Campus Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of David Steele as chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor, effective January 1, 2021. David will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Terry Denniston.
An essential role of the chief of staff is to advance the strategic priorities of the university. David has extensive experience and has been in leadership roles in higher education and other sectors. He has worked closely with key stakeholders for the last three years as the UTC director of civic engagement. I am confident that David’s experience, skill set, sense of values, and integrity will enable him to be an outstanding chief of staff.
Before serving as director of civic engagement, David was vice president for policy and education at the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. His higher education background includes cabinet-level appointments as chief communication and public affairs officer at Polk State College and chief communication and development officer at the University of South Florida’s Polytechnic campus. His experience also includes serving as executive director of Purdue University’s Center for International Business Education and Research and as deputy executive director and chief marketing officer for the Florida Department of Citrus.
David knows first-hand the impact higher education has on our students. In addition to his administrative experience, he has been a dedicated and effective instructor over the years, having developed and delivered undergraduate political science, organizational communication and leadership courses. He has also worked closely with student organizations, as well as student recruitment and enrollment units.
David has a bachelor’s degree in history from Ashland University in Ohio and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame. He is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, Leadership Tennessee and the Young Americans Leaders Program at Harvard University.
His knowledge of Chattanooga, his time with the Chamber of Commerce and his service with us in his civic engagement role have allowed him to create many campus and community relationships. I have 100% confidence in him, and I am sure he is up to the challenge.
David values the role of higher education and understands that connecting our students to the community is part of their educational experience. His background and experience align with what is needed for chief of staff, and he will be a valued resource to me, our executive leadership team, and the entire campus.
Please join me in congratulating David as he transitions into his new position.