BlueSky Tennessee Institute has chosen Melissa Graham to serve as student success manager for its program, a workforce development venture with East Tennessee State University offering a bachelor’s degree in computing in just over two years.
Ms. Graham is a former middle and high school counselor and university student support expert who most recently served as coordinator of community schools for Hamilton County Schools. She brings more than a decade of successful student support and community engagement to this new role, with experience in team building and mentorship as well as outreach at both the secondary and college level.
“Our program will be challenging, and Melissa will take the lead on ensuring students thrive,” Bradley Leon, executive director of the BlueSky Tennessee Institute, said.
“With her guidance, we’ll help driven, talented students realize their dreams of a career in tech.”
A Scenic City native, Ms. Graham earned a bachelor of science in psychology and a master of education in school counseling from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She serves as a United Way volunteer advocate, a member of the Girls Leadership Summit steering committee and as a board member of the nonprofit GirlStance.
"BlueSky Tennessee Institute is designed to foster locally the advanced technology talent BlueCross needs to serve customers, communities and business partners," officials said. "And the need extends beyond BlueCross: state data shows there’s roughly a 4-to-1 disparity in terms of jobs from employers that require an IT background compared to Tennessee college and university graduates with those degrees.
"Students will follow an accelerated version of ETSU’s renowned computing curriculum while gaining real-world experience with internships and technology mentorships. Then, qualified graduates can earn a job offer from BlueCross.
"The program will welcome its first students to the BlueCross headquarters on Cameron Hill in summer 2022, and applications are open through Dec. 15."
Learn more and access the application at etsu.edu/bluesky.