ALUMNI AFFAIRS STAFF
Linda Davidson
Vice Chancellor for Development & Alumni Affairs
linda.davidson@tennessee.edu
Support Staff: Carol Yates
cyates1@utk.edu
Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Linda earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Idaho. She landed her first fundraising job in 1976 as Director of Annual Giving for the University of Idaho. She came to UT in 1980 where she was the first college-based development officer. She left UT in the 1990s to return to Idaho where she was the Executive Director of the University of Idaho Foundation; then returned to Knoxville in 1998 to her current position as Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs. At the national level, she serves as the Chair of the Council on Strategic Communications and Advancement for APLU (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities) and serves on the APLU Board of Directors. At the local level, she has held leadership positions in Knoxville Rotary Club, Executive Women’s Association, Tanasi Girl Scout Council and serves on the Development Committee of the Florence Crittenton Agency. Her husband, Mike, is the Department Head in Food Science and Technology and they have two grown daughters who live in Idaho and California. Linda and Mike are Tennesseans by choice if not by birth and feel that the people are who make Tennessee the wonderful place that it is.
Steve Catlett
Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs
scatlett@tennessee.edu
Support Staff: Mary Carper
mrcarper@utk.edu
Steve Catlett is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Alumni Affairs at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, having assumed this position in July of 2006. Prior to that Steve had served as Director of Alumni Programs at UT since 1992, heading up the 115-strong alumni chapter program as well as athletic programming.
As the lead alumni relations officer for the flagship campus of The University of Tennessee, Steve heads of all aspects of alumni programming for an alumni base of over 200,000 and works closely with development as part of the advancement team.
He came to UT with a background in sales (Pfizer) and volunteer leadership with his alma mater (UT), having served as the alumni chapter president in the Raleigh/Durham UT alumni chapter for three years.
Steve is a graduate of The University of Tennessee, with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and remains active with his fraternity, having served on the chapter’s housing corporation and as a fundraiser for a new building project. In the community he is involved with the Knoxville Business Association, raising money for local children’s charities and scholarships.
Mary Holtman-Reed
Director of Alumni Programs
mholtman@utk.edu
Support Staff: Rhnea Miller
Although she assists with a number of alumni activities, Mary Holtman-Reed specializes in alumni programs for UT‘s undergraduate students. She directs the university‘s award-winning Student Alumni Associates (SAA) program, Senior Gift program (which encourages students in their final year to contribute toward a gift to the university), and the VAN Program (a student recruitment program throughout Tennessee).
Since Mary came to UT in 1993, the Student Alumni Associates program has grown into one of the finest student programs in the country. Under her leadership, the associates have won 18 regional and national awards for excellence, as well as three outstanding UT campus organization citations. Former associates have given over $1 million to support their alma mater.
Mary earned her degree from UT in 1968, majoring in fashion merchandising. Not only was she an active member of Alpha Xi Delta, but her mother Harriet Hitchcock was the driving force behind the founding of the sorority at UT. After coming to UT from Ohio State, her father Dr. D. Frank Holtman was head of the university‘s microbiology department.
Interestingly, she is distantly related to famous director Alfred Hitchcock, and, during her time at Vogue Butterick in New York, she traveled around the country with Ms. Edith Head, one of screen’s most highly respected the fashion designers who worked on many of Hollywood‘s biggest classic films.
Following her mother‘s example, Mary has been highly active in community involvement. As a two-time cancer survivor, Mary has accepted leadership roles in the Race for the Cure, and chaired Knoxville‘s event in 2001. She and her husband retired navy Captain Marty Reed (UT Liberal Arts ‘67) live in Knoxville.
Phyllis Moore
Director of Alumni Programs
phyllismoore@tennessee.edu
Support Staff: Terry Johnson
tjohns72@utk.edu
Phyllis Moore was born in Knoxville, TN and graduated from Fulton High School. She developed an interest in accounting while working at a bank and soon began taking night classes. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1989 with a degree in Finance.
As a first generation high school and college graduate, she notes that the University of Tennessee has provided her an opportunity to not only improve her life but more importantly to have an impact on the lives of others. Her education has afforded her the ability to give back to the community and civic organizations that helped shape her into the individual she is today.
An ambassador for the university, she is dedicated to the mission of UT and the alumni and friends we serve.
Susie Orr
Director of Donor Benefits & Alumni Programs
sorr@tennessee.edu
Support Staff: Jane Kramer
jkramer1@utk.edu
Susie Orr, Director of Donor Benefits and Alumni Programs, has been at The University of Tennessee for 30 years and has been in the Development and Office of Alumni Affairs for this entire career. A 1974 graduate of the College of Business at UT, Knoxville, Susie began at the University in the Annual Giving Program in 1977. Since that time, Susie has been responsible for or assisted with donor recognition and donor benefits, Big Orange Tailgate Tour, stewardship, alumni chapters, and many other alumni programs such as Alumni Summer College, Women’s Council, and Board of Governors and Leadership Conference. Susie currently has staff responsibility for a number of alumni chapters across the country. She is married with two children and three of the world’s most precious grandchildren.
Eric Haag
Director of Alumni Programs
ehaag@utk.edu
Support Staff: Mary Carper
mrcarper@utk.edu
Eric is originally from Hendersonville, Tennessee and is a proud graduate of The University of Tennessee’s College of Communications, where he earned a B.S. degree (2003) and M.S. degree (2004), both in Public Relations.
Eric spent seven seasons working with the UT football program as a student equipment manager, a graduate assistant for football operations, and then as a full-time football operations assistant.
Eric joined the UT Office of Development and Alumni Affairs in April 2006 as Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Recognition. In this role, he assisted in planning donor appreciation events, including the Campaign for Tennessee kickoff event in 2008.
In September 2009, Eric transitioned to his current role in the alumni office, where he shares his passion for the Big Orange with alumni from across the state and the country. Working with Young Alumni, Chancellor’s Associates, and the UT Official Ring program at UT, his goal is to engage UT alumni and cultivate a lifetime relationship with their university.
Eric is married to his high school sweetheart, Tyra, a 2004 UT graduate. The Haags live in Knoxville with their son Noah and are expecting their second child in May 2010.
Patrick Wade
Director of Alumni Programs
patrick.wade@utk.edu
Support Staff: Mandi Harley
mharley1@utk.edu
Patrick is from Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1997 (BA, Psychology) and 2000 (MS, Education). He lives in Knoxville with his wife, Anna, and their golden retriever, “Memphis.”
Patrick loved his college experience as a Volunteer and was involved in student activities ranging from TeamVOLS alternative spring breaks to leading tours for prospective students and families. He worked as an admissions counselor at UT several years ago and then left Knoxville to work in student affairs in Wisconsin and then New Hampshire.
Patrick is thrilled to be back in Tennessee working for his alma mater. His main responsibilities in Alumni Affairs are directing the Accomplished Alumni and Lifelong Learning programs, which includes Alumni Summer College.
