Darrin Rhines has been named the new senior director of corporate partnerships for the Tickle College of Engineering.
Rhines has spent the last two years as the director of TCE’s Office of Engineering Professional Practice (EPP), helping the college maintain relationships with thousands of businesses and students to match them for job placements and internships.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to build on the strong industry partnerships at the Tickle College of Engineering,” Rhines said. “I look forward to working with EPP and our partners on and off campus to grow these relationships and expand awareness of the incredible research opportunities available to our corporate neighbors.”
In his new role, Rhines will develop partnerships with key stakeholders from corporate partners to local community organizations and statewide economic leaders to leverage UT resources and coordinate opportunities to grow research outcomes and impact, capital investment, job creation, and space-based development. In addition, Rhines will have oversight and strategic program management of the EPP office staff.
Rhines will report directly to Matthew Mench, dean and Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair of TCE, with a collaborative relationship with the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED).
“Darrin has done a superb job leading the office of Engineering Professional Practice and rose to the top of a pool of highly qualified applicants for this position,” Mench said. “I am excited about his plans to take our college level corporate partnerships office to the next level, which will enhance the opportunities our students and faculty have to work with some of the top companies in the world.”
Rhines came to UT after a nearly 30-year-career with KUB, where he served a variety of roles including analyst, team leader, and manager, most recently with the organization’s communications and external relations team.
A UT alumnus, Rhines earned his bachelor’s in creative writing in 1998, following his associate’s degree in general studies from Pellissippi State in ’95. He would later go on to earn his MBA from Liberty University in 2014.
Prior to college, Rhines spent four years as a US Army team chief in signals intelligence, with a focus on Czech and Slovak languages. He is a licensed SHRM Senior Certified Professional, and volunteers with the Optimist Club of Knoxville and tnAchieves.
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, [email protected])