Karly Ball Isaacson Joining ELPS this Fall as New Faculty Member

March 31, 2026 by Jonah Hall

Karly Ball Isaacson Joining ELPS this Fall as New Faculty Member

The Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies is excited to announce that Karly Ball Isaacson is joining our department this Fall! She is joining the ELPS team following a successful faculty search earlier this year!

Isaacson is joining ELPS as an Assistant Professor of Higher Education beginning in the Fall 2026 term! Her research centers on disability in higher education and her work has primarily focused on chronically ill college students, though she has also become more involved in research on autistic students through her postdoctoral role. Additionally, she is particularly interested in how the high costs associated with some disabilities shape students’ college-going decisions and how financial aid policies often fail to account for those disability-related expenses!

For the past two years before joining the ELPS Department in Knoxville, Isaacson worked as a postdoctoral research associate on a national mixed-methods project focused on autistic college student success. Prior to that, she earned an interdisciplinary PhD and worked on projects at the intersection of special education and higher education for students with disabilities. She also holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree, which has shaped how she thinks about disability equity in higher education through a policy-oriented perspective!

“I am incredibly honored to be joining such a stellar group of scholars and students. The academic job market has been hard, which makes this opportunity feel all the more meaningful,” said Isaacson. “I feel lucky to be landing in a place that is so well aligned with my work, and it sure does not hurt to know that I will be closer to family and friends who I have missed dearly these past few years. I could not have gotten here without the love and support of a whole lot of folks who have guided and cheered me on along the way. I can’t wait to get started. Go Vols!”

The Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies is excited to welcome our new faculty member to the department as we continue our work to enrich the knowledge, skills, and values requisite to effective leadership, teaching, and research in educational settings. ELPS prepares administrators for schools and colleges, faculty for colleges and universities, and policy scholars for service in state, regional and national agencies associated with educational and human service enterprises. For more information on our programs, please visit this page!

Chara Hess Rand Recognized As Field Award Recipient

March 4, 2026 by Jonah Hall

Chara Hess Rand Recognized As Field Award Recipient

Chara Hess Rand, Principal at Isaac Litton STEM Magnet Middle School in the Metro Nashville Public Schools, has been named as the recipient of the William J. and Lucille H. Field Award for Excellence in School Principalship for the State of Tennessee in the Secondary Division.

The Field Award was established to recognize school leaders who demonstrate leadership excellence through commitment to the values of civility, candor, courage, social justice, responsibility, compassion, community, persistence, service, and excellence. Administered by the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies within the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences the Field Award identifies a Tennessee secondary school principal whose life and work are characterized by leadership excellence and encourages secondary school principals to pause and reflect upon their current leadership practice and to consider their experience, challenges, and opportunities in light of the personal values that they embody.

After serving as an Assistant Principal in the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) for four years, Rand was appointed the executive principal oof Isaac Litton STEM Magnet Middle School in 2015. Since that time, she has effectively served a diverse community of learners in East Nashville, “where curiosity, creativity, and academic growth come together.”

According to Adrienne Battle, superintendent of MNPS, “Chara Rand models excellence, community, and persistence through transformative leadership that elevates student achievement, strengthens teacher capacity, and cultivates a culture where every learner is known and valued.”

Rand’s stewardship at Isaac Litton STEM Magnet Middle School has resulted in Level 5 and Reward School statuses as well as Tennessee’s first Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Lighthouse Award. Rand holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fisk University, a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Tennessee State University, and an Education Specialist’s degree from Union University.

On behalf of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, congratulations, Chara Hess Rand!

Sonya Hayes Elected As Vice President of Division A for AERA

March 3, 2026 by Jonah Hall

Sonya Hayes Elected As Vice President of Division A for AERA

Sonya Hayes, an Associate Professor within ELPS and the Program Coordinator of the Leadership Studies PhD Program, was recently elected as Vice President of Division A (Educational Leadership) for the American Educational Research Association (AERA)! 

This significant national leadership role within the field reflects Hayes’ influence in shaping research and practice in educational leadership and highlights her strengths on the national stage! In this well-deserved position, she will help lead the work of Division A by shaping annual programming, contributing to governance and policy discussions, and supporting the Division’s continued growth and national presence.

“I am deeply honored by the trust of my colleagues across the country,” Hayes said. “Division A has long been a professional home for scholars of educational leadership, and I am excited to contribute to its continued growth by supporting strong mentoring networks and advancing conversations about responsible and ethical scholarship.”

We are proud and honored to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and the impact Sonya Hayes continues to make through her scholarship, mentorship, and service. Please join us in congratulating her on this outstanding achievement!