Dr. Charlene White Appointed VP for Finance and Administrative Services
Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) President Dr. Scott Cook has announced the appointment of Dr. Charlene Connell White as the new vice president for finance and administrative services.
Dr. White returns to DSCC from Ellucian, where she recently served as the principal finance consultant. Ellucian is the owner of a Banner software program that assists higher education institutions in gaining efficiencies utilizing the program. Wanting to gain more experience and exposure in higher education leadership, she previously held the position of vice president of finance at The College of the Florida Keys. While serving at the College of the Florida Keys, White oversaw its new campus development in the Upper Keys, which included a 38,000-square-foot facility valued at $20M. From 2017-2020 she served as the vice president for finance and administrative services at DSCC. She served as finance manager at DSCC from 2008-2017, where she was responsible for the overall coordination and preparation of the College’s annual financial statements in accordance with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and government reporting requirements. She was also responsible for data collection for the College’s estimated, proposed, and revised budget cycles. She previously held the position of senior accountant from 2006-2008 at Sara Lee Food and Beverage, where she was responsible for balance sheet procedures and review, including month-end closing, reconciling and reporting procedures. In addition, Dr. White has over 30 years of business administration experience and significant experience as a business owner and operator.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. White joining the senior leadership team at Dyersburg State,” said President Scott Cook. “Dr. White’s breadth of finance and administrative experiences will uniquely position her to provide key leadership as we seek to plan and maintain the positive momentum at Dyersburg State strategically.
Dr. White graduated from DSCC with an Associate of Science degree in Accounting in 1983. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting from The University of Tennessee in 1985. She earned a Master of Accountancy and Systems from The University of Tennessee in 1986 while also serving as a graduate teaching assistant. She received a certificate in Community College Teaching and Learning in May 2014 from The University of Memphis and later earned a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education and Adult Education Leadership from The University of Memphis in May 2017.
As the new vice president for finance and administrative services, Dr. White will serve as the chief financial officer for the College and will be responsible to the president for all business and fiscal affairs. In addition, she will oversee all business and financial operations, including purchasing, accounts payable, payroll, budget, financial accounting and reporting, student financial services, financial aid, and various administrative and maintenance operations. Dr. White will also be responsible for carrying out the mission and strategic goals of DSCC in finance and administrative services and will serve as treasurer of the DSCC Foundation board of directors.
Dr. White and her husband, DSCC’s Head Baseball Coach Robert White, reside in Friendship. Their son Tyler is a graduate of Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, with a degree in exercise science. Dr. White is the daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. J.D. Connell of Dyersburg.