Dr. Keith Barber
Vice Chancellor, Institutional Advancement
UT Institute of Agriculture
Dr. Barber has served thirty years in the Institutional Advancement arena where he seeks to assist others through higher education initiatives. As a first-generation college student who understands and appreciates the valuable lessons learned in – and out of – the classroom, Keith attended college on scholarships, making his career choice personally applicable. These traits, along with his work in the land grant system, his service as an executive officer of a national association, and his doctoral research, provide him with the foundation needed to practice the Circle of Life concept, a belief that holistic engagement is key to the success of students, faculty/staff, alumni/friends, and the institution.
Barber recognizes that gracious investors, supportive teammates, and great institutions contribute significantly to the value and quality of success found through higher education experiences. Keith is married to Stephanie Russ-Barber, M.D., and they have four children: Bennett, Laney Gracyn, Brooks, and Elizabeth Kathryn. Dr. Barber came to the University of Tennessee System in July 2012 and serves as the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement for the UT Foundation, Inc. and the UT Institute of Agriculture.
Ms. Amy Belew
Chief Information Officer
UT Martin
Amy is the Chief Information Officer at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Amy first joined the UT Martin family in 2000 as a systems analyst. She then served as an IT Administrator until 2012 before moving into a role as Interim Assistant Chief Information Officer and Interim Director of systems administration and infrastructure, academic computing, security, video network, applications development and operations.
In 2016, Amy assumed the role of Interim Chief Information Officer which she held until May 2018 when she became the Chief Information Officer. Prior to joining UT Martin, Amy worked at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center as a Systems Analyst. She earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Amy is excited about the opportunity to be a member of the 2020 class of the UT Executive Leadership Institute. She believes participating in the institute will give her additional knowledge and skills to become a stronger and more effective leader.
Mr. Michael Carter
Assistant Vice President for Advancement Services
UT Foundation
Michael O. Carter has served in multiple roles during his 28 years at the University of Tennessee. In his current capacity as Assistant Vice President of Advancement Services for the UT Foundation, he manages a team of 32 people in six departments: Alumni and Donor Records, Business Intelligence, User Services, Enterprise Systems, Prospect Management and Research, and Online Engagement.
As a leader, Michael’s priorities include strategic planning, and implementing and maintaining cost-effective, high-performance emerging solutions that support the University’s philanthropic goals and priorities. Since being named Assistant Vice President in 2014, he has worked to cultivate a culture of accountability, transparency, consistency, efficiency, and accuracy among his staff.
Prior to joining the UT Foundation, Michael worked for more than a decade in the Office of Information Technology, focusing on desktop and web-based applications, and was one of the leads in launching electronic commerce solutions at UT Knoxville. Michael holds a BSBA in Computer Information Systems and an MBA from Western Carolina University.
Mr. Steve Catlett
Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement
UT Knoxville
Steve has over twenty-five years in the University Advancement industry with experience in alumni relations and development. He manages a development team focused on key central areas within the university as well as the regional team.
Steve began his career in Advancement in 1992 as Director of Alumni Programs at the University of Tennessee where he worked with alumni chapters across the US. In 2006 Steve accepted the position of Associate Vice Chancellor of Alumni Affairs heading up alumni efforts for the flagship campus of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. During his tenure he implemented new programs focused around targeted alumni segments, oversaw major growth in staffing and budgeting, established the Alumni Board of Directors and the Alumni Awards program.
In August 2012, he was appointed to his current position as Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement.
In this role, Steve and his team are responsible for all non-college based fundraising programs, management of the regional fundraising team and international fundraising.
Steve has been nationally involved in the Advancement professional organization known as CASE (Council and Support of Education), holding leadership positions in the Southeast District and speaking at numerous conferences.
Dr. Mojdeh Dehghan
Interim Chair Department of General Dentistry
UT College of Dentistry
Dr. Mojdeh Dehghan is currently an Associate Professor, and Interim Chair of the General Dentistry Department, at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, with over 25 years of private practice experience. Dr. Dehghan has held several national leadership positions including the Board of Directors for the American Association of Women Dentists (2017-2018), the AAWD representative for the American Dental Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2016-2018), and the University Relations Committee of the American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry (2014-2016). Her research interests include, Dental Erosion, Dental Technology and CAD/CAM Dentistry, and is the recipient of several national research awards. The results of her research have been published in professional journals including the Journal of General Dentistry, Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Journal of Dental Education, Journal of Dental Research and Inside Dentistry. She is a dental consultant for rehabilitation and treatment centers for patients with Eating Disorders, and a frequent continuing education presenter for Dentists and Dental Hygienist at local and national dental association meetings.
Mr. Michael Ebbs
Associate Vice Chancellor, Finance
UT Health Science Center
Michael Ebbs is an experienced higher education leader in the areas of finance and information technology. He has spent 24 years in various roles primarily at academic health science centers. Earlier in his career, he was instrumental in several enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center and Pepperdine University. Michael transitioned into a finance role at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. He led a team that implemented a new financial system for the school and eventually became the Chief Financial Officer. He arrived at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in May 2015 as Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance. He currently provides leadership for the areas of Accounting/Budget, Procurement, Payroll, and the Bursar office. Michael holds a BBA in Accounting and Management Information Systems, Master of Accountancy, and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Oklahoma. He is a Certified Public Accountant and he is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at the University of Memphis. He is married with three children and in his spare time enjoys backpacking and running half marathons.
Dr. Yancy Freeman
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
UT Chattanooga
Dr. Yancy Freeman grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Freeman completed an undergraduate degree in Political Science, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and a doctorate in Learning and Leadership. He is a first-generation college graduate. Dr. Freeman has worked at UTC for 24 years, and currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.
He is a proud member of the Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and currently serves on the Boards of the Girls Preparatory School (GPS), the Public Education Foundation (PEF), and the Chattanooga River City Company. Furthermore, he has served as a member of 100 Black Men of Chattanooga, and on the Boards at Chattanooga Christian School and Youth YMCA Leadership Council. Dr. Freeman was named a 2018 Top 30 Influential Leader in Chattanooga by City Scope Magazine, and he holds active memberships within several honor societies including Golden Key, Alpha Society, and Phi Eta Sigma.
Dr. Freeman has been married for 23 years to Rafielle Freeman, and they have 2 children- Yancy, Jr., a college senior studying Health and Human Performance at UTC, and Camille, an 9th grader at Ringgold High School.
Ms. Angela Gibson
Chief Information Officer
UT Institute of Agriculture
Angela A. Gibson is the chief information officer (CIO) at the UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), where she provides strategic leadership, vision, and direction for IT projects throughout the Institute. Ms. Gibson joined the Institute in January of 2019, bringing over 20 years of experience in the IT industry to her current role.
Prior to joining UTIA, Ms. Gibson served as the IT team leader for the Division of Enrollment Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) for 14 years, where she managed the division’s technology team, implemented campus-wide imaging systems, served on the Banner student information system (SIS) implementation team, and was also the Division’s technical lead during the creation and opening of the One Stop Office.
Ms. Gibson began her career at the UTK as a research associate for the Center for Transportation Research, working on transportation- and energy-related research projects for Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In 2000, she became a systems analyst in the Bursar’s Office where she designed and created database systems.
Ms. Gibson earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned her project management professional (PMP) certification in 2019.
Mr. Dan Harder
Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer
UT Health Science Center
Dan Harder is the Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief information Officer at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. In this role, Dan is responsible for setting the strategy and direction for enterprise technology needs at UTHSC. Dan also provides leadership, support, and coordination across all facets of technology planning, delivery, and design in addition to partnering with campus leaders and faculty to implement technology solutions.
Before arriving at UTHSC, Dan held IT leadership positions at Duke University, Elon University, and most recently at Emory University, leading the Emory School of Medicine technology portfolio.
Dan has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Appalachian State University and a master’s degree in Project Management from Western Carolina University.
Dr. Bruce LaMattina
Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Research Initiatives
UT Knoxville
Bruce LaMattina came to the University of Tennessee in 2017 as the Office of Research and Engagement’s associate vice chancellor for research development. In January 2019, he was named associate vice chancellor for strategic research initiatives. In this role, LaMattina provides leadership to facilitate research growth in strategically important areas.
LaMattina has 25 years of experience that spans academia, corporate research and development, and government. Prior to joining UT, he led the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte (UNCC). LaMattina also served as the director of federal research relations at Rutgers University (2011-2015); as program manager for the Solid Mechanics Branch in the Mechanical Sciences Division of the Engineering Sciences Directorate at the US Army Research Office (ARO) (2001-2011) and as a principle researcher at ABB, Inc. (1996-2001). In addition, he was a visiting professor at NC State University (1996-2011) and an adjunct professor at Duke University (2005-2011).
LaMattina received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Civil Engineering and Mathematics from North Carolina State University and is a professionally licensed engineer in North Carolina. His master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering are from the University of Delaware.
Ms. Mary McDonald
Controller
UT System Administration
Mary Carr McDonald is the Controller of the University of Tennessee. Mary began her career in the Knoxville College of Education. She joined the Controller’s Office in 1986 working in Sponsored Projects. Mary was then Grants and Contracts Specialist and Acting Director of Accounting and Disbursements for the Chattanooga campus. After working as Accountant II at Roane State Community College and Staff Auditor at Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Mary returned to Systems Administration as Senior Auditor. In 1999, Mary was selected for the IRIS implementation team, and she became the first Director of Contracts in 2007. In 2011, Mary returned to the Controller’s Office as Assistant Controller with an emphasis on sponsored project accounting and was promoted to Associate Controller in July 2018.
Mary has a BS degree in Finance and a MBA from UT Chattanooga and is a CPA. She is active in the East Tennessee Chapter of Association of Government Accountants, having served as Chapter President for two terms. Mary represents the university on the Council of Government Relations. Mary is married to Dennis McDonald and lives in Maryville.
Mr. David Mills
Director, Health Sciences Government Relations and Advocacy
UT Health Science Center
David C. Mills is Director of Health Sciences, Government Relations and Advocacy for The University of Tennessee. David studied history and political science. David has served, inter alia, The Iowa Health Information Network; Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children; Vanderbilt University; Tennessee State Government; and as a Consultant. David is one of fifteen children born into a family of strong, active faith. David is dad to five children and grandfather to ten. David was elected to Political Office at age twenty-five. David has authored essays, two plays, and a book, Unholy: The Slaves Bible. David has lived in Newark, New Jersey; Los Angeles, Oakland, Manteca and San Diego California; Wilmington, Delaware, Knoxville, Nashville and now Memphis Tennessee. David is joyfully married.
Ms. Margaret Norris
Executive Director, Municipal Technical Advisory Service
UT Institute for Public Service
Margaret Norris is the Executive Director for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), housed in the Institute for Public Service. She has been with MTAS for eighteen years, serving her first sixteen years as a Municipal Management Consultant before accepting the challenge of her current position in August of 2017.
Prior to joining MTAS in 2001, Margaret once worked for the agency as a graduate intern. Her other experience includes work in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; South Pittsburg Tennessee; and Lumberton, North Carolina. She loves cities and helping municipalities serve their customers. She believes in the aphorism: “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
Margaret graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with dual degrees in Psychology and Spanish and earned a Master of Public Administration from UT Chattanooga. She served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee City Management Association from 2004-2008. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Tennessee City Management Association, and the International City/County Management Association. She is also a registered member of the National Association of Parliamentarians.
Ms. Laure Pou
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
UT Chattanooga
Laure Pou is Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resources, UT Chattanooga. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Auburn University and a master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Laure joined the UTC Office of Human Resources (HR) in 2009 after completing her master’s degree. She was appointed as Executive Director of Human Resources in 2016 and now currently serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor. Her role includes responsibility for leadership of the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) at UTC. Laure strives in her role to provide strategic, effective, and innovative services to campus. She enjoys serving her campus community in Chattanooga and collaborating across the UT System to advance the services of HR and OEI, as well as the higher education mission of the University of Tennessee. Laure is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Learning and Leadership and plans to graduate in 2020.
Mr. Blake Reagan
Director, Procurement Services
UT System Administration
Blake Reagan is a Tennessee native, and longtime resident of Knoxville. Blake has a B.A. in Political Science, and a J.D. (graduate law degree), both from UT Knoxville. Blake is the director of procurement services for The University of Tennessee’s System Administration procurement office (purchasing and contracts). He has co-authored two books and is currently working on a third book. He enjoys public speaking and has spoken at multiple national and regional conferences. Blake enjoys professional and personal development, and he spend significant amounts of free time reading, listening to podcasts or audiobooks, and taking online courses. He has spent more than a decade studying standard English contract drafting skills, and he enjoys drafting and reviewing contracts. On the personal side, Blake has a strong passion for physical fitness and nutrition: he works out 6-7 days per week, usually twice per day.
Dr. Shadow Robinson
Dean of the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
UT Martin
Shadow JQ Robinson was born in rural eastern Kentucky in 1975, growing up two miles from the Virginia border, deep in Appalachia. He began taking classes at the University of Kentucky at 14 (full-time at 16), earning degrees in Physics & Astronomy and in Mathematics and was inducted to Phi Beta Kappa. His PhD in theoretical nuclear physics is from Rutgers University. He held visiting positions at Lexington Community College and Eastern Kentucky University before joining the faculty at the University of Southern Indiana where he received the Outstanding Teaching by New Faculty Award before moving to Millsaps College. In his decade there, he held several positions including Professor and Chair of Physics, Director of the James Observatory (a historically renovated astronomical observatory), Director of the Compass Curriculum (general education program), Faculty Council President, and Director of Dual Degree Pre-Engineering programs. In 2018, Shadow became the Dean of the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin. At UT Martin, he has led the academic planning for the Latimer Engineering and Science building (expected opening 2022) and has been central to the visioning and ongoing development of the Innovation and Product Realization Facility.
Mr. Rick Scarbrough
Executive Director, Law Enforcement Innovation Center
UT Institute for Public Service
Rick Scarbrough became the Executive Director for the University of Tennessee’s Law Enforcement Innovation Center on August 1, 2018. He joined LEIC from the Clinton Police Department, having served there for 23 years, the last 16 as their Chief of Police. He also served 6 years for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.
He is a graduate of the 197th session of the FBI National Academy and the College of Policing Senior Leadership Seminar held in Manchester, England. He has held leadership positions on numerous boards including the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. In 2014, he was awarded Police Chief of the Year for the State of Tennessee.
He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Tusculum College. Rick’s wife, Mollie, is a pharmacist and co-owner of Hoskins Drug Store. They have two daughters, Natalie, also a pharmacist and Rachel an occupational therapist.
Mrs. Melissa Tindell
Director, Communications
UT System Administration
Melissa Tindell is the Director of Communications for the University of Tennessee System. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of communications, public relations and marketing, Melissa is responsible for overall development, execution and management of internal and external communications programs for UT System Administration. Her primarily responsibilities include developing communication strategy and coordination of communication for the UT President’s office, as well as human resources, and government relations and advocacy. Additionally, she manages and ensures compliance with all public information, public records and open meetings requirements, as well as oversees administration of the UT President and UT System social media accounts. Melissa teaches during the summer in the Leadership Academy, the flagship principal preparation program offered through UT Knoxville’s Center for Educational Leadership.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications from UT Knoxville and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communications from UT Martin.
