Matthew Scoggins Named Chief of Staff
I am pleased to announce that Matthew Scoggins, who currently serves as UT’s general counsel, will be joining our campus leadership team as chief of staff. His first day will be October 1, though he will begin his transition over the coming weeks.
As chief of staff, Matthew will serve as a member of the chancellor’s cabinet. He will provide leadership support and coordination for projects and priorities that come through the chancellor’s office. I have come to know Matthew as a creative and thoughtful leader who cares about people and who prevents and solves problems. His legal background, broad understanding of higher education issues, and deep knowledge of the campus will make him a tremendous asset to our team.
Matthew has served as general counsel since January 2017 and has been part of that office since 2008, first as assistant general counsel and then as deputy general counsel. He has provided advice and representation to UT on matters of student and academic affairs, athletics, legislative affairs, constitutional law, campus policing, employment, and compliance with state and federal law including Title IX and the Tennessee Public Records Act.
Before joining UT, Matthew practiced law at the firms Bass, Berry & Sims PLC in Knoxville and Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta. He is a two-time alum of UT Knoxville, having earned both a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a law degree here.
He is a native of Columbia, Tennessee. He and his wife, Emily, have three children: Abigail, Sam, and Lucy.
Please join me in welcoming Matthew in his new role.