Board

Thomas "Tom" White was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam to the Tennessee Board of Regents on February 16, 2017, representing East Tennessee as an At-Large Representative and was reappointed for another six year term by Governor Bill Lee.

White is the former Senior Vice President, Investor Relations for Unum Group. He was responsible for investor relations and communications with rating agencies.  He was also responsible for assisting in setting the Company’s corporate philanthropy program.  

Dr. Steven Gentile currently serves as the Executive Director at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), where he has had a transformative journey from his initial role as Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy to his prior role as Chief Policy and Strategy Officer. Before joining THEC, Steven served as the Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at his alma mater, Davidson College, in North Carolina.

Emily Reynolds has had an extensive career in public service, policy and government.  She is currently the vice chairman of the Tennessee Board of Regents.  

Reynolds was appointed to the TBR on September 30, 2010 by Governor Phil Bredesen. She was reappointed to serve a second term in 2016 by Governor Bill Haslam and a third term in 2021 by Governor Bill Lee.

Reynolds had previously served as Secretary of the United States Senate where she managed the Senate’s legislative, financial and administrative operations.  

Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. was appointed by Governor Bill Lee and sworn in as Tennessee’s 38th Commissioner of Agriculture on Jauary 19, 2019.

Dr. Hatcher is a tenth generation American farmer and a fifth generation Tennessee farmer. Prior to becoming Commissioner, he served for ten years as the State Veterinarian for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. In that role, he protected the health and welfare of animals within the state and promoted the marketability of animals and animal products.

Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds currently serves as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education. She was sworn in on June 29, 2023. 

As Commissioner of Education, Reynolds’ career reflects a deep commitment to school choice, assessment and accountability, college and career pathways and education policy. 

Barry Stephenson was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Regents to represent the third congressional district. Mr. Stephenson is a chemist with over 55 years of experience including 44 years in senior management positions in analytical testing laboratories. His experience includes all aspects of laboratory operations, administration, project development and management, and business development. In 1998, he was instrumental in the commercialization of Materials and Chemistry Laboratory, formerly a DOE contractor laboratory at K25 Uranium Emichment Facility in Oak Ridge.

Todd Kaestner was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to represent the 7th Congressional District. He has served as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and President – CCRCs of Brookdale Senior Living since August 2021. Prior to that, Todd served as the Company’s Executive Vice President – Asset Management and Division President – Entry Fee since June 2019 and Executive Vice President – Corporate Development since July 2006. Prior to joining Brookdale, Mr.

Nisha Powers was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to serve as the 9th congressional district representative. She is President of Powers Hill Design, LLC – a civil engineering firm that she established in 2005, located in Downtown Memphis.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and has worked in the engineering community in Memphis since 1997.

Bill Lee is a seventh-generation Tennessean and the 50th Governor of Tennessee. He was raised in Franklin, where he still resides today with his wife, Maria, on his family’s farm. He’s the proud father of four adult children (Jessica, twin sons Jacob and Caleb, and Sarah Kate) and nine grandchildren.