2026 Advisor of the Year
Dr. Sharon Couch
Pellissippi State Community College
2026 SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary Advisor of the Year
Honoring Transformational Leadership
SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary proudly recognizes Dr. Sharon Couch of Pellissippi State Community College as the 2026 SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary Advisor of the Year.
Dr. Couch has transformed SkillsUSA at Pellissippi State into a thriving, inclusive, and strategically aligned student leadership and workforce development program.
Her work reflects the highest ideals of SkillsUSA: developing students who are technically skilled, professionally prepared, confident, ethical, and ready to lead.
A Chapter Built for Growth
Expanding Access Across Campus
Under Dr. Couch's leadership, SkillsUSA at Pellissippi State Community College grew from a small group of participating programs into a broad, active chapter representing 23 academic programs.
This growth reflects her ability to build relationships across campus, engage faculty, and create meaningful access for students across multiple disciplines.
Pellissippi State students earned 11 state medals and three national medals in 2024, followed by 22 medals, including five national medals, in 2025.
The chapter also earned the prestigious James D. King Award.
Leading Through the SkillsUSA Framework
Building a Complete Leadership Ecosystem
Dr. Couch has embedded the SkillsUSA Framework into chapter operations, officer training, student engagement, event planning, reflection, and leadership development.
Rather than treating SkillsUSA as a competition-only experience, she has created a comprehensive environment where students develop Personal Skills, Workplace Skills, and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics.
Personal Skills
Responsibility, confidence, self-awareness, integrity, and growth.
Workplace Skills
Communication, teamwork, planning, professionalism, and leadership.
Technical Skills
Competition preparation, problem-solving, career readiness, and performance.
Leadership in Practice
Programs That Help Students Grow
Student-Centered Impact
Helping Students See What They Can Become
Dr. Couch's influence is most clearly seen in the students she serves. Her students are not only competing and earning recognition; they are learning to articulate their growth, advocate for themselves, represent their programs, and connect SkillsUSA experiences to workforce readiness.
“She does not just talk about Champion Your Future. She lives it.”
Lou Rey Valenzuela, SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary State President
Lou Rey Valenzuela credits Dr. Couch's investment, advocacy, and belief in student potential as a key part of his journey from adult learner to chapter president and Tennessee College/Postsecondary State President.
His experience reflects the heart of her work: she sees what students can become and helps them believe it for themselves.
Service Beyond Campus
Strengthening SkillsUSA Across Tennessee
Dr. Couch has served as a SkillsUSA Tennessee leadership trainer, CliftonStrengths facilitator, technical chair, and member of the SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary Executive Committee.
She has also supported the development of five Technical Chairs for state conference events, strengthening both local and statewide programming.
Her leadership has helped align SkillsUSA with Pellissippi State's Career Immersion strategy, demonstrating that co-curricular leadership experiences are essential to preparing students for meaningful careers and lives of service.
About Dr. Sharon Couch
A Career Defined by Performance, Leadership, and Student Success
Dr. Sharon Couch serves as Director of Student Engagement and Leadership at Pellissippi State Community College and Lead Faculty Advisor for SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary at PSCC.
She leads student engagement, leadership development, and belonging initiatives across five campuses.
A two-time U.S. Olympian and one of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's most decorated female student-athletes, Dr. Couch brings a performance mindset to student leadership development.
She previously spent nearly 12 years at the University of Tennessee and the UT System designing leadership education and performance coaching across four campuses. She holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Sport Studies with an emphasis on performance.
Highlights
A Record of Leadership and Impact
A Champion for Students
Mentor. Builder. Advocate. Strategist.
Dr. Sharon Couch represents what it means to be a SkillsUSA advisor. Her leadership has created opportunity, expanded access, strengthened student confidence, and elevated SkillsUSA as a powerful force for career readiness and personal growth.
SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary is honored to recognize Dr. Couch as the 2026 Advisor of the Year.