Keith Barber, Ed.D., joined East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) in April 2023 as President and CEO.
He has dedicated his career to philanthropy and volunteerism. Prior to joining ETF, he served as Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the UT Foundation for ten years where he and his team raised over $250 million. He was awarded the UT Foundation Professional/Academic Award for Outstanding Service in 2019 and has been recognized nationally for his service and leadership. Notably, he was responsible for securing the gift that led to the naming of the second-ever college of agriculture in the United States via philanthropy and the second-ever endowed international center for agriculture in the world. Prior to his leadership at UT, he provided philanthropic impact for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Clemson University, University of Georgia, University of Florida, and Florida Atlantic University.
He was raised in rural North Carolina and earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Appalachian State University. He completed his Doctor of Education in Leadership at Valdosta State University. He is married to Stephanie Russ-Barber, M.D., and they have four children.