PRESS RELEASES

Bryant Group Selected to Recruit the Chief Development Officer / Associate Vice Chancellor (CDO/AVC) for The University of Tennessee Foundation

Dallas-based executive search and talent development firm Bryant Group, has been selected to recruit the Chief Development Officer / Associate Vice Chancellor (CDO/AVC) for The University of Tennessee Foundation, focusing on The University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Bryant Group’s Sarah Hempen, Vice President of Search, and Katie Riecke, Talent Consultant, are spearheading the assignment for the search firm.

“UT Health Science Center brings the benefits of health sciences to the citizens of Tennessee and beyond. Our education, research, clinical care and public service are the most comprehensive in the state. Philanthropy is a key accelerator in improving health, and this new leader will be crucial in elevating and expanding our advancement program,” shared Brigitte Grant, Vice Chancellor University of Tennessee Health Science Center & UT Foundation Inc.

The successful candidate is an experienced, forward-thinking development leader who will drive the future of philanthropy for Health Sciences. In this critical role, the CDO/AVC will manage a portfolio of top-tier prospects and work closely with the Vice Chancellor, the AVC of Gift Planning and Principal Gifts to build meaningful relationships with UT Health Science Center’s highest-level donors. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor and working with the highest academic, university and system leadership, internal stakeholders and external constituents, the CDO/AVC will shape the vision and strategic direction of the Advancement division.

In this role, the CDO/AVC is a highly skilled fundraiser that has a gift to identify potential top-tier donors while cultivating new relationships and providing stewardship to exciting and new donors. The CDO/AVC will work with the team to build and maintain elite and dynamic relationships with all levels of academic leadership within every college to successfully advance UT Health Science Center’s mission and raise funds in support of strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate is an independent strategic leader with a proven track record of fundraising at the highest level. This individual is looking to make a lasting impact and elevate the trajectory of a premier health sciences institution. A Bachelor’s Degree, at least ten years of experience in major gift fundraising for a large and complex organization with demonstrated advancement career progression and at least two years of supervisory experience are required. A Master’s Degree and 15+ years of successful major gifts fundraising in academic health sciences are preferred. *Priority will be given to candidate material received by June 20, 2025.*

About The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
As the statewide, public, academic health system, UT Health Science Center trains the next generation of health care providers for Tennessee, cares for the people from one end of the state to the other, and researches the cures for the diseases that most affect all who call Tennessee home. Health Sciences is Tennessee’s only public academic health science system. Headquartered in Memphis, the university spans the state with four major, regional clinical health science locations in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville. UT Health Science Center is comprised of six doctoral-degree-granting health science colleges: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Graduate Health Sciences and Health Professions, with related clinical programs.

Advancing Great Leadership
Bryant Group, based in Dallas, Texas, and with associates located across the United States, specializes in executive search and leadership coaching for higher education, healthcare and nonprofits with an emphasis on advancement leaders and other executives. In 1988, Bryant Group founder, Chris Bryant, started one of the country’s first search firms specializing in philanthropy recruitment. Now under the leadership of CEO Sally Bryant, the woman-owned firm has a long history of recruiting, developing and coaching great leaders. Bryant Group has impacted more than 10,000 leaders and served more than 300 organizations across the US and Canada.