Candice McQueen, President, Lipscomb University

Candice McQueen, president of Lipscomb University, spoke with Invest: about leveraging the growth of the Nashville region to strengthen the university’s position in higher education. “Lipscomb’s growth in higher education is strong because we are a talent hub, helping retain students in the region after graduating. People and businesses are starting to see value in Tennessee as an economic powerhouse for years to come.”

What specific aspects of Middle Tennessee help give Lipscomb University a strategic advantage?

Middle Tennessee is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. In the 10-county Nashville region, we have more than 2 million residents and over 50,000 businesses. We’ve seen strong growth in healthcare, finance, technology, and music. The outlook for the region is very strong. Lipscomb’s growth in higher education is strong because we are a talent hub, helping retain students in the region after they graduate. People from California and the Northeast are coming to Tennessee at higher levels than ever before, and we’re seeing population growth across the state. People and businesses are starting to see value in Tennessee as an economic powerhouse for years to come.

What are some significant milestones and highlights for the university over the past year?

We are celebrating another successful academic year. We started the school year with our largest freshman class in school history for the third consecutive year, and we have an all-time record total enrollment this fall. Over the last year, we have brought leading thinkers and scholars to campus through a program called the Presidential Signature Series, including bestselling authors and leaders in faith and politics at our annual Illuminate conference. The conference focuses on the importance of work and purpose through faith.

We received several accolades, including our debut in The Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges ranking. We were also one of 75 universities recognized as a “Great College to Work For,” placing us among the top 2% of colleges nationwide. Our honors college received the prestigious “Hidden Gem” designation from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. This fall we climbed 22 spots in U.S. News’ 2026 Best Colleges – National Universities rankings. This summer, Lipscomb was named a 2025 Best College by Forbes, ranked the No. 13 Christian university in the nation by Niche.com, and awarded a four-star rating in Money magazine’s 2025 Best Colleges. We’ve also been on the national stage through student competitions. Our students have won in entrepreneurship, English, engineering, and robotics. It was also a great year for athletics — our men’s basketball team competed in the NCAA Tournament and won our conference championship.

How is the university contributing to the region’s healthcare and talent pipeline?

Staffing in healthcare is always top of mind. Connecting the dots through the council helps the university provide better staffing opportunities, prepare candidates, and create more programs to help healthcare professionals get licensed. We started a perfusion program and have a physician assistant (PA) program that is highly selective — we received 1,400 applications for only 20 spots. Our nursing program is one of the largest on campus, and we are planning to launch a Master of Science in nursing.

We also have non-degree credentialing partnerships with several organizations to help nurses advance as leaders. New programs are launching in communication disorders, kinesiology, and an online pharmacy program with clinical intensives. We are also introducing a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) program — the first in the state to offer this pathway, following recently passed legislation.

We continue to explore new innovations, learning from hospital CEOs and advisory boards to identify their needs and create pathways into those fields.

How is the school using computing, data analytics, and technology to position the university to meet growing tech workforce demands?

We want to ensure every student across our pathways knows how to use and navigate AI and understands the ethical foundations surrounding it. We work to incorporate AI and analytics into every program. Last year, we launched a graduate program in applied AI that requires no tech background. It teaches students how to use AI within their specific fields through real-world projects.

We also restructured our MBA program to include a specialization in analytics and have been working with our faculty on AI for several years. Institution wide AI literacy efforts include training sessions and national collaborations. We are partnering with other universities to select AI tools, integrate them appropriately into courses, support students, and emphasize the ethical use of AI.

How is the university prioritizing developing workforce-ready graduates?

We incorporate co-curricular learning into our coursework through internships, job shadowing, and industry partnerships that align with each degree and its individual courses. We have a strong career development staff who help connect students to work that interests them, starting in their freshman year. Many students graduate with four or five internships. They learn what they enjoy, and we connect them with employers early.

We also bring in industry professionals as guest speakers and adjuncts, giving students direct exposure to people working in their fields.

How are you attracting and retaining faculty?

As mentioned, we have been ranked as one of the best colleges to work for, so we are a place where employees flourish and want to be part of our community. We have a clear mission that defines who we are, which helps ensure our culture aligns with that mission — and that alignment is about people. We reward our best performers and have a strong evaluation process that provides faculty with formal and informal feedback throughout the year. Good workplaces have clarity, feedback loops, and relationship-building.

We also offer a leadership development program for anyone interested in advancing into a leadership role. These sessions, led by internal and external experts, cover topics such as organizational savvy, executive presence, communication skills and AI applications. We provide tuition discounts for employees and their families, reinforcing our values around access to education.

What key challenges do you see for the education sector moving forward?

Higher education is facing intense scrutiny to prove its value and demonstrate the outcomes of college degrees. There are more rankings and rating systems focused on the earning power associated with those degrees. We’ve seen enrollment patterns shift due to demographic changes and growing skepticism about the return on investment.

People are pursuing alternative pathways to education, investing more in online, asynchronous, and apprenticeship-based learning. College affordability remains a core concern for students, particularly as it relates to the careers they want to pursue.

AI is another potential disruption. It could change how we are taught — and what we need to be taught. Institutions must adapt to teach AI literacy, ethical usage, and how to leverage it professionally.

What is your general outlook for Lipscomb over the next two to three years?

My general outlook for Lipscomb is that our best days are ahead of us. We have a strong mission that resonates with students, and we’re aligning our academic offerings with workforce needs in health sciences, technology, AI, and education. We look at what the market needs and adjust either how we deliver that content or what content is delivered. We’re also embracing Nashville’s growth as an extension of our campus and culture.