Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership

09/15/2026

09/14/2026

🎓✨ Celebrating Leadership Academy Graduates! ✨🎓

After an incredible 15 months of learning, growth, and connection, our 2026 IPS Leadership Academy cohort has officially graduated!

From exploring leadership across Tennessee to building meaningful relationships and challenging themselves to grow, this group has embraced every opportunity to become stronger, more intentional leaders. 💙

We are so proud of each of you and the impact you are making across the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. Your dedication, curiosity, and commitment to leadership have made this cohort truly special.

Congratulations, graduates! We can’t wait to see all the great things you accomplish next. 🥳👏

Municipal Technical Advisory Service The University of Tennessee Institute for Public ServiceTennessee Language Center - TLC UT County Technical Assistance Service University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services

09/04/2026

The Naifeh Center extends our heartfelt sympathy to our former IPS Vice-President, Dr. Mary Jinks and her family following the passing of her beloved husband, Jack.

We know many throughout the IPS family join us in keeping Dr. Jinks and her family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

We are also deeply touched by the Jinks family’s wishes to designate the Dr. Mary and Jack Jinks Scholarship Fund and the Ely Public Service Experience Scholarship Fund at the UT Institute for Public Service for memorial gifts in Jack’s honor, in lieu of flowers. It is a meaningful gesture that reflects a family whose commitment to public service and investing in others continues even during a time of personal loss.

For those who would like to read more about Jack’s life, his obituary may be found here:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/knoxville-tn/jack-jinks-13025289

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jinks Family during this time.

Celebrate the life of Jack Jinks, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Berry Highland Memorial.

08/31/2026

Congratulations Angie! We know you will continue to do great things at Municipal Technical Advisory Service!

Congratulations to our new executive director!

The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service has named Angie Carrier the new executive director of MTAS. She's served as interim executive director since October 2025. She will start in the permanent role September 1.

“After conducting a search and considering several highly qualified candidates, we determined that Angie brings the broadest expertise of the three candidates to this position,” said IPS Vice President Herb Byrd. “She has produced a laudable body of work over the past 10 months and had broad support among the interviewing teams. I’m excited to see the fruit of her leadership at MTAS as it continues.”

Angie has been with MTAS since 2018 when she came on board as a municipal management consultant. She’s also served as the municipal management program manager during her time with the agency. Before coming to MTAS, she served as town administrator for Dandridge, city administrator for White House and development services director for Johnson City. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UT Knoxville and a master’s in city management from East Tennessee State University.

“I am honored by the opportunity to serve as executive director of MTAS and to lead an organization that I care deeply about,” Angie said. “I believe strongly in our mission and in the talented staff who work every day to support Tennessee municipalities. Together, we will continue to invest in our people, build meaningful partnerships, explore innovative solutions, and help local governments meet the challenges and opportunities of the future."

08/28/2026

✨ 50 professionals. One incredible leadership journey. ✨

We’re excited to welcome the newest cohort of the Administrative Professionals Academy (APA)! 🎉

This group is already making an impact as they build practical leadership skills, strengthen professional relationships, navigate conflict with confidence, and expand their spheres of positive influence. 📈🤝💬🌟

Over the next six months, these rising leaders will learn, connect, challenge themselves, and grow alongside a community of peers who are committed to becoming even stronger leaders in their organizations and communities.

We can’t wait to see where this journey takes them! 👏🚀

The Administrative Professionals Academy is a six-month leadership development experience designed for specialists, assistants, technicians, and individual contributors who are ready to invest in their professional growth.

📍 East Tennessee: January–June
📍 Middle Tennessee: July–December

Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? 👇

🔗 Learn more and register for the next cohort: https://www.leadership.tennessee.edu/administrative-professionals-academy

08/26/2026

Last week, we celebrated an incredible milestone—the graduation of the inaugural class of the Tennessee Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program (TAFLP)! 🎓🌱

After nearly two years of learning, growth, connection, and leadership development, all 17 members of the inaugural class gathered with family, friends, and partnering organizations at The Mill at Lebanon on August 17 to celebrate this accomplishment.

Keynote speaker Lauren Lucht, CEO of Northwest Transplants and program coordinator of REAL Oregon, encouraged graduates to continue blazing new trails and making an impact in agriculture, forestry, and their communities.

Class representatives Jason Doggett, Julie Head, and Nick Patterson reflected on their 18-month journey, while Dr. Macel Ely, Commissioner Andy Holt, President Eric Mayberry, and Dr. Emalee Buttrey shared words of congratulations and encouragement. Each graduate also received a custom belt buckle and certificate to commemorate their achievement.

We are incredibly proud of the TAFLP Class of 2026 and can’t wait to see what the future holds for this outstanding group of leaders! 🌟

A special thank-you to the Lebanon High School FFA chapter for creating and providing the beautiful floral arrangements for the celebration. We appreciate your support! 💐Lebanon FFA Members, Alumni and Supporters

08/16/2026

🎓👏 Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Tennessee Government Executive Institute (TGEI), Kaitlyn Reynolds, Aime Nsengiyumva, Sarah Gomez, and Richard Cook (not pictured)! 🎉

Today, we celebrate a group of dedicated leaders who have invested in their professional growth, strengthened their leadership skills, and committed to serving Tennessee and its communities. 💙🏛️

Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to public service are an investment in the future of Tennessee. 🌟

Here’s to the next chapter and the continued impact you’ll make across our state! ✨

08/12/2026

Congratulations to our DGS team members who graduated from the Tennessee Government Executive Institute (TGEI) today! 🎓

Shoutout to Laitin Beecham (Central Procurement Office), Leonard Chadwick (Central Procurement Office), Crystal Hart (Document Solutions), and Aneela Rajaram (Executive Services) for representing DGS and investing in their leadership journey. Thank you for your commitment to learning, growth, and serving Tennesseans. Congratulations! 👏

(Pictured left to right: Commissioner Andy Kidd, Laitin Beecham, Leonard Chadwick, Aneela Rajaram, Chief of Staff Jocelyn Pratt, and Crystal Hart.)

08/12/2026

Congrats Jordan Clark!!

Leadership is a position. Growth is a responsibility.

I’m grateful for opportunities like TGEI that put me in rooms with people who challenge me, teach me, and broaden the way I think about leadership.

One thing I’ve learned throughout my career is that you never outgrow the need to learn.

You can have the title.

You can have the experience.

You can have people looking to you for answers.

And you can still sit in the room and be the student.

That’s not weakness.

That’s leadership.

I’m thankful for the people who have invested in me along the way, and I’m even more committed to taking what I learn and investing it back into others.

The goal isn’t just to become a better leader. It’s to help build better leaders.

Stay ready, and you don’t have to get ready.

08/12/2026

🎓✨ Cheers to the TGEI Class of 2026! ✨🎓

What an incredible two weeks it has been! From Knoxville to Chattanooga, the Tennessee Government Executive Institute (TGEI) Class of 2026 has challenged themselves, learned from one another, built lasting connections, and grown as leaders.

Now, they’re officially TGEI graduates! 🎉👏

These two weeks were filled with meaningful conversations, new perspectives, collaboration, and plenty of memories along the way. Most importantly, this class leaves TGEI with a stronger network of leaders committed to making a difference across Tennessee state government.

We are so proud of each of you and all you accomplished during the program. Congratulations on reaching this milestone—and welcome to the TGEI alumni family! 🥳🎓

Here’s to the Class of 2026 and the leadership journey ahead!