2022 Alumni Service Award Winner
Native son Lofton Stuart Jr. spent his entire career serving UT. A 1971 graduate of UT’s Herbert College of Agriculture, Stuart planned on staying in Knoxville for five or six years before going back home to Haywood County to run his family farm. Instead, he built his career and life in Knoxville, retiring in 2016 after 43 years of service to 10 UT presidents.
Stuart’s service to UT began as a student. In addition to being active in his fraternity, Stuart helped establish UT Today, now called the Student Alumni Associates. He was also named a Torchbearer, UT’s highest undergraduate honor.
Stuart held a variety of UT alumni and development roles during his career, including Interim President of the UT Foundation, Interim Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs, and Executive Director of UT’s Alumni Association. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a national organization of advancement professionals, named Stuart the first recipient of the Lofton K. Stuart Distinguished Service Award in 2006. True to his humble and service-oriented nature, Stuart asked for his name to be removed from the title.
Shortly before the pandemic began, Stuart accepted an invitation to serve as Interim Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs at UT Chattanooga. His role also encompassed Executive Director of the UC Foundation. With COVID-19 striking, his interim position extended longer than expected—from six months to nearly two years.
Native son Lofton Stuart Jr. spent his entire career serving UT. A 1971 graduate of UT’s Herbert College of Agriculture, Stuart planned on staying in Knoxville for five or six years before going back home to Haywood County to run his family farm. Instead, he built his career and life in Knoxville, retiring in 2016 after 43 years of service to 10 UT presidents.
Stuart’s service to UT began as a student. In addition to being active in his fraternity, Stuart helped establish UT Today, now called the Student Alumni Associates. He was also named a Torchbearer, UT’s highest undergraduate honor.
Stuart held a variety of UT alumni and development roles during his career, including Interim President of the UT Foundation, Interim Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs, and Executive Director of UT’s Alumni Association. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a national organization of advancement professionals, named Stuart the first recipient of the Lofton K. Stuart Distinguished Service Award in 2006. True to his humble and service-oriented nature, Stuart asked for his name to be removed from the title.
Shortly before the pandemic began, Stuart accepted an invitation to serve as Interim Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs at UT Chattanooga. His role also encompassed Executive Director of the UC Foundation. With COVID-19 striking, his interim position extended longer than expected—from six months to nearly two years.
