MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees announced Tuesday, Nov. 10, the appointment of two new trustees and reappointment of another by Gov. Bill Lee and the naming of two new committee chairs.

Trustees Chair Stephen B. Smith made the announcements at the beginning of the board’s committee meetings, held prior to the full board meeting scheduled for Dec. 2.

Jeff Ballard, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee, was appointed by Lee for a six-year term ending June 30, 2032, replacing Pete DeLay, whose term expired this year.

Ballard, who graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business, also serves on the boards of the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, Pinson Hospital Hospitality House, and the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. He was recognized as the recipient of the Joe M. Rodgers Spirit of America Award in 2022 by Jones College and is a member of the MTSU Accounting Advisory Board.

Jeff Hollingshead, chief executive officer of SRM Concrete, was appointed by Lee for a six-year term ending June 30, 2032, replacing Michael Wade, whose term also expired this year.

Hollingshead, who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University, oversees his family’s business, which began in 1999 as Smyrna Ready Mix and is now the nation’s largest ready-mix concrete producer. He supports numerous charitable and community initiatives, including Blue Raider Athletics, which opened the SRM Concrete Club in the Stephen B. Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center through his sponsorship.

Also, Vice Chair Christine Karbowiak Vanek was reappointed by Lee to an additional six-year term ending June 30, 2032. She has served as vice chair since 2021.

Trustee Chad White was named chair of the Academic Affairs, Student Life and Athletics Committee, which oversees the quality of academic programs and services, and student life. He replaces Wade in this role. White joined the board in 2025.

Trustee Bill Jones was named chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, which oversees the integrity and stability of the university’s financial operations, long-term economic health and allocation of resources, and its physical assets of land, buildings, and equipment. He replaces DeLay in this role. Jones joined the board in 2023.

— Andrew Oppmann ([email protected])