2007 - 2015
Dr. Thomas A. Rakes served as the ninth chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin from 2007-2015 after serving as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. He previously worked at the University of Louisiana Monroe from 1995-2003, where he served as the interim president, provost, vice president for academic affairs, dean of graduate studies and research, and dean of College of Education and Human Development.
Rakes began his career in higher education at the University of Memphis where he spent 16 years as a faculty member and seven years as a department chair. He also served as director of research and development in the College of Education.
Rakes authored 24 books and monographs and more than 80 national and international-level publications during his career. He also served as principal investigator or administrator for more than $7.5 million in external grants. Rakes has been involved with numerous community boards, including the Boy Scouts of America, the United Way, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Excellence in Education and the Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as a consultant to more than 40 different colleges and universities in 21 states as well as corporate groups such as Belz Enterprises and Harcourt Brace.
His wife, Dr. Glenda Rakes, was a professor of education at UT Martin and specialized in instructional design and technology. Rakes and his wife retired from UT Martin in August 2017.