Dr. Brian Noland became the ninth president of East Tennessee State University in January 2012 after serving for six years as Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education System.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in public policy studies, both from West Virginia University. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Through President Noland’s leadership, operational units were restructured to support student success, a move that has yielded greater efficiencies and the highest graduation rate in the history of the University. Under his leadership, ETSU has launched the largest volume of capital projects in its history. Dr. Noland is a board member for the American Council on Education, The American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Ballad Health, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Dr. Noland also is an Institute of Higher Education fellow at the University of Georgia.

Montgomery spent over 22 years of his career at Eastman Chemical Company where he retired as Vice President of Community and Corporate Relations. In that role, he worked with regional governments and businesses throughout the Tri-Cities. Other work experiences have included Christian Medical and Dental Services National Headquarters in Bristol, TN., where he served as Senior Director for Legacy Planning, Northeast State Community College, Texas Instruments, and the former Kingsport Press (formerly known as Arcata Graphics).

Montgomery has a B.A.& MBA degree from King University. Also, he has completed University of Tennessee’s Leadership program, Wittenberg’s Supervisory Program, and completed Leadership Kingsport, LEAD Bristol, and Johnson City’s Leadership Program.

As a business and management leader, he serves on the board of Help Our Potential Evolve (H.O.P.E) where mentoring disadvantaged youth is rewarding. He has received the Balch-Doak Character Counts Award, State of Tennessee Proclamation Leadership Distinguished Leadership Award, Distinguished Alumnus—King University, and the Black Faculty and Staff of East Tennessee State University, Outstanding Educational Leadership and Service to the Tri-Cities Community (2010). He also served on the board for several public and nonprofit organizations, including Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union, Frontier Health, and King University.

Montgomery resides in the Sevier Terrace Sub-division, with wife, Cherry, and has two adult children and three grandchildren. He attends Central Baptist Church of Kingsport where he serves as a deacon and is an active supporter of church missions.

Montgomery was elected as alderman in 2021 and served in that capacity until elected mayor for the City of Kingsport in August, 2024.