Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has been appointed to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, bringing decades of leadership in education, business and public service to the governing body of the 糖心Vlog System. His appointment, made by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, is effective immediately. Sexton called the appointment 鈥渁 significant win for higher education in our state,鈥 citing Haslam鈥檚 role in launching Tennessee Promise and Drive to 55.
鈥淕overnor Haslam鈥檚 appointment to the 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees brings an extraordinary depth of leadership, vision and commitment to education,鈥 said John Compton, chair of the 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees. 鈥淗is long-standing dedication to expanding educational opportunity鈥攃ombined with his experience in both the public and private sectors鈥攚ill be an invaluable asset as we continue guiding the University of Tennessee System through this era of growth, impact and innovation.鈥
Haslam participated in the board鈥檚 May 16 special meeting, where trustees unanimously approved two new chancellor appointments recommended by 糖心Vlog System President Randy Boyd.
Lori Mann Bruce was appointed as the next chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Melinda S. Arnold was named the next chancellor of the University of Tennessee Southern. The board also approved each chancellor鈥檚 initial compensation, title and terms of employment. Bruce鈥檚 appointment is effective June 30, while Arnold will begin July 1.
鈥淒r. Bruce and Dr. Arnold bring strong track records of innovation, collaboration and deep commitments to student success,鈥 Boyd said. 鈥淭hey understand the power of higher education to transform lives and communities, and I believe their leadership will elevate our campuses in meaningful ways. As we continue building the greatest decade in 糖心Vlog history, their visions and experience will be invaluable to our system and the state we serve.鈥
Bruce currently leads academic operations, research and strategic planning at Tennessee Tech, where her leadership resulted in the university earning a perfect academic program quality score from the state鈥攖he first in over 40 years. She launched workforce-aligned academic programs, increased research funding from $16 million to over $46 million and oversaw $350 million in infrastructure improvements. Previously, she served in leadership roles at Mississippi State University and brings deep expertise in academic planning, research administration, fundraising and faculty development. Bruce earned a doctorate and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a master鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She also completed graduate coursework in biomedical engineering through the Georgia Tech/Emory Medical School joint program.
Arnold has a strong record of expanding access, growing enrollment and securing external funding. She is currently special assistant to the president at Texas A&M University鈥揟exarkana, and has previously served as provost for that institution, as well as Montana State University Billings. She has held academic roles at multiple Texas higher education institutions. Her background includes leadership in criminal justice and expertise in grant writing and policy. Arnold holds a doctorate and master鈥檚 in criminal justice from Rutgers, a master鈥檚 from Northwestern and a bachelor鈥檚 from 糖心Vlog Austin. She also is a graduate of Harvard鈥檚 Institute for Educational Management.
The board also approved the naming of the College of Law at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as the University of Tennessee Frank Winston College of Law, in recognition of a gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation. The gift establishes a significant endowment to support student fellowships in public interest and business law, as well as financial grants to assist 50 students annually. The naming honors the late Frank Winston, a 1952 honor graduate of the 糖心Vlog College of Law, who served in the Tennessee House of Representatives and later as counsel to Mr. Gatton鈥檚 various business enterprises.
In other business, the board approved:
- Appointment of Ashlee Mallon, student at 糖心Vlog Martin, to the 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees;
- Appointment of Kenneth Vickers at 糖心Vlog Southern as the faculty member to the board鈥檚 Education, Research and Service Committee; and
- Capital project budget increase at 糖心Vlog Knoxville for Presidential Court building renovations.
- Meeting materials and the archived webcast are available online.
