The GSCI Difference

A GSCI staff member and student in conversation.

For nearly a century, the University of Tennessee has been an institutional leader in supply chain education. From its roots in transportation and logistics to its current focus on end-to-end supply chain management, UT prepares the next generation of researchers, professionals, and executives in the discipline.

Created in 2011 by the Department of Supply Chain Management and Graduate and Executive Education in UT’s Haslam College of Business, the Global Supply Chain Institute (GSCI) establishes the university’s place as the preeminent global hub for supply chain thought leadership and talent development.

Key Facts

  • Supply chain management was the No. 1 major at UT based on the number of degrees granted from 2020 to 2024. Currently, we have over 1,500 supply chain management undergraduate students, 550 collaterals, and 400+ graduate students enrolled in our programs.
    • Undergraduates who complete the program earn a median income of $61,909 post-graduation. Those who participate in the honors program known as Scholars of Distinction earn a median income of $74,115.
    • 94% of undergraduate majors are placed with a company or begin a graduate program within six months of graduation. More than 150 companies actively recruit UT SCM students each year.
  • The university’s twice-annual Supply Chain Forum is among the leading industry events for supply chain practitioners. It provides them with an opportunity to network and gain insights from top academic researchers in the discipline. It is the largest event of its kind, with hundreds of industry professionals from more than 70 businesses in attendance each spring and fall.

Leadership

 

Headshot of Thomas Goldsby - man smiling, wearing a navy suit and an orange checked shirt.

Thomas Goldsby

Co-Executive Director; Dee & Jimmy Haslam Chair in Logistics
headshot of Ted Stank

Ted Stank

Co-Executive Director; Harry J & Vivienne R. Bruce Chair of Excellence in Business
Thomas Deakins headshot

Thomas Deakins

Managing Director
Headshot of Jon Holztrager - smiling man in glasses, gray suit and blue shirt.

Jon Holztrager

Executive Director, Supply Chain Graduate & Executive Education
Man in dark blue suit, looking at the camera.

Joe Buckley

Director, Executive & Non-Degree Education
Headshot of Josh King - man in glasses, gray suit and striped shirt, smiling at the camera.

Josh King

Director, Marketing & Operations
Headshot of Cole Burns - bearded man standing outside, wearing a navy suit and an orange tie.

Cole Burns

Director, Student Development & Career Management
headshot of Brian Canever

Brian Canever

Associate Director, Marketing
Headshot of Steve Harris.

Steven Harris

Manager, Marketing & Operations
Rebekah Griffin headshot

Rebekah Griffin

Office Manager

Faculty Experts

The Supply Chain Management Journal List, which ranks universities by research output in leading academic journals, ranks UT No. 4 in the nation. Research.com, the top research portal for scientists, ranks two UT SCM professors among its Top 500 Best Scientists in the area of business and management. 

What is Supply Chain Management?

Rankings

The University of Tennessee is home to supply chain management programs that are consistently ranked among the best  in North America for quality, relevance, and value.

#1

Graduate supply chain program in the U.S. (Gartner, 2024)

#2

Undergraduate supply chain program in the U.S. (Gartner, 2024)

 

Additional rankings

  • #1 Undergraduate supply chain program in the SEC (U.S. News & World Report, 2024)
  • #1 Overall client satisfaction, value for money, and growth among public institutions (Financial Times, 2024)
  • #2 Online graduate business program among public institutions (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
  • #3 Graduate supply chain program among public institutions (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
  • #3 Supply chain MBA program among public institutions (U.S. News & World Report, 2024)
  • #5 Nationally for custom executive education programs (Financial Times, 2024)
  • #6 Online graduate business program for student veterans among public institutions (U.S. News & World Report, 2024)

See all of our rankings

General Information

Academic Programs

Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative

An initiative that partners faculty with companies to serve as a collaborative think tank for exploring advanced concepts in supply chain management. Current initiatives include reshoring talent gaps, returns management, demand-driven inventory management, talent development for the planning function, organizational agility, and procurement and supply management.

Current members:

  • Amazon
  • Bush Brothers & Company
  • Colgate-Palmolive
  • Cummins
  • Kenco Logistics
  • Kimberly-Clark
  • Leidos
  • Sam’s Club
  • Schneider Electric

Advisory Board

Composed of senior leaders from Supply Chain Forum partners, the board meets twice yearly to help GSCI chart the course for how best to fulfill its goals.

Industry-Focused Research

GSCI’s archive of white papers produced by faculty, often with the collaboration of external partner organizations, is a vital resource for supply chain professionals and students seeking to explore the latest trends and challenges and learn best practices and innovative approaches to their work.

A selection of recently published papers:

Supply Chain Forum

For 25 years, the forum has gathered professionals from a range of industries to network and learn from each other and UT faculty. The forum is open to industry partners, which now total more than 80, including Amazon, Caterpillar, CVS Health, DENSO, Energizer, ExxonMobil, Lowe’s, Nissan North America, Pfizer, Shaw Industries, and Tractor Supply.

A full list of 2024-2025 partners. 

Tennessee on Supply Chain Management

GSCI hosts a popular monthly podcast and produces a newsletter covering the most relevant issues in supply chain management.

Contact Us

To request an interview with a GSCI leader, faculty expert or to request more information, email Brian Canever at bcanever@utk.edu.