CHATTANOOGA — BlueSky Tennessee Institute, a workforce development venture between BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University (ETSU) offering a bachelor’s degree in Computing in just over two years, has welcomed Dr. Christel Young as the program’s ETSU site director.
In her new role, Dr. Young handles daily operations at the campus embedded within BlueCross’ Chattanooga headquarters and serves as a liaison between the university and the health insurance company.
“Dr. Young is a tremendous educator who has career experience in a variety of fields including healthcare, and she is fully leveraging her leadership and expertise to support this innovative accelerated program,” said Bradley Leon, executive director of the BlueSky Tennessee Institute. “Her enthusiasm, experience and track record of advocating for students will be an asset for BlueSky, and we are grateful to have her with us.”
Dr. Young, a Scenic City native who graduated from the Chattanooga School of the Arts & Sciences, earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from DePauw University, a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University, and a Doctor of Education degree in Instructional Technology from the American College of Education.
BlueSky Tennessee Institute is a 27-month program designed to foster locally the advanced technology talent BlueCross needs to serve customers, communities, and business partners. After following an accelerated version of ETSU’s accredited computing curriculum and gaining real-world experience with internships and technology mentorships, qualified graduates can earn a job offer from BlueCross.
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has brought peace of mind to its members and local communities for more than 75 years. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s news center at bcbstnews.com.