During Missy Wallen’s more than 40-year career in financial services, she has made a lasting impact on her industry, her community, and the students, faculty, and staff of the College of Communication and Information.
After graduating from CCI, she began her career as a teller at First National Bank. In 2006, Wallen was honored with the President’s Award for BB&T East Tennessee Region. She went on to serve as the East Tennessee Region/Tennessee State president at BB&T Corp. from 2007 to 2013. In 2014, she became chairman at Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc., where she currently serves.
In recognition of her overwhelming generosity and support of CCI, the Martha S. Wallen Classroom in the Communications Building was dedicated in her honor on March 5, 2010. In 2019, she was selected as the speaker for the CCI commencement ceremony. Wallen has demonstrated tremendous leadership at UT by serving as the chair of the College of Communication and Information’s Board of Visitors and on the UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors. She is a generous donor to CCI and established the BB&T/Martha S. “Missy” Wallen Dean’s Enrichment Fund to support visiting scholars, travel for research, and facility upgrades.
Wallen has also held leadership positions and board memberships in organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Knoxville Symphony Board of Directors, the Development Corporation of Knox County, the Executive Women’s Association Board of Directors, and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
After graduating from CCI, she began her career as a teller at First National Bank. In 2006, Wallen was honored with the President’s Award for BB&T East Tennessee Region. She went on to serve as the East Tennessee Region/Tennessee State president at BB&T Corp. from 2007 to 2013. In 2014, she became chairman at Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc., where she currently serves.
In recognition of her overwhelming generosity and support of CCI, the Martha S. Wallen Classroom in the Communications Building was dedicated in her honor on March 5, 2010. In 2019, she was selected as the speaker for the CCI commencement ceremony. Wallen has demonstrated tremendous leadership at UT by serving as the chair of the College of Communication and Information’s Board of Visitors and on the UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors. She is a generous donor to CCI and established the BB&T/Martha S. “Missy” Wallen Dean’s Enrichment Fund to support visiting scholars, travel for research, and facility upgrades.
Wallen has also held leadership positions and board memberships in organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Knoxville Symphony Board of Directors, the Development Corporation of Knox County, the Executive Women’s Association Board of Directors, and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
Missy Wallen
2017 Alumni Service Award Winner
2017 Alumni Service Award Winner
