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: 11/24/2025 12:30 PM Export event
Cassidy Denton
/ Categories: Boards and Commissions

Tennessee Promise Scholarship Trust Fund Board of Trustees Meeting

The Tennessee Promise Scholarship Trust Fund Board of Trustees will meet at 12:30 p.m. (CT) on November 24, 2025.

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

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 Heather Sczepczenski with the State Treasurer’s Office 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 Heather Sczepczenski at the State Treasurer’s Office at (615) 741-2956 or Heather.Sczepczenski@tn.gov.

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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