Plowman Talks Leadership and Student Success on tnAchieves Podcast
Chancellor Donde Plowman joined the At Scale podcast in February, where she spoke with host Krissy DeAlejandro about how to carry institutional momentum, the importance of building trust, and fostering a culture where excellence in student success and research can thrive.
The podcast is produced by tnAcheives, a scholarship and mentoring program that supports students as they transition from high school through postsecondary education. DeAlejandro serves as its president and CEO. In the interview, Plowman discussed her professional journey to becoming chancellor, UT’s innovative approach to student success, and leading through uncertain times in higher education. Defining leadership as “the willingness to act,” Plowman talked about how she applies that principle at UT.
“We just need a little bit of courage in most organizations—being willing to try something, learn as you go, and adapt,” she said.
Plowman also talked about UT’s innovative approach to supporting Tennessee’s students, which includes initiatives such as guaranteed admission and Vol Edge, the university’s new career readiness program. She also explained how strong alignment across university leadership, faculty, and staff creates measurable progress towards UT’s goal of being a world-class research university that excels at undergraduate education.
Watch the full interview and listen to the podcast on their website or wherever you get your podcasts.