Director, Strategic Outreach and Recruitment
As a Native Memphian and product of Shelby County Schools, Tela McEwen Herring is passionate about serving the state of Tennessee and our West Tennessee communities as the Director of Strategic Outreach and Recruitment in Undergraduate Admissions, a role she has held since August 2023. Tela first joined the Enrollment Management team in June 2022 as the Associate Director of Strategic Outreach and Recruitment, bringing with her an extensive background in school leadership and college admissions/college counseling on the university, private school, public school and charter school levels.
Tela is a graduate of Christian Brothers University with a dual degree in Applied Psychology and Criminal Justice and is currently finishing her graduate school program in Higher Education Leadership at the University of Tennessee. Her previous experience includes Interim Director of Admissions at Christian Brothers University and Director of College Counseling for Lausanne Collegiate School. Tela has also served as the Director of College and Career Services for Sugar Creek Charter High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she is a founding member of the school and played a major role in the school’s success academically and throughout the community.
She has been recognized for her works in college counseling leadership on the national, regional, and local levels. Tela is co-chair for the African American Counselors Special Interest Group with the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and a past member of the Board of Directors for the Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling. She is the former Dean of College and Student Success for Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools and is now the Director of Strategic Outreach and Recruitment for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
“Throughout my career in higher education, working with both high school and college students, I have been driven by a passion that was sparked during my own high school years. As a student, I had no guidance with my college process and had no plans for higher education until my senior year. If it weren’t for my college recruiter, who took the time to guide me through the process, I may not be where I am today. Because of this, I am committed to giving back what I received, working tirelessly to create opportunities for students to achieve their higher education goals.”
CliftonStrengths: Achiever, Responsibility, Woo, Connectedness, Positivity