Associate Professor of Social Work Matthew Theriot, who successfully led the effort to develop UT’s new Experience Learning initiative, has been named associate provost for teaching and learning innovation. He will oversee implementation of Experience Learning and oversee the Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center.
The new post is a three-year appointment involving 50 percent of his time.
Theriot chaired the interdisciplinary team that spent nearly two years designing the new Quality Enhancement Plan, a required component of UT’s reaccreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The QEP—now known as Experience Learning — seeks to increase experiential learning opportunities for all students. The ten-year initiative begins this fall.
“Matthew did a superb job of leading a large team of faculty, staff, and students to develop Experience Learning,” Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Susan D. Martin said. “The plan drew many compliments from SACSCOC evaluators, and Matthew’s leadership received high praise from the team members he led.
“He is a natural fit for this new role and will be an asset to our team as we work to reach our goals for improving teaching and learning on our campus.”
Theriot said leading the Experience Learning team has provided a great foundation for this new challenge.
“The QEP development process was arduous, but it was extremely rewarding to work with such a broad-based group from the campus and watch our ideas take shape,” he said. “I’m excited to take on this new role and to help launch Experience Learning.”
Theriot also will oversee efforts of the Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center, created in 2008 to help faculty and instructors improve their teaching skills.
Theriot received his doctorate in social welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. He received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in social work from the University of Texas at Austin.
He joined UT’s faculty in 2003 and served as director of the College of Social Work’s undergraduate program from 2006 to 2013. Since 2013 he’s been director of the college’s PhD program.
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CONTACT:
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)