After nearly 25 years of service to the University of the South—in six roles, including 10 years as dean of students, the institution’s first vice president for risk management and institutional effectiveness, and the first leader of the Emergency Management Executive Team that led the university in the early stages of the pandemic—Eric Hartman is departing the university to pursue opportunities in higher education and management consulting. His duties in risk management will be distributed to other offices.

Hartman and his family will remain in the community, so while the university will lose his leadership, we will not lose him as a caring neighbor. He will continue to serve as board chair for Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Winchester and as a trustee and chair of the audit committee for St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School through June 2021.

Hartman is most known for his devotion to students and his advocacy for small colleges, receiving national recognition for both. Over the last five years he created an enterprise risk management process that serves as a national model for other institutions. He served on national advisory boards for Culture of Respect and as a senior advisor to their CORE Blueprint to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing sexual violence on U.S. campuses. He has served on the United Educators national advisory board for risk management in educational institutions, and continues to serve on the Steering Committee for the Community-Based Global Learning Collaborative.

Among the many hats he wore on campus, Hartman was the university’s initial Posse liaison and a tireless advocate for theme housing and the integration of health and counseling services to create a Wellness Center, all of which aimed to foster a healthier student climate. He also collaborated with others on the University’s emerging project on human flourishing. He has been the longstanding advisor and producer for the much-loved annual Perpetual Motion production; and he was the first liaison to the Regent’s Committee on Innovation, which is delivering high-speed fiber to leaseholders.