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

Event date: 10/7/2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Export event
Amanda Gargus
/ Categories: Boards and Commissions, Chairs of Excellence

Chairs of Excellence Trust Board of Trustees Meeting

The Chairs of Excellence Trust Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. CT

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

At the meeting, the Board will consider the items listed on the attached agenda.

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

Individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in these proceedings and require an accommodation should contact Jaye Chavis, Administrator for the Chairs of Excellence Endowment Trust Program, 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 Jaye Chavis by telephone at (615) 253-2265; by mail at 502 Deaderick Street, 15th Floor, Andrew Jackson Building, Nashville, Tennessee 37243; or by email at jaye.chavis@tn.gov.

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Documents to download

Past Meetings (2022 and Prior)

Date and Time Location Agenda/Minutes
Thursday, October 6, 2022
9:30 am CT
 		Cordell Hull Building
Conference Room D
425 Rep. John Lewis Way North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Audit Committee for the Chairs of Excellence Trust and
the College Savings Trust Fund - Public Meeting Notice

Audit Committee for the Chairs of Excellence Trust and
the College Savings Trust Fund - Agenda
Thursday, October 6, 2022
10:00 am CT
 		Cordell Hull Building
Conference Room 8D
425 Rep. John Lewis Way North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Board of Trustees - Public Meeting Notice

Board of Trustees Agenda and Materials
Thursday, October 8, 2020
10:00 am (CT)
 		Virtual meeting via Webex Board of Trustees - Public Meeting Notice
Board of Trustees Agenda and Materials
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
10:00 am (CT)
 		Tennessee State Capitol (ground floor)
Executive Conference Room
600 Martin Luther King Jr.
Nashville, Tennessee 		Meeting Agenda
Thursday, October 4, 2018
10:00 am (CT)
 		Tennessee State Capitol (ground floor)
Executive Conference Room
600 Martin Luther King Jr.
Nashville, Tennessee 		Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
10:00 am (CT)
 		Tennessee State Capitol (ground floor)
Executive Conference Room
600 Martin Luther King Jr.
Nashville, Tennessee 		Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
10:00 am (CT)
 		Tennessee State Capitol (ground floor)
Executive Conference Room
600 Martin Luther King Jr.
Nashville, Tennessee 		Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
10:00 am (CT)
 		Tennessee State Capitol (ground floor)
Executive Conference Room
600 Martin Luther King Jr.
Nashville, Tennessee 		Meeting Minutes
Thursday, December 17, 2015
10:00 am (CT)
 		Legislative Plaza
Room 30
Nashville, Tennessee 		Meeting Minutes

Spending Plan Revisions

Date and Time Subject Documents
May 25, 2019
 MTSU Revised Spending Plan Approval
FY 2017-18
May 9, 2019
 MTSU Revised Spending Plan Request
FY 2017-18
June 25, 2018 UT Revised Spending Plan Approval
FY 2017-18
June 8, 2018 UT Revised Spending Plan Request
FY 2017-18

View Chairs of Excellence Trust Financial Statements and Investment Reports

Financial Statements on desk

Financial statements prior to 2017 are included in the Treasurer's Report for their respective year.

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
Brian Noland President, East Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
Randy Boyd President, University of Tennessee Nashville, TN
Dr. Bob Smith (non-voting Board Member) Interim Executive Director, TN 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
Brian Noland
 President, East Tennessee State University
 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