Tanelle Sawyer has been heavily involved at the intersections of education and talent/workforce development as it relates to economic growth. She is a big thinker with a natural zest for leadership, innovation, engagement, and empowerment. She believes that communities function and develop at their greatest when valuable educational opportunities are at the forefront. Her passions lie with unlocking potential through strategy and development that open doors of advancement.
Tanelle is currently Associate Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development for Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), after previously serving as Executive Director of Workforce Talent Development. She serves as President of the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL) and was previously YPAL’s Director of Professional Development.
Tanelle is currently creating the “Ernest E Jones Edu-Scholarship”, named after her grandfather. She was inspired to create this opportunity to honor his legacy and his commitment to using higher education to unlock future opportunities and break generational cycles of incarceration and marginalization. The scholarship will be awarded to underrepresented minority high school students, who have experienced parental incarceration and plan to pursue postsecondary education through college or trade/vocational school.
