Meet the Staff
Office of University Advancement
209 Hurt Street • 424 Andy Holt Humanities Building • 731-881-7626 • advancement@utm.edu
Jeanna Swafford
Vice Chancellor of University Advancement
Jeanna is a fundraiser who advocates for the university to alumni and friends. Jeanna came to UT Martin in 1992 as assistant director of development; she was named director of development in 1997, assistant vice chancellor in 2011, and associate vice chancellor in 2020. She received the UT Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors Award for Exemplary Service in 2019. Jeanna holds a master’s in strategic communications from UT Martin and a bachelor’s from Murray State in journalism/public relations. She lives in Dresden with her husband, Keith, a retired farmer.
Jennifer Schlicht
Scholarship and Advancement Operations Coordinator
Jennifer, an alum of UT Martin, joined the University Advancement team in November 2021 after 17 years working for the Dunagan Chair of Excellence in Banking as well as the Hendrix Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise. Jennifer also served as the assistant to the Dean of the College of Business for a year and half prior to joining the Advancement team.
Jennifer lives in Dresden where she also serves on the Board of Alderman.
Holly Anne Seng
Assistant Director of Communication & Engagement
Holly Anne, a 2019 alumna, joined the Advancement team in 2024. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in marketing and is currently working on her Master’s in Strategic and Digital Communications through University of Tennessee Knoxville. Before returning to UT Martin, she served as Senior Features Editor for Hoffman Media’s Lifestyle Group in Birmingham, Alabama. She resides in Union City.
Office of Alumni Relations
and Annual Giving
600 University Street • 1900 Alumni Way – Dunagan Alumni Center • 731-881-7610 • alumni@utm.edu
Jackie Johnson
Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations and Chief Engagement Officer
Jackie Johnson, a 2008 alumna, joined Alumni Relations in 2016 and currently serves as the associate vice chancellor of alumni relations. She received her bachelor’s in international studies and MBA from UT Martin and received her Doctorate of Learning and Leadership from UT Chattanooga. She has worked at UT Martin in various roles since 2009. She is a Somerville, TN native, but has made Martin her home. She is married to Chris Johnson, a 2009 graduate of UT Martin, and they have two daughters, Claire and Camryn.
Matt Borden
Director of Annual Giving
Matt Borden, a 2014 UTM alumnus, joined the Alumni Relations team in 2019 as the associate director of annual giving. Matt currently serves as the coordinator for Captain’s Challenge, the Engagement Center, HawkStarter campaigns, mailed appeals, and multiple campus giving initiatives. He was raised in Martin and received his bachelor’s in communications from UT Martin in 2014. Most recently, he received his master’s in higher educational leadership in 2020 and was promoted to Director of Annual Giving in 2024. Matt resides in Martin with his wife, Kayci, and their three daughters, Blair, Charli and Collins.
Kelley Trevathan
Advancement Coordinator
Kelley began her career at UTM in the Development Office in 2006. She joined the Alumni Relations team in March 2008, where she has planned and executed several campus and alumni events, assisting with week-long campus events like I Heart UTM Week and Homecoming, and currently serves as the Student Alumni Council (SAC) Staff Advisor. Kelley and her husband, Richard—owner of Trevathan Bros. Machine and Fabrication—have two daughters, Tristen & Taelyn, and reside in Dresden, TN.
Ava Abad
Assistant Director of Alumni Programming
Ava joined the UT Foundation in March 2024. Ava is the staff advisor for YAC and UTM Alumni Ambassadors, assists in developing programs, and serves as the media support for alumni communications. She was raised in Martin and graduated from UT Martin in December 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance. After graduating, she moved to Nashville where she advance her knowledge with education programs, event planning, and project management, which she uses these skills to help her support the UT Martin Alumni office. Not only does she enjoy working at UT Martin, she also loves supporting her local communities. She currently resides in South Fulton with fiancé, Harrison, and their dogs, Murphy and Mabel.
Office of Development
600 University Street • 1900 Alumni Way – Dunagan Alumni Center • 731-881-7620 • development@utm.edu
Ben Jones
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development
Ben joined the UT Foundation in September 2017 as Associate Director of Development and was named Director of Development in 2020. In 2024, he was appointed Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development, where he oversees the Development Department and Advancement Services Department. He serves as the primary development contact for the College of Business & Global Affairs, College of Education, Health & Behavioral Sciences, Academic Affairs, Paul Meek Library and the UT Martin Somerville Center.
Ben earned a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin in 2001 and a master’s degree in strategic communications in 2020. In 2025, he was honored with the University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. President’s Award. He resides in Martin with his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Rebecca and Chloe.
Laura Suiter
Director of Development and Planned Giving
Laura Suiter serves as Director of Development and Planned Giving for the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she helps alumni, friends, and supporters create meaningful legacies through charitable giving and estate planning. A UT Martin graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Laura joined the UT Foundation in 2016 after a successful career in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, where she held leadership roles in product training and marketing. She represents the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the Selmer/McNairy County Center, and the Ripley Center, while leading the university’s planned giving program. As a lifelong West Tennessean and co-owner of her family’s 150-year-old farm, Laura brings a personal understanding of stewardship, legacy, and succession planning to her work, helping donors align their philanthropic goals with a lasting impact on future generations of UT Martin students.
Samantha Hutcherson
Associate Director of Corporate Relations
Samantha Hutcherson, M.A.S.C., serves as the Associate Director of Development for Corporate Relations at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she cultivates strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations, and community organizations to advance the university’s mission and create opportunities for students and faculty. Prior to joining UT Martin, she worked with ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, building partnerships with professional sports organizations, corporate leaders, and national events to support St. Jude’s lifesaving mission. Samantha earned her Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and is passionate about fostering authentic relationships built on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. A proud West Tennessee resident, she enjoys investing in her community, spending time with her husband, Weakley County Mayor Dale Hutcherson, and their two children, Mila and Miles.
Colin Hatch
Senior Associate Athletics Director of Development
Colin, a Huntingdon, TN native, is an 2014 alumnus of Union University in Jackson, TN. In the last 5 years, he has gained experience with senior leadership within Industrial Distribution and has 10+ years of experience in business development. As a former collegiate athlete, he is excited to have the opportunity to continue enhancing the student athlete experience at UT Martin. Colin currently resides in Martin, TN with his wife, Dr. Laura Hatch (UTM accounting professor) and their daughter Conley.
Holly Dethloff
Advancement Coordinator
Holly Dethloff, a 2009 alumna, joined the development staff in 2009 as a development assistant. Holly currently serves as an Advancement Coordinator, where she supports the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development by managing donor biographical updates, assisting with portfolio management, and ensuring the accuracy of advancement data to support the daily operations of the development team. She was raised in Martin and received a bachelor’s in health and human performance in 2009 and a master’s in family and consumer science in 2011 from UT Martin. She is also a 2026 graduate of Leadership Weakley County. Holly and her husband, Jonathan, reside in Sharon, TN, with their sons, Jaxton and Jamesen.
Office of Advancement Services
209 Hurt Street • 424 Andy Holt Humanities Building • 731-881-7628 • advservices@utm.edu
Mary Baker
Assistant Director for Stewardship & Donor Relations
Mary has served UT Martin since 1989, holding positions in the College of Business & Global Affairs, College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Purchasing, and now Advancement Services. As Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations, she oversees donor recognition and stewardship efforts, donor communications, special events, and initiatives that strengthen donor engagement and support the university’s fundraising goals.
Mary completed the UT Martin Office Information Systems certification program and received the UT Foundation Board of Directors Award in 2011 and the UT Martin Outstanding Employee Award for the Spring 2006 semester. She and her husband, Mike, have two daughters, Lauren (Clayton) Mitchell and Allie Baker, and are proud grandparents to Madilyn James Mitchell.
Makala (Sitzes) Simmons
Assistant Director of Advancement Services
Makala joined the Office of Advancement Services in February 2021 as the Advancement Assistant. She then transitioned to the Gift Record Specialist position in December 2021. Makala earned her Certified Administrative Professional certificate in May 2024 and as of July 2024 she is serving as the Assistant Director of Advancement Services. She is a 2017 UT Martin graduate with a Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies and comes from a diverse background of customer service. Makala is a native of Greenfield, TN, where she currently resides with her husband, Ryan, and their two dogs, Gunnar and Sookie.
Savanna Fitzgerald
Gift Records Specialist III
Savanna Fitzgerald joined the Office of Advancement Services in July 2023 as an Advancement Assistant II, bringing with her a strong background in both customer service and administration. Her attention to detail and accuracy quickly earned her a promotion to Gift Records Specialist in July of 2024. A lifelong resident of South Fulton, TN, Savanna is deeply rooted in her community, where she lives with her husband Joe and their son Marcus.
Ashley Miles
Advancement Assistant III
Ashley is a 2015 UT Knoxville graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management. She has previous experience working in higher education and currently resides in Dyersburg with her dog Beau. Ashley completed her Master’s in Business Administration here at UT Martin in 2025.