The American Lung Association honored Dr. Mary Poston Tanner as one of ten 2008 Women of Distinction– civic volunteers who have distinguished themselves in their careers, service to community and family support. These honorees were selected from community nominations.
Tanner’s 35-year career at the University began as an instructor in the Department of Human Ecology. Today Tanner is a Guerry Professor, awarded to faculty members on the basis of distinguished service to education through teaching, research, scholarship and contribution to the University. She holds the position of Dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. During Tanner’s tenure as dean, the Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) in Learning and Leadership was established as well as fifteen additional initiatives to benefit students.
Tanner serves on the national board of Kid Fitness, is a trustee of the Tennessee Aquarium, and sits on the boards of eight local nonprofits, including Allied Arts, United Way and the Community Foundation. She has responded to the needs of numerous boards seeking her expertise as an educator.
Tanner is a past chairman of the Academic Department Heads Council at UTC, is a graduate from Leadership Chattanooga and volunteers with Friends of the Festival.
Two UTC alumnae were also honored as Women of Distinction. They are:
- Kim Hudson White, president and Chief Executive Officer of Luken Holdings, president-elect of the UTC Alumni Board and a member of the executive board for the UT National Alumni Association.
- Nancy Collum, vice president of loan review at Northwest Georgia Bank. This alumnus has served the University in a variety of roles: as UTC Alumni Council president, vice president of the UT National Alumni Association, on the UTNAA board of governors and on the UTC Advisory Board for Accounting and Finance. She sat on the 1987 UT Presidential Search Advisory Committee, and served on the UC Foundation and Chancellor’s Roundtable.
