Dear Colleagues-Friends,
I am pleased to share that distinguished Memphian, global business leader, and civic steward Bill Dunavant will be joining us as a featured speaker at our Leadership Council meeting at 2:00 p.m. on January 20, 2026. This will be a great way to kick off our new year!
Mr. Dunavant brings an extraordinary record of accomplishment that has left an indelible mark on Memphis. As the long-time leader of Dunavant Enterprises—one of the world’s largest privately held cotton merchants—Bill and his family built and led a globally integrated company while maintaining a steadfast commitment to keeping Memphis at the center of its operations. In doing so, he helped anchor high-level international commerce in our city, supported local jobs, and reinforced Memphis’s role as a hub for global trade and logistics.
Equally significant is Bill Dunavant’s enduring civic leadership. For decades, he has been a driving force behind many of Memphis’s most consequential economic development, education, healthcare, and community revitalization efforts. He has served in leadership and advisory roles across a wide range of Memphis-based nonprofit and civic organizations, including a term as Chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle, lending both strategic insight and personal investment to initiatives focused on strengthening the city’s core institutions, expanding workforce and educational opportunity, and fostering public-private collaboration. His philanthropy and service have consistently emphasized long-term impact—building capacity, strengthening governance, and positioning Memphis for sustained growth rather than short-term gain.
Bill has also been a powerful advocate for Memphis beyond our city’s borders. Whether engaging national business leaders, policymakers, or philanthropic partners, he has persistently championed Memphis’s assets, talent, and potential, helping to attract investment and elevate the city’s national profile. His leadership reflects a deep belief that Memphis’s future depends on informed, engaged, and committed local leadership.
I recently had the opportunity to hear Bill’s compelling presentations on “Why Memphis,” in which he weaves together history, economic insight, and lived experience to articulate both the promise and responsibility of place. His message—rooted in optimism, accountability, and a clear-eyed understanding of Memphis’s challenges—resonates strongly with our mission as a public academic health sciences institution dedicated to serving Memphis and the state of Tennessee.
I am confident that Bill’s remarks will offer meaningful insight and inspiration as we continue our conversations about leadership, place-based impact, and how UTHSC can further contribute to the health, prosperity, and vitality of our community. In fact, I believe this is a conversation from which our entire campus would benefit, and so we are encouraging all faculty and staff to join us via Zoom at the link below. Up to 500 attendees can join.
Please note this event on your calendar, encourage your faculty and staff to join us via Zoom at this link:
https://tennesseehipaa.zoom.us/j/81194498673?pwd=KspCvHgKPEybmvUxjI1zXQDz0s3lHZ.1
We look forward to welcoming Bill Dunavant to campus for what promises to be a thoughtful, substantive, and inspiring discussion.
Many thanks for all you do,
Peter Buckley, MD
Chancellor