Ann Yoachim
Ann Yoachim, nationally recognized in urbanism and community planning, has been named director of Community Partnerships and a clinical professor at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Ms. Yoachim currently serves as a visiting professor of practice for the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking at Tulane University. She is also principal at AY Projects, a consulting practice that supports projects at the intersection of people, health, and environment.
“I am pleased to announce that Ann Yoachim has accepted the position as UTC’s new Director for Community Partnerships,” said UTC Chancellor Steven Angle. “Her experience, background and passion to make a difference will help her create a positive impact on both our campus and our community.”
In this position, Ms. Yoachim will work closely with University administration in developing the strategy and protocols for working with community, agency and business partners and will serve as the primary liaison for community and business initiatives at the University. As part of this effort, this position will facilitate, supervise and manage connections to and among partnerships and community initiatives.
“I am excited to join UTC as the director of Community Partnerships at this pivotal moment in time for both the University and Chattanooga,” said Ms. Yoachim. “The position offers an opportunity to enhance existing work of UTC faculty, staff and students while developing new collaborations that blur the lines between campus and community and strengthen the role UTC can play in shaping and informing the future of Chattanooga.”
Ms. Yoachim previously served as program manager for the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy where she designed and managed urban and rural pilot projects aimed at long-term community resilience. She also served as assistant director at the Center for Environmental Communications at Loyola University of New Orleans.
She served as program coordinator for Practical Action in Nairobi, Kenya, a unique position to support operations and water sector departments through public health research, grant writing, and program monitoring and evaluation.
Ms. Yoachim holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College and a master’s degree from Tulane University. She was named a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2012-2013.
Ms. Yoachim will assume her responsibilities at UTC effective July 1, 2015.