May 07, 2007
The University of Tennessee noted two leadership milestones today. First is selection of a successor for soon-to-retire UT Martin Chancellor Dr. Nick Dunagan; and second is selection of a search committee to find the next UT Health Science Center chancellor.
Following a national search, Dr. Tom Rakes, vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at UT Martin, has been selected to become the ninth chancellor for that campus on July 1. Dr. Nick Dunagan retires on June 30 after six years as chancellor and a total of 34 years on the Martin staff.
Dr. Rakes joined UT Martin as vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of educational studies in 2002. Dr. Rakes received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Milligan College, a master’s degree in reading from East Tennessee State University, and a doctor of education from UT Knoxville.
We are fortunate to have in Dr. Rakes someone known and respected on the Martin campus, who understands the Martin mission and can move seamlessly into the leadership role. At the same time, he has demonstrated his commitment to pursuing excellence and to continuing to raise the bar. We welcome him to the task and appreciate very much Dr. Dunagan's continued contribution to this transition.
In seeking the next UT Health Science Center chancellor, we formally begin the task today by announcing members of the search committee and charging them with their responsibilities.
Ms. Johnnie Amonette, member of the UT Board of Trustees and a longtime Memphis resident, will chair the search committee. Other committee members are: Neal Beckford, MD, board member, Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The MED); Phillip Burns, MD, professor and chair, College of Medicine, Chattanooga; George Cates, longtime Memphis businessman and community leader; Wisdom Coleman, associate professor and associate dean, College of Dentistry; William Evans, PharmD, director and CEO, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; James (Chris) Fleming, MD, a UTHSC alumnus who is vice chair for clinical affairs in the Health Science Center's Department of Ophthalmology; Dean Dick Gourley, College of Pharmacy; Margaret Hartig, PhD, professor and chair, Primary/Public Health Department, College of Nursing; J. R. (Pitt) Hyde, Memphis entrepreneur and philanthropist; James Neutens, PhD, dean of the Graduate School of Medicine (College of Medicine), Knoxville; Stephen Reynolds, president and CEO, Baptist Memorial Health Care; Gary Shorb, president and CEO, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare; Steve J. Schwab, MD, executive dean for all three UTHSC College of Medicine campuses (Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga) and interim dean for the College of Medicine in Memphis; Paul Tennant, incoming president of the UTHSC Student Government Association Executive Council; Stanley Tyler, senior grounds maintenance, UTHSC Mechanical Services Department; Philip Wenk, DDS, president and CEO, Delta Dental of Tennessee; and Diane Wyatt, associate professor in the UTHSC College of Allied Health Sciences.
The search process is expected to last several months, with finalists possibly named in the fall.
I am grateful to UTHSC acting chancellor Dr. Pat Wall for his leadership through this transitional period. We will continue to build an academic health science center providing the best in preparation for careers in the medical field while providing service to the state, region and nation through teaching and research.
—President John Petersen
