Corning Inc. official and Tennessee State University graduate Patricia Brewer Hairston will work at TSU for one year as an “executive-on-loan” funded by her employer, the university announced today.

Hairston (pictured here) will work closely with TSU leadership to advance the goals of the Supply Chain Management Program and other leadership initiatives at the institution.

“I always wanted to give back to Tennessee State University, and this is certainly a way to do so in a more meaningful way,” Hairston said in a release.

Hairston, director of global transportation and trade compliance at Corning, currently chairs the TSU Supply Chain Management Program Governing Board, a leadership group of nine leading Fortune 500 companies that collaborate and work with the university to review curriculum, lead research and develop students for future leadership in supply chain management. She has been a member of the board since 2006.

TSU President Portia Holmes Shields called Corning “a forward-thinking company” for assigning Hairston to TSU.

“We are thrilled to see her return to us so capable and a more strengthened graduate with a level of technical and executive expertise that can only be helpful to Tennessee State University,” Shields said.