Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek
Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek is the seventh chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Prior to his appointment in February 2009, he served the University of Florida for 34 years, most recently as senior vice president of agricultural and natural resources.
Dr. Cheek leads the campus’ strategic agenda focused on enhancing the educational experience for all students, attracting the best and brightest students, faculty and staff, and furthering the university’s teaching, research and outreach mission. He also has demonstrated his commitment to furthering the university’s goals for campus sustainability, improving diversity, and international and intercultural understanding among all members of the campus community.
His research has focused on education and learning. As the first member of his family to attend college, he has a lifelong affection for both teaching and learning. A strident advocate of ensuring the university is accessible to all students, Dr. Cheek has advanced programs aimed at opening doors for students, and improving first-year retention and graduation rates.
A builder of partnerships and consensus among UT’s many constituencies, the chancellor recognizes the need to extend support for the university at all levels so that quality programs can move forward even during challenging budget years.
Dr. Cheek earned his bachelor's degree with high honors and his doctorate from Texas A&M University. He received his master’s degree from Lamar University.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cheek has held pivotal positions in professional organizations and has served in many leadership and governance roles. His numerous awards while at Florida include Teacher of the Year for the college, Alpha Zeta Professor of the Year and first recipient of the University of Florida Faculty Superior Accomplishment Award.
He is a Fellow of the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture and was awarded the Ensminger-Interstate Distinguished Teaching Award. He received the Morton Wolfson Faculty Award in 1998 for outstanding contributions to the quality of student life at the University of Florida.
In 1999, he was named one of 30 Notable Graduates of the College of Education at Texas A&M University; and in 2005, he became a fellow in the American Association for Agricultural Education. Other honors include the Student Body Resolution from the UF Student Senate for outstanding service to students as well as the President’s Medallion for dedicated and loyal services to the university, both awarded in his last year of service to the University of Florida.
A native of Texas, he and his wife, Ileen, have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek