NEW YORK–The national organization of higher education business officers gave its highest award to Acting University of Tennessee President Eli Fly Saturday.
Fly received the Distinguished Business Officer Award for 36 years of “outstanding contributions to business and financial management in higher education.” It was presented at the annual banquet of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
“An honor that comes from your peers is always special,” Fly said. “I am flattered to join the group of individuals who have previously received this award.”
NACUBO gave a second distinguished officer award to Minnis Ridenour, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Virginia Tech University.
Ridenour earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UT in Knoxville and is a former UT administrator.
Fly, named acting UT president in June, is the university’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He received an accounting degree from UT and joined the staff as an internal auditor in 1961.
He has been active in NACUBO, serving as a member of the group’s Accounting Principles Committee and as chairman of a special task force to the Government Accounting Standards Board.
Fly is a past president of the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers.