The University of Tennessee fired Beverly Davenport from her position as Chancellor of the University of Tennessee on Wednesday. This was first reported by our Sports Director, Jimmy Hyams.
BREAKING NEWS: Sources: UT chancellor Beverly Davenport has been fired by Dr. Joe DiPietro. She was hired Dec. 15, effective Feb. 15. She made the controversial hire of John Currie as athletic director, then fired him Dec. 1 and hired Phillip
Fulmer as AD.— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) May 2, 2018
Davenport, 63, was the first woman to lead UT Knoxville. She was hired at DiPietro’s recommendation. She served as interim president at the University of Cincinnati before being hired by UT. Her base pay: $595,000 with additional compensation.
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) May 2, 2018
Davenport was hired Dec. 15, 2016, came on board Feb. 15, 2017.
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) May 2, 2018
Davenport became the first female Chancellor UT in February of 2017.
The University of Tennessee released this statement hours after the report of the firing of Chancellor Beverly Davenport.
University of Tennessee Announces Leadership Change at UT Knoxville
KNOXVILLE – Beverly Davenport’s appointment as University of Tennessee, Knoxville chancellor will end July 1 and she will become a member of the faculty in the College of Communication and Information, UT President Joe DiPietro announced today.
“It is my responsibility as UT president to ensure the success of every campus, beginning with the leadership of every campus. A great deal is at stake in these hires, particularly given the importance of the flagship campus both to fulfilling the UT system mission and to that mission’s impact on the lives of all Tennesseans. Upon realizing that UT Knoxville needed a change from Dr. Davenport’s leadership, I decided to take action to address the leadership need,” DiPietro said.
“Dr. Davenport and I have had several conversations during her tenure as chancellor to lay out expectations, and discuss concerns. Unfortunately, issues arose that have progressed and, while I am disappointed to have to make this change, it is necessary and in the best interests of the University.”
An interim chancellor will be named soon.
Here’s the termination letter from UT President Joe DiPietro to Beverly Davenport from WATE’s Laura Halm.
https://twitter.com/WATELauraHalm/status/991756104072880129
