Wendy Tate

Wendy Tate is the McCormick Professor of Supply Chain Management and Ray & Joan Myatt Faculty Fellow at the University of Tennessee. She specializes in strategic sourcing, sustainability, and supply chain resilience, with a focus on services purchasing (outsourcing/offshoring/reshoring) and environmental initiatives. Her research bridges academic theory with practical applications, emphasizing global dissemination. She holds a Ph.D., MBA, and B.S. from Arizona State University in Supply Chain Management, International Business, and Operations Management respectively.

Key research interests include supply chain value creation, sustainable procurement practices, and the role of non-traditional actors in reshaping supply networks. Her work explores how firms can achieve financial and environmental goals through strategic supplier relationships and resource orchestration. Recent studies address supply chain resilience post-pandemic, GHG emissions reduction pathways, and the impact of buyer justice in diverse supplier relationships.

• Awards include Global Supply Chain Faculty Fellow (2013-2016), Cheryl Massingale Faculty Research Fellow (2016-2017), and the Diversity and Inclusion Award (2016).
• She serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management and actively contributes to practitioner-oriented forums.
• Prior industry experience includes 17 years in supply chain leadership roles within the furniture industry.

Her academic service includes editorial roles and conference presentations at both academic and industry venues. Research themes often intersect with societal challenges like climate change and economic inclusion, advocating for supply chains that deliver shared value across stakeholders.