12/31/2025
Perseverance, family support and a high-quality business degree from Tusculum University have landed Leslie England among the leaders in the East Tennessee banking industry.
England has served as the first female president of TNBANK, which is based in Oak Ridge and has five locations in the Knoxville area, since June 2024. She previously held other leadership positions during her nearly 10 years at the bank.
She graduated from Tusculum in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration degree with concentrations in marketing and human resources. Her studies increased her understanding of overall management, sales, HR law and teamwork and her confidence with reading in public.
“Returning to school and earning my degree from Tusculum put me on a path I never expected,” England said. “My siblings and I are all first-generation college students. My journey included significant challenges, including being a single mother to a son with learning disabilities. My education allowed me to advance professionally through multiple promotions, strengthening my leadership, organizational and marketing skills.”
England obtained her degree while she worked for Oak Ridge Utility District. Tusculum enabled her to complete her degree with coursework after work hours so she could balance that with her job and family responsibilities.
“Now that Tusculum offers online classes, it provides an amazing opportunity for stay-at-home parents and working students,” England said.
In recognition of the great value a Tusculum education offers, TNBANK has partnered with the university to provide bank employees with a tuition reduction if they attend the higher education institution.
“We have consistently found that graduates of Tusculum University bring practical, real-world skills, and when we see Tusculum on a résumé, we know the education aligns well with real-life workplace application and community service,” England said.
If you are a working adult who wants to pursue a degree, you can discuss options by emailing [email protected]. You can learn more about the university and its degrees at www.tusculum.edu.
