Tammie Polk (’02)

“Attending CBU gave me a sense of pride that I still carry with me today! Growing up, my Mom always told me that CBU was where I needed to be because of its history and standing in the community. I grew to understand why she made that decision for me in the fifth grade, and I look back on my days with joy!”

Tammie Polk majored in Psychology and served as a Peer Counselor as a student at CBU. She has very fond memories of Sadie Lisenby, who was Director of Counseling at CBU from 1987 to 2018. “She took a personal interest in me after I declared my major. Even after I graduated, she remembered me and, when I would visit, we would reminisce about how long it took for me to make the roster for the Peer Counseling programs going on at the time. When I asked her for a recommendation, she stopped what she was doing and sent it immediately. I miss her dearly and was very saddened to hear of her passing. She was truly a treasure!”

After Tammie graduated in 2002, she worked as a teacher and educational consultant — and married her husband Elrico, who she met at CBU. Today, they have three homeschooled daughters — Yasmine, Jaelynn, and Caitlyn — and Tammie has become a successful public speaker, professional life and business coach, and the author of more than 150 books on life, faith, family, ministry, and business. She also owns Professionally Sassy, a bookstore and consulting agency in the Parkway Village neighborhood, where she sells her books, assists other writers and speakers, provides coaching sessions, and hosts boutique events. She also hosts an international radio show, The Virtuous Business Woman Motivational Broadcast.

Tammie has also served as the Area Director for District 43 of Toastmasters International; various positions (including President) at Bluff City Toastmasters Club; as an Executive Board Member of Finding My Way Radio Channel USA/World; CEO of Lifted Authors Radio Network; President of the Board of Purpose Over Popularity Youth Development Center, Inc.; Vice President of the Board of A Chance the Thrive Foundation; and a member of the She-EO Society for Womenpreneurs. She has performed volunteer service for Beautiful Spirited Women Girls Explosion, Hutchison School Speed Mentoring,
Cornerstone Preparatory School Denver Campus Career Day, and the Child Evangelism Fellowship Good News Club.

In recognition of her many activities, Tammie has been nominated for IALA Self-Help Author of the Year and AAA Self-Help Author of the Year, for the 2021 Power Up Summit Woman of the Year and Author of the Year, and has been named She-EO of the Month in June 2022 and the 2020 Outstanding Hostmaster by Bluff City Toastmasters.

One lesson that I still carry with me from CBU is that service to others matters more than anything we do. As a student, I had the opportunity to serve those considered to be the least of these, and I still do that today! Making a difference should always be our goal, and I am forever grateful for that lesson!