Through gifts and pledges from alumni and friends, the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center received $30.8 million for fiscal year 2018. This total exceeded the goal of $15.8 million and was an 87 percent increase over the previous year.
“Our alumni and friends are very generous and want to make sure they do something impactful for those who are following in their wake. We are extremely grateful for their philanthropy,” said Love Collins, MBA, vice chancellor for the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. “Dollars raised will continue to support our students and faculty, including direct or endowed student scholarships and faculty support for endowed chairs and professorships.”
“Our alumni take great pride in the university’s graduates,” said Chandra Tuggle, interim assistant vice chancellor for Alumni Affairs. “They realize what their degrees have done for them and want to make sure this institution is around in the future to continue educating the best clinicians in the country. It is often said you can tell a UTHSC graduate when they walk through the door because they are more clinically trained than any other graduates you’ll see, and that goes for every college.”
Moving forward, the development office has enhanced efforts to engage alumni, connecting with residents at partner hospitals statewide and involving students at events. Additionally, a regional development team was launched last year to cover all Tennessee counties outside Shelby County, plus the 49 states; allowing the office to connect with an estimated 15 percent of alumni who reside outside Tennessee.
“This also points to the financial success of our alumni, the value of that diploma is very much recognized by the success they realize every day,” Collins said. “I will say, the passion and pride of our alumni and friends drives their philanthropy.”