By a unanimous vote Friday afternoon, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees selected Randy Boyd to serve as UT's 26th president for the next five years, according to a university press release.
“As I’ve said, naming the president of the University of Tennessee System is one of our most important decisions that we undertake as trustees,” Board Chair John Compton said. “Randy Boyd is absolutely the right person to lead the university at this time.”
The release reported trustees approved Boyd serving in the position up to June 30, 2025. He will continue to serve without a salary. He will receive $10,000 per year to cover state health insurance costs.
“I am thankful to all who have shown confidence and support for me to continue as the 26th president of the University of Tennessee,” Boyd said. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve my alma mater and our great state with this great team. Together, we will make this the greatest decade in the history of the University of Tennessee.”
According to the release, Boyd is a Knoxville alumnus and businessman and has served as interim president of the UT System since November 2018. He serves as the chief executive officer of the statewide system.
After a positive performance review, Compton recommended foregoing a national search to fill the president position. The other trustees agreed.
Officials said that Boyd established the UT Promise scholarship and mentoring program providing free tuition for Tennessee residents whose family household income is less than $50,000 a year and are academically qualified to attend UT. He also led the initiative that created the Oak Ridge Institute at UT, which seeks to create a robust talent pipeline in areas of growing national needs. He also reunited UT Knoxville and UT Institute of Agriculture.
During the November 2019 Board of Trustees meeting, the release stated, discussions began to remove the interim title. In December 2019, Compton started gathering feedback from faculty, staff and students as well as alumni, legislators and others.
After the extensive discussion, Compton requested Boyd's participation in a series of town hall meetings in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Martin and Memphis to share his vision for the University.
Boyd is the first in his family to graduate from college, officials said. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business with an emphasis on industrial management from UT Knoxville. He also earned a master’s degree in liberal studies with a focus on foreign policy from the University of Oklahoma.
Boyd and his wife, Jenny, live in Knoxville. They have two children and one grandchild.