In the Democratic response to Gov. Bill Lee’s first State of the State address on Monday, Yancy Freeman was cited as an example of the power of an individual to strengthen a community.
Tennessee House Minority Leader Rep. Karen Camper, D-Memphis, delivered the official Democratic response immediately following the governor’s speech inside the state capitol. In her remarks, Camper declared “communities are the backbone of our state” and acknowledged Freeman’s contributions to strengthened communities.
Freeman, vice chance
llor of enrollment management and student affairs at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is a Memphis native who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and—in December 2018—a doctoral degree all from UTC. Freeman also is a graduate of Central High School in Memphis, where he “continuously excelled in his studies,” Camper said.
Noting that Freeman’s choice to attend UTC was based on “its small community feel,” Camper added, “After graduation, even though he had the opportunity to go anywhere to further his career, he chose to stay in Chattanooga and to give back to the community that gave so much to him.”
Freeman has served the city as a member of many organizations including the boards of directors for YMCA Youth Leadership Chattanooga, Girls Preparatory School and Chattanooga Christian School.
“From one corner of the state to another, it’s clear that Yancy Freeman has dedicated his life to empowering our community through the power of education,” Camper said. “Dr. Freeman is a testament that from one community school to another, the strength of community has the power to transform lives.”
As a member of the UTC chancellor’s cabinet with responsibility for increasing enrollment, student retention and graduation rates since 2017, Freeman’s current role is the latest in a progression of increasing seniority in more than 23 years of serving UTC.
Under his leadership, the Office of Academic Affairs improved operations for records and registration, financial aid, admissions and student orientation and advising. He guided creation of a data-driven academic advisement process that increased student retention and success.
Freeman led efforts that secured increased grant money for expanded efforts to help high-risk academic and developmental students succeed. He has served on the UTC Budget and Planning Committee, as interim associate dean of Multicultural Affairs, and he chaired development of a strategic plan for the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Freeman has been integral in doubling university enrollment for new students, increasing the freshman ethnic minority class to 25 percent of the student body and decreasing the time it takes to process admissions applications by 25 percent.
In choosing to recognize contributions from those in education, Camper said, Freeman’s achievements made him “a natural choice.”
“It’s clear that communities are the backbone of our state. From our communities come the consumers that fuel our economies. From our communities come the children that will lead us into the future,” Camper said. “And from our communities will come the solutions that solve our issues and lead us into a future that will ensure prosperity for all Tennesseans.”
