Hardy Liston Jr. Symbol of Hope

Presented by the Commission for Blacks

The Hardy Liston Jr. Symbol of Hope Award goes to faculty, staff, or friends of the university who promote cultural diversity and enhance UT’s educational mission.

The 2008 award goes to richard bayer. Bayer has served the university as dean of enrollment services for the past eight years, which have seen some extraordinary changes in UT’s enrollment. Bayer’s data-driven approach to enrollment management has made the transition from rolling admissions to an extremely competitive enrollment process a smooth one. He also initiated the Tennessee Pledge and Promise scholarship programs, which have given many first-generation, economically disadvantaged students the opportunity to attend college. Knowing that some of these students were not raised in college-going cultures, he helped start the LEAD Institute, UT’s first “summer bridge” program, which gives these students a chance to learn to succeed at UT prior to the busier fall semester.