MARTIN, Tenn. – David Belote, of Martin, has been named interim vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Tennessee at Martin effective Oct. 1. The announcement was made this morning (Thursday, Sept. 28) by Interim Chancellor Nick Dunagan.
-The Division of Student Affairs has a professional and clerical staff that has served students well for a number of years. I have asked David Belote to lead this talented staff by serving as interim vice chancellor for student affairs,- Dunagan said.
-He will assume the position Oct. 1. David has worked closely with the Leaders in Residence program, Student Government Association, Student Activities Council, PEP leaders and the Freshman Studies program,- Dunagan said. -With this background, his experience in the Office of Housing, and his management of the Campus Recreation program before his most recent time as director for the Office of Student Life, he possesses a broad-based knowledge of student activities and needs.-
Belote, 47, is a 1976 graduate of UT Martin. He has a bachelor-s degree and a master-s in education, from UT Martin. He previously served as assistant director of housing, associate director of student activities, assistant men-s basketball coach, director of campus recreation and director for the Office of Student Life.
-I am humbled and excited,- Belote said. -We already have an excellent staff and it-s exciting to work with the group in this capacity. For years, we have worked under the philosophy of students first and we will continue that.
-We have great students, good student leadership, tremendous student involvement and for the most part our students care about the future of UT Martin, but we still have some work to do,- Belote said.
To further strengthen the Division of Student Affairs, Dunagan said Frank Stevenson will serve as coordinator of student organizations.
Stevenson is a 1997 UT Martin graduate and he has a bachelor-s degree in political science from UT Martin and a master-s of public administration from Murray State University.
Stevenson will continue his work with the Black Student Association, the Highest Praise gospel choir and be the Division of Student Affairs contact with all other academic and non-Greek student organizations. He will also assist in the solving of specific student requests for assistance.
-I have enjoyed my current responsibilities and I look forward to the new challenges presented to me. I am extremely eager to work with all of the student organizations,- Stevenson said.
With the recent death of Brian Brown, Gina Warren has been named interim director of campus recreation. She also will continue as the coordinator of intramural sports.
Warren earned her bachelor-s and master-s from UT Martin in 1994 and 1997 respectively. She served as assistant men-s and women-s tennis coach from 1994-98 and recently she served as the coordinator for intramural sports.
Warren was a two sport athlete at UT Martin from 1990-94. She started 104 of 106 games as a member of the UT Martin women-s basketball team. She also helped the women-s tennis team captured its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship during her senior season. She will be inducted into the UT Martin Athletic Hall of Fame Oct. 7.
-We want to continue to serve students,- Warren said. We want to do all the things we were doing when Brian (Brown) was here.-
Dunagan said the position formerly occupied by Brown will be utilized to hire an outdoor recreation specialist who will also assist in other campus recreation activities.
Admissions, international programs, student financial assistance and the Governor’s School for the Humanities will continue to report directly to Dunagan, who was recently named interim chancellor when Dr. Philip W. Conn asked to be reassigned to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
-I have been involved with admissions and student financial assistance for nearly 15 years,- Dunagan said. -They are closely linked to our student recruiting efforts that will be a high priority during this academic year. International programs and the Governor’s School are unique programs that interact closely with the chancellor’s office. This will also free up some of the administrative duties for David (Belote) as he maintains the important role as interim vice chancellor and director of student life.-
###