The University of Tennessee’s bylaws (Article VII section 7.6) and Contracts Fiscal Policy (FI0420) specify which University employees are allowed to sign contracts on behalf of the University.  Only those individuals on the list below have authority to sign on behalf of the University.  So, if someone’s name is not on this list, they are not authorized to sign on behalf of the University.  This applies for all contracts, regardless of dollar value.  The University is not bound by unauthorized signatures.

 

If you have questions about this webpage, please contact Abbie Shellist at ashellis@tennessee.edu

 

Per FI0420: An official otherwise authorized to sign a contract on behalf of the university may
not do so for contracts involving entities in which that individual is also an officer
or a member of the board of directors.

 

List of University employees who are authorized to sign contracts on behalf of The University of Tennessee:

 

Page last updated: October 6, 2022

 

First NameLast NameTitleSignature AuthorityBased OnDate of CFO letter (if applicable)
Procurement Services/Purchasing OfficesProcurement and Purchasing staff in UTC, UTM, UTHSC, and UTK procurement/purchasing officesOrder forms related to master agreementsCFO letterDecember 15, 2015
Dr. Steven R. AngleChancellor, University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaDelegated ChattanoogaFI0420
AllenBoltonInterim Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration, Knoxville Delegated KnoxvilleFI0420
Mr. RandyBoydPresidentAll contractsBylaws (Article VII section 7.6.)
Dr. Peter F. Buckley, MDChancellor, University of Tennessee Health Science CenterDelegated MemphisFI0420
Dr. Wesley ByerlyInterim Vice Chancellor for Research, UTHSCDelegated domestic sponsored grants and contracts, and related documents, for UTHSC.FI0420January 10, 2023
Dr. Herb ByrdVice President of Public ServiceDelegated 13, 14, 15, & 16FI0420
Dr. KeithCarverSenior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President for the UT Institute of Agriculture Delegated contracts for UTIAFI0420
Dr. PhilCavalierInterim Chancellor, University of Tennessee at MartinDelegated MartinFI0420
Dr. RobertCraft, MDInterim Dean, UTHSC Graduate School of MedicineInstitutional Review Board (IRB) Authorization AgreementsCFO letterOctober 3, 2022
Dr. DeborahCrawfordVice Chancellor for ResearchDelegated domestic sponsored grants and contractsFI0420
Dr. BradDayAssociate Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation InitiativesDelegated export control documents including certifications from external vendors and sponsors, custody transfer form from ORNL's Property Office, vendor end-use agreements and UCNI-OUO certification for Y-12CFO LetterFebruary 14, 2023
Dr. JenniferEasleyChief Business Officer, UT System AdministrationAll budget entity 17CFO MemoApril 28, 2022
VickiFarnsworthVice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer and Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and AdministrationDelegated ChattanoogaFI0420
Anthony FerraraVice Chancellor for Finance and Operations, Health Science CenterDelegated MemphisFI0420
StaciFuquaCoordinator of Field PlacementsPartnership agreements with local schools on the UTM template.CFO emailFebruary 18, 2021
KristenaGallimoreAccounting CoordinatorTennessee Department of Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation Program forms.CFO letterJanuary 8, 2021
BrentGoldbergVice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, ChattanoogaDelegated ChattanoogaFI0420
Mike KeenerDirector of Licensing OfficeCollege Crafter Agreements onlyCFO letterMay 16, 2012
MissyKittsBudget DirectorDelegated contracts for UT Extension and UTIA Administration.CFO MemoMarch 30, 2022
Ron LoewenAssociate Vice President, Budget, Analysis and Planning, System AdministrationAll budget entity 17CFO LetterMarch 31, 2023
LukeLybrandTreasurerAll contractsBylaws (Article VII section 7.6.)
TimMapesAssociate Treasurercontracts related to investments, funds transfers, and managing investments, including contracts for subscriptions.CFO letterAugust 31, 2021
Dr. LindaMartinInterim Chancellor, UT Southern
Delegated UT SouthernFI0420
KimMcCullockAssociate Vice Chancellor of Finance & Administration, KnoxvilleDelegated contracts for UTK, UTSI, UTIACFO LetterJanuary 6, 2023
Petra McPhearson Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration, MartinDelegated MartinFI0420
Rip MecherleChief Investment Officercontracts related to investments, funds transfers, and managing investments, including contracts for subscriptions.CFO letterAugust 31, 2021
Jean MercerAssociate Vice Chancellor for Research Administration Delegated Knoxville ResearchCFO letterApril 5, 2016
DavidMillerSenior Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerAll contractsBylaws (Article VII section 7.6.)
CynthiaMooreSecretaryAll contractsBylaws (Article VII section 7.6.)
BrendaMurrellInterim Associate Vice Chancellor for ResearchDelegated domestic sponsored grants and contracts, and related documents, for UTHSC.CFO LetterJanuary 10, 2023
DonnaNeblettDirector of Educator Preparation Program & AccreditationPartnership agreements with local schools on the UTM template.CFO emailFebruary 18, 2021
Cynthia NicholsBudget Director, University of Tennessee AgResearchDelegated 11FI0420
AustinOakesExecutive DirectorContracts related to construction and real property. CFO letterDecember 6, 2019
Dr. DondePlowmanChancellor, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleDelegated KnoxvilleFI0420
Dr. JoanneRomagniVice Chancellor for ResearchDomestic grants and contracts for UTC's sponsored researchFI0420
Dr. John SchmisseurAssociate Dean and Executive Director of UTSIDelegated contracts and associated documents for sponsored projects by external sponsors upon completed
terms and conditions review by the UTSI Grant and Contracts Office
CFO LetterApril 14, 2023
TheresaSearsDirector of Sponsored Program Contracts and AgreementsDelegated domestic sponsored grants and contracts, and related documents for the Office of ResearchCFO LetterJune 13, 2022
Dr. Mary JourdanSechristInterim Research Integrity OfficerDelegated agreements related to Research Integrity Officer decisionsCFO LetterFebruary 14, 2023
AbbieShellistDirector of Procurement ServicesMinnesota Multistate Contract Alliance for Pharmacy (MMCAP) applicationsCFO LetterAugust 9, 2022
RobbySheltonChief Business OfficerDelegated contracts for UT SouthernFI0420
DavidSmelserDirector of Pre-award OperationsDocuments associated with proposals being submitted to external sponsors including: attestations, cost share obligation letters, any other sponsor-specific documents required for the proposal submissionCFO LetterFebruary 24, 2022
RyanStinnettGeneral Counsel Authority to retain outside legal counsel (Bylaws); contracts for legal consulting services and legal research goods and services (CFO letter).Bylaws Section 7.7; CFO letter September 18, 2019
RyanStinnettGeneral CounselDesigner agreements; designer agreement supplements; construction contracts; CMGC contract amendments; gift property contracts for amounts greater than $24,999.99.CFO letterJune 18, 2015
Ryan StinnettGeneral CounselContracts for legal consulting services; contracts for legal research goods and servicesCFO letterAugust 23, 2021
Dr. AshleyStokesUT ExtensionDelegated contracts for UTIACFO letterMarch 5, 2021
AmyStoverBudget DirectorDelegated UTIA, in Missy. Kitts' absence.CFO letterDecember 4, 2017
Dr. James P. ThompsonDean, College of Veterinary MedicineDelegated 18CFO letterJune 6, 2012
KerryWitcherVice President for Development and Alumni AffairsContracts related to planned giving. Mr. Witcher may not sign contracts between UTFI and UT, per FI0420.August 3, 2018
Dr. TamiWyattAssociate Dean for Research; Interim Institutional Official for IRBReliance agreements, investor agreements, certificates of confidentiality applications, Form 310 certificationCFO LetterFebruary 14, 2023
RumiraXhaferaj Chief Business Officer, Institute of Public ServiceDelegated 13,14, 15, & 16 FI0420
Dr. HongweiXinDean, AgResearchDelegated contracts for AgResearchCFO letterApril 11, 2019
Footnotes
**UT Contracts Fiscal Policy allows authorized officials to delegate signature authority to athletics directors to sign non-financial game contracts and housing directors to sign pre-approved form contracts for the rental of student housing. The following individuals have been delegated that authority:
Name Type of Contracts Based On Date of CBO Letter
John Abel Pre-approved forms for student housing Letter from CBO September 11, 2015

If you have any questions about this list, please contact Abbie Shellist, Director of Procurement Services for University System Administration at ashellis@tennessee.edu or 865-974-3110.