When United Way of Greater Chattanooga hosted more than 200 supporters at its annual meeting in February, Dr. Ralph Anderson, professor in the Department of Political Science, Public Administration and Nonprofit Management, was recognized for his 18 years of dedicated service to United Way and its Allocations Committee.
As a member of the Allocations Committee, Anderson has been responsible for deciding how millions of dollars of United Way donations should be distributed.
“The significance of Dr. Anderson’s contributions is immeasurable: United Way works with more than 50 nonprofit and governmental organizations who serve many thousands of people in the Chattanooga area. The organizations serve people with a range of health, family, financial, educational, and other special needs,” said UTC Chancellor Roger Brown.
Anderson is a tenured full professor at UTC, where he has served on many committees, including the research, curriculum, various search, self study, petitions, and handbook committees. He has published scholarly research about the homeless.
Since 1998, Anderson has sent a dozen UTC interns from the nonprofit management concentration in the Political Science, Public Administration and Nonprofit Management Department to United Way offices. Some of the interns have become staff members at United Way; many have gained positions in other nonprofit organizations and agencies.
Since 1990, Anderson has served on half a dozen committees at United Way including the Center for Nonprofits Advisory Board, the Direct Services Board, and the Building Stable Lives Committee. He was instrumental in developing the volunteer components of the new Community Building electronic review process.
