VSCC Alumni: Where Are They Now?

Last updated on April 30, 2021

Madison West

Volunteer State Community College Alumnus Stephen Chambers is now the Mayor of Trousdale, Tennessee.

Chambers was born in Hyden, Kentucky but moved to Hartsville, Tennessee with his family when he was nine years old, he said.

Chambers said he chose Vol State because it was close to home and to help with his career.

“I wanted to improve my career prospects. I had saved some money and Vol State was affordable and close to home. It also had a wide range of programs that interested me,” said Chambers.

He chose to study paralegal studies because he was interested in how laws are written, interpreted and how they affect our everyday life, he said.

According to Chambers, two professors stuck out from his time while at Vol State.

“I remember Virginia Thompkins in the Paralegal Studies program and Dr. Carole Bucy in the History Department,” he said.

Chambers recalled a class he particularly enjoyed while at Vol State.

“I took a theater class that I enjoyed. It was interesting to see how others read the same material but interpreted and performed it differently. Everyone got along and seemed to enjoy the experience. It was one of the cases I enjoyed the most,” Chambers said.

Chambers graduated from Vol State in 2001 and continued his education at Middle Tennessee State University, he said.

He graduated from MTSU in 2003 and went on to further his education at the Nashville School of Law, graduating from Nashville School of Law in 2009, he said.

According to Chambers, students in school should not hold themselves back.

“Don’t be afraid to go after things that you want regardless of what others think or tell you. Most of the time the only thing that holds us back from achieving our goals is ourselves, not others. I’ve learned that you will regret the chances that you didn’t take,” he said.

According to his LinkedIn, after graduating from the Nashville School of Law he spent time working as an attorney while also serving on the Trousdale County Economic Development Committee.

According to his LinkedIn, Chambers became Mayor of Trousdale in 2018 and is currently serving as Mayor presently as well as the Tennessee Central Economic Authority Board of Directors.

According to Chambers the most interesting thing about his line of work now is the number of different problems that arise daily.

“You have to be able to pivot from one topic to another completely unrelated topic from one minute to the next,” he said.

According to Chambers, his career strayed from what he wanted to do as a child.

“If I’m honest, I would be Indiana Jones right now if I had fulfilled my childhood dreams,” said Chambers.

According to President/CEO of the Tennessee Central Economic Authority, Charly Lyons, this is the second time Mayor Chambers has served on the TCEA Board of Directors.

According to Chambers, the most fulfilling thing he has done in his career has been assisting with the reorganization of the Tennessee Central Economic Authority in 2011.

“I assisted with the reorganization of the Tennessee Central Economic Authority in 2011. Since then, Tennessee Central has worked with local, state, and federal agencies to recruit industry to the five-county area of Smith, Macon, Sumner, Wilson, and Trousdale Counties. Projects recruited to the area include Baretta in Gallatin and Babynov in Red Boiling Springs, as well as ARC Automotive and Americolor in Hartsville. These projects have led to millions in domestic and foreign capital investment into the area and the creation of hundreds of jobs,” Chambers said.

“Tennessee Central is blessed to have his leadership and willingness to be a dedicated administrator to recruiting jobs and new companies,” said Lyons.

“Previously, Mayor Chambers was an appointee from the State of Tennessee. During this time, Mr. Chambers provided invaluable research on many projects and issues for the Authority. Stephen Chambers was selected for a statewide award by the Tennessee Economic Development Council for the 2014 Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year. This is the highest honor for assisting economic development as colleague to economic organization in the State of Tennessee,” said Lyons.