July 14, 2025 — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has appointed Memphis attorney Michael E. Keeney to join the University of Memphis Board of Trustees. Keeney brings decades of legal and board experience to UofM’s growing leadership body.
“We extend our thanks to Gov. Bill Lee for his appointment of Mike Keeney to our Board,” said UofM Board of Trustees Chairman Cato Johnson. “Mike is a respected and accomplished member of our community who has continuously worked to help move Memphis forward. That makes him an ideal fit for our Board, and we are fortunate to add his experience and expertise.”
Keeney has practiced law in Memphis since 1993 and formerly served as the managing shareholder of the Memphis office of Lewis Thomason. He is currently chair of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority and serves on the board of directors for Orgill, Inc., Buckman Laboratories and BankTennessee. Keeney is a member of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Commission, Douglas Henry State Museum Commission and the Tennessee Transportation Modernization Board. He also currently serves as chairman of the Chairman’s Circle of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.
Keeney participated in Class VII of Leadership Tennessee and serves on the executive committee of Tennessee Business Leadership Council. Keeney is a 1992 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville, Tenn. and received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Lambuth College in Jackson, Tenn. in 1988. He is married to Anne Orgill Keeney, and they have two daughters, Irene and Adele.
The University of Memphis’ Board of Trustees was established after the passing of the Focus on College and University Success (FOCUS) Act in 2016. The legislation increases autonomy and local control of the University’s strategic direction.
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