UT-Knoxville chancellor talks plans: 'I'm thrilled to return to the University of Tennessee'

Donde Plowman, the new chancellor of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, said she will start her time on Rocky Top with a "listening campaign."

Plowman said she hopes to hold many one-on-one meetings once she's officially in officer in order to learn what's best for UT-Knoxville. 

Plowman held a press conference on Monday where she discussed her vision for her role as chancellor. Plowman, a former UT professor and department head, said her time at UT was "an important but brief part of my academic career."

"I'm thrilled to return to the University of Tennessee," she said. 

Plowman was approved by the Board of Trustees on Friday, and her first day will be July 1. 

More:Get to know University of Tennessee-Knoxville's new chancellor, Donde Plowman

Plans for her first year as chancellor

Plowman did not outline specific plans for her time as chancellor yet, but emphasized the importance of meeting and listening to people at UT as soon as she arrives. 

"One of the first things I want to do, in all honesty, is listen," Plowman said. "Go on a listening campaign and have one-on-one conversations with as many people as possible. And from that, I hope to draw the beginnings of how we're going to vision together what the next big things are we want to do as a campus."

She said she also hopes to fill several positions in the chancellor's cabinet. Plowman said she also hopes to talk with Oak Ridge National Laboratory about how the university can continue their partnership. 

"I look forward to more conversations with the leadership of Oak Ridge National Lab to find ways we can grow and enrich our relationship," Plowman said. 

Importance of diversity

Plowman also discussed the importance of promoting diversity on university campuses. 

"I think diversity is absolutely essential for true excellence in our world," Plowman said. "I look forward to making that a starting point for future kinds of excellence we want to try to build here."

Plowman said she is "committed to diversity," and is looking forward to working with the newly hired interim vice chancellor for diversity and engagement, Tyvi Small. 

On her leadership style

Plowman has been described by Boyd and Board of Trustees chairman John Compton as having a servant leadership style. 

Plowman said she's "humbled if someone describes me that way."

"What I try to do is be open, collegial, transparent, and I like to have fun," Plowman said. "If you check with most of the people I work with, we work really hard and we have a great time doing it."

Plowman said "relationships are critical" with coworkers. 

"We work hard and we have a good time doing it," Plowman said.

Plowman said she hopes to "think big and accomplish great things together."

"Now it's time for all of us, faculty, staff, students and the leadership, to roll up our sleeves and get to work, taking this great campus to the next level and serve this state in even more profound ways."

Highest paid chancellor in university's history

She will be the highest-paid chancellor in the university's history, at an annual salary of $600,000. She will also receive $20,000 per year for housing and a one-time $35,000 moving allowance. 

Plowman was one of four candidates, and the only female candidate, for the position. 

Although she was most recently the vice chancellor and chief academic officer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Plowman was previously a management professor and department head in the Haslam College of Business at UT-Knoxville. She was a professor from 2007-2010 and the department head from 2008-2010.