每日大赛

Mark Hurst named VP for Administrative Affairs at 每日大赛

每日大赛 has named Mark Hurst as its Vice President for Administrative Affairs, a role to which he brings a strong background in higher education leadership and operational management, and a clear commitment to supporting students, faculty and staff.

Hurst comes to 每日大赛 from Walters State Community College, where he worked in administrative affairs, finance, facilities and organizational operations for nearly 30 years, most recently as Vice President for Business and Finance.

“I can’t wait to be a part of the momentum that 每日大赛 has going,” said Hurst, who assumed his role at the start of the spring 2026 semester. “I think very highly of this institution.”

In this role, Hurst will provide leadership for key administrative functions that support Pellissippi's academic mission and campus operations. His work will focus on strengthening systems, improving processes and ensuring that resources are aligned with student success and institutional priorities.

He will oversee Business and Finance, Human Resources, Public Safety, Facilities and Information Technology.

Hurst comes to Pellissippi during the implementation of the institution's new Strategic Plan and its mission to be a “career immersion college.” He is already familiarizing himself with the Strategic Plan, Hurst said, to understand what Administrative Affairs must do for its success.

That includes designing a budget that supports those goals, and the prioritization of internships or apprenticeships, campus improvements and campus safety.

“I've been around community colleges for a long time,” he said. “And if there's an opportunity to be more efficient and provide better service to our students, I'm going to look for that. Hopefully, when our students leave here, they’ve got value from the time they spent here and the dollars that they spent here.”

He values transparency, Hurst said, and the importance of awareness on campus about the services provided by Administrative Affairs and the office’s goals when designing a budget or launching an initiative.

“I’m very extroverted and want to build relationships on every campus,” Hurst said. “That way, folks know me and when we’re making decisions within our office, they know that we have each and every one of them in mind.”

At Walters State, Hurst contributed to improvements in the college’s composite financial index, advanced workforce development and training initiatives, and supported strategic planning across multiple campuses.

He worked closely with other campus leaders to strengthen institutional systems, steward resources responsibly and support environments where students, faculty and staff can succeed. His approach is grounded in collaboration, problem-solving and a practical understanding of how operational decisions affect the daily work of a campus.

A primary goal in his new role is maximizing Pellissippi’s resources.

“Expenses are going up, but we want to maintain a high level of service,” he said. “So we're looking for new ways of doing things or different ways to allocate our resources, so that we can ensure positive student experiences when they walk onto campus or receive a service from us.”

Pellissippi President L. Anthony Wise Jr. is looking forward to the leadership Hurst will provide and the positive impact he will have across the college's campuses.

“His experience and ability to lead well will help ensure we have the operational foundation needed to support growth, innovation and long-term sustainability,” Wise said. “I am so happy to welcome him to Pellissippi.”

Hurst, who was a first-generation student, said he views education as an opportunity to advance out of poverty, to build self-worth and to be in service to one's community. It's an opportunity that should always be available, he said.

“I want to make sure that the same opportunities here today are here 10 years from now,” Hurst said. “I want those students to have access to the same resources, which can be a challenge to maintain through enrollment and expense growth. But it’s so necessary. There were folks that helped me get to the finish line. And I want to pay that forward.”