Randy Boyd (university president)

Randy Boyd is an American businessman and politician who currently serves as the president of the University of Tennessee System. He assumed the role on March 22, 2022, following a unanimous vote by the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees.

Prior to his presidency, Boyd served in various roles within the Tennessee state government. He was appointed Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) by Governor Bill Haslam in 2015 and served until 2019. In this capacity, he led efforts to attract businesses and create jobs throughout the state. Before becoming ECD Commissioner, Boyd served as a special advisor to Governor Haslam on higher education initiatives, focusing on workforce development and skills training.

Boyd is also the founder and chairman of Radio Systems Corporation, a pet product company headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, which manufactures and distributes brands such as Invisible Fence, PetSafe, and SportDOG. He is an entrepreneur and has been involved in various business ventures throughout his career.

His appointment as University of Tennessee System president followed a nationwide search. He is responsible for overseeing the four universities and two institutes that comprise the UT System, which includes the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; the University of Tennessee at Martin; the University of Tennessee Health Science Center; the UT Institute of Agriculture; and the UT Institute for Public Service.