Purpose becomes powerful when it connects rigorous learning with lives shaped for service. That vision defines the work of Candice McQueen, president of Lipscomb University, who leads a Christ-centered institution committed to preparing learners for meaningful impact through strong academics and transformational experiences.
McQueen’s path began as a Lipscomb University graduate and grew through roles that sharpened her understanding of classrooms, colleges and statewide systems. She served as a professor who trained educators, guided the Lipscomb College of Education, then stepped into statewide leadership where policy, practice and outcomes met in real time. That arc built a leader who blends scholarship with execution while keeping students at the center of every decision.
Returning to lead her alma mater, McQueen set a course that connects mission with measurable action. Undergraduate and graduate programs continue to strengthen quality through faculty excellence and relevant curriculum. Partnerships extend learning beyond the classroom so students encounter real work, real mentors and real responsibilities that build character as well as competence. Campus initiatives foster belonging through shared traditions that celebrate community and call people into purposeful lives.
A strategic emphasis on discovery and vocation anchors this era. McQueen championed a center designed to help students explore gifts, discern direction and translate values into a plan for study and service. That focus on calling weaves through advising, internships and co-curricular experiences so graduates leave with clarity about how to contribute well.
Recognition as a Titan 100 Honoree reflects a record of influence across education. McQueen is sought after by institutions and organizations for insight on leadership, teaching and student success. Her voice is heard in university networks and national platforms where innovation, equity and excellence matter for learners at every stage.
Momentum shows in milestones that elevate spirit and strengthen identity. Signature gatherings bring the community together in gratitude and hope. Faculty achievements and student accomplishments are highlighted through communications that amplify stories of growth, perseverance and faith in action. Facilities planning, technology upgrades and student support align to create an environment where achievement feels both possible and expected.
McQueen’s daily practice pairs clarity with care. She listens to students, faculty and partners, then turns feedback into improvements that move the mission forward. She invites colleagues to lead, equips teams to execute and celebrates progress as a shared win. The culture that emerges prizes humility with ambition, scholarship with service, tradition with creativity.
Accomplishments during her presidency include national recognition for institutional impact, the launch of initiatives that strengthen belonging and pathways that connect learning with purpose. McQueen measures success by student formation, faculty effectiveness and the collective good that flows from a community pursuing excellence under a unifying Christian worldview.
The horizon for the next chapter remains anchored in that calling. McQueen continues to elevate teaching, expand meaningful partnerships and deepen practices that help graduates flourish. Through that steady, values-driven cadence, McQueen shows distinction and influence in higher education while advancing a university devoted to shaping lives that serve.
