Cynthia Polk-Johnson

In this edition of The Interview, Co-Host Jack Eagle sits down with Cynthia Polk-Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs at Tennessee Technological University, for her second installment of the series. They discuss what makes Tennessee Tech unique, how the institution fosters student engagement beyond the classroom, and the importance of wellbeing initiatives in supporting students. 

Cynthia also shares insights into how Tennessee Tech combats student loneliness, facilitates peer-led engagement, and the moments that have made her career especially meaningful.

Cynthia’s Journey

Jack: Welcome back to The Interview, Cynthia! Let’s start with a quick introduction. 

I serve as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Tennessee Tech University, which is located in Cookeville, Tennessee — centrally positioned between Knoxville, Nashville, and about 90 minutes from Chattanooga. Tennessee Tech is a STEM-focused R2 institution offering bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees. We have a student body of just over 10,000, making us a mid-sized university.

Our top majors include mechanical engineering, computer science, and nursing, but we’re also well-rounded, offering strong programs in education, the humanities, and the arts. Cookeville itself is very much a college town, with much of the local activity centered around the university and the ways in which we serve the community.

Jack: What do you think makes Tennessee Tech special?

One of our most distinctive qualities is that we are Tennessee’s only tech-focused institution — similar to how Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech operate in their respective states. This gives us a unique mission and purpose.

Our students are highly engaged and career-focused, coming here with a strong sense of academic direction. They work hard, and many go on to secure excellent positions or pursue graduate education. Another standout aspect is affordability — Tennessee Tech students graduate with about half the debt compared to other public institutions in the state. The university has been intentional about keeping costs manageable while maintaining a high-quality education.

Jack: It’s great to hear that you have such an engaged student population. How do you engage students beyond academics, particularly in areas like wellbeing?

Health, wellness, and wellbeing are major focus areas for us. We’ve built a community of practice around these topics, integrating them into our organizational structure so that they’re woven into the fabric of the institution.

Wellbeing isn’t just about the classroom — it extends to residence halls, dining spaces, and even intramural fields. We want students to feel supported mentally, physically, and emotionally.

To achieve this, we have a multidisciplinary care team that meets regularly to support students of concern, connecting them with available campus resources. Our on-campus food pantry, which has existed for over a decade, has grown significantly and plays a crucial role in combating food insecurity. If a student is struggling to access meals, it directly impacts their ability to focus on their studies and engage meaningfully in campus life.

Additionally, we partner with community organizations to extend available resources beyond campus, particularly in addressing challenges like anxiety, depression, and loneliness — issues that have become even more prevalent post-pandemic.

Jack: How do you specifically address student loneliness and raise awareness about it?

Our Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness takes a proactive approach, recognizing that not all students will seek help on their own. Our staff actively reaches out — whether through residence hall visits, campus tabling events, or general check-ins.

Our residence hall staff, including RAs and hall directors, also play a critical role. They engage students through programming and informal check-ins, asking, how they’re doing and if they need anything. These personal connections make a huge difference.

Additionally, we host workshops and social activities to encourage engagement. Our Campus Activities Board — known as the SOLO Events Committee — sponsors regular events with a mix of entertainment and education, or what I like to call ‘edutainment.’ We’ve found that weaving educational components into fun experiences resonates well with students.

Jack: That sounds great. Could you share an example of one of these ‘edutainment’ events?

Absolutely. Last semester, we hosted a speaker who shared her personal experiences with mental health challenges during college. She spoke about how stress affected her academic performance and how she sought support from various campus resources.

To complement her talk, we organized a creative, hands-on activity where students could make items to take with them — something tactile to reinforce the message of self-care. Events like this blend education with engagement in a way that resonates deeply with students.

Jack: How do you encourage broader student engagement in these types of initiatives?

Our Center for Student Engagement oversees more than 240 student organizations, and we make it easy for students to get involved. One of our biggest engagement events is our Mix and Mingle, held during Week of Welcome. Every student organization participates, setting up tables with fun giveaways, music, food, and networking opportunities. It’s a fantastic way for first-year students to connect with upperclassmen and explore all that campus life has to offer. We also encourage students to start their own organizations. If there’s something they’re passionate about that we don’t already have, they just need to gather a few friends, come talk to us, and we’ll help make it happen.

Jack: Managing so many student groups must be a challenge. How do you ensure smooth coordination?

Honestly, we don’t experience much tension between groups. Being a mid-sized institution, our student organizations understand the value of collaboration. Our Greek organizations, for example, participate in Greek Week, which fosters positive interactions. Additionally, our leadership development programs bring student leaders together to learn about each other’s missions, further strengthening cross-organization relationships.

Jack: What impact have you seen from this peer-led engagement model?

It’s incredibly powerful. Many students come in feeling unsure about how to get involved. Often, it’s not a staff member but rather a peer — a sophomore, junior, or senior — who takes them under their wing and helps them navigate opportunities on campus. This peer mentorship approach has been one of the most impactful aspects of our student engagement strategy.

Jack: Has there been a specific moment in your career that has stood out to you?

After 28 years in Student Affairs, I’ve had many great experiences, but nothing compares to seeing students walk across the stage at graduation. Not every student has a smooth journey, facing various challenges along the way. But when they make it, and you see their families and friends celebrating with them, it’s an indescribable feeling. Those moments reaffirm why I do this work. It’s my why — the reason I’m passionate about student engagement and success.