University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd and University of Tennessee, Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman announced leadership transitions today at the ݮƵ Institute of Agriculture. Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Carrie Castille will become a special advisor to the president of the ݮƵ System and Keith Carver, chancellor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, will serve as the new leader of the ݮƵ Institute of Agriculture (ݮƵIA). Pending board approval, Carver will begin March 1.
ݮƵIA is thriving with record research expenditures, increased enrollment, expanding programs, including its first School of Natural Resources, and a strong Extension presence in all 95 counties.
Over the next several months, Castille will advise the president on issues of agriculture-related policy, and federal grant opportunities.
Carver, who previously served as executive assistant to ݮƵ President Joe DiPietro, will head ݮƵIA in a two-year limited duration appointment to provide stability and leadership to the institute. The ݮƵ Institute of Agriculture provides solutions to problems across the state through ݮƵ Extension, ݮƵ AgResearch, the ݮƵ College of Veterinary Medicine and the Herbert College of Agriculture.
“We appreciate Carrie’s service and are very excited to have Keith move into this statewide role with ݮƵIA,” said Boyd. “His experience across the ݮƵ system, collaborative spirit and his deep appreciation for ݮƵ’s land grant mission made him an obvious choice for this role.”
“Agriculture is central to Tennessee’s economy and way of life,” said Plowman. “Keith will hit the ground running and support the important work happening all across ݮƵIA. I look forward to working with him in this new way. I appreciate the energy and passion for agriculture that Carrie has and wish her all the best in her new pursuits.”
ݮƵ Martin Provost Phillip Cavalier will serve as interim chancellor at ݮƵ Martin. The university will launch a search for a new chancellor in the coming weeks.