Susan “Dee” Haslam, married to James A. Haslam III, graduated from the College of Education and began work in her father’s company, Cinetel Productions—first in advertising and then in production. After Cinetel was sold to Scripps in 1994, she and Rob Lundgren launched RIVR Media, which she headed as executive producer and chief executive officer. She oversaw the formation of RIVR Media Interactive and the 2010 launch of Moving Picture Books—an award-winning line of animated children’s books. In June 2013 she and her father started Nest Features, an independent film company that produces films in and about the American South.
She received Emmy nominations for Whale Wars and Trading Spaces and a Parents’ Choice Award for Moving Picture Books, as well as a Television Academy Honors Award and the New York Festival’s World Medal.
At UT Haslam has served on the UT Foundation Board; the College of Business’s Dean’s Advisory Council; the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Board of Visitors; and the Alumni Legislative Council. She and her husband served as vice chairs of the Campaign for Tennessee and chaired the UT Knoxville portion of the campaign.
In 2013 she received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from UT.