Tennessee’s search for a chancellor to replace Jimmy Cheek has come to an end.
University of Tennessee system president Dr. Joe DiPietro announced on Monday afternoon that Dr. Beverly Davenport will take over for Cheek on March 1, 2017, pending approval from the UT Board of Trustees.
“During a comprehensive national search, Dr. Davenport rose to the top of the candidate pool because of her extensive experience and qualifications,” DiPietro said via a letter released on Monday. “She will be an excellent fit as the next leader of UT Knoxville. I’m confident the flagship campus will continue its ascent as a top public research institution under her leadership.”
Davenport is currently the interim president of the University of Cincinnati after arriving there in July of 2013, half a year after current Tennessee coach Butch Jones left the school to come to Knoxville.
Previously, Davenport was the senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Cincinnati for three years. Prior to that she had stops at Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Purdue.
With a chancellor now tentatively in place, Tennessee is expected to next move on to a more formal search for a Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics to replace Dave Hart, who has announced his plans to retire in the summer of 2017.
