University Development Staff

Our mission is to secure private funds to support those activities for which state funding is inadequate or unavailable. Our goal is to match your charitable objectives with the needs of the university. We hope that within this site we have provided all the tools necessary to assist you in making a gift to Tennessee Tech. We encourage your feedback on ways to improve our service to you. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING TTU.

Andy Wilson - Associate Vice President of University Development
E-mail: awilson@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3055

Andy joined TTU in July 2007 from Northern Kentucky University where he served as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations from 2001 to 2007. He has served as the Director of Development and Alumni Relations for Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Kentucky and as the Director of Alumni Affairs for his alma mater, Campbellsville University, from 1992-1997. As well as serving TTU, Andy also serves on the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Kentucky Board (CASE KY) as their Past-President and volunteers for the CASE District III annual conference. Andy and his wife, Ami, live in Cookeville, TN and have two children, Emily and David.

Brandon Boyd- Assistant Director, Annual Giving Programs
E-mail: bboyd@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-6554

Born and raised in Cookeville, Brandon is a third generation graduate of Tennessee Tech.

Jim Brock - Director of Development, College of Engineering
E-mail: jbrock@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3055

Jim was a Tennessee Tech engineering co-op student at Marshall Space Flight Center during the Apollo Program. He has a BS in Engineering Science from TTU and completed his MBA studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. He retired from the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel. Jim worked for DuPont and in mergers and acquisitions for Honeywell International before spending 22 years pursuing entrepreneurial interests. His wife is Tech alumna Carol Shoub Brock; together they operated a fund-raising company with hundreds of universities, hospitals and businesses as clients. Jim returned to Tennessee Tech to work with alumni in 2004.

Evelyn Conner - Secretary III, University Development
E-mail: econner@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3055

Evelyn joined TTU in May 2003 in the GRSC office where she worked until transferring to the Annual Programs office in 2005. Still eager to do and learn more about TTU, Evelyn joined the University Development Staff in 2006. Evelyn enjoys meeting new people and assisting the development officers with their many projects. Before coming to TTU, Evelyn worked 18 years for a local bank, holding a variety of positions, including: Computer Room Supervisor, Head Teller, and Assistant Manager of Branch Operations. Evelyn’s family includes her husband, Jimmy and two children, Nicole and Jacob.

Brooke Dedmon– Administrative Secretary, University Development
E-mail: bljones@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-6150

Brooke joined TTU as a student and student worker in May 1998. She has been in the Development Office since 2002 after graduating with a BS degree in management. Brooke lives in Baxter with her husband Zip and son Terrance (future TTU graduate).

Cheryl Montgomery– Director of Development, College of Business Administration
E-mail: cmontgomery@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3649

Cheryl joined the TTU Development Staff in December of 2007 after holding positions in both the government and private sector. From 2000-2007, she worked as the Economic Development Manager for Sprint Corporation. Her government work included a political post at the US Department of Justice from 1995-2000. At the Justice Department she served as Director of Scheduling and Briefing for Attorney General Janet Reno. Prior to her Justice tenure Cheryl held staff positions in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Cheryl is a native of the Upper Cumberland and now resides in Cookeville with her two sons, Ben and Will.

Lyndsay Overton- Development Director
E-mail: loverton@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3248

Lyndsay earned her Finance degree from TTU between 1995 and 1999 while playing Tech volleyball. She became an account executive for the Legge Agency in 1999, specializing in transportation insurance. In early 2007, Lyndsay took a year off from the career world to become a “stay-at-home” mom to her two young daughters, Hayley and Abby Grace. After making dozens of cupcakes, planting handfuls of wildflower seeds, and reading hundreds of books, she accepted a position at Tennessee Tech in University Development. As a liaison with the College of Arts and Sciences, Lyndsay is combining her positive attitude, energetic style, and creative thinking to raise funds for the ongoing success of Tech’s academic programs. Lyndsay lives in Cookeville with her patient husband Ricky, two dramatic daughters, one hungry cat, a tiny yorkie, and a collection of orchids.

Kristie Phillips – Director, Annual and Special Programs
E-mail: kphillips@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-6554

Kristie is a native of Cookeville who joined the TTU Annual Fund office in June 2001. A 1993 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Kristie has used her public relations skills in newspaper as business editor for the Putnam Morning Light, in radio as promotions director for Clear Channel Communications, and in marketing as an account executive for MMA Creative. Kristie is an active volunteer for many activities and organizations, including Fall FunFest, Cooking on the Square benefiting Habitat for Humanity and the Hawg Roast benefiting Genesis House.

Tiff Rector – Director, Planned Giving
E-mail: tiffrector@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3055

Tiff has been a part of the Tennessee Tech family for, well, longer than he can remember. As the son of a 40-year employee of the business office, Tiff grew up wearing purple and gold. In fact, if you dig deep enough, there’s an old TTU photo somewhere of Tiff at a Golden Eagle basketball game when he was still in diapers (date withheld to protect the confidentiality of his age). He has had the great privilege of helping university alumni and friends plan their estate gifts to TTU since 1994, shortly after receiving his MBA from the university (he also holds a BS degree in accounting). Tiff lives in Cookeville with his wife Vickie (his high school sweetheart and also a two-time graduate of TTU), their two children Kinsley and Tanner (future TTU graduates), three dogs, three cats, two gerbils, two fish, and one guinea pig (probably not future TTU graduates unless the admission requirements are changed).

Grant Swallows -Associate Athletics Director- Development
E-mail: gswallows@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3929

Grant, a native of Livingston, will be returning to Tech on April 28 to oversee development efforts for athletics. He earned his bachelor's degree in 2003 in English-journalism at Tennessee Tech, where he was a member of both the football and baseball teams. He received his Master's Degree in Instructional Leadership in 2006, and a Specialist in Education Degree in Instructional Leadership in 2007. Grant and his wife Beth Ann have one son, Brady.

Randy Van Deven – Director, Major Gifts
E-mail: rvandeven@tntech.edu
Phone: 931-372-3258

Randy started with Tennessee Tech University in 2000. Presently serving as Director for Major Gifts, he works liaison with the College of Education, Arts and Sciences and the College of Agricultural and Human Sciences. His appreciation for the university and what it contributes to the community has inspired him to work hard for such a worthy cause. Randy’s three sons - Patrick, Adam and Chris- all attended Tech. His daughter Marybeth is a freshman at UT Chattanooga despite dad’s urging her to stay close to home. Randy enjoys fly fishing and working on a friend’s classic 1955 Chris Craft wooden boat. “I feel blessed being given the opportunity to live in middle Tennessee and work for such a reputable institution and invite all our alumni to come back and visit campus to allow us to showcase the beauty and progressiveness of your alma mater.”