Tanara Teal-Tate, a natural leader with a proven record of innovation and collaboration over her 24 years of experience in the parking industry, has been named the Executive Director of Parking and Transportation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
A Memphis native, Teal-Tate arrives in Knoxville having spent nearly six years as the Director of Parking Operations for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she oversaw all facets of a comprehensive transportation infrastructure on an urban campus serving over 75,000 students, faculty, and staff. Under her leadership, UW Transportation Services earned national recognition as an Accredited Parking Organization with Distinction from the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI) for 2023-2025 – one of only six university parking organizations to achieve this honor.
A champion of leveraging technology to enhance operations, Teal-Tate guided the collaborative implementation of the T2 Parking Management System across 14 of the 17 UW-Madison campus garages, enabling cutting-edge capabilities like touchless ticketing, mobile payment integration, and the groundwork for virtual permitting.
“We’re excited to welcome Tanara to the Volunteer family. Her vast experience in the parking industry with stops at multiple space-constrained campuses makes her ideal for this role as we begin transforming the parking and transportation experience at UT,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Operations and Real Estate Brian Browning.
Prior to her time in Madison, Teal-Tate spent four years as the Director of the UT Health Science Center Parking Authority, and before that, she was with the University of Memphis for 13 years, where she held several managerial positions, including interim director.
Passionate about continuous learning and professional development, Teal-Tate will soon be a three-time graduate of the University of Memphis. She is currently completing a doctoral program in instruction curriculum and leadership with an expected graduation date of 2024, applying her research expertise to drive data-informed collaborative strategies. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in public administration and has completed certificate programs in local government management and urban education. She is a member of IPMI, Mid-South Transportation and Parking Association, and Campus Parking and Transportation Association.
Teal-Tate sits on the board of Women Industry Leaders, a dynamic group that inspires women to be their best and celebrates authentic female role models. A staunch believer in the power of representation and diversity, her commitment to empowering and uplifting others will create a positive, supportive environment within the UT Parking and Transportation Department.