Message from Executive Director Lofton Stuart

I had long had the opportunity to observe the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the UC Foundation from afar before arriving in Chattanooga in February 2020.

For nearly two years, I have enjoyed being part of this campus community, and I am continually astounded by the commitment of the faculty and staff to putting UTC students first. It gives me hope, not only for the success of this campus but for the UT System as a whole, for the example being set here.

Working in a COVID-19 world has presented many obstacles, and I want to express my admiration and respect to the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs personnel and the UC Foundation Board of Trustees for their willingness to adapt in an ever-changing environment. Yes, there have been many challenges, including the difficulty of doing business in a traditional face-to-face setting and the inability to travel. But crises create opportunities, and we took advantage of alternative methods to conduct business.

Thanks to virtual and remote capabilities, we improved alumni engagement by growing our number of alumni connections, exceeding our objective.

The GOLD Leadership Academy, a program aimed to keep UTC graduates of the last decade active with this institution, was presented as a new and unique initiative to aid alumni development and serve as the foundation of leadership for their age group, establishing a lifetime relationship with these more recent grads.

Mocs Give Day, a 24-hour digital fundraising event, was launched. The collective UTC Mocs family—alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students—banded together socially and digitally to support the University; the first event earned more than $175,000, with 600-plus gifts coming from supporters in 42 states.

I want to express my continued gratitude to Chancellor Steve Angle, our staff, the UC Foundation board and the UT System for unwavering support during a difficult period. My time at UTC and with the UC Foundation has given me a greater appreciation of what a truly great university means to a community—and what a truly great community means to a university. This rewarding experience ranks among the capstone events of my professional career.

Lofton Stuart

Interim Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs

Executive Director of the University of Chattanooga Foundation, Inc.