Tennessee Tech Foundation Board welcomes six new members
The Tennessee Tech University Foundation Board proudly welcomes six new members to
its Board of Directors.
This dynamic group of leaders brings expertise in engineering, information technology,
education, business, nursing and insurance and will play a vital role in helping the
Foundation support the mission of Tennessee Tech.
"The strength of a university is not measured only by its buildings or programs, but
by the people who choose to invest their time, wisdom and vision in its future,” said
Kevin Braswell, vice president of University Advancement and executive director of
Tennessee Tech’s Foundation Board. “In welcoming DeWayne, Stephanie, Mary Anne, Whitney,
Becky and Randy to the Board of Directors, we are reminded of the power of collective
leadership. Each board member brings a unique perspective shaped by experience and
passion, and together they will help guide Tech toward new horizons of opportunity
for our students and the broader community we serve."
The following new board members will begin their terms in November 2025:
DeWayne Allen (`99 industrial engineering)
DeWayne Allen is a seasoned aerospace and defense executive currently serving as a director at Raytheon where he leads the RTX Business Development Council. Since 2019, his influence-driven leadership has helped deliver $2 billion in revenue synergies and expand the company’s business pipeline by $18 billion. Allen empowers leaders to embrace curiosity, take risks and adapt to change. He remains deeply connected to his alma mater through philanthropy and service and has served on the Multicultural Affairs Alumni Advisory Council, Advisory Council for Engineering and National Society of Black Engineers.
Stephanie Dedmon (`88 business management and `89 MBA)
Stephanie Dedmon recently retired as Chief Information Officer for the State of Tennessee, a position she held with distinction since 2011. In this role, she led the state’s Strategic Technology Solutions team of more than 1,300 IT professionals, driving the consolidation of IT operations across 20 agencies, enhancing statewide cybersecurity and modernizing critical infrastructure, including two state-owned data centers. Her visionary leadership has been celebrated nationally, earning her recognition as one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers and CIO of the Year from the Greater Nashville Technology Council.
Mary Anne Koltowich (`77 civil engineering)
Mary Anne Koltowich is a retired professional services consultant whose career spanned roles in engineering, quality assurance and technical consulting at organizations such as TVA, Energy Solutions and BNFL in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Koltowich’s decades-long support earned her the 2024 Tennessee Tech Alumni Association’s Outstanding Philanthropy Award. Through initiatives like the Koltowich College of Engineering Student Emergency Grant and scholarships in her family’s name, she has helped countless students overcome financial challenges and remain enrolled at Tennessee Tech.
Whitney Robinson (junior special education major) 
Whitney Robinson is a dedicated student and emerging leader pursuing a bachelor’s degree in special education, where she is specializing in comprehensive intervention for grades K-12. With a strong academic foundation, Robinson has embraced leadership opportunities and serves as vice president of the SOLO Events Committee, welcomes new students as a Student Orientation Assistant and is an active member of the R.A.C.E. Program and NAACP. Her involvement also extends to the arts through her participation in the United Voices of Praise Choir and David’s Praise Dance Team.
Becky Tolbert
Becky Tolbert is a retired associate vice president for Academic Affairs at Tennessee Tech and one of the five inaugural faculty members who helped establish Tech’s School of Nursing in 1980. A committed educator and leader, she has continued to support the university through philanthropy, including funding the Carolyn V. Scholarship for Advanced Practice Nursing in honor of a beloved colleague. Tolbert has also championed community health initiatives such as the ESTAR Sanos program, which provides education and resources to underserved populations. She has served on the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing Executive Committee and Whitson-Hester School of Nursing Development Council.
Randy Wilmore
Randy Wilmore is the chief relationship officer at Farm Bureau Health Plans in Columbia, Tenn., a role he has held since 2014 after a distinguished career leading healthcare organizations across the state. Wilmore was an active student leader in varsity football, student government, Phi Gamma Delta and WTTU-FM. His career reflects both business acumen and service, having served as CEO of Family Health Group and Mid-Tennessee Bone and Joint, as well as in various healthcare administration and consulting roles. Beyond his professional work, Wilmore has been deeply engaged in community leadership, serving Leadership Middle Tennessee, Kiwanis and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The Tennessee Tech University Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation helping to
secure and oversee gift support for the university and provide advice and assistance
to the university president on strategic issues impacting Tech’s future, among other
tasks. Board directors are some of Tech’s most distinguished supporters and alumni.
Learn more about the Foundation Board at www.tntech.edu/univadv/foundation/index.php.