The system-wide Employee Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) serves as an advisory group to the president with respect to University policies, programs and practices. The board meets quarterly— either in-person or by video conference—and consists of Employee Relations Committee (ERC) members elected by their committee peers.
Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson is a buyer in the UT Knoxville Facilities Services Central Supply Warehouse. He has been with the University for nearly 20 years, all in central supply. He procures materials and equipment to maintain and support all of the buildings and grounds across the Knoxville campus. He finds great satisfaction in being part of the University community and supporting the education of students.
Anderson has long been an active member of the UTK community, representing constituents on ERC and ERAB for more than 10 years. He is also a founding member of United Campus Workers (CWA Local 3865), Tennessee’s higher education union. He is proud to have served as local president for two terms and legislative committee chair for 16 years. Tom looks forward to many more productive years at UTK.
Angie Holtzclaw
Angie Holtzclaw brings 35 years of professional experience to the UT System Communications and Marketing team, with more than 30 of those years at UT. Angie has held multiple titles at UT and has received various recognitions for her dedication to the University, including the UT Foundation Board of Directors Award for exemplary performance and outstanding achievements. Holtzclaw joined communications and marketing in 2019 and brings a unique, loyal and fun-loving personality to the team. Her favorite part about working in this department is the people with whom she gets to work with.
When she is not hard at work, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, riding on the back of a motorcycle, crafting or exploring in her Jeep. Holtzclaw has one daughter, Ashlee, and two dogs, Nugget Roy and Flower.
Ryan Winton
Ryan Winton has been working at the University of Tennessee Space Institute as an IT technologist for two years. Winton graduated from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in McMinnville, Tennessee. During his time there, he also received a CompTIA A+ certification and CompTIA Network+ certification. Ryan has been married for 10 years and has three children. His hobbies include kayaking, hiking and building computers.
Cathy Jenkins
Cathy Jenkins is the graphic designer for UT Libraries and a UT Knoxville alumna. She is passionate about education and making it accessible for all. Jenkins is a member of the libraries’ diversity committee and recently served as a representative for the libraries in the creation of its Diversity Action Plan. She has been employed by UT since 2009, and this is the first time she has served on the ERC and the ERAB. Being an ERC and ERAB representative allows her to feel connected and involved with her colleagues.
Jenkins is originally from San Diego, California, and she loves to cook and read sci-fi, fantasy and political commentary. She has a growing collection of cookbooks and puzzles thanks to working from home.
Katora Jones
Katora Jones now serves as an administrative specialist III for the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center (WTRFC), after beginning her career as a receptionist. She manages the out-of-county and state billing, as well as collaborates with the state medical examiner’s office and additional government entities across several counties to ensure efficient operations of the WTRFC.
Jones is a highly approachable individual who has a pleasant attitude and a willingness to make a positive mark. She has a passion for healthcare and plans to pursue her nursing degree this fall. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to inspirational podcasts, reading books that focus on empowerment, viewing educational documentaries and listening to music of all genres.
Dorothea Owens
Dorothea Owens brings 20 years of professional experience to the College of Medicine administration team, with four years at UTHSC. Owens has held multiple titles at UTHSC, including assistant director for the College of Medicine, director for analysis and planning and serving as the primary representative on the Employee Staff Council for the College of Medicine. These positions have allowed Owens to use her interpersonal, financial and analytical skills to serve as an advocate for her fellow team members and to assist in creating and developing the strategies and plans needed to effectively meet the department goals.
Lee Ann Craig
Lee Ann Craig joined the UT Foundation team in 2015 as the contracts and purchasing coordinator. As a member of the UTFI Business Office, she is responsible for reviewing and processing all Foundation contracts system-wide as well as providing financial and accounting support. Prior to working with the Foundation, she held the position of buyer for a major frozen food manufacturer. Craig’s strong work ethic, time management skills and ability to excel in any collaborative environment makes her a valued team member.
Craig is a UT Knoxville alumna, with a Bachelor of Science in logistics and transportation, now known as supply chain management. Both her children have called UT Knoxville home as well, and they are truly an “All Vol” family.
Carla Phillips
Carla Phillips serves as the administrative specialist for the chief business officer at the UT Institute of Agriculture, where she began working in March 2014. She serves as the point of contact for the online receipting system and serves on various committees giving a voice to non-exempt staff. Prior to joining UTIA, Phillips was employed at Oak Ridge Associated Universities for more than 15 years in the communications and marketing department, following a time in the peer review department. She holds an Associate of Science in business administration from Roane State Community College. Phillips is a native of East Tennessee and has three children with her husband, Junior.
Melita Rector
Melita Rector has served as an accounting specialist in the UTC Office of Budget and Finance since 2018. She began her career at UTC as an administrative specialist for Housing and Residence Life in 2011, before transitioning to the Student Development Office in 2015.
Rector has served on several committees while at UTC. She is the chair for the ERC and has served on the committee for eight years. She also serves on the Administrative Task Force, the Athletics Board and Strategic Plan Implementation Committee. Rector has been married to her husband, Jeff, for 38 years, and they have one daughter.
Chris Sherbesman
Chris Sherbesman has served in many different roles throughout his 14 years of service at UTC. He began as the administrative assistant for Continuing Education, while also pursuing his undergraduate degree at UTC. After working in banking for several years, he returned to UTC as a staff accountant in the Bursar’s Office. In 2012, after receiving his Master of Business Administration, he transitioned to senior accountant for the UC Foundation. In 2015, Sherbesman was promoted to assistant director of the Office of Budget and Finance.
Sherbesman now serves in the role of executive director of budget and finance, as well as currently filling the interim vice chancellor of finance and administration role. Sherbesman and his wife Carrie, who serves as the UTC director of orientation, are both proud graduates of UTC. They have three children.
Leslie Valentine
Leslie Valentine is an administrative specialist for the UTK assistant vice chancellor for student life. She has been with UT since 2012 and holds a bachelor’s degree from UTC. Before joining the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life in 2015, she worked in Student Disability Services. Valentine has held the role as an ERC representative since 2015.
She is also a graduate student in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences.
Elisha Hodge
Elisha Hodge serves as a legal consultant with the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). Before joining MTAS in October 2014, Hodge served as the open records specialist and the open records counsel for the state of Tennessee from 2007 until 2014.
Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, Hodge prosecuted cases and served as advisory counsel for the Tennessee Department of Health. Elisha graduated from the University of the South (Sewanee) in 2001 and the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2003. Elisha currently serves as a member of the IPS Diversity Committee and as the chair of the Exempt Staff Council for UTK, IPS, UTIA and University Administration. As part of her role as chair, she sits on the UTPD Advisory Council, the Commission for Blacks and the ERAB. Elisha is a 2021 graduate of the Tennessee Certified Public Manager program and is an intercultural developmental inventory qualified administrator. She also serves as a UT Promise Mentor and a tnAchieves Mentor.
