Jennifer (Jen) Rittenhouse has been appointed director of the Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars (Smith GLS) for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business undergraduate programs. The Smith GLS program is Haslam’s official honors program, promoting the development of international and intercultural awareness, leadership and personal and professional growth.
In addition to her leadership of the Smith GLS program, Rittenhouse will pursue an additional signature honors experience for Haslam undergraduates. She will explore partnering with other university honors and scholars programs, including Chancellors Honors, Honors Leadership Program, Haslam Scholars Program and the 1794 Scholars Program, to further develop this community of scholars through both curricular and co-curricular activities.
After more than 25 years in corporate leadership roles, Rittenhouse joined Haslam’s Department of Management and Entrepreneurship in 2018, teaching MBA and undergraduate courses in human resources, strategy and international business. Her corporate experience includes serving as AMETEK global vice president of human resources and PepsiCo HR executive. While at PepsiCo, Rittenhouse helped found the PepsiCo Diversity Leadership Development program at UT, which continues 11 years later.
Lane Morris, associate dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs and Ergen Professor in Business, said, with her background and talents, Rittenhouse was ideally suited to continue the program’s growth that began under Mark Moon, who returned to his faculty position in the Department of Marketing.
“Jen brings a unique skillset and range of experiences that will be significant assets in her new leadership role,” Morris said. “She will apply all of the experience from her years in corporate leadership roles, her ongoing roles in diversity and inclusion initiatives and her support of domestic and international organizations through her extensive consulting work. Jen’s real-world business experiences and research focus will benefit the students in the GLS and honors programs within the college.”
Morris also lauded Moon’s multiple accomplishments during his five-year tenure as head of the program. These include it being named in honor of donors Greg and Lisa Smith, the creation of a Smith GLS Alumnus of the Year award and the establishment of a Smith GLS Class Leader program.
Additionally, Moon emphasized including more than experimental designs in honors projects, which resulted in several Smith GLS students winning research awards at the Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA) and being named Torch Bearer recipients. Moon and his wife, Carol, also established the Mark/Carol Moon Scholarship, which is awarded to a Smith GLS student each year. Finally, in May, Moon was named the Smith GLS North Star award recipient, the highest recognition bestowed within the program.
Rittenhouse began her new role on July 1.
Learn more about the Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars Program.
CONTACT:
Scott McNutt, business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu
