JJ Fennell serves as the Donor Relations Manager for Tennesseans for Student Success. Prior to TSS, she worked as an Athletic Director and English teacher, with experience in both public and private K-12 school settings. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education from Florida State University, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. A Florida native, JJ enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her family, and attending athletic events.
Mallory Ray serves as the Senior Policy Analyst at Tennesseans for Student Success. Ray obtained her Master’s in Education from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in K-12 school counseling. She is an alumna of the University Honors College at MTSU with an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Mass Communication. She has served in accountability, student services, and academic support roles within K-12, early college, community college and university settings.
Mallory is a native West Tennessean, first generation college student, and graduate of Madison Academic Magnet High School in Jackson, Tennessee. Ray is dedicated to creating equitable and efficient college and career pathways for all students in Tennessee.
Latetrica Wilson is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. As a former pre-k educator with Memphis Shelby County Schools, Wilson spent 5 years working with preschool age children in both private and public schools. Wilson earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee State University in Child Development and Family Studies and has a Master of Science degree from Alabama A&M University in Human Development and Family Studies. Wilson is currently studying at The University of Memphis pursuing doctoral degree in Professional and Liberal Studies. In her spare time, Wilson enjoys going to the movies, traveling, kickboxing, and volunteering at her church.
Dustin proudly serves as Advocacy Coordinator with Tennesseans for Student Success. Prior to TSS, Dustin resided in Southern California serving as an educator in both the high school and university systems. Mr. Mohammed performed as an undergraduate Professor of Sociology at California State University Dominguez Hills, in addition to functioning as a classroom history teacher for the Los Angeles public school system. Additionally, Dustin has spent his professional career in its entirety providing community welfare by means of rendering psychotherapy support to underserved youth better known as wraparound services. As a facilitator, Dustin attained expertise in rehabilitating challenged youth. Having received a football scholarship, Mr. Mohammed achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in kinesiology and minored in psychology at William Penn University located in Iowa. Dustin received his masters of sociology degree at California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.
Sky Arnold serves as the communications director for Tennesseans for Student Success. Prior to his role at TSS, Arnold served vulnerable families in Tennessee as the Press Secretary for the Tennessee Department of Human Services. He is also known in Middle Tennessee for his years of covering state and local government at Nashville’s Fox 17 News. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and the son of a public school teacher.
Brooke is a Nashville native and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. She spent her early years of her career working in event planning before making the move to administrative work. For the last six years, she has worked for Tennesseans for Student Success, overseeing the organization’s operational excellence. In her current role as Chief of Staff, she provides strategic support and organizational development as a member of the leadership team. She currently lives in Spring Hill, TN with her husband and two daughters.
Vanessa is the Office Administrative Assistant here at TSS. She is a 2021 graduate of St. Lawrence University in northern New York, receiving her degree in communications and creative writing. Vanessa has lived in western New York, northern New York, and Washington, DC, but is proud to now call Tennessee home. Outside of the office, you can find Vanessa spending time with her family, reading a book, or enjoying a walk.
Adam Lister serves as president and CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success, a nonprofit issue advocacy organization committed to improving student achievement in the Volunteer State. Prior to his role at Tennesseans for Student Success, Lister was vice president of policy at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce where he directed public policy and government relations initiatives. In that capacity, he led the chamber’s political action committees and independent expenditure work to advance and support critical business advocacy priorities at the state, local, and federal level. Lister is a Nashville native and graduate of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Lister has also worked as an analyst with the Tennessee General Assembly and worked on a number of political campaigns. Adam is a proud public school parent and is married to a public school teacher in Williamson County.
Meredith joins Tennesseans for Student Success after five years of working at schools within the NativityMiguel Coalition. She began her career as a teaching fellow at Nativity Boston, before serving as director of student support at Nativity Prep in Rochester, New York. A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Meredith attended Boston College where she studied economics and political science and spent two summers interning for Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. She went on to earn her master’s degree in developmental and educational psychology at the Boston College’s School of Education.
Jack Minor serves as vice president of strategy and advocacy for Tennesseans for Student Success. He has experience working in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as well as congressional and presidential campaigns and a national think tank and advocacy organization. He previously served as chief of staff and lead communications adviser to former House Republican Conference Vice Chairman, U.S. Representative Mark Walker, and as digital content manager for Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign. As a communications, advocacy and policy professional, Jack has helped raise millions in online donations, managed seven-figure campaign spends, booked clients on premier national news outlets and assisted candidates from local school boards to Congress and the presidency. He is a graduate of Elon University, a North Carolina native and a former student of Tennessee public schools.
Lana Skelo serves as general counsel and vice president of government relations for Tennesseans for Student Success. Prior to TSS, Lana served as senior director of state legislative affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where she oversaw lobbying compliance for the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) and the Workforce Freedom Initiative. In that capacity, Lana was responsible for developing and managing state-level policy advocacy program in the tort reform space through an aggressive grassroots and public education plan. Lana also has experience as an attorney at Waller Law firm in Nashville where she focused on state business regulation and represented clients in strategic planning matters involving the executive and legislative branches of government as well as commissions, authorities and other entities. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned her J.D. from the University of Memphis-Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
