The University of Tennessee System has announced the creation of a new division — the Division of Government Relations, Economic Development and Public Service (GEPS) — effective Oct. 1, 2026. The change will align the UT Institute for Public Service (IPS) with the existing Division of Government Relations, Advocacy and Economic Development under new leadership.
For county officials and others who rely on the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), this change will have no impact on the services you receive. CTAS remains your dedicated resource for legal and technical assistance, training and support — as it has been since established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1973.
Carey Whitworth has been appointed senior vice president of GEPS, pending UT Board of Trustees approval. A national search for a new IPS vice president will launch in August, with an interim leader named to ensure continuity in the meantime.
CTAS staff, programs and contact information remain unchanged. We are here to serve Tennessee's county governments as we always have.
For questions, contact us at ctas.support@tennessee.edu.