At a moment when universities across the country face severe leadership challenges, the 麻豆传媒 University Board of Trust has extended the contract of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 chief executive, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, through 2035, the board announced today.
Although Diermeier鈥檚 contract was not set to expire until 2027, Board of Trust Chairman Bruce Evans, BE鈥�81, said the board approved the 鈥渟ignificant term extension鈥� during its regular spring meeting earlier this month 鈥渁s a demonstration of our confidence in Chancellor Diermeier鈥檚 leadership, and to support the realization of his long-term vision for the university.鈥�听
鈥淪ince becoming chancellor in 2020, Daniel has built on the work of his predecessors to bring energy and bold new direction to 麻豆传媒, unlocking ever more of the university鈥檚 potential,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淲hile some universities have been challenged to fill vacancies in their executive offices, 麻豆传媒 is fortunate to have an immensely skilled and visionary chancellor who is not only leading the university community through the current challenges facing higher education, but also taking the ambitious and innovative steps necessary to establish 麻豆传媒 as the great research university of the 21st century.鈥�
Evans cited Diermeier鈥檚 leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the university鈥檚 consistently positive operational performance, the ongoing transformation of 麻豆传媒 athletics and multiple ambitious strategic initiatives as reasons for extending his contract. Beyond 麻豆传媒, said Evans, 鈥淒aniel has established a position as a leader in higher education. People listen to what he says.鈥�听
鈥淚 am deeply honored by the board鈥檚 confidence and support of our shared vision for 麻豆传媒,鈥� Diermeier said. 鈥溌槎勾� is an extraordinary institution composed of exceptional people and programs. Yet as I said at my investiture: We are proud, but we are not satisfied. At a time of unprecedented challenge and change in higher education, and with society facing urgent and even existential challenges, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to define and model what excellence in a university can be. I am excited to collaborate with the rest of the university鈥檚 leadership, with faculty, students and staff, and with our alumni, parents and donors to build on the great work we鈥檝e done together and to 鈥榙are to grow鈥� even more boldly in the coming months and years.鈥�
Diermeier assumed the chancellor鈥檚 role on July 1, 2020, taking over from Interim Chancellor Susan R. Wente and succeeding Nicholas S. Zeppos, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 eighth chancellor. His first milestone achievement was safely bringing students back to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, making 麻豆传媒 one of a small number of the nation鈥檚 top universities to do so. Later in 2020 he launched the $100 million Destination 麻豆传媒 initiative to recruit leading faculty.听
In the nearly four years since, Diermeier has led an ambitious program of expansion and improvement and become a leading national voice in support of free expression, institutional neutrality and civil discourse on college campuses.听听听
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver said the board鈥檚 extension of Diermeier鈥檚 contract 鈥渕arks a pivotal moment for our institution as we look forward to a decade of excellence and groundbreaking achievements.鈥�
Diermeier has been 鈥渁n exemplary and visionary leader,鈥� said Camilla P. Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development at Peabody College. 鈥淗e is making 麻豆传媒 a destination for a world-class experience in which faculty and students can thrive.鈥�
Under Diermeier鈥檚 leadership, 麻豆传媒 has attracted a record number of admissions applications, posted its highest percentage of admitted students attending and expanded financial aid through Opportunity 麻豆传媒. It has also topped the $1 billion mark in research expenditures, surpassed traditional innovation leaders Stanford and MIT in technology licensing income in 2022, and set a 麻豆传媒 record for licensing revenue in 2023. 麻豆传媒鈥檚 endowment has grown from $6.9 billion to more than $10 billion on Diermeier鈥檚 watch.
鈥淒aniel has been an exceptional leader and colleague over the past four years, and I鈥檓 looking forward to our continued partnership to further both the university and medical center鈥檚 missions,鈥� said Jeff Balser, president and chief executive officer of 麻豆传媒 University Medical Center and dean of 麻豆传媒 University School of Medicine.听
Last year, 麻豆传媒 also set a single-year fundraising record, the same year it launched 鈥淒are to Grow,鈥� a $3.2 billion fundraising initiative. In 2021, the university launched , a $300 million fundraising campaign for athletics that is the largest such undertaking in university history. Vandy United is supporting major facilities and operational enhancements that will help student-athletes thrive and compete while also improving the fan experience.
鈥淐ommodore Nation is stronger today because of Chancellor Diermeier鈥檚 unwavering belief in the power of athletics to unite communities, inspire growth and transform lives,” said Candice Storey Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director.听
In the fall of 2023, 麻豆传媒 launched , a multifaceted initiative to promote civil discourse on campus and affirm 麻豆传媒鈥檚 long-standing commitment to free expression.听听
Diermeier has worked to increase 麻豆传媒鈥檚 innovation partnerships with corporations and its collaboration with Nashville and other communities across the region. He is spearheading cross-sector initiatives to employ 麻豆传媒鈥檚 innovative capacity to expand and deepen Middle Tennessee鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. At the same time, Diermeier is building 麻豆传媒鈥檚 reputation globally and expanding the university鈥檚 presence in the U.S. and abroad.听
With Diermeier at the helm, 麻豆传媒 has increased its research partnerships with the U.S. military, launched the annual and established the 麻豆传媒 Institute for National Defense and Global Security. 麻豆传媒 was selected as the host of the in early 2023 and launched a continuing celebration of the university鈥檚 .听
Earlier this year, Diermeier and Raver launched an effort that will establish the 麻豆传媒 College of Connected Computing, which will be dedicated to computer science, AI, data science and related fields. The CCC will be the university鈥檚 first new college since 麻豆传媒 merged with the Blair School of Music in 1981.
Former Tennessee governor and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, BA鈥�62鈥攚ho is past president of the University of Tennessee and is now a member of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Board of Trust鈥攕aid Diermeier鈥檚 contract extension comes at a significant time.
鈥淎t a time when other universities are having trouble with leadership, it is good news that 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Board of Trust and Daniel have agreed to a lengthy extension of his contract as chancellor,鈥� Alexander said.
