Columbia State’s Suzanne “Sue” Christian, anesthesia technology program director and assistant professor, was recently honored as a recipient of the 2025 Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans.

Established in 2020 by Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings, the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans recognizes military veterans each year from each of Tennessee’s community and technical colleges to honor the service, bravery and sacrifices of military veterans in campus communities.

“Our college communities are strengthened by the veterans and active-duty personnel on campus. The experiences and perspectives they bring are an important part of the broad diversity of people and backgrounds on our campuses that benefits everyone,” Dr. Tydings said. “We are wholeheartedly committed to serving our veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard members, reserve members, military spouses and children. It’s a privilege to honor them, not only on Veterans Day but all year.”

Columbia State’s commitment to veterans includes a range of benefits and services for veterans and their families, including: 

• Columbia State is approved for veteran educational benefits and works closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and state-approving agencies to ensure that students’ benefits are used appropriately.
• Eligible military spouses may use the MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account) scholarship at Columbia State.
• Columbia State has also achieved VETS Campus certification by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission by meeting additional criteria for excellence standards and compliance for our military-affiliated community.

Recipients of the commendation are nominated by the respective college presidents, and Christian was one of 35 Tennesseans to receive the commendation.

“Through her military service, she gained many values, including courage under pressure, respect for mission and commitment to teamwork, which are evident in every aspect of her teaching and mentorship,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “Sue is highly regarded by both her colleagues and students for her calm, compassionate nature and her unwavering dedication to excellence. She continually goes above and beyond to ensure her students are not only well-prepared academically but also personally supported and inspired to achieve their goals. Her ongoing service to the community college reflects the very principles embodied in the Chancellor's Commendation for Military Veterans: Courage through adversity, dedication to student success and a steadfast commitment to others.”

Christian, a Marine Corps veteran, represents the values that define both military and educational excellence — honor, courage, commitment and integrity.

Since 2018, she has served students at Columbia State as the founding director of the anesthesia technology program, the first program of its kind in Tennessee.

Christian initiated the effort to contact colleges in Middle Tennessee to establish an anesthesia technician program. Columbia State accepted the challenge and brought Christian on as the director.

At the time, the program became one of approximately five anesthesia technology programs in the country to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Currently, the CAAHEP recognizes only 11 accredited anesthesia technology programs nationwide.

Before coming to Tennessee, Christian worked in anesthesiology at St. Joseph’s and Central Baptist in Lexington, Kentucky, before being recruited by Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s anesthesiology department in 2004. Today, she continues her duties at Columbia State alongside her work as a manager and clinical educator for VUMC.

Now a tenured assistant professor, her lessons and leadership continue to help the college further its goals of providing an avenue for students to enter into high-value and high-paying career fields.

“I am honored to receive the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans,” Christian said. “This recognition is deeply humbling, as there are many deserving individuals — some of whom have made even greater sacrifices to protect our freedom.”

Christian was presented with a special TBR Challenge Coin by Smith on behalf of the chancellor. Challenge coins are a rich tradition in all branches of the military and signify special achievement, excellence, hard work, unit pride, respect and esprit de corps.