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JOHNSON CITY – Two leaders at East Tennessee State University have been named to the newest class of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, a program aimed at offering personal and professional development for the Volunteer State’s best and brightest early- and mid-career professionals.

Dr. Daryl A. Carter, professor of history, associate dean for community relations and outreach, and director of the Black American Studies Program, and Melissa Nipper, executive director of communications in the Office of University Marketing and Communications, are both joining the program.

As a historian, Carter is an established expert in 20th and 21st century American political history. In 2016, he wrote the well-received book, “Brother Bill: President Clinton and the Politics of Race and Class.” The Tennessee Historical Society tabbed him for a board of directors’ post, and he is a past chair of Humanities Tennessee. Carter is also a member of the Johnson City Public Library. Carter earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees from ETSU and his Ph.D. in history from the University of Memphis in 2011. ETSU named him associate dean for the university’s College of Arts and Sciences in 2021.

Nipper has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, marketing and journalism and has worked at ETSU since 2016.

Promoted to her current role last year, she helps craft and oversee the implementation of university marketing and communication campaigns while supervising a team of content producers and managers. She has served on a variety of committees at ETSU and continues to teach courses in the Department of Communication and Performance.

She holds degrees from Milligan University and ETSU, earning a master’s degree from ETSU in 2016 in professional communication.Leadership Tennessee is an organization committed to collaborative, non-partisan dialogue on issues of statewide importance by crossing geographic and professional boundaries and connecting a diverse network of problem solvers and engaged citizens. 

A new class of leaders is selected annually to take part in a leadership study course while visiting different areas of Tennessee, learning best practices and analyzing important issues faced by Tennesseans. 

The Leadership Tennessee NEXT network includes more than 450 members.