Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) announced it’s planning a leadership change in May, following the conclusion of the legislative session.
TSS General Counsel and Vice President of Government Relations Lana Skelo Gardner will take over as the organization’s new President and CEO effective May 1, 2024. Gardner succeeds Adam Lister, who has held the position since 2015. The Tennessee Firefly is a project of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.
“I am committed to advancing the mission of Tennesseans for Student Success in this dynamic public education landscape. Working together, we can empower our students and forge a brighter future for Tennessee,” said Gardner. “I am honored to lead as President and CEO and eager to collaborate with those who share our commitment to educational excellence.”
Gardner has been with TSS for three years, collaborating closely with policymakers and stakeholders to focus on student-centric education policies.
Prior to her time at TSS, Gardner served as the Senior Director of State Legislative Affairs at the United States Chamber of Commerce and worked as an attorney for Waller Law Firm (now Holland & Knight), specializing in state business regulation.
“Lana’s extensive leadership and advocacy experience, coupled with her dedication to student service, positions her perfectly to build upon our accomplishments over the last decade. We’re excited to see her vision and energy propel TSS’s impact further into the future,” said TSS Board of Directors Chair Austin McMullen.
Lister plans to continue to support TSS in an advisory capacity in addition to supporting Gardner throughout her transition.
“I am thrilled for my friend and colleague, Lana Skelo Gardner, as she prepares for the next phase of her career as CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success,” wrote Lister on LinkedIn. “Lana is a tenacious, thoughtful, and principled leader who will fearlessly advocate for policies to support students while championing the growth and development of the team she will soon lead.”
