Building a Legacy of Shared Success
I recently had the honor of accepting a leadership award from the Knoxville Chamber celebrating our work to support economic prosperity in East Tennessee. Hearing the stories of local leaders and entrepreneurs right here in our city was inspiring—each one charting a courageous path to build something new and strengthen our economy.
It was also especially meaningful to receive an award named after Jim Haslam, whose friendship and mentorship have been invaluable to me and whose dedicated leadership has transformed Knoxville for the better.
The chamber connects business leaders from across sectors to support economic development in the greater Knoxville area, much as our university builds partnerships across the region to support the same goal. This award speaks directly to our commitment to the land-grant mission and the deep relationships UT shares with our community. Those connections and trust have been built over time thanks to the hard work of dedicated faculty, staff, and individuals across campus.
Recognition from a like-minded organization affirms that our work is making a significant difference at scale.
Over the last few years, we’ve made investments in place-based research and infrastructure that support the economy. We’re advancing the industries that matter most to our region through innovation districts and public-private partnerships. We’re building the workforce and training talent in key areas like education, nursing, and nuclear engineering.
Those priorities are foundational to our success. The momentum we’re building is creating ripple effects, benefiting our city and communities throughout Tennessee. Embracing collaboration throughout our work is how we continue to rise and, more importantly, how we continue to uplift others with us.