Donde Plowman ’74

With two SMU graduates for parents – including a father who was a Methodist minister – Donde Plowman ’74 might have seemed destined for the Hilltop. Once there, she made the experience her own. An English major, Plowman quickly emerged as a campus leader, serving as the secretary of Student Senate, a resident assistant and a member of United Campus Ministries. Her academic achievements earned her a membership in the Kirkos and Mortar Board honor societies, as well as SMU’s prestigious “M” Award.

After graduating from SMU, Plowman continued an academic journey that would ultimately become a lifelong career in higher education. She earned a master’s degree in higher education from the University of North Texas in 1976 and a doctoral degree in strategic management from The University of Texas at Austin in 1988.

Plowman began her career teaching management, holding faculty positions at The University of Texas at San Antonio, the Helsinki School of Economics, The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville – the institution she now leads as chancellor.

Along the way, she built a distinguished record as an academic administrator. Plowman served as UTSA’s associate dean of Graduate Studies and Research and later as head of the Department of Management at Tennessee. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she served as the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business before becoming the university’s executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer.

In 2019, Plowman returned to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as chancellor and quickly set about strengthening the student experience. Shortly after taking office, she created the Division of Student Success. Since then, the university has seen increases in student retention and graduation rates, new student applications, enrollment, research expenditures and annual fundraising. Today, Tennessee is home to 41,000 students and operates with a $2.4 billion budget.

Her leadership extends across higher education and collegiate athletics. Plowman is the first woman to chair the Southeastern Conference Presidents and Chancellors Group and also chairs the Council of Presidents for the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and also serves as the president of the Southeastern Conference Executive committee. She serves on the College Sports Commission Board of Directors, the University of Tennessee-Battelle Board of Governors, the University Health System Inc. Board of Directors. She is also a dedicated supporter of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and Bryan Health System.

Plowman’s leadership has earned recognition throughout her career. She was named Lincoln Woman of the Year Award in 2015, received the Don Clifton Hall of Fame Award in 2025, and was honored with the James A. Haslam, II Leadership Award from the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce in 2026.

For Plowman, the Mustang tradition remains very much a family affair. She is married to Dennis Duchon, and her son, Kevin Ashmos ’10; brother, Thomas Plowman ’79; sister, Sandra Kraus ’76, ’80; and two nephews are all fellow Mustangs.