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Margaret N. Perry was
the sixth Chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin. Appointed
to the Chancellorship in 1986, she was the first woman to serve as
an executive officer in the University of Tennessee system. Dr. Perry was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee on April 23, 1940. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics at the University of Tennessee, Martin Branch in 1961. Two years later she earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and in 1965 her doctorate in Nutrition and Food Science was conferred from the same institution. |
| Her career in higher education began
as a part-time instructor in the Food Science Department at the University
of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1963. In 1966 she was appointed to a full-time
position as Assistant Professor of Food Science and Food Systems Administration.
She would serve as the Assistant Dean and then Associate Dean of the
College of Home Economics from 1967 to 1973. Between 1973 and 1979
Dr. Perry was the Dean of the Graduate Studies program at University
of Tennessee. In 1979 she was appointed the campus's Associate Vice
President for Academic Affairs; and continued in that position until
1986 and her acceptance of the chancellorship of the University of
Tennessee at Martin. Margaret Perry led the campus through the economic downturn of the late 1980s and into recovery during the 1990s. Highpoints of her leadership include major renovations to the Engineering and Science Building, the Student Center, the "new" Paul Meek Library, and construction of the Children's Center; approval of a new degree program in engineering; the surpassing of funding goals for the University system's 21st Century Campaign; and the school's athletic standing being increased to 1AA. Her involvement of faculty and faculty committees in campus decision making earned her respect on and off campus. After eleven years as Chancellor, a term of service second only to Paul Meek, Dr. Perry retired in 1997. She now resides with her family in Brentwood. |
University of Tennessee at Martin -- History -- 1986-1996.
Martin (Tenn.) -- History.
Universities and colleges -- Tennessee -- Martin.
Education, Higher -- Tennessee.