Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien
Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien, a UC Foundation professor and director of the School of Professional Studies in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, has been named UTC’s vice provost for faculty affairs. Her appointment is effective Jan. 2, 2026.
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jerold L. Hale shared the news in a campuswide announcement that O’Brien, who has been part of the UTC faculty since 2007, will transition to the new role.
“Her appointment reflects UTC’s commitment to developing and advancing leaders from within our own faculty ranks—individuals who understand the University’s mission, values and culture and who have consistently demonstrated their ability to move academic programs forward,” Hale said. “Her career trajectory, from faculty member to school director and now vice provost, exemplifies that investment in leadership growth and institutional continuity.”
As director of the School of Professional Studies, O’Brien has guided programs spanning counseling, school psychology, social work and interior architecture. She has overseen multiple program accreditations, mentored faculty, managed budgets and supported curriculum innovation across a range of disciplines.
Hale said O’Brien’s experience leading a unit with such diverse academic programs made her a natural fit for the vice provost portfolio.
“She helped guide tenure and promotion processes for faculty across very different programs—each with its own bylaws, expectations and disciplinary norms,” Hale said. “That experience translates directly to the kind of work she’ll be doing in faculty affairs, where she’ll advise and support people from across the University.
“She understands the nuances and the day-to-day challenges that faculty and department heads face, bringing empathy along with a clear understanding of what’s required.”
O’Brien said the opportunity to serve in a role that focuses on supporting faculty success felt like a natural next step in her career.
“I had the benefit of being told when I first came to interview here that I could make my career at UTC anything that I wanted to,” she said, “and I took my leaders at their word. Anything that I’ve wanted to do, I’ve had the opportunity to do.
“When this position became available, it was really about supporting faculty in their own growth and development—including the tenure and promotion process—and being successful here at UTC. I thought, ‘Wow, I would love to be able to give back those opportunities to faculty in the same way that they have been given to me.’ That’s really what drew me to this opportunity.”
She described the timing as ideal, personally and professionally.
“I think now is the right time for me,” O’Brien said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities to work in student affairs and academic affairs. I’ve enjoyed being a director and department head, and I was ready to stretch a little bit and do something that challenged me in a new way.
“This role plays to my strengths—building culture, helping people feel successful and supporting growth. I truly love the culture at UTC. There’s a lot of excitement surrounding our new chancellor and the progress being made at the University and in our community. It felt like an exciting time to move forward.”
Hale said O’Brien’s ability to secure significant external funding underscores her leadership and collaborative approach.
She is the principal investigator for UTC’s $2.4 million Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, which supports the preparation of behavioral health professionals serving children, adolescents and young adults in high-need areas across Southeast Tennessee.
Dr. Valerie Rutledge, dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, said O’Brien’s success comes from a blend of academic excellence, practical insight and professional engagement.
“I’m excited for her. I think she shows great leadership potential. I think this is another step forward for her that is a part of the career that she has established and been so successful in,” Rutledge said.
“She has continued to maintain a strong connection with her professional field—having a private practice that she has used to stay current—and has monitored her professional field to the extent that she recently published a book as a part of her professional development leave. So she is a person who continues to excel in a lot of different areas, all of which demonstrate her commitment to her profession.”
In her new role, O’Brien will oversee faculty personnel processes, including reappointment, tenure and promotion, post-tenure review and annual evaluation. She will also work closely with colleges and the Faculty Senate to support faculty success and advance UTC’s academic mission.
Reflecting on her years at the University, O’Brien said she never imagined her career would take this path.
“When I came here, like many new faculty members, I was just grateful that I had made the move from thinking I wanted a doctorate to getting it to getting my first job,” she said. “The thought of moving up the ranks felt so far away, and I never really saw administration as something that I would want to do.
“But the more I saw models here and at other institutions, the more I realized that it could be a way to help others and to be a bridge in helping people be successful. I am so grateful to be considered and to have the opportunity to serve.”
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