The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Alumni Board strengthens connections between the university, its students, alumni and surrounding communities by fostering relationships, promoting outreach and encouraging meaningful engagement. Board members serve as advocates and ambassadors, offering their time, expertise and support to enrich the educational experience and advance the university’s mission.
We are excited to introduce the newest members of the UTC Alumni Board of Directors. Each brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to community, and a passion for supporting and advocating for UTC.
Here is a brief introduction to each of our new board members:
Dr. Epperson earned her DNP and MBA from UTC and her M.S. in Nursing Education from Western Governors University. She serves as Associate Dean and Assistant Professor in UTC’s College of Nursing, where she teaches and leads grant-funded initiatives focused on health equity and nursing education. With more than 19 years of clinical experience, her work includes research, publications and presentations on student wellness and nursing education. She is active professionally as President of Tennessee Nurses Association District 4 and serves on the Cempa Community Care Board.
Richard earned his degree from UTC, where he was part of the William E. Brock Scholars honors program. He serves as East Tennessee Regional President for First Horizon Bank, overseeing banking operations across the region after a 38-year career in financial services. A longtime Chattanooga resident, Richard is a past Chairman of the Tennessee Bankers Commercial Banking School and remains active with local nonprofits. In his free time, he enjoys golf and hiking.
Lulu earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Engineering Management from UTC. She is an independent economic and workforce development consultant and former Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development at Chattanooga State. With more than 20 years of experience, she has also served as UTC adjunct faculty and held engineering leadership roles at Olan Mills. Lulu is active in the community through leadership with organizations such as ChaTech, the Chattanooga Engineers Club and Million Women Mentors, and serves on several local boards.
In addition to our newly appointed board members, UTC is proud to welcome our new alumni representative to the Alumni Board of Directors. Appointed through their leadership roles within approved affiliated alumni groups, representatives bring energy, experience and a deep commitment to the Mocs community. Whether advancing student support, engaging fellow alumni or building campus partnerships, they play a valuable role in strengthening the connection between UTC and its alumni.
Leslie earned her B.S. in Consumer and Family Economics from UTC in 1993 and her M.S. in Educational Psychology from UTK in 2023. With more than a decade of service at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she currently serves as Senior Advancement Assistant with the University of Tennessee Foundation, a role she has held since February 2022. Leslie has also held interim leadership roles in board relations and previously served UTK in administrative and student support roles. She is active in alumni leadership, including service with the UTC Alumni Board and the Black Alumni Council, Fundraiser Coordinator for the Charles M. Hall Alumni Association and community initiatives such as the MLK Celebration in Blount County.
