UT Board of Trustees Members and Secretary

John Compton, a 1983 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is the former president of PepsiCo and currently a partner with the investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. His term will expire in 2030.

Brad Box, a 1991 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a partner in the law firm of Rainey Kizer Reviere and Bell in Jackson, Tennessee. His term will expire in 2028.

Bill Haslam served as the 49th Governor of the State of Tennessee. He was elected governor of the State of Tennessee in 2010 and reelected in 2014 by the largest margin in Tennessee history. Under his leadership, the State of Tennessee was recognized for its job creation success and transformative education initiatives. Tennessee became the first state in the nation to offer high school graduates and adults two years of community or technical college free of mandatory tuition and was recognized as the fastest improving K-12 education state in the country. From 2003-2011, Haslam served as Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee. His term will expire in 2030.

As commissioner of agriculture for the state of Tennessee, Commissioner Charles Hatcher serves as an ex officio, voting member. 

Decosta Jenkins, a 1979 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is the former president and chief executive officer of Nashville Electric Service. His term will expire in 2026. 

Shanea McKinney, a 2008 (PharmD) graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, serves as the senior advisor of product management for Cigna. Appointed by Gov. Bill Lee, Dr. McKinney also serves on the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy. Her term will expire in 2028. 

Lisa Patel is an undergraduate student in the Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Ms. Patel is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering and is a Haslam Leadership Scholar. Her term will expire in 2025. 

Chris Patterson, a 2000 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is an attorney with the law firm of Patterson Bray PLLC in Memphis, Tennessee. His term will expire in 2026. 

Bill Rhodes, a 1987 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, is the executive chairman of AutoZone. He is the former president and CEO of AutoZone. His term will expire in 2028. 

Donnie Smith, a 1980 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is the former CEO and chairman of Foster Farms and the former president and CEO of Tyson Foods, Inc. His term will expire in 2030.

David Watson, a 1973 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a co-owner of Mountain View Auto Group. His term will expire in 2030. 

Lang Wiseman, a 1993 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is deputy general counsel for First Horizon Corporation and will transition into the general counsel position on Jan. 1, 2025. Previously, he was an attorney with the law firm of Baker Donelson in Nashville, Tennessee. From 2019-2021, he served as deputy governor and chief counsel under Gov. Bill Lee. His term will expire in 2028.

Jamie Woodson, a 1994 (B.A.) and 1997 (J.D.) graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a former Tennessee legislator and former CEO of SCORE, the State Collaborative on Reforming Education. Founder and principal of TriStar Strategies, LLC, Woodson is a key leader in Tennessee’s work to transform public education. Her term will expire in 2026.