Southwest Tennessee Community College to Host 4th Annual Open House & Community Career Fair April 8, 2026

This year’s health care–focused theme invites the community to explore health care education, workforce development and career pathways at the college’s Union Avenue Campus, 737 Union Ave. in Memphis.

For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.

(Memphis, Tenn.) - Southwest Tennessee Community College will host its 4th Annual Open House and Community Career Fair on April 8, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Union Avenue Campus, 737 Union Ave. in Memphis. The event is free and open to the public, with check-in beginning at 9 a.m. This year’s theme, “From Classroom to Career: Exploring Healthcare Pathways,” highlights Southwest’s expanding impact as an anchor institution in the Memphis Medical District and its role in preparing the region’s health care workforce.

“Our Open House showcases not only the strength of our academic programs but also our deep commitment to meeting the workforce needs of the Mid-South. We look forward to welcoming the public to our Union Avenue Campus and sharing the many ways Southwest is preparing the next generation of health care and technical professionals,” said Tracy D. Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College. A leading higher education institution in the district, Southwest was recently awarded the prestigious national Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction, recognizing the college’s sustained excellence in advancing student success. 

As one of the largest suppliers of technically skilled professionals in the Mid-South, Southwest plays a critical role in supporting the economic vitality of the Medical District and beyond. The college partners extensively with hospitals, clinics and health care companies across Memphis, helping meet the region’s growing need for well-trained professionals. These partnerships strengthen career pipelines, support regional employers and create upward mobility for students who remain in the Memphis area after graduation. With its longstanding commitment to workforce development, Southwest continues to serve as a vital engine for the health care ecosystem that sustains the district and the broader Mid-South economy.

This year’s Open House will give the public an opportunity to see these partnerships—and Southwest’s workforce mission—in action. Visitors will be able to tour the college’s simulation labs and classrooms, explore academic and health care programs, meet faculty and students, and experience the Southwest Express mobile career exploration labs. From 35-40 employers will be on site at the Community Career Fair to provide information, accept applications and discuss career pathways in a variety of health care and technical fields.

The event features an exceptional lineup of speakers who will offer insights into Memphis’ health care landscape and the workforce needs shaping the city’s future. Distinguished participants include Dr. John R. Dunn, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, who will serve as keynote speaker at the event’s sponsor luncheon, and host Dr. Jamila Smith-Young, nurse practitioner at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Bobby White, chief government affairs officer for the Greater Memphis Chamber, will moderate an industry panel that includes Dr. Peter Buckley, chancellor of UTHSC; Sarah Colley, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare; Mary Ellen Sumrall, vice president and system chief nurse executive at Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation; Tish Towns, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Regional One Health; and Southwest nursing graduate John Nixon.

Southwest looks forward to welcoming the Mid-South community for a day of exploration, connection and opportunity. For more information and to RSVP, visit https://southwest.tn.edu/workforcesolutionscenter/signup.php.