Jermaine Freeman (photo by Angela Foster)
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga today announced that Jermaine Freeman has been appointed executive director of economic and workforce development, a new leadership position created to strengthen UTC’s role in regional talent development and economic progress.
A Chattanooga native who spent nine years in senior leadership roles with the City of Chattanooga—including service as chief of staff in the Mayor’s Office, as the city’s senior advisor for economic opportunity and as the city’s director of economic programs—Freeman has built extensive experience in economic and workforce development.
Across those positions, he worked with industry partners on economic development initiatives, talent pipelines, small-business support efforts and major redevelopment projects.
UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce said the new position will help the University play a more coordinated and strategic role in meeting the region’s workforce needs.
“Jermaine has been in workforce and economic development for years, and he already has strong working relationships across Chattanooga because of his previous roles with the city,” Bruce said. “His experience and relationships make him a natural fit for this work.”
Bruce said the role strengthens the University’s ability to respond to emerging workforce trends while supporting Chattanooga’s continued growth.
“His focus will be on ensuring our academic programs align with the workforce needs of Chattanooga and the region,” she said. “This work helps our students find strong career paths and helps UTC stay connected to what the community needs.”
At UTC, Freeman will serve as the University’s lead liaison to employers, workforce agencies, industry partners and regional development organizations. He will work with academic leaders to align programs with high-demand occupations, identify regional workforce trends, and support the development of new degree pathways, certificates and credentials.
He will also represent UTC in regional and statewide economic development projects and support efforts to attract new industry to the area.
“When a region is trying to attract new industry, it’s common to lean on the local university to help reassure companies their workforce needs will be met,” Bruce said. “UTC has an important role in that work, and this position strengthens our ability to do so.”
Freeman said joining UTC feels both purposeful and personal.
“The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has an incredible opportunity to be a driver for economic and workforce development because of its exceptional faculty and students,” Freeman said. “I am thrilled to use my skills and experience to advance Chancellor Bruce’s vision for making the University an unstoppable economic force for our region.”
Freeman, a graduate of the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, earned his MBA from UTC in 2014. He said returning to campus in his new capacity carries deep meaning.
“I feel an incredible sense of pride to be able to apply the skills that I’ve developed over the years in economic and workforce development to advance the interests of UTC students,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding.”
