Term: 2020-2025, Congressional District 1
Dr. Nancy Dishner is President and CEO of the Niswonger Foundation. She previously served as Vice Provost for Enrollment Services and Director of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University. She was a tenured professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. She also served as Special Assistant to the University President. Her early professional experience was as a public school teacher in Unicoi County.
Nancy is an alumna of East Tennessee State University with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education, summa cum laude. She has a master’s degree in Supervision and Administration; and a Doctorate in Administration. She is the recipient of the ETSU Outstanding Staff Award, served at Staff Senate President, and is recognized in the ETSU Clemmer College of Education Hall of Fame. Nancy served two terms as President of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She was named the ETSU Outstanding Alumna for 2013 and has a street named in her honor on the ETSU campus.
Dr. Dishner served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber of Commerce, establishing and chairing the Partners in Education program for Johnson City and Washington County. She served on the Johnson City Public Building Authority as both secretary and chair of the public relations committee.
She is a Commissioner on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC); on the Board of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA), serving as vice president; and a board member for the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation. She serves as a Board member for Communities in Schools, and on the Board of Tennesseans for Quality Early Education. She is an advisory council member for the State Collaborative for Reforming Education (SCORE). Nancy serves on the Board of Directors for the Niswonger Foundation and on the Executive Council for the Niswonger Children’s Hospital. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at Tusculum University.
