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Board of Fellows


The Board of Fellows, established in 1972, sees its mission to serve as "goodwill ambassadors" within the community, as well as to provide financial and other support to the University.

Made up of approximately 148 business leaders and professionals, the Fellows increase the University's visibility through special events and outreach, and raise funds for scholarships. Through their activities, members of the Board of Fellows also find rewarding opportunities to network with peers who share their belief in the value of higher education.

2011 Forum Picture
The Fellows Forum is held annually by the Board of Fellows.
The Board of Fellows leadership for 2011-12 is as follows:
  • Kyle Parks, chair
  • Richard Rudolph, treasurer
  • Steve Murray, Fellows Forum chair
  • Andy Van Ore, Fellows Forum sponsor lead
  • Michelle Griffith, Fellows Forum sponsor lead
  • Karen McKinney, Fellows Forum speaker lead
  • Thomas Meachum, Business Network Symposium co-chair
  • Debbie Sheridan, Business Network Symposium co-chair
  • Renee Vaughn, Membership co-chair
  • Ted Silence, Membership co-chair
  • Steve Segundo, Development co-chair
  • Sarah Brownlee, Development co-chair
  • Reid Haney, Grant Program chair
  • Hunter Swearingen, College of Business (COB) liaison
  • Bret Azzarelli, College of Arts and Letters (CAL) liaison
  • John Bruels, College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS) liaison
  • Tom Banta, chair-elect and College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education (CSSME) liaison

The Board of Fellows asks members to:

  • Serve on a Fellows or Trustee committee
  • Support and attend scheduled Fellows events
  • Support UT as goodwill ambassador
  • Nominate potential members
  • Financially support the Board of Fellows and the University by fulfilling annual financial requirements of:
    • $250 membership dues plus $1,000 Annual Fund contribution OR  
    • $250 membership dues plus $1,500 or higher for named scholarship
For more information, please contact the Board of Fellows at fellows@ut.edu or (813) 253-6200.

Opportunities with the Board of Fellows include:

Jimmy Wales
The business community listens to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales at the Jan. 25, 2007, Business Network Symposium in UT's Vaughn Center. Story...  
The Board of Fellows hosts three Business Network Symposia each year. Each event traditionally features three Tampa Bay CEOs discussing issues of local economic importance. A complimentary breakfast is provided.

The Fellows Forum is the Board of Fellows' flagship event and features nationally recognized business leaders discussing and debating a topic of relevance. Proceeds from the Forum fund the Board of Fellows Endowed Scholarship, which is awarded to a business major.

The Minaret Society Dinner in November is a formal dinner celebration in honor of University donors for their gifts of at least $1,000* to the Annual Fund within a fiscal year.

Throughout the year, Fellows are also invited to networking socials on campus and in the surrounding area, such as the Kickoff Social, Member Socials and annual Holiday Party, to interact with other board members and the University community. View Fellows' calendar of events for 2011-2012(PDF).
 
 
*Beginning in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, invitations to the dinner will be extended only to those donors who are members of the Minaret Society Silver Crescent level ($2,500-$4,999) or higher.