As vice chancellor, Deb will lead and support an extraordinary team of researchers, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students to grow the university’s research enterprise, developing and implementing research plans, building innovative partnerships, and raising the university’s national and international reputation.

I am grateful that Matthew Mench agreed to step up last fall when I asked him to take on this position until a permanent vice chancellor for research was hired.

Today we launched the Volunteer Commitment, our community’s promise to protect ourselves and one another, prevent the spread of illness, and help maintain an on-campus experience.

In an effort to make the process easier during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will make submitting standardized test scores (ACT/SAT) optional for the fall 2021 admissions cycle.

Supervisors: If you have not yet done so, now is the time to make sure your department and teams’ work spaces are ready and that you have adequate PPE available for the level of staff returning.

This week the Department of Homeland Security listened to the call of university chancellors and presidents across the country and rescinded guidelines that limited our international students’ ability to engage in online coursework.

Thanks to all of you, we will give our students a meaningful college experience this fall.

Our planning is being done with maximum flexibility, compassion, and creativity—and with the needs of our students in mind.

How the Volunteer community is working to make meaningful change.

As we enter the second half of our summer, we continue our planning for an in-person fall semester.