NASHVILLE – The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees has appointed an advisory council to assist in the search for a new UT president.
Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist charged the team of 26 UT faculty, staff, students, alumni and community leaders with diversifying the presidential search. He lauded their enthusiasm in accepting the challenge.
“You are on this council to assure that your representative constituencies are included in the presidential search process,” Sundquist said.
“Everyone we contacted to be on the advisory council agreed to serve. That is the first time that has happened. That says a lot about the people on the council and the University of Tennessee.”
The advisory council is chaired by Dr. Carolyn R. Hodges, professor and head of UT’s department of modern foreign languages and literatures.
Hodges also was named to the 11-member UT Presidential Search Committee, which has interviewed search firms Spencer Stuart, Witt-Kieffer and Korn-Ferry International.
The committee seeks to select one of the firms by Aug. 15 to participate in the UT presidential search. The committee also discussed plans to soon publish a web site to provide public information and input on the search.
“Selecting a president is perhaps the most important role of the Board of Trustees,” Sundquist said.
The Board also extended the appointment of UT Acting President Emerson Fly until a new president is named.
Fly was named June 6 to serve as acting UT president after the resignation of former UT President J. Wade Gilley.
Advisory council members from UT are: Hodges; Dr. Katherine H. Greenberg; Dr. Marla Peterson; and Marleen K. Davis
UT at Martin — Dr. Nell S. Gullett
UT Health Science Center — Dr. Barrett G. Haik, Dr. Donna K. Hathaway
UT at Chattanooga — Dr. Oralia Preble-Niemi, Dr. Richard L. Brown
UT Space Institute – Dr. Garry D. Coleman, Tullahoma, Tenn.
Students — Patrice Boyd, Stephen L. Harris, Scottie Semler, Jeremy Stephens
Citizens — Rita Sanders-Geier, Potomac, Md.; John W. Fisher, Muncie, Ind.; Dr. Lee Martin, Knoxville; and Dennis R. Hendrix, Houston, Tex.
Alumni — UT Alumni Association President Dr. Dianne Duncan; Cammie Woodle, Nashville; Richard W. Cardin, Nashville
UT-Battelle — Dr. Lee Riedinger.
Agriculture Representatives — Carmen G. Parrilla, UT Institute of Agriculture; Tom W. Wade, Kenton, Tenn.
Others — Development Council Chair Charles E. Wharton, Los Angeles; Joe Decosimo, UTC Foundation
UT Presidential Search Committee members are:
Sundquist, Hodges; Johnnie D. Amonette, vice chair, UT Board of Trustees; Dr. Verbie Prevost, UTC; Tiffany Smith, a senior at UTC; James A. Haslam; Dr. Rhynette N. Hurd; Jerry L. Jackson; Andrea J. Loughry; R. Clayton McWhorter; and John C. Thornton.