Dr. Tyler Forrest attended Athens City Schools from 1993 to 2003. He was a student at City Park Elementary School (1993-1997); Westside Elementary School (1997-2000), and Athens Junior High School (2000-2003).
Dr. Forrest reflects on the following as being treasured memories of his time at Athens City Schools, such as the Flag Team at City Park, Safety Patrol Captain at Westside, and Vice President of my 9th Grade Class at the Athens Junior High School. Some of his fondest memories while attending Athens City Schools include the epic field days at City Park, attending Camp Oo-Tah-Nee-Noh-Chee at Westside, and the 9th Grade trip to Washington, D.C. at the Athens Junior High School!
On July 1, 2022, he assumed the role of President of Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU), becoming the first McMinn County native to be named to this office in the University’s 168-year history. At the time of my appointment, I was the youngest university president in Tennessee and believed to be one of the youngest in the nation. I previously served as the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and Chief Business Officer at UTC. Since I was appointed President of TWU, thanks to a tremendous team, the University has achieved record enrollment growth for two consecutive years, rose in the U.S. News and World Report rankings to be #9 out of 131 Regional Colleges in the South, raised nearly $30 million through a comprehensive capital campaign, and completed the largest land expansion of the Athens campus since the early 1970s, to name a few.
Dr. Forrest was an inaugural graduate of the University of Tennessee’s Executive Leadership Institute. Also, a graduate of Leadership Tennessee. I was named the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce Young Man of the Year in 2024.
He is a believer that excellence is Athens City Schools! Current students, just like all of us who have gone before them, are blessed to be educated in one of the best school systems in the state. He hopes students will take advantage of the tremendous opportunities the system has to offer, learn all they can inside the classroom, and let the system help shape the person they will become.
Dr. Tyler Forrest serves as President of Tennessee Wesleyan University, located in Athens, TN.
He is a proud East Tennessean who prides himself on being engaged in the community. His wife, Emily, who serves as a member of the Athens City School Board, and their two children are active members of Eastanallee Baptist Church.