Motlow State’s Rhonda Cotham, director of student success, was recently recognized as a model leader for innovation in the field of college completion at the annual conference of the Tennessee Association for Student Success and Retention (TASSR). She was the recipient of its 2017 Faculty of the Year Award in a Learning Support Program.

Ms. Cotham, a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University with a bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Relations and a master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision, has served the Motlow for 30 years in a variety of positions. 

While recognized for her faculty role in teaching “First Year Freshman Experience,” she leads a team of completion coaches who are committed to ensuring Motlow students achieve their academic goals. Completion coaches are preparation and persistence professionals whose mission is to serve as college guides, monitor student risk, and provide intervention advising and referral as needed to ensure that students matriculate on to their four-year goals or are ready to move successfully into the workforce. 

“Director Cotham leads a group of professionals who must have a vast knowledge of college programs, financial aid, scholarships, student and academic policies, campus and community resources, and be able to manage a case load of scores of students; and are capable of building trust and developing meaningful relationships with new learners,” said Hilda Tunstill, interim president.

Cotham has played a significant role in Motlow’s Quality Enhancement Plan, where First Year Experience (FYE) courses teach new students the skills to be successful by ensuring they have the critical thinking skills, engagement levels, study habits, and knowledge of college programs and services to ensure their persistence through to goal. 

“I am honored to receive this recognition. I am so passionate about our students and their success whether I am working one-on-one, teaching or just being a part of an amazing team,” Cotham said in receiving her award.

Advocates for Cotham noted that her award was well deserved as she has impacted colleagues outside of the walls of Motlow with her innovation of programs such as the best practice orientation program to implementation of a benchmark completion coach model.