Andrea Addis
Serving to Make a Difference
When Andrea Addis (HCB, ’00; MAcc, ’01) arrived at UT, she planned to study international business. She never imagined that 25 years later she would be interim treasurer for the entire UT system, overseeing the finances of the institution that launched her career.
“It wasn’t on my career path, but it’s a really wonderful opportunity,” Addis says.
Her journey to university leadership has been defined by a willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities, continuous learning, and a commitment to serving others.
Saying Yes to Growth
As an undergraduate at Haslam, Addis discovered a talent for accounting.
“It’s not about math,” she says. “It’s about organizing financial information in a way that makes sense for a reader or decision-maker.”
Beyond the technical skills she developed were the relationships she built with Haslam faculty who encouraged Addis to pursue the college’s Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program.
Although she completed her MAcc with a concentration in taxation, Addis’s professional path took an unexpected direction. She accepted a position with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) after graduation. She worked in the TVA’s office of the inspector general for more than a decade in internal audit, compliance and policy oversight, and fraud investigation. The experience provided a strong foundation for her career and taught her the value of stepping outside her comfort zone.
“I said ‘yes’ to things that were outside my usual focus and learned to embrace feeling uncomfortable, because it’s how we grow as humans,” says Addis.
Her years with TVA shaped Addis into both a leader and lifelong learner, preparing her for increasingly complex leadership roles.
She later served for more than 10 years as the director of internal audit for Knox County before returning to her alma mater in July 2023 to work in audit and compliance, transitioning in March 2026 to serve as the UT System’s interim treasurer.
The role has broadened Addis’ perspective on the interconnected systems that keep the university running, revealing how functions like tax, payroll, and revenue-generating activities overlap to support the system’s mission.
“I get to see how all the different operations weave together to make the university work,” she says.
A Commitment to Service
Those who have worked alongside Addis are quick to praise the qualities that have defined her two decades of leadership.
Windle Morgan, who worked alongside Addis at both TVA and Knox County government and is now senior director of internal audit at Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, describes her as strategic, thoughtful, discerning, and deeply committed to her team.
“She is a great person to work with and a leader who’s trustworthy, supportive, and empathetic,” Morgan says. “I’m delighted that she is making an impact at the University of Tennessee, but that comes as no surprise.”
Brian Daniels, chief audit and compliance officer for the UT System, believes Addis’s enthusiasm and experience across government and higher education position her to be an impactful leader.
“Her professional experience in large, complex organizations, including multiple levels of government, allows her to share her wisdom with others,” Daniels says. “In her role as interim treasurer, she’s making a broad impact on the success of the university.”
Throughout her career, Addis has remained committed to public service. Whether serving TVA, Knox County, or her alma mater, she has consistently sought opportunities to contribute where she can add the most value. Stewarding the future of UT, an institution that has shaped multiple generations of her family, is simply the latest chapter in that commitment.
