Weakly County Mayor Jake Bynum will be the new Chief of Staff for UT Martin and stepping down as County Mayor, a position he has held since 2014.
Jake resigned his position at the March meeting of the Weakley County Commission to accept the position. He will begin his new role May 1.
“Jake will work closely with university leadership and my office to manage major university projects and initiatives. He will also serve as executive director of the WestStar Leadership Program and have administrative responsibilities for the Ned Ray McWherter Institute. Expect to see Jake quickly become an important part of the university’s leadership team. His energy, enthusiasm, and outstanding organizational skills will help us accomplish what we must do to serve students and grow this great institution.” says Dr. Yancy Freeman, UT Martin Chancellor.
Jake is a UT Martin and WestStar Leadership Program graduate and holds a master’s degree in leadership and public service from Lipscomb University. His wife, Alyssa, is also a UT Martin graduate and a WestTeach graduate and is a third grade teacher at Dresden Elementary School. They have two children, Ella and Nash.
Vice Chancellor of Communications and Marketing Bud Grimes released a press release on March 18 detailing the news and what this position is meant to be. “The position will provide a link between the chancellor and several university groups, act on the chancellor’s behalf with those groups, and serve as a liaison to the University of Tennessee Office of Government Relations and Advocacy and the UTM Office of the General Counsel.”
Bynum was born in Weakley County and has served on many boards, charities and committees during his near decade as the County Mayor.
In the press release, Bynum expressed his excitement to join the UT Martin family, “UT Martin is the single most impactful organization in Weakley County and West Tennessee. I am extremely excited to assist Chancellor Freeman and the university faculty and staff to advance the mission and impact change for the future of the region.”
Bynum will start his position on May 1. He will continue to serve as County Mayor until April 30. “The county commission will have the ability to appoint a successor at the May 28, 2024 commission meeting until a special election in Aug., 2024” according to Bynum’s Facebook page.
