New Leadership Appointment

Colleagues…

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Bryan Johnson to the newly created role of Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Strategy Officer, effective July 24, 2023.  He will join our Executive Leadership Team and work closely with me, the chief of staff, provost, vice chancellors, and deans.  He brings a wealth of leadership experience to this work, including his recent roles as chief transformation officer at U.S. Xpress and as superintendent of the Hamilton County Schools.

In particular, Dr. Johnson will provide crucial counsel to us as we conclude the last half of our current strategic plan and provide leadership for the development of our 2025-2030 strategic plan.  His background and experience will help ensure UTC delivers on the commitments in our current plan and incorporates advances in technology and challenges and opportunities of the region we serve.  We will leverage his extensive experience in workforce development, business strategy, change management, and collaborative leadership to add value across our university’s operational divisions and colleges.

As Dr. Johnson transitions to campus, we will provide additional information so that all stakeholders understand how best to capitalize on his presence on our team.  His limited duration appointment is for an initial period of two years to facilitate delivery of programs and activities that drive the economy and quality of life in our region.  Please join me in welcoming Bryan Johnson to the Moc family.

About Dr. Bryan Johnson…

Dr. Bryan Johnson is a native of Nashville and has dedicated much of his career to public education, serving as a teacher, school administrator and district administrator. Most recently, Johnson served as Chief Transformation Officer for U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc., supporting the technology and management teams across the enterprise. From 2017 to 2021, he served as Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee, which educates 45,000 students across 78 schools. During his tenure, Hamilton County Schools experienced historic academic growth moving from 130 of 141 districts in Tennessee to 2nd, making HCS the fastest-improving school district in Tennessee.

Johnson is known as a visionary and recognized for leading bold change. In his first year as Superintendent, he announced the launch of Future Ready Institutes, which are career-themed academies across high schools. In 2020, the national publication EdWeek recognized him as a “Leader to Learn From” for this effort. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson worked with community leaders and the school board to launch a 10-year commitment to provide free high-speed internet to all 28,500 economically disadvantaged students in the district. He has received numerous accolades for his leadership, including being named one of four finalists for the 2021 AASA (The School Superintendents Association) National Superintendent of the Year as well as 2021 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year. He was listed as a Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and 2020 Outstanding Young Alumnus at Austin Peay State University.

Before coming to Chattanooga, Johnson spent 10 years in the Clarksville (Tennessee) Montgomery County School System, rising to chief academic officer. He holds degrees from Austin Peay State University, Belmont University, and Trevecca University, where he earned his doctorate in educational leadership.