Greg Edwards, Associate Professor of Nursing at Cleveland State Community College, was recently selected to serve on the Tennessee Academic Advising Network (TAAN), a statewide organization dedicated to advancing student success through effective academic advising.
A retired firefighter and paramedic, Edwards became a nurse later in life and understands the challenges facing students.
“I struggled through nursing school, and I know the struggles that students have,” Edwards said. “I am very passionate about advising and student success, giving students the information and tools they need to be successful.”
TAAN brings together professionals from Tennessee’s community colleges to collaborate, share resources and develop best practices in academic advising. As Faculty Advisor-at-Large, Edwards will serve a one-year term with representatives from institutions across the state.
“Greg Edwards’ appointment on TAAN is a well-deserved recognition of his dedication to student success and excellence in academic advising,” said Dr. Sandra Godsey, Dean of Career and Industry Programs. “We are proud to see Greg represent both our institution and our nursing program in this important statewide leadership role. His service with TAAN will not only strengthen the academic advising profession in Tennessee but also bring valuable insights and best practices back to our campus, benefiting our students and the communities they will one day serve.”
A Georgia native, Edwards began his career of public service after graduating from high school and joining the United States Air Force, where he served for four years.
In 1990, he joined the fire service in College Park, Georgia, as a fire fighter. Over the next 25 years, he advanced through the ranks, becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, driver, lieutenant and ultimately battalion chief. He retired from the fire service in 2015.
“I didn’t start off to be a servant, but I found out that firefighting is a great way to serve the public,” Edwards said.
While working in the fire service, Edwards pursued a nursing degree from Excelsior University in New York. At the time, they had one of the largest bridge programs for EMT and paramedics going into nursing.
“Most of the program was online, so you could go as fast as you wanted,” Edwards said. “Once I graduated and earned my nursing license in 2010, I started working as a nurse part-time and a firefighter full-time.”
After retiring from the fire service, Edwards worked full time as a neuro nurse on a stroke unit at an Atlanta-area hospital. He continued his education and earned a Master of Nursing Leadership and Management degree from Western Governors University in 2017.
After relocating to Tennessee, Edwards joined Cleveland State as an adjunct nursing instructor in 2019. What began as a part-time teaching opportunity soon became a second career.
“I liked it so much and loved the people so much that I decided to come out of retirement,” he said.
Today, he serves as the Clinical Coordinator, helping to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. For Edwards, advising has always been a critical part of the educational experience.
“When students have all the information that they need to make decisions, it helps them make the right decisions and keeps them on track,” he said. “I have always been a big proponent of being transparent with students, giving them as many options as possible and letting them know the obstacles that they may have to overcome. This mentally prepares them for the roadblocks and hurdles we all face in life. If we want to retain students and help them be successful, we need to do everything we possibly can to get them to that point.”
After seven years at Cleveland State, Edwards’ classroom reflects the impact he has made. A bulletin board filled with photographs showcases former students who are now working in hospitals, clinics and healthcare facilities throughout the region.
“The best part of the job for me is walking into a hospital with a student clinical group and hearing, ‘Mr. Edwards,’” he said. “I turn around and see a nurse who is a former student. That is the biggest kick that I get. Second to that is when a nursing student asks me to pin them at graduation. That is a big deal.”
Edwards’ appointment to TAAN recognizes the impact he continues to make by guiding, supporting and advocating for student success.