Clay Hart (’00) Leads Board to Champion Student Success
Clay Hart (’00) Leads Board to Champion Student Success
By Vivian DiSalvo (Class of 2026)
On a cool Saturday evening in the late ’90s, immersed in the orange of the Tennessee fall, Clay Hart (’00) could feel the exhilarating energy of Neyland Stadium around him. As a student, watching the Vols bolt through the T was an invigorating experience he would never forget.
His nights spent in Neyland Stadium as a student are some of his favorite memories at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Hart is a third-generation Vol and has spent time in Neyland Stadium with his grandfather and father, his wife, whom he met at UT, and now, his two children.
“There isn’t a day I didn’t wake up happy at the University of Tennessee,” says Hart. “My father and grandfather went here, so I say that my blood runs orange.”
While an undergraduate student, Hart studied political science in the College of Arts and Sciences. He dove in headfirst, participating in Greek life, attending football games, and immersing himself in the Big Orange.
Following his time at UT, Hart moved to Atlanta to work for a correspondent bank. He continued to learn and grow, working for a few banks throughout the years, and eventually returned home to Nashville, where he is now the head of Nashville banking for FirstBank, the largest Nashville headquartered bank.
Through his consistent involvement at UT and his untiring work ethic, Hart serves as a model for current students. Hart’s success is a tribute not only to his diligence, but to the importance of his community and involvement—and he passes down this knowledge as the president of the UT Alumni Board of Directors, a role he stepped into in August 2025.
Hart started out as a member of the Nashville Alumni Chapter, hosting networking events, speaking to students, and staying involved with local alumni. But he was eager to be more engaged, and the Alumni Board of Directors was looking for new members.
“When the opportunity came to join the alumni board, it was a dream come true,” says Hart. “I wanted to make a difference because I love this place.”
What I have gained from the board is a continual love for the University of Tennessee. But what I hope to give as a board member is both a fun and fulfilling college experience, like mine, for both students and alumni.”
Clay Hart (’00)
Hart’s goals for the board as president are to continue to enrich the lives of students in collaboration with the Division of Student Success, to amplify alumni engagement, and to strengthen UT’s progress through philanthropic impact.
Hart frequently returns to campus to network with and speak to students as part of his mission to drive student success. He was recently on campus in March to serve as speaker for one of the board’s speaker series events for students.
“What I have gained from the board is a continual love for the University of Tennessee,” says Hart. “But what I hope to give as a board member is both a fun and fulfilling college experience, like mine, for both students and alumni.”
When alumni give back, they create the foundation for the next generation, starting a cycle that feeds into years of success. Alumni like Hart are pivotal for the growth of both students and the university as a whole, cultivating a community where both alumni and students reap the benefits of community engagement.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve graduated 30 years ago or five years ago—we’re all Vols for life, and we welcome you back anytime into the community,” says Hart.
