Matt Matthews Appointed UT System Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee System has named Matt Matthews as associate vice president for academic affairs. He will begin the role on Aug. 15.

In this role, Matthews will provide leadership and coordination in academic policy, programs, reporting and other academic initiatives. He will work collaboratively with campus chief academic officers and their staffs, as well as various system- and campus-level units, to promote greater alignment, collaboration and communication across the UT System.

Additionally, Matthews will support the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees Education, Research and Service Committee. He also will be the University’s liaison to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Tennessee Department of Education and State Board of Education.

“As we continue to build the greatest decade in UT history, Dr. Matthews’ proven track record in academic leadership aligns with our mission and enormous responsibility of helping ensure our students are successful across the state,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “We are confident he will significantly impact our academic community and support our goals of advancing education and research across the UT System.”

Bernie Savarese, vice president for academic affairs, research and student success for the UT System, also expressed his support.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Matthews to our leadership team,” he said. “His extensive experience in higher education administration, along with his commitment to academic excellence and innovation, makes him an ideal fit for this role. His vision and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to enhance academic policies and programs across our campuses.”

Savarese’s enthusiasm is echoed by Matthews, who shares excitement about the opportunities ahead.

“I look forward to working with the talented and dedicated teams across our campuses to continue advancing academic excellence and fostering a supportive environment for our students, faculty and staff,” he said. “Together, we will build on the strong foundation already in place and drive meaningful progress in academic and faculty affairs.”

Savarese said the leadership of Matthews will enhance the University’s academic initiatives and help ensure student and faculty success.

“His strategic vision and ability to foster strong connections within and beyond our campuses will help us navigate the evolving landscape of higher education and continue to set a standard of academic excellence,” he said.

Matthews currently serves as senior vice provost at UT Chattanooga, where he has participated in cross-divisional strategic initiatives at UTC, including campus master planning and student success.

Matthews previously served as the associate dean in the UTC College of Arts and Sciences, managing curriculum development, scheduling and summer school operations. Before this, he rose to the rank of professor and served as interim department head of the Department of Mathematics from 2014 to 2016.

Matthews earned his Ph.D. in applied mathematics from North Carolina State University and conducted postdoctoral research at Duke University before joining the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as an assistant professor in 2004.

About the University of Tennessee System
The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 58,000 students statewide; produces about 13,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 445,000 alumni around the world.