CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga State Community College recently announced it has combined Economic and Workforce Development and Tennessee College of Applied Technology at ChattState to streamline and center the student experience. 

College president Dr. Rebecca Ashford announced Bo Drake will oversee EWD and TCAT at ChattState under the new arrangement. Drake has served as vice president of EWD since 2017 and as interim vice president of TCAT since July 2023. 

"Bo Drake’s leadership of Economic and Workforce Development and TCAT at ChattState underscores our commitment to creating a seamless educational experience for our students and to providing outstanding educational opportunities for our community’s workforce," ChattState President Dr. Ashford said. "Mr. Drake's proven leadership as vice president of EWD and as interim vice president of TCAT has been instrumental in forging partnerships and advancing our vision of a unified college.” 

Drake said the newly combined program moves the college one step closer to alignment with Dr. Ashford’s vision of a streamlined college. 

The college offers three entry points for prospective students: Economic & Workforce Development, TCAT at ChattState, and credit-earning college courses. 

“When you combine all three, we’re the best of all worlds and flexible for our students and our partners,” Drake said. “This merger eliminates silos, divisions, and separations and makes sure we’re accessible to the community in the way the community needs us to be.” 

EWD offers a variety of educational programs and apprenticeships designed to link students to targeted job skills, while TCAT at ChattState provides hands-on skills training programs designed to prepare graduates for the job market.