Nathan Essex, Ph.D

Nathan (Nate) Essex is the President of Southwest Tennessee Community College, Tennessee’s largest community college. He has held public school teaching and administrative positions as well as corporate management positions. Dr. Essex has served as Associate Director for the Bureau of Educational Service and Research, Program Chair for the Administration and Planning program, and Area Head of the Area of Educational Leadership at the University of Alabama. Dr. Essex also served as a policy consultant for the Alabama State Department of Education and provided consultation for more than 100 school districts and post secondary institutions. Dr. Essex served as Dean of the College of Education at The University of Memphis where he led the college through massive reform including the development of a new curriculum, restructuring of the college, and stronger linkages with school districts and community agencies.

Dr. Essex is the recipient of the following awards and citations:

• Truman M. Pierce Award for Educational Leadership
• Academic Excellence Award from the Capstone College of Education Society, University of Alabama
• Teaching Excellence Award, The University of Alabama
• Distinguished Service Award--Who’s Who in the State of Tennessee
• The University of Memphis Distinguished Administrator of the Year 1995-96
• Phi Delta Kappa’s Educator on the Move award
• Alpha Beta Gamma’s College President of the year award

Dr. Essex was elected President of the Tennessee College Association in 2005, and serves on numerous boards throughout the community. He also serves as an adjunct professor at The University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University.

Dr. Essex has published numerous articles, book chapters and newsletters on personnel, leadership and legal issues. Many of his works have appeared in The Administrator’s Notebook, The Community College Review, The Horizon, Compensation Review, The Clearinghouse, The American School Board Journal and many other professional journals.

Dr. Essex authored a law textbook entitled School Law and the Public Schools — A Practical Guide for Educational Leaders, which was published by Allyn and Bacon. A fifth edition was released in January, 2011. Dr. Essex also published a textbook for public school teachers entitled A Teacher's Pocket Guide to School Law, which is now in its second edition from Prentice Hall.  His book, The 200 Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions for Educators, was published by Corwin Press in 2009. His booklet on No Child Left Behind was published by Allyn & Bacon in 2006.  

Dr. Essex is highly sought after by educators at all levels to share his knowledge and expertise regarding legal and policy issues that impact educational organizations. Dr. Essex is currently conducting legal research for pre-service and in-service teachers that will culminate in a textbook.