by its predecessor, American National Bank and Trust Company, this chair, administered through the College of Arts and Sciences, has as its purpose presenting the best that has been and is now being thought in the humanities. This revolving appointment brings to the community visiting professors of national and international stature. The Humanities Chair, established by American National Bank and Trust Company in 1986, helps meet UTC’s commitment as a cultural center for the region.
George R. West Jr. Chair of Excellence in Communication and Public Affairs: Funded by the Westend Foundation in 1986 in honor of its founder, George R. West, Jr., this chair of excellence is designed to assist UTC in educating students for responsible and effective communications in the realm of public affairs. Students pursuing careers in business, education, communications, political science, and other disciplines benefit from this chair which emphasizes critical analysis and presenting, particularly by the written word, the issues of public affairs in a truthful, effective and responsible fashion.
Professorships
Alumni Distinguished Service Professorships: Awarded to outstanding faculty members of each of the four campuses of The University of Tennessee by the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association.
The Rev. Herman H. Battle Professorship: Created in 1999 in honor of the late Rev. Herman H. Battle, one of Chattanooga's most admired Black citizens who did much to improve community race relations. The professorship is in African-American studies.
C.C. Bond Minority Professorship in Education: Established in 1987 by friends and colleagues of Dr. Claude C. Bond, distinguished educator in the Chattanooga public schools. The professorship is intended to attract an outstanding minority leader to the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies at UTC.
J.C. Bradford Portfolio Management Professorship: Established in 1996 by the J.C. Bradford & Company Foundation to provide students with guidance in security analysis and portfolio management. The fund provides resources for faculty and student development for the professor who directs the Portfolio Management Seminar in the Department of Accounting and Finance in the College of Business.
Chattanooga Manufacturer’s Association Professorship in Engineering: Established in 1980 to provide support for the College of Engineering and Computer Science and enable the University to reward a member of the engineering faculty for excellence in teaching, public service, and research.
Kay Kittrell Chitty Professorship in Nursing: Established in 1996 by Memorial Hospital in honor of Dr. Chitty, former director of UTC's School of Nursing and former chair of Memorial's board of directors, the appointee holds a joint appointment with the University and the hospital in the area of family nurse practitioner.
George M. Clark Professorship in Management Policy: Established in 1983 by the Clark Foundation in memory of George M. Clark, longtime Chattanoogan and chairman of Pioneer Bank until his death in 1979.
George C. Connor Professorship in American Literature: Named for Guerry Professor of English Emeritus George C. Connor, this professorship was established in 1985 by colleagues, former students, and friends in honor of his 26 years of service.
Robert M. Davenport Professorship in Biology: Established in 1997 by the children of Robert M. Davenport: Eleanor Howell Davenport, Adelaide Davenport Bratcher, Robert M. Davenport, Jr., and S. Elliot Davenport, and other friends and colleagues, as a tribute to Davenport, an executive with the Krystal Co. and founder of the Central Park restaurant chain. Davenport, who died in 1994, was committed to both education and the environment through his understanding of the earth’s fragile environment and devotion to property at Lula Lake on Lookout Mountain. The appointee is a faculty member of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
Joseph F. Decosimo Centennial Professorship in Accounting: Established in 1977 by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Decosimo, civic and business leaders, to support the program in accounting and upgraded during the Centennial campaign of 1986.
W. Max Finley Centennial Professorship in Business Administration: Established by friends and family of alumnus W. Max Finley, class of 1931, this fund promotes faculty research which involves students.
First Tennessee Bank Distinguished Professorships in Business: Established in 1996 as part of a 21st Century Campaign gift to the University of Tennessee by First Tennessee National Corporation of which First Tennessee Bank is a subsidiary, this professorship for the Chattanooga campus is awarded to a member of the faculty with expertise in the various areas of banking and finance.
Benjamin H. Gross Professorship in Chemistry: Awarded to a member of the faculty of the Department of Chemistry who has shown outstanding accomplishments in teaching, research, and civic involvement. Established in 1998, the endowment honors Dr. Benjamin Gross, who served as head of the UTC Chemistry Department from 1964 through 1990. Dr. Gross, a nationally known chemist, was an outstanding professor of general and organic chemistry.
Mary Harris Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurship: Established in 2002 by the Clarence E. Harris Foundation in the College of Business, in memory of Mr. Harris’s sister, to foster excellence in entrepreneurship studies. The holder must be actively engaged in research, writing, and lecturing in the area of entrepreneurship, small business marketing and related areas, and have the minimum rank of associate professor at UTC.
Nita T. and Irvine W. Grote Professorships in Chemistry: Established in 1986 to honor outstanding teaching through a generous gift from the estate of Dr. and Mrs. Grote. An inventor of note, Grote taught at UC for 38 years.
Alexander and Charlotte Patten Guerry Professorships: Established by anonymous gifts in 1959 and 1961 in memory of the University’s esteemed seventh president and in honor of his dedicated wife, to recognize a select group of outstanding professors.
Henry Hart Professorship in Business Administration: Established in 1978 by R. Henry Hart, a civic and business leader, to provide faculty support for the University’s College of Business.
Marilyn Helms Professorship in Business Administration: Awarded
