APSU’s Leadership Exchange connects local nonprofits with volunteer resources
By: Ethan Steinquest December 16, 2025
Leadership Exchange program participants tour the APSU Food Pantry. From left: Joyce Brittain with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville, Doretha Minor with Manna Café Ministries, Karissa Poe with Blue Star Families Tennessee Chapter, and Dannelle Whiteside, APSU’s vice president for Legal Affairs and Organizational Strategy. | Photo by Robyn White
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University recently welcomed representatives from several nonprofit organizations to campus for its ongoing Leadership Exchange program, a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening community partnerships.
Participants connected with student volunteers, discussed potential internship programs, and learned about upcoming opportunities including the annual Peayple in the Community - Day of Service.
Joyce Brittain, school-based program specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville, learns about the APSU Food Pantry while visiting campus for the Leadership Exchange. | Photo by Robyn White
“The Leadership Exchange was not only a great opportunity to reconnect with fellow nonprofit leaders, but to hear about the numerous ways APSU students and staff support the community at large,” said Joyce Brittain, school-based program specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville. “[We’ve] partnered with various APSU departments in the past, and we look forward to continuing those endeavors … we believe that the more on-campus experiences and exposure to college life we can provide our Littles, the more comfortable they will feel—and the more attainable higher education will become for them.”
Attendees were also invited to tour the state-of-the-art Health Professions Building and the APSU Food Pantry, which supports hundreds of students monthly and is preparing to expand into a new location.
“During the campus tour, we were able to see firsthand how APSU supports the physical needs of students and their families who have food insecurity,” Brittain said. “I was so excited to hear the food pantry will be moving to a new, larger location, so even more students and their families can benefit.”
The Leadership Exchange continues to strengthen APSU’s ties with community organizations by creating new partnership pathways and building resource networks.
“It was wonderful to show our nonprofit partners the resources we have on campus,” said Dannelle Whiteside, APSU’s vice president for Legal Affairs and Organizational Strategy. “Each of them left with a clearer picture of how APSU can support their missions, and we gained valuable insights into some of the most pressing needs in our community.”
About the Leadership Exchange Series
APSU’s Leadership Exchange series began in September 2023 and has hosted partners from Fort Campbell, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, and more. Events typically include seminars, panel discussions, and workshops designed to build connections and promote regional development.
“Since we launched the Leadership Exchange, we’ve seen tangible results in strengthening partnerships across our community,” Whiteside said. “These conversations have led to new internship opportunities for students, increased collaboration between local organizations, and the development of practical solutions to challenges facing our region.”