Belmont joins Nashville Innovation Alliance and AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance
Belmont University has joined a groundbreaking partnership between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Nashville Innovation Alliance, a collective of visionary leaders from across Nashville’s civic, business and academic communities committed to enhancing the region’s innovation ecosystem.
The partnership will serve as a key resource created to help bridge the gap between education and industry in Tennessee’s rapidly growing technology sector.
The Nashville Innovation Alliance, AWS and Mayor Freddie O’Connell held a press conference, Oct. 1 to formally announce the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance.
AWS aims to serve more than 1,000 Tennesseans by 2027, with plans to expand statewide by 2026. Students will have access to AWS training modules, applied projects and experiential learning opportunities with participating organizations.
With Nashville tapped as the deployment city, the collaboration marks Tennessee as one of only six U.S. regions so far selected for this national initiative. The goal is to align academic programs with real-world workforce needs, ensuring students are equipped with the most in-demand skills across cloud computing, data analytics and artificial intelligence.
“If Nashville is to be successful in the future, we need to be intentional now about readying our local workforce to meet this demand,” said O’Connell during the announcement. “This partnership demonstrates the power of public-private collaboration and the exceptional talent emerging from our local universities.”
A Natural Extension of Belmont’s Hands-On Learning Approach
For Belmont, joining the Nashville Tech Alliance and the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance represents both an opportunity and a natural continuation of its mission to prepare graduates for meaningful, future-focused careers. Belmont has long championed experiential learning by integrating real world challenges directly into coursework across disciplines.
The Alliance offers a new opportunity for the Belmont Data & AI Collaborative to expand its work in advancing data-driven innovation.
“Belmont’s Data & AI Collaborative focuses on Enabling Insight to Empower Action,” said BDAIC Executive Director Jeff Donahoo. “his partnership amplifies that mission by bringing together education, industry, and government in innovative ways. When these sectors collaborate, students gain practical experience, employers access a skilled workforce, and Nashville advances as a technology hub.”
It also reflects the Jack C. Massey College of Business’s deep commitment to connecting classroom learning with real-world professional practice.
“This partnership is a perfect fit for Belmont,” explained Jill Robinson, assistant dean in the Massey College of Business. “Our ethos has always centered around embedding live projects into the classroom — bridging what students are learning with what’s happening in the business community right now. The AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance is simply another level of that commitment.”
Belmont’s faculty in areas such as computer science, data analytics and business will collaborate with AWS and local employers to help shape and refine course content, ensuring its coursework reflects the latest industry needs.
Building Regional Pathways for Future Talent
Even with over 8,000 open technology positions currently in Middle Tennessee and a 35 percent boost in tech job postings since 2020, the tech industry still battles a significant talent gap in the workforce, particularly for cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
AWS leaders emphasized the importance of partnerships like this one to create sustainable pipelines between universities and employers. Through the AWS Skills to Jobs Alliance, students will receive training in AWS products, equipping them with industry-critical skills and offering a competitive workforce advantage.
“Our students will already have the skills organizations are looking for before they even enter the workforce,” Robinson said. “That’s what it means to be industry ready. Being part of this Alliance allows us to continue doing what we do best — equip students not just for their first job, but for the future of work.”
Now an anchor partner of the broader Nashville Innovation Alliance, Belmont will be positioned at the center of the city’s next wave of collaborative growth — working alongside Vanderbilt University, Nashville State Community College, Fisk University, the Mayor’s Office and industry partners to strengthen Nashville’s reputation as a hub for technology and innovation.
Creating Opportunities for the Future
AWS aims to serve more than 1,000 Tennesseans by 2027, with plans to expand statewide by 2026. For Belmont, the initiative reinforces its long-standing belief that education should be both transformative and practical, empowering students to thrive in technology’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Through the new partnership, Nashville is hosting the Civic Tech Jam, Oct. 22. Metro Nashville departments pitch their challenges in front of academic and public sector partners, with seed money available and new possibilities for collaboration.
“Together, we're not just addressing today's tech skills gaps, we're building a sustainable pipeline of talent that will drive innovation and economic prosperity in Tennessee for generations to come,” said Valerie Singer, general manager of global education at Amazon Web Services.
These strategic partnerships build upon Belmont’s strong foundation of industry-connected education, reinforcing the University’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful, future-ready careers. By aligning classroom learning with the evolving needs of employers, Belmont ensures that both current students and graduates are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce.
Learn more about the programs in this story