Candice McQueen

McQueen was born to Brenda and Nelson Hunter.^[1] She is from Clarksville, Tennessee.^[2] She lived in Iran for three years while her parents taught at the Tehran American School.^[1] She completed a B.S. from Lipscomb University.^[3] From 1996 to 1998, McQueen taught 5th grade at Lipscomb Middle School.^[4] She earned an M.Ed. in school administration from Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development in 1998.^[5][3] She taught for three years at Lakeway Elementary in Austin, Texas.^[4] McQueen completed a Ph.D. in curriculum studies at the University of Texas.^[3]

McQueen was an adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University.^[3] She served as an assistant instructor and supervisor of student teachers at the University of Texas at Austin.^[3] McQueen joined the College of Education at Lipscomb University in August 2001.^[3] She served as chair of the undergraduate education department from 2004 to 2008.^[3] She became dean of the College of Education in July 2008.^[2] In November 2013, McQueen was also appointed senior vice president.^[2] She served as dean and senior vice president until December 2014.^[2] In January 2015, McQueen was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education.^[2] She served in the role until January 2019.^[2]

McQueen was the chief executive officer of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), founded by educational reformer and philanthropist Lowell Milken, from January 2019 to August 2021.^[2] On August 4, 2021, She became the 18th president of Lipscomb University.^[2] She succeeded L. Randolph Lowry III.^[3] She is the first female chief executive officer of a university associated with the Churches of Christ.^[1]

McQueen married Andy McQueen and has a son and daughter.^[2]

• Official biography at Lipscomb University