Nashville State Graduate and Humphreys County Businessman Works to Give Back
Growing up, James Wiser knew that education was the cornerstone of a solid foundation in life, but what he didn’t know was the best place to start.
Enter Nashville State’s Humphreys County campus and the Tennessee Promise scholarship.
While still in high school, James learned about the newly developed Tennessee Promise
scholarship and how it could be used at Nashville State’s Humphreys County campus.
“I remember having a meeting my senior year where someone from Nashville State came and spoke about the advantages of the program and what it could offer,” Wiser recalls.
After that meeting, he applied to and then enrolled at the College. He was paired with a mentor as a part of the program to help guide him along the way.
“I had an amazing mentor that made my two years there the best they could be,” Wiser, who earned an associate degree in Business Administration, said.
A lifelong Humphreys County resident, James credits the local campus for providing the guidance he needed as a young student.
“Having the local campus gave me the opportunity to mature more as an adult while also learning what is required in a college setting without the stress of trying to figure it all out on my own.”
After graduating from Nashville State, Wiser transferred to and later graduated from the University of Tennessee, Martin, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Now, using what he learned at Nashville State and beyond, he is building a career in insurance and real estate, with a focus on giving back to his community.
This past year he stepped into a new role as a member of the 21st Century Educational Foundation.
“It’s a great opportunity to give back so it was an easy decision to join,” Wiser says when asked about his desire to serve.
The foundation -- a Middle Tennessee nonprofit devoted to education -- has a long history of giving back and helping students in Humphreys County and the surrounding area.
Recently, in early December 2023, the foundation and college leadership announced a new scholarship called Funding our Future for Eighteen- to 23-year-old residents in Humphreys, Benton, Perry, and Stewart counties interested in attending Nashville State.
While education and community engagement were foundational to James Wiser and his family, he credits Nashville State with allowing him to come into his own.
“Nashville State gave me the opportunity to build confidence in myself,” Wiser said.
Now he is using the confidence and knowledge gained as a Nashville State graduate to help build a stronger college and community for the next generation of students.
“I’m really grateful for it.” Nashville State “was such a great experience for me and it’s something that I want to come back and be a part of,” Wiser concluded.
