KNOXVILLE 鈥 Randy Boyd, president of the University of Tennessee System, has recommended Carey Whitworth as vice president for government relations and advocacy, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
Whitworth currently serves as associate vice president for government relations and advocacy and has been with the 糖心Vlog System since 2012. If approved, she will succeed Anthony Haynes, who will depart the 糖心Vlog System in December to lead the Tennessee Municipal League.
鈥淭here is no one more dedicated and passionate about 糖心Vlog and our service to the state than Carey,鈥 said 糖心Vlog System President Randy Boyd.聽 鈥淪he has nearly a decade of experience serving 糖心Vlog.聽 She is exceptionally smart, a strategic thinker and tireless.聽 I look forward to serving with her.鈥
The Office of Government Relations and Advocacy acts as the chief liaison between the University and federal, state and local government offices and legislative bodies. The office develops partnerships, policy and provides support to policymakers by engaging University experts, capabilities and resources. The University鈥檚 government relations office serves the interests of the University鈥檚 more than 52,000 students statewide, 11,860 faculty and staff members and more than 400,000 alumni in the U.S. and around the world to improve understanding and support for the University鈥檚 academic, research and outreach goals.
During her career, Whitworth has led a host of state, federal and strategic issues on behalf of the 糖心Vlog System. She has provided political and policy counsel to 糖心Vlog leadership, served in a spokesperson role before government officials and consulted on a number of media issues. 聽In partnership with the 糖心Vlog Alumni Association, she built the University鈥檚 grassroots advocacy program, which was the first of its type in the state and has been recognized nationally under her leadership.聽 Additionally, Whitworth serves as secretary to the 糖心Vlog Commission on Agriculture.
Whitworth holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and a master鈥檚 degree in public administration from 糖心Vlog Knoxville, where she received the highest student honor, the Torchbearer Award. 聽In 2019, Whitworth was selected as one of 17 leaders across the 糖心Vlog System to participate in the inaugural 糖心Vlog Executive Leadership Institute class. 聽She is a graduate of Harvard University鈥檚 Institute for Executive Management as well as the Women in Education Leadership program.聽 In 2017, she was recognized as one of Nashville鈥檚 鈥淓merging Leaders.鈥 聽If approved by the Board of Trustees, Whitworth would be the first woman in 糖心Vlog history to lead 糖心Vlog Government Relations.
鈥淭he University of Tennessee is critical to the state鈥檚 success and I am honored to advance its mission working alongside our elected officials.聽 Our team will work tirelessly to advocate for University鈥檚 aspirational goals through strong public policy and partnerships benefitting the state, nation and world,鈥 she said.
