Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster has been appointed to serve on Tennessee Tech’s Board of Trustees.
Tech Public Relations Director Jonathan Frank said Foster will fill the last spot on the recently expanded board. Foster is a two-time graduate from Tennessee Tech, earning his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Strategic Leadership. House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Foster was the right choice, as Foster has decades of experience in public administration, economic development, and community partnerships.
“Mayor Foster has consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and integrity in his service to the citizens of Tennessee,” Sexton said. “I am confident he will bring those same values to Tennessee Tech’s Board of Trustees as they continue guiding the university’s mission of excellence in education, innovation, and workforce development.”
Foster’s family has deep ties with the university as his late wife, Rebecca, earned two degrees from the Whitson Hester School of Nursing and gave back through her service on both the TTU Development Council and the Nursing Advisory Board. Following her passing, more than 100 friends and family members joined together to establish the Rebecca Foster Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which now supports TTU nursing students for generations to come.
Foster said it is an honor to serve on the board.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed to the Tennessee Tech University Board of Trustees and grateful to Speaker Sexton for this opportunity to serve an institution that has meant so much to my family,” Foster said. “Rebecca’s life and work as a nurse and proud Tennessee Tech graduate remain a source of inspiration as I work alongside my fellow trustees to support TTU’s mission and ensure it remains a place where students can pursue their dreams.”
Foster’s term on the board is effective immediately.
Frank said the board has seen several new members throughout 2025. Chair Rhedona Rose was reappointed, and Teresa Chasteen-Dunn was appointed by McNally. Foster and Garry McNabb are the two appointees by Sexton. Michael Allen has replaced Jeannette Luna due to an expired term, and Student Trustee Braxton Westbrook has replaced Claire Myers.
