The College of Communication and Information named the theater in the Scripps Convergence Lab for longtime Board of Visitors member and former chair Ed Ingle (BS/Communications ’83) during the virtual BOV spring meeting on April 16.
Ingle was honored as a Torchbearer when he graduated from UT with a degree in journalism in 1983. He was a Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Cabinet Secretary in The White House from 2001-03. He then served 16 years with Microsoft as the General Manager of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C.
He is currently President of New Lantern Partners, a firm that works with companies to achieve greater business and social impact.
The Ed Ingle Theater will be used by students, faculty, and staff throughout CCI for presentations, collaborative work, symposia, and social gatherings.
“I had great professors whose training allowed me to become a strong writer, and it’s served me well ever since,” Ingle said. “It sounds trite to say, but everything I’ve ever done, I always feel like I’m getting more than I am giving. Any time I’m leaving an event after having engagement with students, I leave with additional pep in my step, and I am grateful. Thanks to Mike and Alice Wirth, and thanks to the Board of Visitors.”
The plaque text reads as follows :
Ed Ingle (BS/Communications ’83) has a long history of giving back to his university, to worthy causes, and to his country. He is a long-time member of CCI’s Board of Visitors, including serving as BOV Chair and Vice Chair and on CCI’s capital campaign committees. He also served with distinction as a member of the UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors.
Ed is a passionate supporter of CCI and UT who never fails to pay it forward. He epitomizes the Volunteer Spirit and is a great role model for our students. He gives freely of his time by sharing his knowledge with students as a mentor, and as a host of numerous UT student and alumni events in Washington, DC for CCI, the Admissions office, and the Pride Center. Ed also has generously supported a variety of CCI development projects.
At the same time, Ed gives back to his community, including his distinguished support and service to Operation Hope, the Bryce Harlow Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. And, for five Republican National Conventions, Ed volunteered his time serving as head of speech operations. UT recognized Ed for his outstanding service to CCI and UT by presenting him with the 2019 UT Alumni Service Award.
As a former SGA President and Torchbearer, Ed’s list of career achievements since graduating from UT in 1983 is remarkable. His 16 years at Microsoft Corporation as General Manager of Government Affairs gave him the opportunity to represent one of the world’s largest and most successful companies before the White House, Congress, and State Governments. Known for his integrity and extensive knowledge of public affairs, Ed is author of the government relations chapter for a leading textbook on corporate communication and reputation management.
Prior to Microsoft, he served as a senior staff member of the George W. Bush White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Cabinet Secretary; Senior Vice President for a bipartisan Washington government affairs firm owned by WPP; and Budget Analyst for the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Ronald Reagan.
The Ed Ingle Theater provides CCI students, faculty and staff with a terrific community space for meetings, symposia, lectures, collaborative work, and social gatherings. It was dedicated on April 16, 2021, to honor Ed for his many accomplishments and to recognize him for his profound impact on the College of Communication and Information and the University of Tennessee.