About
Alumni Board of Directors
Established in 2009, the UT Alumni Board of Directors includes UT alumni from various walks of life and is representative of the university’s alumni population. All board members share a common desire to support the institution in conjunction with the chancellor and other campus leadership.
The board has the opportunity to listen to the concerns and issues that face UT and its alumni operations and to provide feedback and information to help advance the university. Board members work to:
Enhance UT’s reputation
Strengthen student engagement
Amplify alumni engagement
Increase the number of alumni donors
Meet the Board Board News
Applications Open
The UT Knoxville Alumni Board is now accepting nominations for the 2026–27 year until January 16, 2026.
Nominate Today2026–27 Board Members
Jeff Abbott (’93)
President
BS Haslam College of Business
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Adjunct Professor, University of Tennessee
Most recently Chief Executive Officer, Ivanti Global Solutions
Donnovan Young (’85)
President-Elect
BS College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Leesburg, Virigina
Senior Director, OneLife Health
Clay Hart (’00)
Immediate Past President
BA College of Arts and Sciences
Nashville, Tennessee
Head of Nashville Banking, First Bank
Joshua Dobbs (’17)
Past President
BS Tickle College of Engineering
Alpharetta, Georgia
Professional Athlete, Quarterback
Lisa Reed (’86)
Past President
BSN College of Nursing
Franklin, Tennessee
Retired, Health Care Executive
Nannette Baker (’78)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Communication and Information
Saint Louis, Missouri
Retired, United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Missouri
Jenn Buntin (’09)
Board Member At-Large
BS Haslam College of Business
Milan, Tennessee
Manager, GEP Worldwide
Jackie Cavnar (’94)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Communication and Information
Brentwood, Tennessee
Chief of Staff, HEOPS, Inc.
Harold Conner (’68, ’78)
Board Member At-Large
BS Tickle College of Engineering
MS Tickle College of Engineering
Knoxville, Tennessee
Principle Engineering Specialist, Strata-G Staffing, LLC
Bennett Croswell (’79)
Board Member At-Large
BS Tickle College of Engineering
North Palm Beach, Florida
Independent consultant, Aerospace and Defense Sector
Tess Darby (’23, ’24, ’25)
Presidential Appointee
BS Haslam College of Business
MS Herbert College of Agriculture
MBA Haslam College of Business
Knoxville, Tennessee
Territory Manager, Viatris
George Ewart (’88)
Board Member At-Large
BA College of Architecture
Knoxville, Tennessee
Owner, George Armour Ewart, Architect Partner, Dead End BBQ LLC
Cynthia Finch (’79, ’81)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
MS College of Social Work
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founder, New Direction Health Care Solutions
Stephanie Frazier (’91)
Board Member At-Large
MS College of Communication and Information
Greensboro, North Carolina
Retired, Sr. Sales Director, Media & Entertainment, Lumen Technologies
Jason Gregg (’95)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Franklin, Tennessee
Director of Development, Battle Ground Academy
Matt Gregory (’96)
Board Member At-Large
BS Haslam College of Business
Raleigh, North Carolina
EVP and Chief Customer Officer, Unilever
Ashley Golden (’06, ’08, ’11)
Board Member At-Large
BS, MS Herbert College of Agriculture
PhD College of Veterinary Medicine
Knoxville, Tennessee
Senior Director Health Studies, ORAU
Chris Hadorn (’81)
Board Member At-Large
BS Haslam College of Business
Atlanta, Georgia
Global Head of Payments, KPMG, LLP
Greg Hagy (’93)
Board Member At-Large
BS Haslam College of Business
Knoxville, Tennessee
Retired, VP, General Motors, Corporate Development, SVP Nissan Corp, M&A
Billy Haley (’06)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Franklin, Tennessee
Vice President, Business Development, Financial Professional; Peachtree Planning, Compass Executive Consulting
Charles Hankins (’79, ’98)
Board Member At-Large
BS College Arts and Sciences
MS Haslam College of Business
San Antonio, Texas
Retired, President and Chief Medical Officer, Children’s Hospital of San Antonio
Ben Keras (’99)
Presidential Appointee
BS Haslam College of Business
Memphis, Tennessee
President, Jim Keras Automotive
Curt Maggitt (’14, ’20)
Board Member At-Large
BA College of Communication and Information
MBA Haslam College of Business
Miramar, Florida
Sr. ISC Project Manager, Honeywell/ Founder & Manager (The EDGE Foundation)
Patrick Min (’83, ’84)
Board Member At-Large
BS Haslam College of Business
MAcc Haslam College of Business
Brentwood, Tennessee
CFO, Aphena Pharma Solutions
Bob Murphy (’80)
Board Member At-Large
BS Tickle College of Engineering
Nashville, Tennessee
Traffic Engineering Expert Witness
Larry Murphy (’86, ’14)
Board Member At-Large
BA College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
MBA Haslam College of Business
Knoxville, Tennessee
Supply Chain for Nijuis Sat
Brion Randolph, MD (’95, ’97, ’25)
Board Member At-Large
BS Tickle College of Engineering
MS Tickle College of Engineering
MBA Haslam College of Business
Germantown, Tennessee
Director of Cell & Gene Therapy, UTHSC & Baptist Memorial Healthcare
Ashley Smith (’13)
Presidential Appointee
BS Haslam College of Business
Nashville, Tennessee
Football Agent, Creative Artists Agency
Keith Townsend (’96)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Arts and Science
Atlanta, Georgia
Partner, King & Spalding
Jonathan Waller (’13)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Gainesville, Florida
Vice President of Strategy, University of Florida Health System
Jason White (’96)
Presidential Appointee
BA Haslam College of Business
Knoxville, Tennessee
Real Estate Broker, Jason White Team Century 21 Legacy
Deb Woolley (’70)
Board Member At-Large
BS College of Communication and Information
Nashville, Tennessee
President, TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ex-Officio Members
Donde Plowman
Chancellor
Knoxville, Tennessee
Brian Broyles
Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Knoxville, Tennessee
Duane Wiles
Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations
Knoxville, Tennessee
Kerry Witcher (’81)
President for UT Foundation
BS Haslam College of Business
Knoxville, Tennessee
Hardison Greene
SAA President
Knoxville, Tennessee
Imani Johnson (’15)
Young Alumni Council President
BA College of Arts and Sciences
Jonesborough, Tennessee
Resource Development consultant, Boys & Girls Clubs
Alvin Kamara
VFL
Atlanta, Georgia
Professional Athlete, NFL – New Orleans Saints
Jud Laughter
Faculty Senate President
Knoxville, Tennessee
CEHHS Director of Faculty Affairs and Professor
Language, Culture, & Teacher Education
Caroline Marcus
SGA President
Knoxville, Tennessee
Leslie Nack (’01)
Director Board Relations
BS Haslam College of Business
Knoxville, Tennessee
Director Board Relations and Special Events
Daron Porter (’97)
Spirit Alumni Council President
BA College of Communication and Information
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Founder, Managing Director – D PORTER METHOD LLC
Trey Smith (’20)
VFL
BS College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Kansas City, Missouri
Professional Athlete, NFL – Kansas City Chiefs
Taylor Weber (’16, ’17)
Graduate Student Senate President
BA College of Arts and Sciences
MS College of Education, Health and Human Scienes
Knoxville, Tennessee
Grant Williams (’19)
VFL
BS Haslam College of Business
Charlotte, North Carolina
Professional Athlete, NBA – Charlotte Hornets
Past Presidents
- Lisa Reed (’86), 2024–25
- Joshua Dobbs (’17), 2023–24
- Gary Beard (’80), 2022–23
- J. Phenise Poole (’95), 2021–22
- Phil Jacobs (’77), 2020–21
- Mike Berry (‘77), 2019–20
- Susan Crunk (’80), 2018–19
- Robert Lewis (’81), 2017–18
- Clay Jones (’71), 2016–17
- Terry Begley (’69, ’74), 2015–16
- Jason Little (’97), 2014–15
- Cavanaugh Mims (’86), 2013–14
- Lowry Kline (’62, ’65), 2013–13
- Mintha Roach (’74), 2011–12
- Alan Wilson (’80), 2009–10, 2010–11
Past Executive Directors
- Lee Patouillet (’76), 2013–20
- Steve Catlett (’85), 2006–13
