Chancellor Beverly Davenport today announced the appointment of Chip Bryant as the university’s vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs. Bryant has served as interim vice chancellor since August 2016.
Bryant serves as the chief development and alumni officer for the campus and as a member of Chancellor Davenport’s cabinet and the UT Foundation President’s leadership team.
His appointment comes at a critical time as the university prepares for the official public launch of its campus capital campaign.
“After a nationwide search, it was obvious that Chip Bryant is the right person to lead our development and alumni affairs efforts,” said Davenport. “Chip has built many strong and meaningful relationships with our alumni and friends, and I am pleased to have him on my leadership team.”
In this role, Bryant manages development and alumni affairs programs designed to build and enhance relationships between the university and its alumni. Bryant will also lead and coordinate capital and programmatic fundraising campaigns.
Bryant has more than 20 years of experience at UT. He arrived as a freshman in 1988 and graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in education. He spent 11 years with UT Athletics as assistant athletics director for marketing, managing the corporate partner program and contracts. Prior to assuming the interim vice chancellor role, Bryant was executive director of development for the Haslam College of Business and directed campus-wide campaigns.
As director of campaigns, Bryant has been leading the campus-wide campaign strategy to secure key funds for the university to become a Top 25 public research institution. More than $784 million has been received toward the campaign’s priorities since 2012.
Under Bryant’s leadership, the Haslam College of Business development team has also received more than $225 million, and the college’s endowment book value has grown from $43 million to $102 million from 2008 to 2016.
During the college’s current campaign, Join the Journey: Investing in the Journey to the Top 25, the Haslam College of Business has received $169 million toward a $175 million goal.
“My wife, Kym, and I want to thank Chancellor Beverly Davenport and UT Foundation President Rickey McCurry for this incredible opportunity to serve our alma mater,” said Bryant. “The University of Tennessee is a special place, and I look forward to continuing to work with our outstanding staff, faculty, and students to share that message with our supporters and alumni. This opportunity is one that I am humbled by and extremely grateful for. Kym and I, along with our children Ashlyn and Summer, are excited to continue to carry on the Volunteer tradition. We look forward to the journey.”
McCurry, vice president for development and alumni affairs and programs and president and CEO of the UT Foundation, said he appreciates Bryant’s insight on UT’s alumni support and opportunities for growing private support for the university.
“Chip is extremely good at communicating UT’s mission and vision and garnering support—monetary and otherwise—that will keep the Knoxville campus and our UT System thriving. I look forward to the successes that lie ahead.”
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CONTACT:
Tyra Haag (865-974-5460, tyra.haag@tennessee.edu)