Bernard Savarese Named UT Assistant Vice President for Student Success

Knoxville — Bernard Savarese has been named assistant vice president for student success for the University of Tennessee System.

Savarese, currently the assistant vice president for student success and the student experience at New York University (NYU), was selected following a national search. His first day at UT will be Oct. 25.

“Bernie embodies what it means to put students at the core of our decision making,” said Linda Martin, vice president for academic affairs and student success and interim senior vice president/senior vice chancellor for the UT Institute of Agriculture. “His expertise in improving critical student outcomes and his focus on whole-student growth will be an asset to our system.”

Among other responsibilities, Savarese will work collaboratively with each of the UT campuses to coordinate and promote high-quality academic student experiences across the UT System. More specifically, he will collaborate with UT campuses in the areas including recruitment, retention, enrollment, access and affordability, transfer student success, first-year experience, advising, mental health and wellbeing, UT Promise, career development, mentoring and coaching, financial literacy, veteran resources, student support services and tracking outcomes.

Savarese has spent the last two decades leading teams to enhance and grow the student experience. In his current role at NYU, Savarese works with students and senior leaders to direct critical innovations, increase collaboration and create a more student-centered experience. Those innovations include implementing a comprehensive academic advising and student success platform, overseeing the evolution of multiple campus resource centers and launching a team of case managers who leverage data and relationships to provide holistic student support and success coaching. Savarese also led the development of the offices of financial education and student veteran success, as well as the expansion of the university’s MLK Scholars program, which works to prepare student leaders for a life of meaningful service.

Prior to joining NYU in 2017, Savarese worked at Ohio State University for almost two decades, serving most recently as the director of university orientation and first year experience (FYE), and leading the university’s standing committee on student success and retention. Before his time in FYE, he held various leadership roles in both the office of residence life and the Center for Student Leadership and Service.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio State University, master’s degrees from Bowling Green State University and Ohio State University in college student personnel and business administration respectively, and is completing a doctorate from NYU in education with an emphasis in leadership and innovation.

 

Tags: Academic Affairs and Student Success, Bernard Savarese, Featured