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Weekend edition September 27, 2024 | Katelyn Keenehan

Chancellor Plowman commits to five more years as UTK rises to new heights

From academics to athletics, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville achieved another record-breaking year in many ways.

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) welcomed to community to the brand new Natalie L. Haslam College of Music for the 2024 Chancellor Flagship Address. A little more than a hundred people were in attendance, umbrella in hand, ready to hear the good news from the state’s flagship university.

A notable mention, Bill and Natalie Haslam attended the address and received a standing ovation from university officials, faculty, students, and community partners.

“We owe so much of our university’s success to their spirit of philanthropy through the decades,” said the Provost, Dr. John Zomchick.

Then, Zomchick kicked off the address with more exciting news that Chancellor Donde Plowman committed to another five years as the Chancellor of UTK. The announcement was followed by a second standing ovation.

She took the stage and began her speech with an encouraging story about a local innovator that the Knoxville entrepreneurial community knows well. It all started with a study at UTK’s Turfgrass Science and Management program, led by the esteemed professor, John Sorochan.

“This past year, we welcomed FIFA and other researchers across the globe to UTK’s campus to begin planning for the World Cup. In the midst of all that, there’s John Sorochan, someone we are fortunate to have at the university, and a person they trust to make the fields safe for the most watched sporting event in the world,” she said.

The Chancellor explained how under her leadership, the university altered their research strategy. Instead of working on individual R&D efforts, departments are now focusing on big, collaborative efforts.

Chancellor Donde Plowman

That is only one of the major successes during her last five years. In addition, the campus has seen improved retention by five points. Now, more than 90 percent of students who begin at UTK leave with a degree in hand. Fundraising for the flagship university has grown by 90 percent. And, the athletics teams a thriving in every sense of the word.

“Looking at all these statistics we are proud to declare ourselves a ‘University on the Rise,’ and I don’t know who could argue that,” she said.

Furthermore, Plowman reflected on the impact the University has had on the greater Knoxville and Tennessee community. Graduates of the university go on to be employed by local businesses and some even start their own businesses.

“When the state is thriving, we are thriving,” she said. “And, when the University is thriving, the state reaps the benefits of that.”

She completed her address by encouraging the university, students, faculty, staff, and community partners to take courage and think big.

“In the words of Josh Heupel, the best is yet to come,” she said.

 

 



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