Governor Appoints Two to MTSU Board of Trustees
Gov. Bill Lee named Jeff Ballard and Jeff Hollingshead to the MTSU Board of Trustees and reappointed Christine Karbowiak Vanek to a six-year term.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in People
Governor Bill Lee appointed Jeff Ballard and Jeff Hollingshead to the Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees and reappointed Christine Karbowiak Vanek to a six-year term. Board Chairman Stephen B. Smith announced the changes and new committee assignments on Tuesday.
Why it matters
The appointments fill seats vacated by Pete DeLay and Michael Wade and give the university's governing board new members for six-year terms ending June 30, 2032. The changes shape the board that oversees MTSU, based in Murfreesboro.
Two trustees were appointed and one was reappointed, each to a six-year term ending June 30, 2032. Ballard's appointment replaces Pete DeLay, whose term ended in 2026.
The players
Governor Bill Lee
Bill Lee is the governor of Tennessee, who holds the authority to appoint members of the state's public university boards.
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University is a public university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, governed by a board of trustees.
Delta Dental of Tennessee
Delta Dental of Tennessee is a dental benefits insurer operating in Tennessee, led by Jeff Ballard.
The details
Governor Bill Lee made the appointments and reappointment, and Chairman Stephen B. Smith announced them along with new committee assignments. Jeff Ballard is president and CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee and earned an accounting degree from MTSU's Jennings A. Jones College of Business in 1993. Jeff Hollingshead is CEO of SRM Concrete, and Christine Karbowiak Vanek has served as board vice chair since 2021.
Timeline
2021: Christine Karbowiak Vanek began serving as board vice chair.
2026: Pete DeLay's board term ended.
November 10, 2026: Chairman Smith announced the appointments and committee assignments.
June 30, 2032: The new six-year terms end.
December 2: The full board holds its regular quarterly meeting.
Leadership Pipeline
Tennessee governors fill staggered six-year seats on public university boards, and these appointments continue that routine cycle for MTSU. The new trustees bring private-sector leadership from dental insurance and concrete manufacturing to the university's governing board.
Murfreesboro residents and MTSU students and faculty are affected by who governs the university, since trustees set major institutional policy. The new members bring business leadership to decisions that shape the campus.
The takeaway
Public university boards draw members from outside academia, so appointees' business experience can shape campus decisions. Following the December 2 quarterly meeting will show how the new trustees take up their work.
What happens next
The full MTSU Board of Trustees meets for its regular quarterly meeting on December 2.
Further reading
Explore more Murfreesboro people news for local business leadership coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGNSRadio.
