Local Rotarians Mishu, Hoffman to advise UT Chancellor
Two Rotary Club of Farragut members, John Hoffman and Sam Mishu, recently were appointed as members of the Chancellor Associates at the University of Tennessee.
The Associates program selects outstanding community and business leaders to serve three-year terms in partnership with the UT community and university administrators.
“When I was approached to explore my interest in serving I was completely surprised,” Hoffman said. “I never dreamed of being considered for such a role. “When I saw the list of names of who I would be serving, it was completely humbling — who am I to be in the room with all these good people who have done so much for our community, our state and our university?
“This is the Volunteer state, and I’m honored to be asked, and I promise one and all that I will ‘give my all’ to help,” he added.
“UT is always searching for new representations, and I hope I am the right piece who can help UT achieve its mission.”
Although Hoffman retired from UT’s full-time faculty ranks in 2016, he has continued to stay active with the university, serving as a leadership development coach in the Professional MBA program and recently concluded three years as the president of the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.
“In keeping with the Volunteer spirit, I came off the UT retirement bench in 2019 to take over a class in International business when a faculty member was unable to continue,” Hoffman said. “Currently, I am a backup instructor for several classes in the UT Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.”
Hoffman explained the Chancellor’s Associates program “brings together local business and community leaders to learn more about the university, provide feedback to university administration on an array or important topics and serve as key advocates and supporters to enhance the university’s reputation in the greater-Knoxville area and beyond.”
“Each year, the new member class of Chancellor’s Associates are selected from a large group of nominees who have been nominated by current/former members of the program, UT administrators, or other community leaders,” Mishu said. “There are generally 25 to 30 new members in each class.”
As to why he thinks he was chosen, Mishu replied, “I am in a unique position with my personal and professional background, which should be helpful to the group.”
The program began in 1972 and its members serve three-year terms in partnership with the UT community and university administrators.
“Members are involved, informed and willing to assist in articulating the mission, vision and goals of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville,” Hoffman said.
There are about 80 Chancellor’s Associates split into three “classes” of 25 to 30 people.
“We meet with the chancellor and members of her leadership team on a monthly basis between September and May,” Hoffman said. “We also have access to the leadership when we have questions or information we believe is important to share.
“While our primary focus is on mission, vision and goals, it is fair to say that our input will be valued on a wide-ranging array of topics,” he added.
“It is clear that Chancellor (Donde) Plowman values direct and honest communication. She works very hard to avoid hunkering down in a bubble.”
As for his being selected, Hoffman said, “I believe my life journey has been one of trying to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
“Before joining the UT faculty, I had a very successful career in the medical device industry. I assisted in the development of both CT scanning and PET scanning, among other things,” he added.
“I also bring the perspective of a faculty member, a parent of a UT grad and a life of making a difference in peoples’ lives. I’m not sure time makes us wiser, but it does give us the ability to look at problems and opportunities from many angles.’
Hoffman had served on the UT faculty since 2004 and taught thousands of students in the Haslam College of Business.
“My daughter and her husband have advanced degrees in Economics from UT,” he said. “My son (also) has taken classes at UT.”
Mishu and Hoffman attended a Chancellor’s Associates virtual orientation meeting the week of Aug. 11-15.
