Candice McQueen

McQueen was born to Brenda and Nelson Hunter.[1] She is from Clarksville, Tennessee.[2] She lived in Iran for three years while her parents taught at the Tehran American School.[1] She completed a B.S. from Lipscomb University.[3] From 1996 to 1998, McQueen taught 5th grade at Lipscomb Middle School.[4] She earned an M.Ed. in school administration from Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development in 1998.[5][3] She taught for three years at Lakeway Elementary in Austin, Texas.[4] McQueen completed a Ph.D. in curriculum studies at the University of Texas.[3]

McQueen was an adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University.[3] She served as an assistant instructor and supervisor of student teachers at the University of Texas at Austin.[3] McQueen joined the College of Education at Lipscomb University in August 2001.[3] She served as chair of the undergraduate education department from 2004 to 2008.[3] She became dean of the College of Education in July 2008.[2] In November 2013, McQueen was also appointed senior vice president.[2] She served as dean and senior vice president until December 2014.[2] In January 2015, McQueen was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education.[2] She served in the role until January 2019.[2]

McQueen was the chief executive officer of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) of the Milken Family Foundation from January 2019 to August 2021.[2] On August 4, 2021, She became the 18th president of Lipscomb University.[2] She succeeded L. Randolph Lowry III.[3] She is the first female chief executive officer of a university associated with the Churches of Christ.[1]

McQueen married Andy McQueen and has a son and daughter.[2]