After a national search in partnership with The Finney Group, Girls Preparatory School has appointed Allie Tennyson to serve as director of athletics and strategic partnerships at the school.
Tennyson is currently director of athletics at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, where she oversees and manages the athletic department at the largest coeducational private high school in the state. Her responsibilities encompass the management of 19 head coaches, 36 assistant coaches and seven full-time staff members.
Tennyson earned a Masters of Educational Leadership at the University of Notre Dame and a degree in advertising and public relations from Pennsylvania State University, where she also competed on their nationally ranked women’s soccer team.
Tennyson previously worked in wellness, communications and admission at Ursuline Academy of Dallas, an independent all-girls school and her alma mater, where she coached soccer and led the Bears to two consecutive TAPPS Division I State Soccer Championships.
“Attending an all-girls school was transformational for me,” Tennyson says. “I’ve been yearning to get back and give back to the all-girls experience. When I visited GPS, I walked away with an overwhelming feeling of belonging.”
Tennyson’s desire to return to a girls school stems from the observation of a “component of welcome resiliency and a comfortable approach to challenges” in the all-girl environment, she says.
“Girls are expected to see challenges as opportunities and to rise to the occasion and learn from mistakes. At a girls school, students can look to their right and left and see their peers doing the same thing they’re doing. We need girls building each other up.”
Tennyson will begin her role at GPS this summer.
Siskin president named to policy board
The American Hospital Association has appointed Dr. Matthew Gibson, president and CEO of Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, to the its Region 4 regional policy board.
Regional policy boards foster communication between the AHA, its members and state hospital associations, and provide input on the public policy issues that are unique to a region. Region 4 encompasses Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Caroline, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
“This is a critically important time of transformation in health care. Current initiatives and decisions being made at the federal and state levels will be important for our patients and all citizens of this region and state,” says Gibson. “I look forward to the contributing in this new role.”
The nine regional policy boards meet three times each year and provide guidance on public policy issues considered by the AHA board of trustees, serve as ad hoc policy development committees when appropriate, and identify needs unique to a region.
Gibson has over 20 years of leadership experience. He was named president and CEO of Siskin in January 2020 after serving as senior vice president and chief strategy officer for Erlanger Health System.
Gibson is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds a doctorate from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He earned an MBA and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
His health care leadership extends both regionally and at the state level as a member of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association board of directors and Tennessee Hospital Association Bylaws Committee.
Kelly administration secures new CFO
The Chattanooga City Council recently approved, without opposition, Mayor Tim Kelly’s selection for the administration’s next chief financial officer. Javaid Majid will join the Kelly administration from Salt Lake City, where he spent more than 35 years developing into a seasoned financial professional.
Majid most recently served as the senior debt administrator for Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson’s administration. He’ll start as the city of Chattanooga’s CFO Feb. 23.
Creative Discovery hires VP of advancement
Donyel Johnson is now serving as the new vice president of advancement for Creative Discovery Museum. Johnson’s previous nonprofit work includes roles at the Tennessee Aquarium and Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, where she spearheaded revenue-generating initiatives.
Johnson’s local recognition includes a Woman of Distinction award and a spot in Chatter Magazine’s Top 20 under 40 feature. She also serves on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the UTC Public Service Education Advisory Board.