Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs Shewanee Howard-Baptiste
Dr. Shewanee Howard-Baptiste, vice provost for undergraduate affairs at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has been selected as the new provost and vice president for academic affairs at Berea College—a private liberal arts institution in Berea, Kentucky. Her new role will begin in July.
Howard-Baptiste, who arrived at UTC in 2013, has played a central role in academic leadership, undergraduate affairs and community engagement throughout her time on campus. Since 2021, she has served in the Division of Academic Affairs—first as vice provost for academic outreach and currently as vice provost for undergraduate affairs.
In an email to campus, UTC Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jerold L. Hale called the announcement “both pride and a measure of sadness.”
“Shewanee’s departure is a huge loss for UTC, but it is a fantastic opportunity for her—and a fitting next step in a career defined by dedication to student success, academic excellence and community engagement,” Hale said. “Berea is a mission-driven private liberal arts college, and its priorities align beautifully with Shewanee’s personal and professional values. The fit is a natural one.”
Hale praised Howard-Baptiste’s “energy, creativity and thoughtful leadership,” noting that “her tenure in Academic Affairs has been marked by high-impact initiatives and a spirit of service that inspires all of us who’ve had the pleasure of working alongside her.”
Howard-Baptiste is also a professor in UTC’s Department of Health and Human Performance and has taught courses related to health behavior change, sociology of sport, personal health, and community and environmental health. During the 2020–2021 academic year, she served as interim director of the Master of Public Health program at UTC and worked collaboratively with the campus to earn national accreditation for the program.
Her efforts at UTC, both as a member of the faculty and in Academic Affairs, have spanned student-centered programming, curricular development and the expansion of community-based educational pipelines.
In her role as vice provost for academic outreach, she has led the University High initiative, worked to expand dual enrollment programs with colleagues in Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, and championed academic outreach efforts connecting students with real-world learning opportunities across Chattanooga.
“UTC has been the place where I’ve had my formative years as an assistant professor but also as a leader,” Howard-Baptiste said. “So many people on this campus have taken a chance on me—saying yes to new ideas and new programs and to the opportunity to create partnerships that support our students on and off campus. From department heads to Dean Valerie Rutledge, so many colleagues have.”
She pointed to her time as a faculty-in-residence—living in a campus apartment as part of a student engagement initiative that fosters faculty-student interaction outside the classroom—and the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as crucial moments in developing her understanding of how academic affairs and student affairs can strategically partner to support the whole student.
“The pandemic was devastating in so many ways, but it also gave me the chance to really understand how student affairs engages students holistically,” she said. “Up until that time, my focus had really been as a faculty member, anchoring students in the classroom and in the community.
“At the same time, the opportunity to serve as a faculty-in-residence really gave me key insights on the number of different areas in student affairs—and how different units can strategically partner together to create an environment where all students thrive.”
Howard-Baptiste credited Hale for mentoring her development as an academic leader.
“Dr. Hale has been a tremendous cheerleader in my professional growth,” she said. “He has intentionally expanded my professional portfolio to ensure that I had a broad range of experiences when this day came. I’m very grateful for his leadership and his vision.”
Before coming to UTC, Howard-Baptiste held faculty positions at Southeast Missouri State University and Ithaca College in New York. She holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Miami University in Ohio.
A passionate advocate for equity in education and community health, she has served on the boards of numerous local organizations, including the American Heart Association, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and Cempa Community Care.
“UTC has been very, very good to me, giving me a foundation to understand the importance of collaboration, how curriculum can support students, and the opportunity to get engaged throughout the community,” Howard-Baptiste said. “I leave UTC having gained an enterprise mindset on how I can support students, faculty and staff.
“To say that I came here as an assistant professor and am leaving prepared to serve as a provost speaks volumes about how this campus has supported my professional growth.”
Hale said a farewell celebration is being planned prior to her July departure, with details to be announced.
