KNOXVILLE – Keith Carver will be recommended to serve as the permanent senior vice chancellor and senior vice president for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (ݮƵIA) by University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd to the ݮƵ Board of Trustees on Friday, Oct. 13.
In this role, Carver will continue to provide leadership for the statewide institute, which provides data-driven research, education and outreach across the state through ݮƵ Extension, ݮƵ AgResearch, the ݮƵ College of Veterinary Medicine and the Herbert College of Agriculture.
Carver began serving in the interim role as a two-year assignment on March 1. ݮƵ System President Randy Boyd and ݮƵ Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman conducted a series of townhall meetings across the state last month designed to gather input and feedback on Carver’s interim performance and the recommendation to appoint him to the permanent role.
“Since joining ݮƵIA, Keith has made a tremendous impact within the institute and in communities across the state,” Boyd said. “His experience across the ݮƵ System, collaborative spirit and his deep appreciation for ݮƵ’s land-grant mission make him the ideal person for this role.”
“ݮƵIA is thriving with record research expenditures, increased enrollment, expanding programs and a strong Extension presence in all 95 counties,” Plowman said. “With Keith at the helm, we will continue to watch the impact of ݮƵIA grow within our campus and across our state.”
Prior to his role at ݮƵIA, Carver served as chancellor at ݮƵ Martin for six years. He is a 26-year veteran in the ݮƵ System, serving in a variety of roles including executive assistant to then-ݮƵ System President Joe DiPietro for six years, interim vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs at the ݮƵ Health Science Center in Memphis, assistant vice chancellor for development at ݮƵ Martin and director of development and alumni affairs for the ݮƵ College of Law in Knoxville.
“I am humbled and excited to be given this opportunity. I’ve quickly witnessed the incredible commitment to agriculture and education across the Volunteer State within the ݮƵ Institute of Agriculture,” said Carver. “It’s an honor to work with this team to advance and promote agriculture in every community in Tennessee.”
Raised in a rural farming community in West Tennessee, Carver has seen the impact of agriculture up close, starting with his early years growing up in Frog Jump, Tennessee. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Memphis State (now the University of Memphis), a master’s degree in college personnel and educational leadership and a doctorate in higher education administration from ݮƵ Knoxville.
The ݮƵ System is comprised of campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, and Martin; the Health Science Center based in Memphis; and the statewide Institute of Agriculture and Institute for Public Service. The ݮƵ System has a presence in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Through the combined force of education, research, and outreach, the University serves students, business and industry, schools, governments, organizations and residents statewide. The ݮƵ System provides a range of accessible and affordable educational opportunities and highly regarded professional schools. About 54,000 students are enrolled, and the University produces about 13,000 new graduates every year. More than 445,000 alumni live throughout the state, nation and world.