KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Jack E. Williams, highest ranking development officer at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Wednesday was appointed to lead UT’s statewide private fund-raising and alumni activities.
The UT Board of Trustees, meeting by telephone conference call, approved a recommendation by UT President Joe Johnson to appoint Williams to the position of vice president for development and alumni affairs, effective June 1.
“Jack brings to the position the background and leadership that we need to keep our superb private giving and alumni programs moving forward,” Johnson said. “He will provide overall leadership to all the stellar people in our alumni and fund-raising activities.”
Williams said he was grateful for the confidence expressed in him.
“I am joining a tremendously talented group of alumni and development folks statewide,” Williams said. “With John Sheridan in development and Dave Roberts in alumni affairs, we have a team that can continue to build on an outstanding record of accomplishment.”
UT, now in the fourth year of its five-year 21st Century campaign, has raised approximately $300 million in private gifts and pledges toward a goal of $308 million.
At UT-Knoxville, gifts include $82 million for student support (scholarships, for example) and $60.5 million for academic resources (libraries and equipment).
Williams said UT-Knoxville’s goal in the campaign of $175 million represents a confederacy of smaller campaigns by the campus’ individual colleges.
“The success we have had to this point is due to the hard work of the development officers in the campus offices and in the colleges, the deans, the faculty and the collegiate volunteers,” Williams said.
A Knoxville native, Williams leaves the post of vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs at UT-Knoxville to fill a position vacated by the recent retirement of Charles F. Brakebill.
The vice president for development and alumni affairs reports to the president and coordinates the private giving and alumni efforts of all UT campuses and institutes.
UT-Knoxville Chancellor Bill Snyder said he would announce at a later date an interim appointment to the vacancy created by Williams’ promotion.
“I look foward to working with Jack in his new position,” Snyder said. “Private giving and alumni activities at UT-Knoxville have enjoyed tremendous growth under his leadership.”
Williams has been involved with fund-raising and alumni programs at UT since 1970, when he joined the state-wide development office as director of special gifts.
He was appointed executive director of development at UT-Knoxville in 1977 and in 1982 became vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs.
A 1964 graduate of UT-Knoxville with a bachelor’s degree in history, Williams was a member of the Vol baseball team.
He is a member of the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, UT Lettermen’s Club and Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. He works with the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Williams and his wife, Carolyn, have two children, Jack Jr. and Jennifer Meredith, and two grandchildren.
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Contact: Dr. Joe Johnson (423-974-2241) or Jack Williams (423-974-6878)