Eighteen faculty and staff members, representing each UT campus and institute, who oversee critical functions within the university system are participating in an intensive, 12-month training program designed to prepare internal candidates for senior leadership roles. The UT Executive Leadership Institute complements existing training programs within the university and is part of succession planning efforts to address upcoming workforce needs.
“My overall goal as president of the University of Tennessee has always been to leave this place in better shape than I found it,” UT President Emeritus Joe DiPietro says. “One more way I hope to do that is through creation of the UT Executive Leadership Institute.”
The institute offers attendees special development plans, executive coaching, mentoring and experiential learning. More information about the institute, including attendee biographies, is available at president.tennessee.edu/executive-leadership-institute/.
Board Appointments Made
Former Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed new members of the UT Board of Trustees.
The reconstituted board includes alumni from institutions across the UT system and at least two members from each grand division of the state. The board is comprised of 12 members, including the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and a nonvoting student member.
- John Compton (Chair), Knoxville ’83
- Decosta Jenkins, Knoxville ’79*
- Kara Lawson, Knoxville ’03
- Amy E. Miles, Knoxville ’89
- Kenneth Packer–Nonvoting student trustee, Knoxville ’12 and Health Science Center
- William “Bill” C. Rhodes III, Martin ’87
- Donnie Smith, Knoxville ’80
- Jai Templeton (Commissioner of Agriculture)–ex officio, voting member
- Kim H. White, Chattanooga ’82
- Alan Wilson, Knoxville ‘80*
- T. Lang Wiseman, Knoxville ’93
- Jamie Woodson, Knoxville ’94, ’97*
*These appointments are effective immediately and are subject to confirmation by the General Assembly.
Robotics Moves into Research Park
AUBO Robotics, which develops lightweight robots for industrial use, has opened a research and development facility at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville. This collaboration will allow students to apply knowledge from the classroom to a real-world challenge, and in this case, their work will assist with the robotic arm being operational on industrial production lines.
“We chose Cherokee Farm because the campus allows us access to some of the best research and development facilities in the world,” says Peter Farkas, vice president of AUBO Robotics. “Everything from basic science to large-scale advanced manufacturing and innovation in robotics and automation is covered within a 25-mile radius.”
