Dr. Kimberly K. Estep is the chancellor of WGU Tennessee. She also serves as the southeast regional vice president for Western Governors University.

In her 11-year tenure at the helm of WGU Tennessee, Dr. Estep has worked to grow WGU Tennessee’s enrollment to over 5,000 students and over 11,000 alumni. She led the charge in securing articulation agreements between WGU Tennessee and all 13 community colleges in the state, as well as forming partnerships with many of Tennessee’s largest and most recognizable organizations and companies.

As regional vice president, Dr. Estep supports the work of WGU in the southeastern states: Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Dr. Estep brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education to her role.

She previously served as vice president for academic affairs and student services at Nashville State Community College and has held leadership roles at other institutions including Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee, Thomas University in Thomasville, Georgia, and Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.

Dr. Estep holds a doctorate and master’s degree in history from Auburn University, a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. degree from Judson College in Marion, Alabama.

She is based in WGU Tennessee’s main office in Franklin, Tennessee, and spends her time traveling the Southeast and working with higher-education, community, and business leaders to increase awareness of WGU, boost recruitment, and establish partnerships.

She is a member of the Rotary Club of Nashville, and volunteers regularly with Tennessee Achieves and Nashville literacy nonprofit Book’em. In 2016, Women in Higher Education in Tennessee (WHET) recognized her as its Woman of Achievement. In 2017–18, she was a finalist for the Nashville ATHENA Award. The Nashville Business Journal selected her as a 2019 Women of Influence recipient.

An Ozark, Alabama, native, Dr. Estep lives in Franklin with her husband, Paul Adams.