For better or worse, college sports have progressed at a rapid rate in just the last half-decade. With leaders across the country skeptical on the direction and longevity of it, there have been plenty of calls to action to find a solution.
Now, the United States of America’s sitting president, Donald Trump, is weighing in. According to a report from Ross Delenger of Yahoo!, Trump is holding a roundtable next Friday to discuss the state of college athletics. Included on the invite list to meet with Trump are athletic directors, former players such as Tim Tebow, former coaches such as Nick Saban and Urban Meyer and more.
Other names that stand out include the likes of Tiger Woods, Adam Silver and Condoleezza Rice, according to Dellenger.
From a Tennessee perspective, there’s no bigger name involved than UT Chancellor Donde Plowman, though. Dellenger listed her in the report, and On3 reporter and RTI: Low-Down co-host Chris Low confirmed her involvement.
More From RTI: Tennessee Football QB Joey Aguilar Discusses Tumor, Rehab Process Ahead of NFL Draft
Plowman has served as the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s chancellor since 2019. She is the ninth-ever chancellor in school history.
UT describes Plowman’s position as such in relation to sports: “Plowman’s role as chancellor also includes oversight of Tennessee Athletics. Under her leadership, which included the hire of a new athletics director in 2020, the department has increased its revenue by more than 60 percent, helping improve fan experience and boost competitive excellence—including the baseball program’s first national championship in 2024.”
Before her time at Tennessee, Plowman was the Executive Vice Chancellor at Nebraska from 2017-19. Before that, she was the dean of the business college there from 2010-17.
This is her second stint at UT. Plowman was a professor in management and head of the department of management from 2007-10, as well. She spent 19 years at UTSA beforehand.
Plowman got her bachelor’s degree from SMU, master’s from North Texas and PhD from Texas.
