It was in Gilbreath Hall on the ETSU campus where the inaugural faculty of East Tennessee State Normal School first taught more than a century ago. Those 18 faculty members trained at some of the most impressive institutions in the world, and they came to this campus with the shared belief that through education, lives can be changed and our communities could be made better.
Fast-forward over a 100 years later, and that same tradition continues. Today, hundreds of faculty call this institution home. Our faculty believe in the power of higher education, and that with a college degree, any dream is possible. Our faculty are champions for our students. They are leaders, mentors, scholars, innovators, and public servants. They are award-winning teachers and noted researchers in their fields of study. They meet the needs of others. They generate new ideas and develop solutions for our community.
And, they are all committed to the success of their students.
Welcome to East Tennessee State University.
It is my honor to serve as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at this amazing institution that is transforming the lives of others every day.
Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Key Updates for ETSU Faculty/Staff
Congratulations, 1911 Society inductees
ETSU announced the newest members of the 1911 Society, an organization that honors some of the university’s most notable graduates from undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.
Named in commemoration for the year ETSU was founded, the 1911 Society recognizes students who have distinguished themselves for academic excellence, service and leadership.
Common Read: The Anthropocene Reviewed
The Common Read for the 2025-26 academic year will be The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green. I invite all faculty and staff to read the book over the summer and consider how it might resonate within your courses, programs, or conversations across campus. Whether incorporated into a course or simply shared among colleagues and students, The Anthropocene Reviewed offers rich opportunities for engagement as we prepare to begin a new year together. We hope to welcome John Green to our campus next year to discuss his work. Read more about the Common Read.
AI Task Force Updates
The Generative Artificial Intelligence Task Force was created to develop clear, ethical policies and procedures to guide the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in teaching, learning, and research. This task force will develop institutional policies and procedures that support responsible AI use while maintaining academic integrity and innovation in accordance with the university mission.
University Council Minutes: Looking for the most recent minutes from our monthly University Council meeting? Visit here.
Academic News
Why I Teach: Conversations with ETSU Faculty
During my first semester at ETSU, I visited each of the ETSU colleges where I met with the faculty and students and learned about their initiatives and plans. The accounts of how ETSU has inspired them were truly transformative.
I was so inspired by those stories that I have launched a new podcast series – Why I Teach: Conversations with ETSU Faculty – in partnership with the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of University Marketing and Communications that is dedicated to telling the incredible stories of the ETSU faculty.
You can access the podcast here or find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodBean app,or on Spotify. Special thanks to Professor Martin Walters for creating the music for this podcast.