TFLI is an agency of the State of Tennessee established in 1986 by the General Assembly. According to legislation (Tennessee Code Annotated 49-50-1303), "The institute shall be governed by a board composed of the following members: 

1. The commissioner of economic and community development or the commissioner's designee;

2. The commissioner of tourist development or the commissioner's designee;

3. The chancellor of the state university and community college system or the chancellor's designee;

4. The president of the University of Tennessee or the president's designee;

5. Three (3) persons who shall be appointed by the governor;

6. The executive director of the Tennessee higher education commission; and
7. The commissioner of education."

 

 

The official goals of the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute can be found in the legislative mandate in the Tennessee Code Annotated. The legislation outlines the purposes of TFLI, "which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Coordination and provision of foreign language skills needed by state government for purposes of industrial recruitment, tourist development or any other state purpose;

  • Original research into the most effective methods of foreign language 
    instruction and the dissemination of such knowledge;
    • Improvement of the language skills and teaching methods of foreign
      language instructors at all levels in the schools, colleges and universities of Tennessee;  and
    • Coordination and provision of foreign language instruction to the citizens of Tennessee."

       

      The Tennessee Foreign Language Institute employs 15 culturally-diverse staff members, and hundreds of adjuncts from many cultures and countries. We fully support Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the strengthened provisions with regard to those with Limited English Proficiency. Please read this informative brochure for more information on Title VI.

       

       

      
      
      Current Governing Board members:
      
      
      
      Richard G. Rhoda,

      TN Higher Education Commission, Governing Board Chair
      
      
      Matt Kisber,

      TN Department of Economic and Community Development
      
      
      Charles Manning,

      TN Board of Regents
      
      
      John D. Petersen,

      University of Tennessee
      
      
      ,

      TN Department of Education
      
      
      Susan Whitaker,

      TN Department of Tourism
      
      
      Jeannine De la Torre Ugarte
      
      
      Chanto Sourinho
      
      
      Gloria Bishop