DONDE PLOWMAN SELECTED FOR KNOXVILLE CHANCELLOR POSITION
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee System has selected Donde Plowman as the
ninth chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville after an extensive national search.
Plowman, currently executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, will be recommended to the Board of Trustees during a special meeting May
3. Pending board approval, her first day as chancellor of UT Knoxville will be July 1.
“The most important responsibility I have as the UT System interim president is to hire an
outstanding person to lead our flagship campus in Knoxville. Under Donde’s leadership, I am
looking forward to an exciting, successful and transformational future,” said Randy Boyd, UT
System Interim President. “Her student-first approach, her reputation as a dynamic leader and
collaborator, and her great love for UT Knoxville will be great assets as we work together to
advance the university and the state of Tennessee for many years to come.”
UT Board Chairman John Compton said he was thankful for Boyd’s leadership and the search
committee’s work.
“After meeting with Dr. Plowman, I could not be more thrilled with the opportunity to present
her candidacy as chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to the full board of
trustees next week,” said Compton. “She brings a distinguished track record of professional
success, has a contagious energy to challenge higher achievement and brings the servant
leadership of the Volunteer spirit that we all desire.”
Plowman served previously on the UT Knoxville faculty and led the management department in
the Haslam College of Business.
Reporting to the UT president, the chancellor is responsible for the administration and
management of the campus and aggressively promotes continued development of its academic
programs, research productivity and national reputation of excellence, built upon a commitment
to access, diversity and student success.
“I could not be more thrilled to return to this great university, which is so important to the
vitality of the state of Tennessee,” Plowman said. “To lead this campus, and help the students,
faculty and staff realize their dreams for UT Knoxville, is the greatest honor of my life and I
can’t wait to get started.”
Boyd also recognized UT Knoxville Interim Chancellor Wayne Davis for stepping in to lead the
Knoxville campus.
“I want to thank Chancellor Davis for his servant’s heart in leading our Knoxville campus over
the past year. I greatly appreciate his leadership during this time of transition,” Boyd said.
As executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
Plowman operates as the number-two administrative position for the campus and oversees
academic affairs, student affairs, the Office of Research and Economic Development, and the
Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Prior to being named executive vice chancellor, she served for
more than six years as the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Dean of the College of Business
Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Under Plowman’s leadership, the college
increased enrollment by 35 percent in six years; added 70 new faculty members; and created
several new academic programs, including the College of Business Honors Academy, the Clifton
Strengths Institute and many student services. She led a major fundraising effort that resulted in
nearly $150 million, including $84 million for a new building that opened in August 2017. In
that time period, the college moved up in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of
undergraduate business programs from No. 72 to No. 45.
Prior to coming to Nebraska, Plowman was on the management faculty at UT Knoxville from
2007 to 2010 and served as head of the department of management for two years. She began her
academic career at the University of Texas at San Antonio as an assistant professor of
management and advanced to the position of professor and associate dean for graduate studies
and research, where she was responsible for the creation of the doctorate degree in business.
Plowman received her undergraduate degree with a major in English from Southern Methodist
University in Dallas, Texas. She holds a master’s in higher education administration from the
University of North Texas. She received her doctorate in strategic management from the
University of Texas at Austin.
In 2015, Plowman received the “Inspire Woman of the Year Award” from the Lincoln Journal
Star. She has twice been named one of the 30 Most Influential Women in Lincoln and in 2016
received the Noddle Distinguished Development Service Award from the Nebraska University
Board of Trustees in recognition of her fundraising efforts as dean of the College of Business.
Plowman is married to Dennis Duchon, a professor of management and department chair at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has two sons, Kevin Ashmos and Chijioke Onuoha, who
reside in Austin, Texas.
The search committee, chaired by Dr. Keith Carver, chancellor of the University of Tennessee at
Martin, launched the chancellor search in January and included representation from UT
Knoxville faculty, staff, students and alumni community members. The committee invited four
candidates to campus earlier this month. For details about the search process visit the search
website at tennessee.edu/execsearch/ut-knoxville-chancellor/.
