NASHVILLE – Valerie Yancey, a 27-year veteran in Tennessee state government, has been named associate director for health sciences in the University of Tennessee System Office of Government Relations and Advocacy, and Carey Whitworth, who oversees UT Advocacy, has been named associate director for advocacy.
Yancey comes to UT after serving in the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services as its director of legislation for three years. Her new position will encompass the entire UT System’s health science-related legislative and regulatory interests. Yancey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lambuth University, has experience working in various staff capacities for members and committees of the Tennessee General Assembly. She begins her new position on Nov. 4.
“We are very fortunate to be able to attract someone with Valerie’s experience to this increasingly important role to the University and ultimately the state. Valerie is well known in state government for her work ethic and dedication,” said Anthony Haynes, vice president for government relations and advocacy.
Whitworth was recently promoted from assistant to associate director for advocacy. Whitworth, who has worked in the office since June 2012, has expanded and advanced the University’s grassroots advocacy program, UT Advocacy. She now has a greater degree of leadership of the UT Advocacy program and has taken on additional responsibilities in the areas of state and federal government relations and management support. Whitworth earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and she served as a student representative on the UT Board of Trustees.
“Carey is one of those rare individuals that not only provides great value to the work of your operation, but demonstrates leadership potential early in their career,” Haynes said.
The University of Tennessee Office of Government Relations and Advocacy, based in Nashville, coordinates state and federal legislative engagement for all the campuses and institutes of the UT System and reports to the President of the University of Tennessee.