The $130 million gift comes from alumni Dee and Jimmy Haslam and will bolster student success, faculty recruitment, and the Haslam College of Business.
The University of Tennessee Knoxville has received its largest investment ever: $130 million from alumni Dee and Jimmy Haslam. The Haslams have long been supporters of the university, with their lifetime total of financial support now totalling more than $195 million. With this newest investment, the university will bolster its student success initiatives, faculty recruitment efforts, and efforts within the Haslam College of Business specifically.
According to an article on the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s website, Brian Broyles, who serves as the university’s senior vice chancellor for advancement, was quoted as saying of the gift, “This historic investment reflects the very best of the Volunteer spirit — a belief in our students, our faculty and the power of the University of Tennessee to change lives. It is because of visionary partners like Dee and Jimmy that we are able to dream big and create impact that will be felt for generations to come. We are profoundly grateful for Dee and Jimmy’s extraordinary generosity and continued partnership.”
In a joint statement by the Haslams, they said of their gift, “We are honored to make this investment in UT and the Haslam College of Business. The university is experiencing extraordinary momentum, and we are proud to help elevate its national reputation, attract world-class faculty and support the next generation of leaders — all while keeping the best and brightest here in Tennessee.”
Of the investment, $100 million will be earmarked for use within the Haslam College of Business to recruit faculty members, bolster student success, fund scholarships for graduate students, and support an undergraduate honors program.
Dean of the Haslam College of Business Stephen L. Mangum said, “At the Haslam College of Business, we focus on attracting and educating high-quality motivated students, recruiting faculty who are the leaders in their fields, and bringing them together in world-class programs and facilities. We expand horizons by supporting learning and building leadership capabilities. Excellence attracts, and this investment will further enhance our ability to deliver on commitments to quality and relevance through research, learning and expanded opportunities.”
The investment will further enhance the partnership between the Haslam College of Business and the university’s Division of Student Success, which has worked since 2019 to improve the university’s student retention rates and overall student success.
Amber Williams, the senior vice provost for student success and chief honors officer, said, “This investment allows us to dream without limits. It unites the Haslam College of Business and the Division of Student Success to attract, develop and graduate prepared and talented students in one of the strongest workforce pipelines in the country. Together we are building a national model that will set the standard for years to come. I could not be more grateful to Dee and Jimmy for their investment and trust in us.”
The other $30 million will be used outside of the Haslam College of Business in a campus-wide effort to recruit and retain high-caliber faculty members to support the university as it strives to become a leading institution in research and innovation.
Dee Haslam is a 1986 graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She earned her bachelor degree in education and went on to become the CEO of RIVR Media Companies until 2018. She is an Emmy Award-winning TV producer and is currently an executive producer with RIVR Media.
Jimmy Haslam, also a UT alumnus, became CEO of Pilot Corporation in 1996. He helped grow the company into the fifth-largest private company in the country. His current position is as the executive chairman of Gate City Energy.
The Haslams are also CEO and chairman of the Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Cleveland Browns, has a controlling interest in the Milwaukee Bucks, are investor-operators of the Columbus Crew, and hold an investment in the WNBA. They are active within the Knoxville community and have invested in numerous efforts that focus on education and youth sports.
Speaking of their most recent investment in the university, the couple said, “The University of Tennessee has always held a meaningful place in our lives, and we are truly honored to give back to an institution that has given us so much.”
Governor Bill Lee noted of the couple’s continued investment in the university, “This landmark gift from Dee and Jimmy Haslam demonstrates a deep commitment to ensuring the next generation of Tennesseans has the opportunity to reach their full potential. By expanding opportunity for talented students, supporting world-class faculty and strengthening Tennessee’s workforce pipeline, this investment will help ensure that the Volunteer State remains a place where innovation, opportunity and service thrive. Maria and I are grateful for the Haslams’ leadership, generosity and continued commitment to Tennessee’s future.”
For more information about the University of Tennessee Knoxville, visit the school’s website.