The third and final candidate for the new chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Alexander Cartwright, spoke to students at the Frieson Black Cultural Center on Friday, Nov. 11 during an open forum.
Cartwright is the provost and the executive vice chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, which includes 64 campuses. Cartwright, who was born and raised in the Bahamas, graduated from the University of Iowa with an undergraduate degree and a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering.
“I want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity, that you will be able to achieve whatever dream you have,” Cartwright said in response to a question from Clay Daniel, a business analytics and supply chain major.
Having graduated from a big ten school, Cartwright said he understands the role of athletics within university culture. The University of Iowa has 22 varsity athletic teams and the football team has won 11 big ten championships.
“When I see Iowa games, they remind me of what the institution has done for me,” he said.
Student government association president Carson Hollingsworth asked Cartwright how he would work to promote transparency between the university’s administration and the public. Cartwright suggested making meetings more formal and listing them on the university’s calendar.
If Cartwright is chosen as chancellor, he said he would also like to teach a course related to leadership on campus.
Students also asked Cartwright about diversity and inclusion and how he would work to retain faculty of color. He said that the best solutions to problems are established through diversity of opinions.
“If we know we are losing people, we need to find a way to promote, tenure and recognize them for their work,” he said.
Cartwright also addressed the concerns of faculty and staff members Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, at a forum in the Baker Center’s Toyota Auditorium. Questions for Cartwright from faculty and staff included his view towards the role of the humanities within a university, gender neutral pronouns, diversity and how he plans to make decisions as chancellor.
“Every decision I make, I make from a faculty perspective,” Cartwright said during the faculty forum.
Bill Dunne, the associate dean for research and facilities of the College of Engineering, asked Cartwright about the possible outsourcing of facilities’ services jobs.
Dunne, who said he believes outsourcing jobs will put the university behind, said he was impressed with how broad Cartwright’s responses were.
“His answers weren’t limited to just one branch of the institution,” Dunne said.
Cartwright, Beverly Davenport and Pamela Whitten are the three final candidates for the university chancellor position. The search committee hopes to have a decision for the new chancellor by the end of November, according to their timeline.
