The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees approved new leadership Thursday with Rhedona Rose taking over as new Trustees Chair.
Rose will serve two years through June, 2027, replacing outgoing chair Trudy Harper. But Trustee Barry Wilmore said he believed longer-term leadership would benefit the University.
“I’m curious if two years seems short for the role of the chair,” Wilmore said. “I think we’ve seen benefit from an extended individual in that position. Is there a way to consider making that a three year or so, more than two years? I know that everybody might have mixed opinions on that.”
Harper said the current two-year changeover creates hardship for the University’s leadership team, because of the constant change and training.
“Having been here for six years, I will tell you, four is probably the right number,” Harper said. “I think six may be a little too long.”
The board decided to consider the change on a future agenda.
Fred Lowery will serve as Vice Chair. Tom Jones will chair the Audit and Business Committee. Camron Rudd will chair the Academic and Student Affairs Committee.
The board includes 11 members for the first time after a change in legislative mandates. A 12th member must still be added.
Harper served six years as chair and received a standing ovation as she stepped down.
“I hope that you will all remember that our role is to govern, but not to manage this university,” Harper said. “That is a weighty but tricky balancing act of responsibility. I think we’ve managed to strike the right balance so far and I hope that we will be able to continue to do so.”
In other business, the Trustees heard a positive report on President Phil Oldham’s annual evaluation, conducted by the Board. Trustees agreed to a 3.5 percent raise for Oldham.
Athletic Director Casey Fox announced construction should be completed on the Tucker Stadium renovations August 24, 2026. Fox said the date would be tight for next football season, but Tech has already scheduled its football opener on the road next year.
Tech ended the fiscal year with just under $32 million in fund balance. The fiscal year ended June 30.
The University also plans to rename the women’s center on campus.