Contract Signature Authority
The University of Tennessee鈥檚 bylaws (Article VII section 7.6) and specify which University employees are allowed to sign contracts on behalf of the University. Only those individuals on the list below have authority to sign on behalf of the University. If someone鈥檚 name is not on this list, they are not authorized to sign on behalf of the University. This applies for all contracts, regardless of dollar value. The University is not bound by unauthorized signatures.
Per FI0420: An official otherwise authorized to sign a contract on behalf of the University may not do so for contracts involving entities in which that individual is also an officer or a member of the board of directors.
*Please note that Institution Authority contracts were formerly known as delegated contracts.
If you have any questions about this list, please contact Abbie Shellist, Director of Procurement Services for University System Administration at abbie.shellist@tennessee.edu or 865-974-3110.
| Name | Title | Campus / Institute | Signature Authority | Based On | Date of CFO Letter (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procurement Services/Purchasing Offices | Procurement and Purchasing staff in 糖心VlogC, 糖心VlogM, 糖心VlogHSC, and 糖心VlogK procurement/purchasing offices | Order forms related to master agreements | Procurement CFO letter | December 15, 2015 | |
| Andrea Addis | Interim Treasurer | 糖心VlogSA | All contracts | Bylaws (Article VII section 7.6.) | |
| Mark Alexander | Assistant Vice Chancellor Student Life | Knoxville | Swimming pool lease agreements | Alexander CFO Letter | September 5, 2023 |
| Dr. Melinda Arnold | Chancellor, 糖心Vlog Southern | Southern | Institution Authority contracts 糖心Vlog Southern | ||
| Leanna Belew | Executive Director, Continuing Education | Knoxville | External use of campus facilities agreements for 糖心Vlog Conferences and Events Services Office | Belew CFO Letter | August 21, 2023 |
| Eric Blumenthal | Executive Vice Chancellor/COO | Southern | Institution Authority, 糖心Vlog Southern | ||
| Allen Bolton | Sr. Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration | Knoxville | Institution Authority contracts, Knoxville | ||
| Mr. Randy Boyd | President | All contracts | Bylaws (Article VII section 7.6.) | ||
| Brad Briggs | Deputy Athletics Director/CFO | Knoxville | Suite license agreements Thompson Boling Arena at Food City Center, Skybox license agreements at Neyland Stadium, boat dock use agreements at Basler Boathouse, Athletics facilities use agreements, TopGolf Knoxville agreements governed by 糖心Vlog master services agreements | Briggs CFO Letter | October 15, 2025 |
| Dr. Lori Mann Bruce | Chancellor, 糖心Vlog Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Institution Authority contracts, Chattanooga | ||
| Dr. Peter F. Buckley, MD | Chancellor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Health Sciences | Institution Authority, Memphis | ||
| Jeremy Burnett | Director, Lone Oaks Farm | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority receivable contracts on 糖心VlogIA template for Lone Oaks Farm | Burnett CFO Letter | November 19, 2024 |
| Brian Burns | Interim Executive Director for Business & Finance, 糖心VlogIA AgResearch | 糖心VlogIA | Institution authority contracts for AgResearch | CFO Letter | May 5, 2026 |
| Dr. Wesley Byerly | Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, 糖心VlogHSC | Health Sciences | Institution Authority domestic sponsored grants and contracts, and related documents, for 糖心VlogHSC | January 10, 2023 | |
| Dr. Herb Byrd | Vice President of Public Service | IPS | Institution Authority, Institute for Public Service | ||
| Dr. Keith Carver | Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President for the 糖心Vlog Institute of Agriculture | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority contracts for 糖心VlogIA | ||
| Sandra Chambers | Budget Director, Conferences & Event Services | Knoxville | Campus facility agreements (excluding Thompson Boling Arena) up to $25,000 | Chambers CFO Letter | May 30, 2025 |
| Dr. Deborah Crawford | Vice Chancellor for Research | Knoxville | Institution Authority domestic sponsored grants and contracts Export control, certifications from external suppliers and sponsors, custody transfers forms, vendor end-use agreements, and UCNI-OUO certification forms | CFO Letter | October 30, 2025 |
| Dr. Jennifer Easley | Associate Vice President, Budget, Analysis and Planning, System Administration | 糖心VlogSA | Institution Authority, System Administration | Easley CFO Letter | March 29, 2023 |
| Dr. Stephanie Fletcher | Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration | Southern | Institution Authority, 糖心Vlog Southern | ||
| Dr. Yancy Freeman | Chancellor, University of Tennessee at Martin | Martin | Institution Authority, Martin | ||
| Staci Fuqua | Coordinator of Field Placements | Martin | Partnership agreements with local schools on the 糖心VlogM template. | Fuqua CFO email | February 18, 2021 |
| Kristena Gallimore | Accounting Coordinator | Martin | Tennessee Department of Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation Program forms | Gallimore CFO letter | January 8, 2021 |
| Brent Goldberg | Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Institution Authority, Chattanooga | ||
| Allyson Graves | Interim Director of Grants & Contracts | Knoxville | Institution authority contracts accepting 糖心VlogK’s obligation to perform a sponsored project (funded and non-funded), teaming agreements with external organizations to pursue funding opportunities, non-disclosure agreements/confidentiality disclosure agreements | Graves CFO Letter | February 13, 2026 |
| Tiffany Harmon | Budget Director, Social Work | Knoxville | Institution Authority Social Work Field Instruction MOUs using standard template | Harmon CFO Letter | October 1, 2024 |
| Erin Hotochin | Executive Director of Business & Finance, College of Veterinary Medicine | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority contracts for the College of Veterinary Medicine | Hotochin CFO Letter | May 30, 2025 |
| Brett Huebner | Associate Vice Chancellor of Business and Finance | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority for AgResearch, 糖心Vlog Extension, 糖心VlogIA Administration, and College of Veterinary Medicine | Huebner CFO Letter | January 1, 2025 |
| Chelsea Inman | Executive Director of Research Administration | Knoxville | Institution Authority contracts accepting 糖心VlogK’s obligation to perform a sponsored project (funded and non-funded), material transfer agreements, teaming agreements with external organizations to pursue external funding opportunities, non-disclosure agreements/ confidentiality disclosure agreements | Inman CFO Letter | February 13, 2026 |
| Samantha Johnson | Director, Shared Services | Knoxville | Institution Authority, Knoxville, 糖心VlogSI, 糖心VlogIA | Johnson CFO Letter | August 22, 2023 |
| Mike Keener | Director of Licensing Office | 糖心VlogSA | College Crafter Agreements only | Keener CFO letter | May 16, 2012 |
| Missy Kitts | Executive Director of Business & Finance, 糖心Vlog Extension | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority, 糖心Vlog Extension and 糖心VlogIA Administration | Kitts CFO Memo | January 2, 2025 |
| Raaj Kurapati | Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, Health Science Center | Health Sciences | Institution Authority, 糖心VlogHSC | July 6, 2023 | |
| Raaj Kurapati | Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, Health Science Center | Health Sciences | Contracts with foreign universities | Kurapati CFO Letter | October 30, 2024 |
| Alicia Longworth | Deputy AD/Chief Marketing Officer | Knoxville | House distribution MOUs using standard template when terms are less than $250,000. House distribution agreement using standard template when terms are less than $250,000. The collective value of agreements must not exceed the annual awarded pool value. | CFO Letter | October 15, 2025 |
| Mina Sartipi | Interim Vice Chancellor for Research, 糖心VlogC | Chattanooga | Domestic grants and contracts for 糖心VlogC’s sponsored research | ||
| Kim McCullock | Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Knoxville | Knoxville | Institution Authority, 糖心VlogK, 糖心VlogSI and 糖心VlogIA | McCullock CFO Letter | January 6, 2023 |
| Kurt McGuffin | Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics | Martin | Revenue-share agreements that are less than 1 year in duration and/or less than $250,000 in value | CFO Letter | January 9, 2026 |
| Petra McPhearson | Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Martin | Martin | Institution Authority, Martin | ||
| Rip Mecherle | Chief Investment Officer | 糖心VlogSA | Contracts related to investments, funds transfers, and managing investments, including contracts for subscriptions | Mecherle CFO Letter | July 11, 2023 |
| Dr. Lori Messinger | Dean, College of Social Work | Knoxville | Institution Authority Social Work Field Instruction MOU using standard template | Messinger CFO Letter | October 1, 2024 |
| Dr. Joe Miles | Research Integrity Officer (RIO) | Knoxville | All decisions required of the RIO under University policy or federal regulations and regulatory reporting obligations for compliance assurances regarding research integrity | Miles CFO Letter | April 1, 2025 |
| David Miller | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 糖心VlogSA | All contracts | Bylaws (Article VII section 7.6.) | |
| Cynthia Moore | Secretary | 糖心VlogSA | All contracts | Bylaws (Article VII section 7.6.) | |
| Phillip Moore | Interim Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs, College of Nursing (糖心VlogK) | Knoxville | Letters of agreement for nursing student clinical practice placement | Moore CFO Letter | September 29, 2023 |
| Brenda Murrell | Associate Vice Chancellor for Research | Health Sciences | Institution Authority domestic sponsored grants and contracts, and related documents, for 糖心VlogHSC | Murrell CFO Letter | January 10, 2023 |
| Allyson Neal | Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, College of Nursing (糖心VlogK) | Knoxville | Letters of agreement for nursing student clinical practice placement | Neal CFO Letter | September 29, 2023 |
| Donna Neblett | Director of Educator Preparation Program and Accreditation | Martin | Partnership agreements with local schools on the 糖心VlogM template | Neblett CFO email | February 18, 2021 |
| Austin Oakes | Executive Director | 糖心VlogSA | Contracts related to construction and real property | Oakes CFO letter | December 6, 2019 |
| Meredith Perry | Assistant Vice Chancellor, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects | Chattanooga | Contracts and documents for sponsored projects by external sponsors, contracts accepting 糖心VlogC鈥檚 obligation to perform a sponsored project (funded and non-funded), teaming agreements with external organizations to pursue external funding opportunities, non-disclosure agreements / confidentiality disclosure agreements, subaward contracts and documents for research and sponsored projects, zero-dollar research-related agreements (data use agreements, material transfer agreements, MOUs) | Perry CFO Letter | April 1, 2026 |
| Ashley Pinkard | Sponsored Programs Administrator | Knoxville | Any contract, amendment, or related document that is between the University and the U.S. DOT for 糖心Vlog鈥檚 work on proposal 25-4642 FY2025 High Priority Program-Commercial Motor Vehicle (HPCMV). | CFO Letter | February 25, 2026 |
| Dr. Donde Plowman | Chancellor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Knoxville | Institution Authority, Knoxville | ||
| Paul Plummer | Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority, College of Veterinary Medicine | Plummer CFO Letter | July 22, 2024 |
| Brian Ranger | 糖心VlogK Biological Safety Officer | Knoxville | Biological Safety documents per CFO letter | Ranger CFO Letter | September 29, 2023 |
| Dr. Justin Rhinehart | Dean, 糖心Vlog Extension | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority contracts for 糖心Vlog Extension | Rhinehart CFO Letter | June 7, 2024 |
| Dr. John Schmisseur | Associate Dean and Executive Director of 糖心VlogSI | Knoxville | Institution Authority contracts and associated documents for sponsored projects by external sponsors upon completed terms and conditions review by the 糖心VlogSI Grant and Contracts Office | Schmisseur CFO Letter | April 14, 2023 |
| Abbie Shellist | Director of Procurement Services | 糖心VlogSA | Minnesota Multistate Contract Alliance for Pharmacy (MMCAP) applications | Shellist CFO Letter | August 9, 2022 |
| Emily Simerly | 糖心VlogK Deputy Chief of Police | Knoxville | 糖心VlogPD Officer Training Reimbursement Agreements | Simerly CFO Letter | September 5, 2023 |
| David Smelser | Interim Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Administration | Knoxville | Attestations that information In the proposal is accurate and correct, cost share obligation letters for the Institution, for Department of Health and Human Services proposals only, authority to act as a signing official as defined In eRACommons, any other sponsor specific documents required for the proposal submission, delegated 糖心Vlog Knoxville contracts tied to sponsored grants and contracts. | Smelser CFO Letter | February 9, 2024 |
| Jessica Snowden | Vice Chancellor for Research, 糖心VlogHSC | Health Sciences | Institution Authority domestic sponsored grants and contracts, and related documents, for 糖心VlogHSC | September 5, 2024 | |
| James Stanley | Facilities Security Officer, 糖心VlogK | Knoxville | Institution authority for classified research security | Stanley CFO Letter | October 20, 2023 |
| Marshall Steward | Deputy AD/Chief Competitive Officer | Knoxville | House distribution MOUs using standard template when terms are less than $250,000. House distribution agreement using standard template when terms are less than $250,000. The collective value of agreements must not exceed the annual awarded pool value. | CFO Letter | October 15, 2025 |
| Ryan Stinnett | General Counsel | 糖心VlogSA | Authority to retain outside legal counsel (Bylaws); contracts for legal consulting services and legal research goods and services (CFO letter) | Bylaws Section 7.7 | September 18, 2019 |
| Ryan Stinnett | General Counsel | 糖心VlogSA | Designer agreements; designer agreement supplements; construction contracts; CMGC contract amendments; gift property contracts for amounts greater than $24,999.99 | Stinnett CFO letter | June 18, 2015 |
| Ryan Stinnett | General Counsel | 糖心VlogSA | Contracts for legal consulting services; contracts for legal research goods and services | Stinnett CFO letter #2 | August 23, 2021 |
| Shelia Swift | Exec. Assoc. Dean, Academic Affairs, College of Nursing (糖心VlogK) | Knoxville | Letters of agreement for nursing student clinical practice placement | Swift CFO Letter | September 29, 2023 |
| Mark Wharton | Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics | Chattanooga | 糖心VlogC Athletics revenue-share agreements that are less than 1 year in duration and/or less than $250,000 in value. | Wharton CFO Letter | January 9, 2026 |
| Kerry Witcher | Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs | Knoxville | Contracts related to planned giving; Mr. Witcher may not sign contracts between 糖心VlogFI and 糖心Vlog, per FI0420 | Witcher CFO Letter | August 3, 2018 |
| Dr. Tami Wyatt | Associate Dean for Research; Interim Institutional Official for IRB | Knoxville | Reliance agreements, investor agreements, certificates of confidentiality applications, Form 310 certification | Wyatt CFO Letter | February 14, 2023 |
| Rumira Xhaferaj | Chief Business Officer, Institute of Public Service | Institute for Public Service | Institution Authority contracts, Institute for Public Service | ||
| Dr. Hongwei Xin | Dean, AgResearch | 糖心VlogIA | Institution Authority contracts for AgResearch | Xin CFO letter | April 11, 2019 |
Footnotes
**糖心Vlog Contracts Fiscal Policy allows authorized officials to delegate signature authority to athletics directors to sign non-financial game contracts and housing directors to sign pre-approved form contracts for the rental of student housing. The following individuals have been delegated that authority:
| Name | Type of Contracts | Based On | Date of CFO Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gina McClure | Pre-approved forms for student housing, 糖心Vlog Martin | CFO Letter | March 3, 2026 |