Herb Byrd

Vice President, Institute for Public Service

Dr. Herb Byrd III was named UT Vice President of Public Service in January 2016. He served in the position on an interim basis beginning in September 2014.

Over 35 years of his professional career has been spent with the University of Tennessee. He began with UT Extension as a 4-H agent in Monroe County. He then worked in McMinn County for seven years in Adult Agriculture & Resource Development while serving as county director. In a two-year stint away from Extension, Byrd was a Vice President with Lads to Leaders, Inc. where he conducted workshops teaching adults how to teach leadership skills to youth. Byrd returned to UT in 1998 to work in Extension Administration, eventually serving as the UTIA Human Resources and Diversity Officer, and Director of the Extension Evaluation and Staff Development Department.

Herb’s college education began at Harding College in Searcy, AR). He later earned all three degrees at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His bachelor’s degree is in Animal Science, with a master’s degree in Reproductive Physiology and PhD in Educational Administration and Policy Studies.

Byrd is co-author of THE Beef Cattle fIRM™ record-keeping software released through UT. Herb serves as board president of Teenage Christian Camp, and is the current Board chair of Pathway Lending, He serves on other non-profit boards including the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, and Hillbrook Christian Association. He has worked with medical mission teams in several South and Central American countries with Latin American Missions.

Herb has been married to Resa for over 40 years. They have three children: Kristin Cole, Heather Reeves, and Resa-Marie. He and Resa are working hard to fulfill a grandparent’s duty to thoroughly spoil six grandchildren. That is reported to be his favorite job yet. He enjoys woodworking, fly fishing along with tying flies and building fly rods, and many other outdoor activities.