Annual meetings for a UTAA Alumni Chapter are the most important activity for any active alumni chapter. The UTAA works to provide speakers for these events. Speakers are categorized into three areas:
Chapters must rotate between these three areas to ensure that you are providing your community with a well-rounded understanding of the University of Tennessee, as well as provide programming that appeals to your diversified constituency.
Download a list of potential speakers (PDF)
Dean for College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Martin
Dean Byford received his bachelor’s degree from University of Tennessee at Martin in agriculture and his Ph.D from Auburn University in wildlife sciences. Jim’s main interests are natural resource conservation and management, conservation education, deer management and wildlife biology.
Associate Director of Thornton Academic Center
A native of Chicago, Illinois and former Lady Vol swimmer, Howland started the academic support program in the Women's Athletic Department in 1985. Howland's administrative duties include the coordination of graduate assistantships, internships and student workers as well as serving as the primary contact for the facilities management of the Thornton Center. The UT grad also advises the women's basketball, rowing and Men's golf teams.
Director of External Operations for Bioenergy programs
Dr. Kelly Tiller is an agricultural economist who helped to author the Initiative’s business model. Her duties include general oversight of the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative and managing development of the pilot biorefinery as well as managing relationships with external partners interested in collaborative projects associated with the plant or working to develop a bioenergy industry in the state.
Director of the UT Singers
Wendel Werner received his Bachelor of Music in Studio Music and Jazz and his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Tennessee. While at the University, he studied with renowned jazz musicians, Donald Brown and Jerry Coker. An accomplished composer and arranger, Mr. Werner has written for the Knoxville Children's Show Choir, Knoxville Showstoppers, UT Singers, Knoxville Community Chorus, and the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. Mr. Werner is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and serves as the Multicultural Music R&S chair for the Tennessee state chapter.
There are many unique ways to get the alumni in your area together. Chapters need to diversify the activities offered to their constituency throughout the year. You should not only focus on athletics or arts, for example. Here are some different ideas to get you started and your brain thinking.
