Investing in Education
Leaving Every Trail Better Than You Found It
On April 17, the future of the Haslam College of Business rose into view as a crane lifted the final beam into place atop the college’s newest building. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors spent the morning signing the beam before its ascent to the future Randy Boyd Hall.
The ceremony marked a milestone in the college’s growth and provided an opportunity to recognize the new building’s namesake, alumnus Randy Boyd (HCB, ’79). For Boyd, the event reflected a lifelong belief in the power of higher education and a commitment to making positive impacts on the institutions that matter most to him.
Leaving Every Trail Better Than You Found It
Boyd traces that mindset to his time in the Boy Scouts.
“The code of the outdoors, as I learned and taught in Boy Scouts, says to leave every trail better than you found it,” Boyd explains. “It’s not just literal; it’s a metaphor for life. Everywhere I go, I want to leave it a better place.”
That philosophy has guided Boyd’s approach to business, public service, and philanthropy. Specifically, Boyd believes he can make his greatest impact on education.
A native of Knoxville, Boyd graduated from South Doyle High School at 16 and enrolled at UT. At 19, he became the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning a degree in industrial management from Haslam while working his way through school.
“Working while going to school helped me appreciate the value of education even more,” says Boyd. “It imprinted on me how important it is to provide opportunities for others to go to a university.”
The impact of his UT education extended far beyond what he learned in the classroom. A deep Haslam and UT network has been integral to his life and career. When he started his first company, he hired UT grads. When he had a business problem, UT professors helped him turn it around. When he needed advisors, many were alumni who had gone on to successful careers.
Expanding Opportunities
Following graduation from UT, Boyd built a successful entrepreneurial career, most notably launching Radio Systems Corporation in 1991. The company has grown into a global pet products company with more than 1,400 employees and nearly $500 million in annual sales. He also owns Boyd Sports, LLC, a company that manages six minor league baseball franchises, including the Knoxville Smokies.
As his business success grew, so did his commitment to creating opportunities for others.
In 2008, Boyd helped launch knoxAchieves, a workforce development initiative that later expanded statewide as tnAchieves. The nonprofit organization provides college access and support for high school students, particularly those who are first-generation college students or economically disadvantaged.
His work with tnAchieves led Boyd to state government, where he served as education advisor for Governor Bill Haslam and helped develop the Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect scholarship programs. Later, as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, he worked with employers across the state to strengthen Tennessee’s workforce pipeline.
“A significant portion of that workforce would come from a college of business,” Boyd says. “That’s why it’s critically important for the Haslam College of Business to continue to grow, produce the talent our state needs, attract new businesses, and support the ones we have.”
His passion for educational opportunity ultimately brought him back to UT. Boyd became president and statewide chief executive officer of the UT System in 2018.
“I’ve always been passionate about education, so the opportunity to work at UT was a natural ‘yes’ for me,” he says. “I see it as an opportunity to help make education more accessible and affordable to more students.”
Naming Randy Boyd Hall
As UT president, Boyd has continued to invest in the university, supporting the College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, and Tennessee Athletics. Much of his philanthropy, however, has focused on Haslam.
His previous investments include the Boyd Venture Challenge, an entrepreneurship competition within the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI), and the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research.
“I believe a strong economy is dependent on strong business infrastructure, and strong business infrastructure is dependent on talented entrepreneurs,” he says.
As fundraising for the college’s new academic building ramped up over the past few years, Boyd decided the project aligned perfectly with his lifelong priorities.
“I knew I was going to be giving to something, somewhere, and this seemed like the most appropriate place and time,” he says. “This is a landmark facility not just for the Haslam College of Business and the University of Tennessee, but for the entire state.”
Boyd credits both the Haslam family and Stephen L. Mangum, the college’s dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair, for inspiring his investment decision.
“I am a huge admirer of Jim Haslam and his entire family,” he says. “They have contributed so much to the college.”
He also points to Mangum’s leadership over the past 13 years.
“I’m making this donation in part as a thank you to Dean Mangum for his excellent leadership.”
From his perspective, Mangum says Boyd’s influence on the college extends far beyond philanthropy.
“I appreciate his ability to think outside the box and offer a valuable perspective based on his experiences,” Mangum says. “He’s also an eternal optimist who takes the long view. When there are challenges, he attacks things with a can-do spirit that is refreshing and invigorating for the rest of us.”
Building for the Future
Slated to open in spring 2028, Randy Boyd Hall is a 245,000-square-foot building that will become the largest academic facility on campus, including additional classrooms, dedicated research and study space, and new homes for two of the college’s engagement and research centers.
Amy Cathey, Haslam’s associate dean for graduate and executive education, says the building will also support growth in Haslam’s graduate and executive education programs, which serve a large population of working professionals.
“The new space will provide state-of-the-art classrooms for degree and non-degree programs, as well as team rooms, executive conference space, and a beautiful hospitality suite from which the downtown Knoxville skyline is visible,” says Cathey. “Given that more than half of Haslam’s graduate students are working professionals, it’s appropriate that this space provides wonderful views of campus, business, and community, as our students are connected in each of these areas.”
A Commitment That Endures
At April’s beam-signing ceremony, UT Provost John Zomchick welcomed attendees to Randy Boyd Hall.
“Randy Boyd’s leadership and generosity have helped define this era of excellence for the university,” Zomchick told the crowd.
For Mangum, one of the most memorable aspects of the event was seeing Randy and Jenny (UT, ’79) Boyd alongside Jim Haslam II (HCB, ’52) and William B. Stokely III (HCB, ’63)—the namesakes of the college’s other two buildings.
“They are all now major contributors, not just in resources, but in time and talent to the college,” Mangum says. “With a wonderful turnout from students to staff, faculty, alumni, and others from across campus, there was a palpable spirit of community, accomplishment, and excitement for the future.”
Boyd says the event united all three sets of building donors and helped put his investment into perspective.
“I wanted to do my part to help them make this the best college of business in America.”
Investing in the College’s Future
Generous support from Haslam alumni and friends is shaping the college’s future. Recent donors share what inspired their support for Haslam’s new academic facility.
“As both an alumnus of UT and a parent of a recent Haslam graduate, I have witnessed the evolution of Glocker Hall classrooms into the modern learning environment of the Haslam Business Building. For the college to expand to meet demand and keep pace with modern technology, Randy Boyd Hall is vital. That’s why my wife, Katy, and I chose to invest in this campaign.”
– Steve Senkus (HCB, ’93)
Founder & Former CEO, Nonstopdelivery Inc.
“Why would we give to UT, and specifically to Haslam, despite neither of us being alums? Having spent the majority of my career on the Haslam faculty and in administration is one reason. Having two daughters and one granddaughter with four UT degrees between them solidifies our commitment. Haslam continues to excel in producing business leaders. State-of-the-art facilities are critical to keeping the Haslam College of Business on the forefront of business education, and we want to be a part of that.”
– Jan and Elaine Williams
Dean and Professor Emeritas (Jan), Haslam College of Business
“I support Haslam because I credit so many of my professional opportunities and successes to the foundation it provided. Growing up in rural Tennessee, a business degree was never on my radar. Investing in the new business building helps ensure others have access to the same opportunities that changed the course of my life.”
– Jennifer Hillenmeyer (HCB, ’99)
Assurance Partner, EY Boston
There are still opportunities to invest in the college’s next chapter. To learn more about supporting Haslam’s students and mission, contact the Office of Advancement at [email protected].
