Boards and Commissions

Chairs of Excellence Trust

Chairs of Excellence Trust is chaired by
Tennessee State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr.

University Professor and Student

The Chairs of Excellence Trust is a permanent trust fund authorized in 1984 to further the cause of higher education in Tennessee. The funding of the program is provided through contributions made by a private donor and a matching amount by the state, thus creating a chair.

Income from the chair is used to offset the cost of retaining a nationally or regionally recognized

scholar
at a state college or university who teaches in a specified academic area. The program is open to all state four-year colleges and universities, and the UT Space Institute.

A chair is authorized to spend 4% of the 3-year average market value of the chair. However, the corpus cannot be spent. Accordingly, only dividends, interests, and accumulated gains may be spent. Since 1984, a total of one hundred (100) chairs have been created.

The Treasury Investments Division is responsible for managing the assets of the Chairs of Excellence Trust.

Board Meetings and Materials



Upcoming Meetings

Recent Meetings

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, December 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Building
Senate Hearing Room I, 1st Floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Join the meeting now

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Monday, December 8, 2025, immediately following the Board of Claims meeting that will begin at 1:00 p.m. (CT) and which is anticipated to end at approximately 2:00 p.m. (CT).

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Knoxville Room, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Monday, November 24, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Office Building
Senate Hearing Room I
425 Rep. John Lewis Way North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

To join virtually:

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 270 564 958 894

Passcode: 45YH6tz6


Dial in by phone

+1 629-209-4396,,950570393# United States, Triune

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 950 570 393#

Join on a video conferencing device

Tenant key: stateoftn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 117 325 068 4

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Office Building
House Hearing Room II
425 Rep. John Lewis Way North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, immediately following the Board of Claims meeting that will begin at 9:00 a.m. (CT) and which is anticipated to end at approximately 10:00 a.m. (CT)

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Knoxville Room, Third Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 10:45 a.m. CT

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Tennessee Room 2, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Office Building
House Hearing Room III, 1st floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, September 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Building
Senate Hearing Room I, 1st Floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Watch Meeting

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, September 12, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Building
Conference Room D, 8th Floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. CT

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Nashville Room, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, TN 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 after the conclusion of the TNFLC Audit Committee meeting scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CT)

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Nashville Room, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Monday, June 23, 2025, immediately following the Board of Claims meeting that will begin at 1:00 p.m. (CT) and which is anticipated to end at approximately 2:00 p.m. (CT).

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Tennessee Room 1, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, March 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. CT

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Nashville Room, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Watch meeting

Individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in these proceedings and require an accommodation should contact Bridget Dorse at (615) 741-7063 with the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System no less than two (2) days prior to the scheduled meeting date to allow time for the Treasury Department to arrange for an accommodation.  You may contact the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System at 502 Deaderick Street, 15th Floor, Andrew Jackson Building at (615) 741-7063 or the Board Administrator Jamie Wayman by email at jamie.wayman@tn.gov.    

The attached guidelines indicate how a public comment may be made at the Board meeting or the Committee meetings. 

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, March 7, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CT

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Conference Room D, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in these proceedings and require an accommodation should contact Bridget Dorse at (615) 741-7063 with the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System no less than two (2) days prior to the scheduled meeting date to allow time for the Treasury Department to arrange for an accommodation.  You may contact the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System at 502 Deaderick Street, 15th Floor, Andrew Jackson Building at (615) 741-7063 or the Board Administrator Jamie Wayman by email at jamie.wayman@tn.gov.    

The attached guidelines indicate how a public comment may be made at the Board meeting or the Committee meetings. 

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, March 7, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CT

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Conference Room E, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in these proceedings and require an accommodation should contact Bridget Dorse at (615) 741-7063 with the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System no less than two (2) days prior to the scheduled meeting date to allow time for the Treasury Department to arrange for an accommodation.  You may contact the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System at 502 Deaderick Street, 15th Floor, Andrew Jackson Building at (615) 741-7063 or the Board Administrator Jamie Wayman by email at jamie.wayman@tn.gov.    

The attached guidelines indicate how a public comment may be made at the Board meeting or the Committee meetings. 

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, March 7, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. CT

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Conference Room D, 3rd Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in these proceedings and require an accommodation should contact Bridget Dorse at (615) 741-7063 with the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System no less than two (2) days prior to the scheduled meeting date to allow time for the Treasury Department to arrange for an accommodation.  You may contact the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System at 502 Deaderick Street, 15th Floor, Andrew Jackson Building at (615) 741-7063 or the Board Administrator Jamie Wayman by email at jamie.wayman@tn.gov.    

The attached guidelines indicate how a public comment may be made at the Board meeting or the Committee meetings.

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. CT

Location
State Capitol
Executive Conference Room
600 Marting Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

View the TN Promise Board Meeting Recording now

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Monday, December 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. CT
(Immediately following the Board of Claims meeting that will begin at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) and which is anticipated to end at approximately 2:00 p.m.)

Location
Tennessee State Capitol
Executive Conference Room, Ground Floor
600 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, December 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Building
House Hearing Room III, 1st Floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Watch meeting LIVE.

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, December 6, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Building
Conference Room D, 8th Floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, December 6, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Building
Conference Room C, 8th Floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Friday, December 6, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. CT

Location
Cordell Hull Building
Conference Room C, 8th Floor
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT

Location
Tennessee Tower
Knoxville Room
312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Documents to download

Meeting Date and Time
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM CT

Location
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Room E
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, TN 37243

Documents to download

Chairs of Excellence Trust Board Members

The Chairs of Excellence Trust is comprised of the State Treasurer who serves as Chair, and seven (7) ex officio members.


Ex-Officio Members

Member Title/Department Location
David H. Lillard, Jr. (Chairman)
State Treasurer Nashville, TN
Bill Lee Governor Nashville, TN
Jason Mumpower Comptroller of the Treasury Nashville, TN
Tre Hargett
Secretary of State
Nashville, TN
Jim Bryson Commissioner, Finance & Administration Nashville, TN
Randy Boyd President, University of Tennessee Nashville, TN
Dr. Steven Gentile Executive Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission Nashville, TN

Audit Committee

Member Title/Department Location
Randy Boyd
President, University of Tennessee Nashville, TN
Jim Bryson Commissioner, Finance & Administration Nashville, TN
Tre Hargett
Secretary of State
Nashville, TN

Contact Us

Have questions about the Chairs of Excellence Trust?  We're here to help!

 (615) 253-2265

Jaye.Chavis@tn.gov

Mailing Address

State of Tennessee
Chairs of Excellence Trust
Andrew Jackson Building, 15th Floor
502 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0248