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

The Board of Trustees for the Tennessee Chairs of Excellence Endowment Trust will meet on October 7, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. (Central Time) or immediately following the conclusion of the Joint Audit Committee meeting for the College Savings Trust Fund Program and the Chairs of Excellence Endowment Trust Program which is scheduled to meet at 10:45 a.m. (Central Time), whichever is earlier. 

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.

Previous Article Trustees for the Chairs of Excellence Trust Fund and the College Savings Trust Fund—Audit Committee
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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