Fellow Vols,
My term as president of the Alumni Board of Directors recently ended, and as I reflect on the past year I am amazed at our accomplishments and how fast the time passed.
The opportunity to lead this board has given me an even greater appreciation for the dedication of this group of alumni and their impact on the university. I am grateful to the board for their hard work and focus this past year and I am incredibly proud that we surpassed all our goals.
Our first priority was continued support of Big Orange Give. The board made an extraordinary commitment to this priority setting a goal of $100,000, far exceeding previous goals and contributions. Despite the lofty commitment, when Big Orange Give arrived, the board rose to the challenge. Every member participated and we surpassed that lofty goal with contributions totaling over $155,000, setting a record for alumni board participation in this annual day of giving. The tremendous generosity of this board continues to make a significant impact on the lives of current and future students.
Secondly, we focused on continued support for the UT LEAD program. Overwhelming interest in engaging with these first-generation students led us to exceed our participation goals in the Alumni Speaker Series. This provided increased classroom lecture and mentoring opportunities for students this year. Networking with these students and interacting with recipients of the UT LEAD Vols Pay It Forward Scholarship, established by the Alumni Board, was truly inspiring. It is exciting to see how the dreams that brought these students to UT are being realized with alumni support.
Our third priority of increasing interaction with local alumni chapters has gotten off to a great start. Board members committed to being more involved in their local chapters, and those without nearby chapters reached out to area representatives. The Volunteer spirit is evident as alumni with varying levels of involvement and interests unite to advance our alma mater. I am confident that this interaction between Alumni Board members and individual alumni chapters will continue to grow, fostering stronger alumni engagement worldwide.
Throughout the year, the Alumni Board had numerous opportunities to engage with students through formal networking events, community service projects, and direct interactions within specific divisions and colleges. These student interactions were particularly impactful for the board, as we recognize that these students are the future alumni of the university. Their impressive achievements assure us that the future of our university is bright! UT continues to thrive under exceptional leadership, with a growing list of achievements. UT received over 60,000 applications for the fall of 2025 and achieved record-setting retention rates of over 90%. Current enrollment exceeds 38,000 and is growing annually.
Physical changes on campus continue to meet the needs of the increasing student population. It is exciting to see the improvements and new construction all around campus.
This past fiscal year was another record-breaking fundraising year. More than 70,000 donors gave over $425 million, the largest fundraising total in history. Alumni and friends are energized by the momentum and are excited to be a part of it.
Serving on this board has been both humbling and rewarding, and it has been a tremendous honor to serve as president. I sincerely thank this dedicated group of alumni for their generous service and commitment to UT. Their passion for advancing the university is evident at every meeting and it is inspiring to work with each of them. I look forward to the upcoming year under the excellent leadership of incoming President Clay Hart. I know that his plans and priorities will continue to move us forward. Last but not least, I am deeply grateful for everyone in the Alumni Office for their commitment to alumni engagement and their support of the Alumni Board. The experiences and achievements of this board would not be possible without their work.
Under the leadership of Duane Wiles, this passionate group of individuals work tirelessly to encourage alumni involvement. The list is long and I appreciate each and every one. You all play an important role in keeping alumni engaged and active and you are great at what they do! I am particularly grateful for Eric Haag, Leslie Valentine, and Alexis Azevedo for their support of the board over the past year. They managed the details and kept us organized and focused. Thank you for always being there in support of our work. It is an exciting time at the University of Tennessee! Great things are happening on campus and the world is watching. I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved and I encourage all proud alumni to work together to support and advance UT. It is truly “great to be a Tennessee Vol”!
Go Vols!
Lisa Reed
