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.
Tennessee’s economic growth remains slow, and it is not likely the state will be able to set aside more funding for higher education than a year ago. The good news is that the state can achieve Gov. Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative, which seeks to increase the number of graduates in the state, and it will have a tremendous impact on the state’s economy for the future.
Johnnie Ray, University of Tennessee vice president for development and alumni affairs and president of the UT Foundation, has decided to resign his position. In a Monday letter to UT President Joe DiPietro, Ray cited family and other priorities as factors in his decision. The effective date of his resignation has not been determined.
“The University of Tennessee has been making steady strides in many of the areas President Obama outlined today in his plan for higher education. In Tennessee, Gov. Haslam’s “Drive to 55” to increase college graduates and the Complete College Tennessee Act that changed state funding to reward institutions based on retention and graduation metrics all align with the UT System Strategic Plan. Affordability, access and student success are critical issues and ones the University of Tennessee and all of our campuses are working hard to improve.
In October, a formal update on the oil and gas lease and research project proposed by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will be made to the UT Board of Trustees.
