Gould Named Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs

NASHVILLE– Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton today announced the appointment of Corinne Gould as assistant commissioner for public affairs for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

“We are delighted that Corinne Gould has accepted the challenge of leading the Department of Agriculture’s public affairs office,” Commissioner Templeton said. “Since joining TDA, Corinne has worked hard to immerse herself in learning the issues of Tennessee’s farm and forest communities. She is committed to maintaining the integrity of the department’s outreach mission.”

As assistant commissioner, Gould will focus on strengthening relationships with the public, stakeholders and industry representatives. She will oversee internal and external communications and provide administrative support for media relations, policy development and all agency programs. She will also supervise the public relations team and regional staff and administer the Tennessee Agricultural Museum.

“Every single person is touched by agriculture every single day,” Gould said. “The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has a powerful story, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share that story with the public. I look forward to serving with Commissioner Templeton and the department’s staff in a greater capacity to promote our state’s agriculture, forestry and rural communities.”

Gould joined the department in 2014 as deputy director for public affairs. She ultimately took on the role of director of communications which included managing the department’s rapidly growing social media platforms and expansion of photographic and video contributions.

Prior to TDA, Gould enjoyed a decade-long career in television news. As a producer at the NBC affiliate in Nashville, Gould won a regional Emmy award and was nominated for a national Emmy award for breaking news coverage of the floods that devastated Middle Tennessee in 2010. The recognition was particularly personal for Gould, who lost her own farm to the rising water. That experience and the support she received from her community solidified her dedication to give back to the citizens of Tennessee.

“Corinne established her talents with the Nashville media market and earned a reputation she can be proud of,” Templeton added. “Her rural upbringing will be particularly important as we continue to strategize and identify economic opportunities for rural Tennessee. She has a passion for agriculture and forestry, and those sectors and related industries will be well served with Corinne as their chief governmental spokesperson.”

A native of Rhea County in southeast Tennessee, Gould obtained her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and graduated magna cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University. She is also a graduate of the 2015 Tennessee Government Executive Institute and serves as communications coordinator for her class.

In addition to riding, showing and raising American Quarter Horses, Gould spends her free time traveling the country announcing horse shows.