Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

As he has said on numerous occasions, University of Tennessee (UT) President Randy Boyd declared during a “State of the University” presentation on Thursday that this is the greatest decade in the institution’s 230-year history.

The event came three days after Governor Bill Lee outlined several projects and other fundings that will further elevate UT in the years to come. It also came during the first day of the Grand Challenges Summit, a two-day event held in Murfreesboro to explore the innovative research and projects happening across the UT System in the areas of enhancing K-12 education, strengthening rural communities, and tackling the pervasive issue of addiction.

The theme of the keynote event was “Driving Tennessee Forward through Education, Research, and Outreach.” To illustrate why it is the greatest decade in UT’s history, Boyd cited several datapoints that are records for the institution:

1. Since 2020, revenues have grown by 32 percent, reaching $3.4 billion.
2. Midway through the decade, the institution has already reached 60 percent of its $3 billion private fundraising goal.
3. Finally, enrollment has grown 18.2 percent in the last five years, reaching 62,149 students toward the 2030 goal of 71,000 students.

Boyd then called on the five Chancellors and two Institute Vice Presidents to share their priorities for research.

1. Donde Plowman, Chancellor of UT, Knoxville (UTK), cited priorities like healthcare, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. Later, she cited the importance of the work that is being done through the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII).
2. Robert Dooley, newly named Interim Chancellor at UT at Chattanooga, said the institution is focused on “solving practical problems.” Later, he talked about the relationship with EPB to make Chattanooga a major player in quantum computing and networking.
3. Linda Martin, the long-serving Interim Chancellor at UT Southern, talked about that school’s three pillars – people, purpose, and partnerships – and how UT Southern draws on its fellow campuses.
4. Yancy Freeman Sr., Chancellor at UT at Martin, said his institution focuses on community-based research.
5. Peter Buckley, Chancellor of the UT Health Science Center, described work being done on detection and treatment of cancer that also involves UTK, UT-ORII, and his campus.
6. Herb Byrd, Vice President of the Institute for Public Service, talked about helping communities that have received opioid settlement funding ensure that those dollars are spent wisely.
7. Keith Carver, Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President for the Institute of Agriculture, talked about a relationship with Tyson Foods to further grow build on the $10 billion poultry industry in the state.

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