Dr. Matt Matthews recently marked his 20th year on the UTC campus, having joined the University faculty in 2004 as an assistant professor of mathematics. Photo by Angela Foster.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Vice Provost Matt Matthews has been selected as the UT System’s new associate vice president for Academic Affairs, effective in mid-August.
UTC Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jerold L. Hale shared the news with faculty and staff through a campuswide announcement.
In his new role, Matthews will report to UT System Vice President for Academic Affairs, Research and Student Success Bernie Savarese. His responsibilities at the system level will encompass new academic programs, major program revisions at all campuses, tenure and promotion of faculty, and handbook revisions and changes to policies that affect faculty.
Although Matthews will be relocating to Knoxville, “I am pleased to note that he will maintain close connections with all of the five UT System campuses, ensuring a continued strong relationship with UTC,” Hale wrote in his campus announcement.
“This is certainly not the end of my time with UTC; it’s just that I will have similar interactions with four other campuses. It’s the beginning of a new way that I will work with UTC,” Matthews said. “I am hoping to provide a representative at the system level who has lived on campus and understands what that academic and faculty affairs relationship looks like.
“This position hasn’t existed before at the system level and will play a key role in maintaining a connection with each of the campuses.”
Matthews recently marked his 20th year on the UTC campus, having joined the University faculty in 2004 as an assistant professor of mathematics. He rose to interim department head in 2014; by 2016, he had become a full professor and had been appointed associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
In 2018, he assumed the role of interim vice provost, a position he officially took on in 2020.
Hale called Matthews “a leader of collaborations,” noting that partnerships he championed in his vice provost role directly led to—among other things—significant updates to the UTC Faculty Handbook on the faculty tenure system and the critical roles of non-tenure-track faculty members; revisions to the University’s degree requirements; and the first substantive changes to the faculty evaluation process.
“His impact on our campus in various leadership roles has been profound and will have lasting effects on generations of faculty members and students,” Hale said.
The provost highlighted the pivotal role Matthews played as co-chair of the committee charged with implementing COVID-19 health and safety protocols, saying, “he personally visited every classroom on campus to ensure UTC was compliant with CDC recommendations for social distancing, contributing significantly to our community’s safety.”
“On a personal note, while this transition brings a mix of emotions, it is also an exciting step for Matt,” Hale said. “Over the five years we have worked together, he has become not only a valued colleague but also a cherished friend. His advice, camaraderie and dedication will be greatly missed.
“Matt’s potential is boundless, and I am confident that he will excel in his new position. Though we will miss his day-to-day interactions dearly, we recognize that this opportunity is essential for his professional growth and for making a broader impact across the entire UT System.”
UTC Vice Provost Lauren Ingraham echoed Hale’s sentiments.
“On the one hand, he’s incredibly well situated to take on that work based on his experience at UTC,” Ingraham said. “On the other hand, I will deeply miss daily interactions with this fundamentally good man.”
Ingraham said she knew of Matthews when she first joined Academic Affairs in 2019, but they had never formally been introduced. When she showed up at Academic Affairs’ Hooper Hall suite, “he stepped out of a meeting to show me around and patiently introduced me to my new colleagues, most of whom I didn’t know.”
“Over the years, I have witnessed him being exceptionally kind to folks who need a little break or grace. When he has to deliver disappointing news, he does it with sensitivity, kindness and lots of data,” she said.
“He has my very best wishes as he moves into this new role, and I’m so glad that we’ll still run into each other at UT System meetings. It’s been a joy to work with him for six years. I’m very excited to watch and support him as he moves into this role.”
Vice Provost Shewanee Howard-Baptiste said that Matthews had long been known as a thoughtful and supportive colleague before she joined Academic Affairs in 2021.
“More than one person would always reference him as a great point of contact for any administrative question or idea,” Howard-Baptiste recalled. “Matt always welcomes colleagues to connect for coffee or lunch, and many people—self-included—become friends. He is trustworthy, kind and works very hard behind the scenes to create a campus we can all be proud of. I’ll be cheering him on in his new role and look forward to our paths crossing again.”
Reflecting on his time at UTC, Matthews said he grew as a leader, administrator and human being, becoming a “much better person for all the time and experiences I’ve had” at UTC.
“Part of what’s made this decision difficult is that it’s tough for me to walk across campus and not just stop and have a conversation with somebody that I know—whether it’s a student, a former student, a faculty member, a staff member,” Matthews said. “Knowing that I’m leaving part of that behind has been one of the most complex parts of this whole process.
“I have good friends and colleagues at UTC. While I hope I’ll be building similar relationships elsewhere, it is difficult to walk away from a place you know and love as much as our campus.”
