Meet the Board of Trustees: Janet Ayers

Janet Ayers recalls her time as a student at East Tennessee State University as transformational. Now, as a member of the ETSU Board of Trustees, Ayers is dedicating her time to ensure future generations receive those same opportunities for career growth by improving the quality of life and education for all Tennesseans.

“ETSU meant everything to me. Not only was I able to learn and prepare myself to succeed academically — but just as importantly, I grew up in so many other ways — socially, emotionally, and professionally,” said Ayers. “I entered as a naive young girl from a small, rural community and left the university prepared to confidently enter the workforce. That is what I hope every student will experience.”

Ayers, an alumna of the College of Public Health, was named Outstanding Alumna at the university’s National Alumni Association Awards ceremony in 2015. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in health care administration at ETSU in 1986, she was a nursing home administrator, first at Four Oaks Health Care Center in Jonesborough, and then at Erwin Health Care Center. Ayers also completed her master’s degree at ETSU in strategic leadership in 2015.

“My experience as a health care administrator and manager of nursing homes ties in directly with the university’s top programs and objectives,” said Ayers. “With the medical school, pharmacy school, public health, and so many other programs, including our ‘best in the nation’ focus to prepare more family practice physicians, especially those serving rural communities, I try to bring some insight and experience from the health care industry to those discussions.”

Ayers moved to Nashville in 2006 and is president of The Ayers Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of Tennessee with an emphasis on education, primarily through the Ayers Scholars Program, which serves over 15,000 rural students.

“I hope ETSU will continue to be a great regional connector and convener to bring businesses and employers together to offer our graduates real workforce opportunities in the communities in which they grew up. This is something The Ayers Foundation is committed to and ETSU is already doing,” said Ayers. “I am hopeful we can be even more intentional and continue to build upon the foundation of ETSU’s mission to improve the lives of those in the Appalachian Highlands and beyond.”

Ayers is a philanthropist and remains active on several boards, previously serving on the Tennessee State Board of Education and as a commissioner on the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. Ayers currently serves on the board of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) as well as ExcelinEd.

“In rural communities, education, health care, and economic development are so closely intertwined and must work together seamlessly to advance the health, wealth, and success of any community,” said Ayers. “I saw that firsthand as a former Chamber president and the head of an economic development board. ETSU leaders continue to play a major role in bringing these various perspectives and pieces together to build upon the future of the university and the region.”

First appointed by Governor Bill Haslam in 2016 to a four-year term, she was reappointed in 2020 by Governor Bill Lee for a full six-year term.

“Being appointed to the ETSU Board was a great honor. Not only has it given me an additional way to serve the unique interests of the university, its faculty, staff, and students, but also the region as a whole,” said Ayers.

“ETSU is truly an economic engine for the Appalachian Highlands, and the university’s success has a direct impact on the lives of families across our state, including in my home county, Unicoi County. I view our role as trustees as real change agents with a higher purpose to not only serve ETSU but, in fact, the success of the entire region.”

Ayers encourages ETSU students to fully embrace the moment and learn all they can.

“I challenge students to become lifelong learners and to take every opportunity to network and develop new friendships and memories,” said Ayers. “My hope is that ETSU will continue to be among the nation’s leaders in serving firstgeneration students and supporting them to achieve something they’ve never seen anyone in their family do before.”

Ayers still has a home in Unicoi County, just one exit from ETSU. “For years, I have witnessed and appreciated the positive impact ETSU has made in our community and many others,” said Ayers.

Yasmeen Elayan is a Marketing and Communications Specialist in ETSU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications. | Photo by Charlie Warden