorecard: Tennessee State University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?221838-Tennessee-State-University|website=College Scorecard |publisher=United States Department of Education |access-date=July 27, 2025}}</ref> |- ! Race and ethnicity ! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total |- | Black |align=right| {{bartable|85|%|2||background:purple}} |- | White |align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:cyan}} |- | Hispanic |align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:green}} |- | Two or more races |align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:violet}} |- | International student |align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:#008080}} |- | Unknown |align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:grey}} |- | Asian |align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:orange}} |- ! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |Economic diversity |- | Low-income{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.}} |align=right| {{bartable|53|%|2||background:red}} |- | Affluent{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.}} |align=right| {{bartable|47|%|2||background:black}} |} thumb|right|200px|Tennessee State University Tigers wordmark

===Athletics=== {{Main|Tennessee State Tigers and Lady Tigers}} Tennessee State University sponsors seven men's and eight women's teams in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctioned sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsutigers.com/ |title=Official Site of Tennessee State Athletics |publisher=TSUTigers.com |access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref> The school competes in the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). As a member of the OVC, Tennessee State is one of three Division I HBCU athletic programs that are not members of either the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) or Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), whose members are primarily HBCU institutions. TSU has a rivalry with Tennessee Tech and Kentucky State University.

===Student organizations=== There are over 60 registered student organizations on campus including the Student Government Association, Aristocrat of Bands (AOB), and many Greek-lettered organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/campus_life/organizations.aspx|title=Student Organizations|website=www.tnstate.edu}}</ref>

==Notable faculty== *Michael Harris, public policy scholar *Millicent Lownes-Jackson

==Notable alumni== <!-- NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * *NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here as Notable people. This establishes notability. The person's biographical article should say how they are associated with the university. An external reliable source of their association should be cited in their Article and here. All others will be deleted without further explanation. Alphabetize by last name please. Use a short one line description of Notability (no period). If the person you think is Notable and does not have a Wikipedia Article for themselves create one. Guidelines for the Notability of a person can be found by entering WP:PEOPLE in the wiki search. Guidelines on what is needed and how to write the Article can be found by entering WP:MOSBIO in the wiki search. END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * *END OF NOTICE --> <!-- DO NOT ADD PEOPLE TO THIS LIST WITHOUT A VERIFIABLE CITATION. Additions without a citation are subject to removal. If a citation link is broken, please replace it with one that works. -->

{{Excessive examples|section|date=December 2025}}

===Aviation=== {{alum/start |ilist= |alist= {{Alum|name=U. L. "Rip" Gooch|year=|nota=Commercial pilot (20,000+ hours); certified flight instructor; owner/president, Aero Services, Inc.; 1993 Kansas Governor's Aviation Honor Award; inductee, Black Aviation Hall of Fame|ref=<ref name="res_1770">[http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/sr1770_enrolled.pdf Senate Resolution No.1770: A Resolution congratulating and commending Senator Ulysses Lee "Rip" Gooch], Kansas State Senate, 2013</ref><ref name="g_honor">"[http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2001/09/03/daily18.html Gooch and Johnson honored as aviators]," September 6, 2001, ''Wichita Business Journal''</ref><ref name="black_auto">Gooch, U.L. "Rip" with Glen Sharp, ''[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7467232.U_L_Rip_Gooch Black Horizons: One Aviator's Experience in the Post-Tuskeegee Era],''2006, Aviation Business Consultants, Wichita, KS. Self-published autobiography, [https://books.google.com/books/about/Black_Horizons.html?id=9XmyAAAACAAJ partially published online at Google Books], and [https://www.amazon.com/U.L.-Rip-Gooch/e/B00FTVTDFS distributed by Amazon.com]</ref><ref name="g_activist">[http://www.kaaac.ks.gov/legislative-advocacy/news-events/meetings-and-signature-projects/events/2013/02/22/u.l.-rip-gooch---legislator-aviator-and-activist U.L. "Rip" Gooch - Legislator, aviator and activist], website of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission, Office of the Governor, State of Kansas, September 13, 2013 (retrieved Oct.29, 2014).</ref><ref name="bpa_notam">Noble. Horace - [http://www.bpapilots.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-Sept-ATIS-8-X-11.pdf "Jayhawk at Skyhook 2014; Senator U.L. "Rip" Gooch attends Skyhook 2014"], Sept. 2014, ''BPA ATIS'' newsletter, Black Pilots of America, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; notation that Gooch was an original member of the black aviation organization Negro Aviation International, Inc., before transferring to the BPA, and notes his attendance at Skyhook 2014, "the premier event of Black aviation." Reports his May 2014 election as Sergeant-at-Arms of the Jayhawk Chapter of the BPA.</ref><ref name="salina">[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/43973891/ "Salina bankers deny claim they discriminate against minorities,"], ''Salina Journal'', June 6, 1971, page 8, (retrieved Oct.29, 2014 from "Newspapers.com"); includes TEXT identifying "U.L. "Rip" Gooch, president of Aero Services Co., Wichita," as one of the speakers.</ref><ref name="wingsover">Chance, Carl, ed., [http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/category/profiles/page/5/ "Kansas Governors Aviation Honor Awards: U. L. 'RIP' GOOCH,"], WingsOverKansas.com, Nov. 12, 1993</ref><ref name="who_is">Campbell, Jim, ed., "[http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=88fa231a-e884-4a29-a580-212e5df0643f Who Is Rip Gooch And Why Do We Owe Him? 80-Year Old Aviation Pioneer Feted In Wichita],"''Aero-News Network'' online, Sep 15, 2003</ref><ref name="entrep">Weems, Robert E., Jr., "Commentary: [http://kmuw.org/post/past-and-present-wichitas-black-entrepreneurs Past and Present Wichita's Black Entrepreneurs"], KMUW-FM radio (public radio station at Wichita State University), February 6, 2013</ref>}} }}

===Civil rights=== {{alum/start |ilist= |alist= {{Alum|name=Xernona Clayton|year=1952|nota=Civil rights activist|ref=<ref name="tsu">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-117218939.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110125156/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-117218939.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2013|title=TSU To Honor Media Pioneer Xernona Clayton|newspaper=The Tennessee Tribune|date=July 28, 2005 | last=Malone|first=Janice|access-date=January 2, 2013}} {{subscription required|date=January 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=U. L. "Rip" Gooch|year=|nota=Civil rights activist; Commissioner, Kansas Commission on Civil Rights (also see: "Politics" below)|ref=<ref name="res_1770" /><ref name="black_auto" /><ref name="g_activist" /><ref name="state_ap">Associated Press, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1067686/ State Rights Commission Aggressive Force], Garden City ''Telegram'', May 6, 1971, page 3</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Meryle Joy Reagon|year=|nota=Civil rights activist; Freedom Rider|ref=<ref name=CRDL>{{cite web|title=Reagon, Meryle Joy|url=http://crdl.usg.edu/people/r/reagon_meryle_joy/|website=Civil Rights Digital Library|accessdate=5 March 2018}}</ref>}} }}

===Education=== {{alum/start |ilist= |alist= {{Alum|name=Walter S. Davis|year=1931|nota=Second president of Tennessee State University|ref=<ref>Sloss-Prigden, Angela, & Moon, Fletcher F. (2020). Walter S. Davis Biography.1.https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/walter-s-davis-biography/1</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Glenda Glover|year=1974|nota=Eighth president of Tennessee State University|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Glenda Glover|url=http://www.tnstate.edu/president/|publisher=Tnstate.edu|access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Sylvia Lyons Render|year=1934|nota=English professor at two HBCUs, manuscript curator at the Library of Congress|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Andrew P. Torrence|year=1948|nota=Third president of Tennessee State University|ref=<ref>{{cite news|title=Dr. Andrew Torrence, third TSU President, Dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/111911299/?terms=%22Andrew%2BP.%2BTorrence%22|work=The Tennessean|date=June 12, 1980|pages=6; 18|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=registration }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Arthuryne J. Welch-Taylor|year=1953|nota=education professor at several HBCUs, researcher with the National Education Association|ref=}} }}

===Entertainment === {{alum/start |ilist= |alist= {{Alum|name=Jimmy Blanton|year=|nota=Jazz musician|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Jimmy Blanton|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/291/000205673/|publisher=Notable Names Data Base|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Young Buck|year=|nota=Hip hop star|ref={{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} }} {{Alum|name=Hank Crawford|year=|nota=Jazz musician|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Hank Crawford|url=http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/musician.php?id=5970#.UUItwhx--BE|publisher=All About Jazz.|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Moses Gunn|year=|nota=Actor|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Moses Gunn|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0348214/bio|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Lee Summers|year=1980|nota=Broadway Original ''Dreamgirls'', actor, writer|ref=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838745/|title=Lee Summers|website=IMDb}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Carla Thomas|year=|nota=Singer|ref={{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} }} {{Alum|name=Leon Thomas|year=|nota=Jazz singer (attended two years) |ref=<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-leon-thomas-1097568.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220527/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-leon-thomas-1097568.html |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Obituary: Leon Thomas |first=Pierre |last=Perrone |newspaper=The Independent |date=June 2, 1999 |access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Rufus Thomas|year=|nota=Singer (attended one semester)|ref={{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} }} {{Alum|name=Key Wane|year=2012|nota=Hip hop record producer|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=For Detroit's KeY Wane, Graduation Has Two Degrees of Success |url=http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/key-wane-wiki-producer-college-degrees-big-sean/ |website=Black Enterprise |first=Marshall| last=Latimore |date=December 13, 2012 | access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Oprah Winfrey|year=1987|nota=Talk show host, actress, entrepreneur|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Oprah Winfrey|date=June 15, 2008|url=http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/june18/como-061808.html|publisher=Stanford News|access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref>}} }}

===Politics=== {{alum/start |ilist= |alist= {{Alum|name=James Clayborne, Jr.|year=1985|nota=Member of the Illinois Senate|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.senatorclayborne.com/index.php/biography|website=Senatorclayborne.com|access-date=August 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053707/http://www.senatorclayborne.com/index.php/biography|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Vincent Dixie|year=|nota=Representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Sponsor List|url=http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/sponsorlist/default.aspx?id=H540&ga=111|publisher=State of Tennessee|access-date=July 5, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Harold Ford, Sr.|year=|nota=Member of the U.S. Congress|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Harold Ford, Sr|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/543/000116195/|publisher=Notable Names Data Base|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=John Ford|year=|nota=Member of the Tennessee Senate|ref={{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} }} {{Alum|name=Mark Funkhouser|year=|nota=Former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=KC Mayor|url=http://www.erepublic.com/press_releases/258387761.htmlx|publisher=2013 City of Memphis|access-date=September 17, 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Howard Gentry, Jr.|year=|nota=Politician|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Howard Gentry, Jr|url=http://www.smartvoter.org/1999aug/tn/dv/vote/gentry_h/bio.html|publisher=League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.|access-date=March 17, 2013|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104212849/http://www.smartvoter.org/1999aug/tn/dv/vote/gentry_h/bio.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=U. L. "Rip" Gooch|year=|nota=Member, Kansas Senate (oldest serving Kansas state senator at 2004 retirement); member, City Council of Wichita, Kansas (also see: "Civil Rights" above)|ref=<ref name="res_1770" /><ref name="black_auto" /><ref name="g_activist" /><ref name="state_ap" /><ref name="oldest">Associated Press, [http://cjonline.com/stories/122003/leg_gooch.shtml Oldest state senator leaving post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209004126/http://cjonline.com/stories/122003/leg_gooch.shtml |date=December 9, 2015 }}, December 20, 2003, Topeka ''Capital-Journal'',</ref><ref name="leg_ap">Associated Press (John Hanna), [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2003/may/30/legislature_ends_session/ "Legislature ends session with nod to senator,"], May 30, 2003, Lawrence ''Journal-World''</ref><ref name="honors_oldest">Associated Press, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/3413137/ "Senate Honors Oldest Member Before 2003 Adjournment"], May 30, 2003, Salina Journal, page 3</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Thelma Harper|year=|nota=Member of the Tennessee Senate|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Thelma Harper|url=http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s19.html|publisher=Tennessee General Assembly|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Harvey Johnson, Jr.|year=|nota=Former mayor of Jackson, Mississippi|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Harvey Johnson, Jr |url=http://www.jacksonms.gov/government/mayor/mayorbio |publisher=1995-2010 City of Jackson, MS |access-date=March 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801100000/http://www.jacksonms.gov/government/mayor/mayorbio |archive-date=August 1, 2013 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Ronnie Lewis|year=|nota=Former mayor of Dolton, Illinois|ref=<ref>{{Cite news|first= Gregory |last=Tejada |author-link= |title= Educator was Suburb's First Black Official |newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|date=December 8, 2014 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108150603/chicago-tribune/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> }} {{Alum|name=Dr. C. O. Simpkins, Sr.|year=|nota=Dentist in Shreveport, civil rights activist, and member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 1996|ref=<ref>"Louisiana: Simpkins, C. O.", ''Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004'', 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, New Jersey, 2003), p. 794</ref>}} {{Alum|name=A C Wharton|year=|nota=Former mayor of Memphis, Tennessee|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=A C Wharton|url=http://www.cityofmemphis.org/Government/ExecutiveDivision/MayorsOffice.aspx|publisher=2013 City of Memphis|access-date=March 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328122602/http://www.cityofmemphis.org/Government/ExecutiveDivision/MayorsOffice.aspx|archive-date=March 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} }}

===Science and technology=== {{alum/start |ilist= |alist= {{Alum|name=Leonard Jordan|year=|nota=Acting chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture responsible for cultivating public-private partnerships that result in good land and water management practices.|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Dorothy McClendon|year=1948|nota=American microbiologist who developed methods to protect stored goods, notably fuel, from degradation due to biological agents.|ref=<ref>{{Cite book|author=Wini Warren|title=Black Women Scientists in the United States|date=1999|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=0-253-33603-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/blackwomenscient00warr/page/198 198]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/blackwomenscient00warr/page/198}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Dorothy J. Phillips|year=1966|nota=American chemist and Director-at-Large at the American Chemical Society|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Jesse Russell|year=|nota=Electrical engineer and wireless communications pioneer|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Carla Walker-Miller|nota=Engineer and founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services}} {{Alum|name=Angie Jones|year=|nota=Software Engineer. Holds 26 patented inventions in the United States of America and Japan.|ref=<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thenewstack.io/whos-afraid-of-the-queen-of-devrel-angie-jones-of-block/ | title=Who's Afraid of the Queen of DevRel?: Angie Jones of Block | date=March 7, 2023 }}</ref>}} }}

===Sports=== {{alum/start |ilist= |alist= {{Alum|name=Joe Adams|year=|nota=CFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsutigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19600&ATCLID=205668059 |title=100 Moments: "747" Lights Up the Skies |publisher=tsutigers.com |date=August 24, 2012 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204173605/http://www.tsutigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19600&ATCLID=205668059 |archive-date=December 4, 2014 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Brent Alexander|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ALEXABRE01 |title=Brent Alexander |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017020841/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ALEXABRE01 |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Hubbard Alexander|year=|nota=American football player|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Bennie Anderson|year=1999|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ANDERBEN01 |title=Bennie Anderson |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017013400/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ANDERBEN01 |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Dick Barnett|year=1959|nota=NBA basketball player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibcsports.com/basketball/2006-07/tenn/tsus_dick_barnett_and_john_mclen.htm |title=TSUs Dick Barnett and John McLen |publisher=Ibcsports.com |date=November 18, 2007 |access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref> }} {{Alum|name=Ralph Boston|year=|nota=Olympic athlete; three time medal winning long jumper|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Ralph Boston|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/973/000166475/|publisher=Notable Names Data Base|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Sam Bowers|year=|nota=Gridiron football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/bowe01000.html | title=SAM BOWERS | publisher=profootballarchives.com | access-date=November 12, 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113024406/http://www.profootballarchives.com/bowe01000.html | archive-date=November 13, 2014 }}</ref> {{Alum|name=Waymond Bryant|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BRYANWAY01 |title=Waymond Bryant |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008162732/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BRYANWAY01 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Chandra Cheeseborough|year=|nota=Olympic runner; gold and silver medalist|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Robert Covington|year=2013|nota=NBA basketball player|NBA|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Dave Davis|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DAVISDAV01 |title=David Glenn Davis |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024191320/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DAVISDAV01 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Richard Dent|year=|nota=NFL football player and member of Pro Football Hall of Fame|ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DENTRIC01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825143332/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DentRic01 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 25, 2006 |title=Richard Dent |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Keron DeShields|year=|nota=Basketball player in the Israeli National League|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Lamar Divens|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DivenLam01 |title=Lamar Divens |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530162734/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DivenLam01 |archive-date=May 30, 2012 }}</ref> {{Alum|name=Cleveland Elam|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ELAMCLE01 |title=Cleveland Elam |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008223323/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ELAMCLE01 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=J.J. Eubanks|year=|nota=American basketball player; top scorer in the 1994-95 Israel Basketball Premier League|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Charley Ferguson|year=|nota=AFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Charley Ferguson|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FergCh00.htm|publisher=Pro-Football Reference.com|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Ryan Fann|year=|nota=Paralympic runner|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Ryan Fann|url=http://amputeebladerunners.com/?page_id=97|publisher=Amputee Blade Runners.|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref> }} {{Alum|name=Sean Foley|year=|nota=Golf instructor to PGA Tour players|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Sean Foley |url=http://www.tsutigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19600&ATCLID=205003827 |publisher=TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY |access-date=March 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102142712/http://www.tsutigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19600&ATCLID=205003827 |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref> {{Alum|name=Randy Fuller|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Randy Fuller|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/randyfuller/2500728/profile|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC.|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Rogers Gaines|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Rogers Gaines|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/rogersgaines/2539318/profile|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC.|access-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Joe Gilliam|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Gilliam|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GillJo00.htm|publisher=3 Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved.|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=W. C. Gorden|year=1952|nota=Head football coach at Jackson State University, 1976–1991; member of College Football Hall of Fame|ref=<ref>{{College Football HoF|id=2214|name=W. C. Gorden}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=W. C. Gorden|url=http://theblackcollegefootballmuseum.org/gorden.html|publisher=The Black College Football Museum|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Mike Hegman|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Hegman|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/mikehegman/2516251/profile|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC.|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Jarrick Hillery|year=|nota=American football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafan.com/players/Jarrick_Hillery-2461/ | title=Jarrick Hillery | publisher=arenafan.com | access-date=May 29, 2015}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Claude Humphrey|year=|nota=NFL football player and member of Pro Football Hall of Fame|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Claude Humphrey|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HumpCl00.htm|publisher=Pro-Football Reference.com|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Daniel Johnson|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} {{Alum|name=Ed "Too Tall" Jones|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Ed Jones|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneEd00.htm|publisher=Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved.|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Joe "Turkey" Jones|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Jones|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneJo21.htm|publisher=Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved.|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Larry Kinnebrew|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Larry Kinnebrew|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KinnLa00.htm|publisher=Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved.|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Anthony Levine|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Anthony Levine|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/anthonylevine/2508004/profile|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC.|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Madeline Manning|year=|nota=Olympic runner; gold medalist|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Madeline Manning|url=http://www.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=100|publisher=2001-2013 USA Track & Field, Inc.|access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Anthony Mason|year=|nota=NBA basketball player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Anthony Mason |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/anthony_mason/index.html |publisher=2003 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. |access-date=March 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404104024/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/anthony_mason/index.html |archive-date=April 4, 2013 }}</ref> {{Alum|name=Edith McGuire|year=|nota=Olympic runner; gold and two silver medals|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Edith McGuire|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-916|publisher=the Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press|access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Patrick Miller|year=|nota=American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Melvin Mitchell|year=1976|nota=NFL football player|ref=}} {{Alum|name=Steve Moore|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Steve Moore|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorSt20.htm|publisher=2000-2013 Sports Reference LLC.|access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Lloyd Neal|year=|nota=NBA basketball player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Lloyd Neal |url=http://www.nba.com/blazers/history/Learn_More_About_Lloyd_Neal-64032-41.html |publisher=2013 NBA Media Ventures, LLC |access-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017175505/http://www.nba.com/blazers/history/Learn_More_About_Lloyd_Neal-64032-41.html |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Alum|name=Robert Porcher|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Former TSU player Robert Porcher selected for Black College Football Hall of Fame|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2016/10/26/tennessee-state-robert-porcher-black-college-football-hall-of-fame/92781518/|publisher=The Tennessean.com|access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref>

{{Alum|name=Brian Ransom|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tnstate.edu/library/digitalresources/centennial/History/nfl.aspx | title=NFL Players | publisher=tnstate.edu | access-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Leonard "Truck" Robinson|year=|nota=NBA basketball player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Truck Robinson |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robintr01.html |publisher=2000-2013 Sports Reference LLC. |access-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923030548/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robintr01.html |archive-date=September 23, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Alum|name=Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie|url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/roster/Dominique-Rodgers-Cromartie/4bc99d4a-aeb9-4889-8b39-3544d3f7bf11|publisher=2013 Philadelphia Eagles.|access-date=March 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313160809/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/roster/Dominique-Rodgers-Cromartie/4bc99d4a-aeb9-4889-8b39-3544d3f7bf11|archive-date=March 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Carlos Rogers|year=1994|nota=Former NBA basketball player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rogerca01.html|title= Carlos Rogers |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date= February 25, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Wilma Rudolph|year=|nota=Olympic runner; first woman of color to win three gold medals in a single Olympics|ref=<ref>{{cite book| last1 = Ashley| first1 = Dwayne| last2 = Williams| first2 = Juan| last3 = Ingrum| first3 = Adrienne| title = I'll find a way or make one: a tribute to historically Black colleges and universities| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=j3Ka2ESxQyQC&pg=PA407| access-date = November 16, 2010| year = 2009| publisher = HarperCollins| isbn = 978-0-06-197693-3 }}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Simon Shanks|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Simon Shanks|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ShanSi20.htm|publisher=2000-2013 Sports Reference LLC.|access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Nate Simpson|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Nate Simpson|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimpNa20.htm|publisher=2000-2013 Sports Reference LLC.|access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Ahmaad Smith|year=|nota=American football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gocatawbaindians.com/profile.asp?playerID=2159 |title=Ahmaad Smith |publisher=gocatawbaindians.com |access-date=October 2, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924004500/http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/profile.asp?playerID=2159 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}</ref> {{Alum|name=Ollie Smith|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Ollie Smith|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitOl00.htm|publisher=2000-2013 Sports Reference LLC.|access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Larry Tharpe|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=THARPLAR01 |title=Larry Tharpe |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103040748/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=THARPLAR01 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 }}</ref> {{Alum|name=Wyomia Tyus|year=|nota=Olympic runner; first person to retain the Olympic title in the 100&nbsp;m|ref=}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Wyomia Tyus|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/533/000167032/|publisher=Notable Names Data Base|access-date=March 21, 2013}}</ref> {{Alum|name=Charlie Wade|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WadeCh00.htm|title=Charlie Wade|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=December 26, 2010}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Carl Wafer|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nfl.com/player/carlwafer/2528042/gamelogs|title= Carl Wafer|publisher= NFL Enterprises LLc |access-date= September 12, 2012}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Willye White|year=1950s|nota=Olympic track and field athlete; two silver medals|ref=<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/sports/othersports/07white.html|title=Willye B. White, the First 5-Time U.S. Track Olympian, Dies at 67|first=Frank|last=Litsky|website=The New York Times|date=February 7, 2007}}</ref>}} {{Alum|name=Javarris Williams|year=|nota=NFL football player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/team/roster/javarris-williams/cb9e8ecf-c711-4a03-864f-2b4e3dba5e2f/|work=NFL.com|access-date=March 21, 2013|title=Kansas City Chiefs: Javarris Williams|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813194847/http://www.kcchiefs.com/team/roster/javarris-williams/cb9e8ecf-c711-4a03-864f-2b4e3dba5e2f|archive-date=August 13, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}}}

==See also== * List of Tennessee State University presidents * Southern Heritage Classic * ''From the Rough''

==Notes== {{noteslist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * Lovett, Bobby L. ''A Touch of Greatness: A History of Tennessee State University'' (Mercer University Press, 2012) 340 pp.

==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.tnstate.edu/}} {{Navboxes |titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee State Tigers|color=white}} |list = {{Public universities in Tennessee}} {{HBCU}} {{Thurgood Marshall College Fund}} {{Ohio Valley Conference navbox}} }}

{{authority control}}

Category:Tennessee State University Category:Historically black universities and colleges in Tennessee Category:Land-grant universities and colleges Category:Universities and colleges in Nashville, Tennessee Category:Universities and colleges established in 1912 Category:University and college buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Category:1912 establishments in Tennessee Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee Category:National Register of Historic Places in Nashville, Tennessee Category:African-American history in Nashville, Tennessee Category:Public universities and colleges in Tennessee