Lane Morris, associate dean of undergraduate studies and student affairs, has been named the John W. Fisher Professor of Innovative Learning.
Stephen L. Mangum, dean of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair, announced Morris’ appointment. “Lane is a superb teacher,” Mangum said. “Equally effective at the undergraduate and graduate levels, his students speak glowingly of his caring, supportive attitude, the content of his courses and the application-based approach that he uses. Lane’s inventive teaching methods make him an ideal candidate for this professorship.”
Among its criteria, the Fisher Professorship puts special emphasis on its holder pursuing creative educational practices. In this regard, Morris, formerly the Ergen Professor in Business, has served key roles in several curricular, teaching and programmatic innovations at Haslam. These include making significant advances to the structure of the Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars (GLS) program during his tenure leading it, the creation and launch of the Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program, his work with the undergraduate professional development series and more. Most recently, he pioneered the introduction of human-centered design thinking and leadership in GLS and executive MBA programs. Morris also is a core faculty member and executive leadership development coach for the executive MBA programs at Haslam.
In recognition of these and other contributions to the continuing development of Haslam’s pedagogical practices, Morris was chosen for this distinction.
“I am honored to be named the Fisher Professor of Innovative Learning,” Morris said. “The best innovations happen in a positive, collaborative and energetic environment. I am grateful to the John W. Fisher II family, Dean Steve Mangum, and an all-star cast including our faculty and staff, our Haslam undergraduate business team and our amazing students who are willing to experiment and try new things in support and pursuit of learning.”
About John W. Fisher II
John W. Fisher II (HCB, ’38), for whom the professorship is named, was born in 1915 in Walland, Tennessee, and grew up in Maryville. He graduated from UT with a bachelor’s in finance and later earned an MBA from Harvard. In 1940, he married Janice Ball, whose family had operated a container manufacturing business since the 1880s. Fisher went to work for Ball Brothers in 1942 and became president in 1970. Under his leadership, Ball Corporation became publicly traded in 1972 and would eventually become a Fortune 500 company. Today, it is the largest container manufacturer in the world, a leader in the aerospace industry and perennially ranked as one of the best places to work among top U.S. companies. Ball Corporation brings in more than $14 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 15,000 employees worldwide.
Fisher was an active alumnus and donor to the university, supporting both business and engineering schools in honor of his family. He also was active with local, state and national organizations, serving as president of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, chair of Ball Memorial Hospital, the Ball Brothers Foundation, Inc. and the National Association of Manufacturers and as a director of the New York Stock Exchange. He served on the board of directors of more than a dozen other for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations.
CONTACT:
Scott McNutt, business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu
