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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University College of Business students have demonstrated their exceptional financial skills by excelling in the TVA Investment Challenge for the third consecutive year. An opportunity for students to manage a real $500,000 stock portfolio. This year, TSU’s 2024 team not only outperformed the S&P 500, a key market benchmark, but also surpassed the performance of other participating universities by a significant margin.
College of Business students present their 2024 portfolio analysis during the 2025 TVA Investment Challenge Conference in Nashville.
The TVA Investment Challenge Conference, held in Nashville April 3–4, showcased these outstanding results. The portfolio was managed by teams of 13 TSU students across the Spring and Fall 2024 semesters. The Spring 2025 team, composed of six students, was tasked with analyzing and presenting the 2024 performance. With a rotating team structure each semester, TSU’s continued success is a testament to the strength of its academic preparation and the dedication of both current and former student analysts.
These efforts highlight the growing strength of TSU’s College of Business as the TSU team achieved a 29.29 percent return on their portfolio, surpassing the S&P 500 by 4.27 percent. They also outperformed the average return of the 27 participating universities by 6.56 percent, placing TSU among the top eight teams in the challenge. The students increased the TVA investment portfolio by more than $200,000, bringing its total value to over $700,000 by the end of December 2024.
Paige Chuma
Paige Chuma, a junior from Atlanta double majoring in economics and finance, as well as psychology, shared her experience. “I was able to network with students and business professionals and also see how far this can go," Chuma said. "It was humbling and inspiring. This is why I’m here, and I’m proud that our HBCU has the chance to participate in this opportunity.”
She emphasized how important it is for HBCUs and their economics and finance students to be part of these initiatives.
The experience allowed students to network with industry professionals, learn from executives, and gain valuable insights into the world of finance and investment.
Austin Thomas
Austin Thomas, a senior from Nashville majoring in economics and finance highlighted how the experience helped him gain valuable skills for his future career. “We were able to invest real money, make buy and sell decisions in real time, and practice our strategies. This is a great opportunity for students to gain real-world experience,” Thomas said. “It’s important for us to not only represent our HBCU but also people of color."
The TVA Investment Challenge allowed students from universities in the Tennessee Valley region to manage portfolios and make strategic investment decisions. The students actively manage TVA funds by designing long-term investment strategies, placing trades, maintaining compliance with investment guidelines, and presenting performance reports to TVA. Teams are responsible for conducting financial research, making investment choices, and managing risk.
Dr. Anis Mnif and Dr. Selma Izadi, center, guide TSU students through portfolio analysis at Avon Williams Off Campus Instructional Site.
Dr. Selma Izadi, an assistant finance professor and faculty advisor for TSU's TVA challenge team played a pivotal role in guiding the students through the financial modeling, analysis, and portfolio construction.
“Managing a real-money portfolio provides an invaluable opportunity for our students, empowering them to become the next generation of financial leaders at TSU,” Dr. Izadi said. “It’s an excellent reflection of the high-level skills and knowledge our students are gaining, and it showcases the strength of our Economics and Finance Department. Congratulations to all students whose contributions made this success possible.”
Interim Chair and Assistant Professor of Finance Dr. Anis Mnif praised the team’s achievement, noting that it serves as a testament to the rigorous education and mentorship that TSU students receive.
Tennessee State University 2024 Investment Challenge Performance Award.
“Consistently outperforming market benchmarks is no small feat,” Mnif said. “Our students are not only competing—they are leading. This success underscores the excellence and leadership that TSU represents in the field of business and finance.”
The conference was also a chance for students to share their investment strategies and portfolio results with teams from other universities.
“It was so cool to see presenters and executives who had participated in the TVA Challenge years ago," Chuma said as she reflected on the event. "It’s inspiring to be part of something so impactful, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead.”
With this achievement, the College of Business continues to prepare its students for successful careers in finance, economics, and beyond. It further solidifies the college’s reputation as a leading institution for developing the next generation of finance professionals.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Tennessee State University College of Agriculture (TSUAg) recently marked the reopening of three renovated research laboratories with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Farrell-Westbrook Agricultural Complex. TSU interim President Dwayne Tucker and Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher joined TSUAg Dean Dr. Chandra Reddy and other dignitaries for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.
TSU student researcher Katrina Seamen addresses the group on graduate and undergraduate students research at the College of Agriculture.
The renovation and reopening of the Legume Molecular Genetics Laboratory, the Urban Forest Ecosystems Laboratory, and the Forest Ecology Laboratory bring the College of Agriculture’s total to 37 active research labs.
“The agriculture and forestry industry is the number one industry in the state of Tennessee,” Commissioner Hatcher said during the event. “And the very future of the agriculture and forestry industry depends on facilities like this; it depends upon the lab directors and students who work in facilities like this.”
The ceremony included guided tours of the newly renovated labs led by students and faculty. Dr. Sarah Neumann, who will lead the Forest Ecology Laboratory, along with Dr. Yujuan Chen of the Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab and Dr. Sonali Roy of the Legume Molecular Genetics Lab, introduced their spaces. Undergraduate and graduate students showcased research projects, demonstrated instrumentation, and led hands-on demonstrations, with Hatcher and President Tucker joining in.
Undergraduate student Janae Terrell, left, who is a Legume Molecular Genetics Lab researcher, shows President Tucker hands on demonstration of using a pipette to move a liquid sample.
“We now have more capacity to teach,” said Dr. Roy. “The new laboratories expand our training outreach, and we can bring more students into the process of doing real-world research. But just being able to do independent research with specialized equipment is also a huge plus.”
Following the tours, attendees gathered on the front lawn of the Farrell-Westbrook building for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dr. Reddy introduced the guest speakers and spoke about the critical role of agricultural research.
“Crops like corn are producing 10 times more yield than they did at the beginning of the 20th century, and that did not happen magically,” said Dean Reddy. “It happened because of a lot of research conducted in this country and around the world in research labs like the ones you just toured.”
Junior agricultural science majors Sidney Wyche, left, and Todd Stansberry are among the student researchers set to benefit from the reopening of the three renovated laboratory facilities.
“These new laboratories are more than just modern spaces; they are a symbol of our ambition, a testament to our resilience, and a platform for the future,” President Tucker said. “They will empower our faculty, inspire our students, and help us tackle the most urgent issues in agriculture, sustainability, and community well-being.”
For the students gaining new opportunities through these updated facilities, the moment was significant.
“It’s really helpful to have that space,” said Sydney Wyche, a junior agricultural science major working in Dr. Chen’s Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab. “And it was really cool to see everybody come out and see our new facility and how we’re utilizing that space.”
Graduate student Diksha Tamang using new equipment in one of the three renovated labs in the Farrell-Westbrook Agricultural Complex.
TSU student Todd Stansberry, a junior studying agricultural science, said he was excited about the momentous occasion and the outpouring of support.
“I’m really proud of us. To see everyone here, to celebrate, to have a big event is a big deal,” Stansberry said. “This is a step forward.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University celebrated the grand reopening of the Ralph H. Boston Wellness Center, unveiling a modernized fitness and wellness hub designed to serve students, faculty, and staff.
The renovated facility now boasts upgraded equipment, fresh interior design, and new amenities for students, faculty, and staff. University leaders, staff, and students gathered for a celebratory ribbon-cutting and tour, marking the reopening as a symbol of progress and prioritization of student well-being.
TSU President Dwayne Tucker, center, Director of the Wellness Dr. Gerald Davis, faculty and staff join students for the a wellness center celebratory ribbon-cutting.
“This is a joyous occasion,” said Leah Granderson, executive director for campus operations planning, design, and construction. “Thank you for celebrating this new amenity. It’s more than a gym, it’s a reflection of TSU’s commitment to our campus community.”
Joining Granderson was Marlah Green, assistant director of renovation in Facilities Management, who expressed pride in the transformation. “I was the project manager that originally built this facility in the late ‘90s,” Green said. “To see it renovated, refreshed, and filled with new equipment is really a joy.”
For Amber Long, a senior architectural engineering major from Memphis, TN, the updates make a real difference. “When I walked in, it was very nice and updated,” she said. “It definitely motivates me to get up and go to the gym now.”
TSU student Amber Long lifts weights in the newly renovated Ralph H. Boston Wellness Center.
TSU President Dwyane Tucker praised the collaborative effort. “What a great job everybody did to pull this together,” he said. “From what I understand, even during the soft opening, students showed up in great demand. They see the opportunity too.”
That demand reflects a broader vision articulated by Dr. Gerald Davis, Director of the Wellness Center. “This center is more than a place to break a sweat. It’s a place to build community, confidence, and connection,” Davis said. “As part of Student Affairs, it’s our role to support the whole student. Not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well.”
The renovation was made possible by Title III funding, with critical planning completed in just four days before the close of the 2024 fiscal year. “I already knew what the students had been asking for,” Davis explained. “We strategically blended brand new equipment with usable existing pieces and donated others to Residence Life and Athletics.”
The revitalized center features nearly 50 pieces of fitness equipment, an expanded workout space, and a unique relaxation and stretching zone which Davis hopes to formally name down the road.
Dr. Gerald Davis
Access is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and even visiting family members accompanied by a student. In the near future, Davis plans to roll out new features including student ID-based entry systems, hygiene stations, expanded hours, and programming such as yoga and high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
Aiden Smith, a junior business management and marketing major from Houston, TX, hopes to see more interactive opportunities emerge. “Yoga or boxing classes would be great to get students and faculty more engaged,” Smith said. As a student project planning engineer with Campus Operations, he also underscored the value of student input. “We actively use student engagement to shape renovations and new projects on campus. It’s crucial to the TSU experience.”
TSU student Aiden Smith powers through a bench press in the newly renovated Ralph H. Boston Wellness Center. The modernized facility includes nearly 50 new machines.
Will Radford, Assistant Vice President of Planning, Design, and Construction, who helps lead the university’s capital projects and campus improvements, echoed that sentiment. “Every day, we organize around the needs of our students,” he said. “We’re continuing the legacy of TSU but also building a culture of celebrating student services and pushing forward creative solutions.”
As the center reopens, Dr. Davis remains focused on spreading the word. “It surprises me when graduating students say they didn’t even know we had a Wellness Center,” he said. “That tells me we need to do better—not just promoting this space but getting students out of their rooms and helping them connect.”
During the ceremony Marlah Green, assistant director of renovation in Facilities Management, expressed pride in the wellness center transformation.
Whether it’s a freshman stepping into a gym for the first time or a senior rediscovering community, the Ralph H. Boston Wellness Center is more than just a renovated facility, it’s a renewed promise to the TSU community.
The Wellness Center is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sunday 1 – 4 p.m. The center is not open on Saturdays at the moment.
For updates and programming announcements, follow @Wellness_TSU on Instagram. To learn more, visit www.tnstate.edu/wellness_center/.
Since making their way to big blue, the three have received quite a few triple takes from their fellow classmates.
This trio has quickly become involved on campus joining organization such as the New Directions Gospel Choir, the Academics Success Program and the Honors Program, and look forward to participating in the Pre-Alumni Council and Leadership TSU in the coming academic year. They also maintain a brotherly competition, particularly when it comes to academic achievement.
Since making their way to big blue, the three have received quite a few triple takes from their fellow classmates.
This trio has quickly become involved on campus joining organization such as the New Directions Gospel Choir, the Academics Success Program and the Honors Program, and look forward to participating in the Pre-Alumni Council and Leadership TSU in the coming academic year. They also maintain a brotherly competition, particularly when it comes to academic achievement.
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