UNA Alum Dr. Prentice T. Chandler Appointed Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UT Southern
Jan. 17, 2025
Ella G. Stephenson
Two-time University of North Alabama College of Education and Human Sciences graduate Dr. Prentice T. Chandler has been named Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, Tenn.
Dr. Chandler brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to academic excellence, having previously served as the Dean of the Eriksson College of Education at Austin Peay State University.
He said he credits his educational journey at UNA for his success.
"From amazing professors to the overall student experience, this university gave me the tools I needed to be a teacher and leader," Dr. Chandler said. "As the first person in my family to graduate from high school and college, I could not have hoped for a more supportive environment when I was at UNA. This university changed my life."
During his tenure at Austin Peay, Dr. Chandler spearheaded significant initiatives that enhanced the College of Education, including the development of the nation's first federally registered teaching program and the introduction of the university's inaugural doctoral program.
"The seven-plus years I spent as Dean of the Eriksson College of Education have been the most rewarding professional experience of my life," he said. "Making an impact and improving our college is something that takes teamwork and collaboration. That is the secret to creating great colleges and universities: build leadership capacity, give people your trust and support, and work together."
As he steps into his new role at UT Southern, Dr. Chandler said he is eager to implement the same collaborative approach.
"In my brief interactions with the campus, they seem eager and excited to work on making their university the best it can be. I plan to approach this next chapter with the same mindsets that have worked for me in the past," he said. "As a public school teacher, coach, professor, chair, associate director, and dean, I have developed a personal mantra to guide my work: Work Hard. Be Kind. Own It. Evolve. And Extend Grace."
Dr. Chandler said his vision for UT Southern is rooted in continuous improvement and community engagement.
"There is no such thing as a perfect leader or perfect university," he said. "They key is always thinking about how we can do better, as individuals and as a collective."
About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: 1acart.com and 1acart.com/unaworks/.