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
Community Engagement Committee
A new Community Engagement Committee has been established to recommend processes to
institutionalize and promote community engagement at ETSU. The committee includes
representation from each college, Student Government, Faculty Senate, Academic Council
of Chairs, Student Life and Enrollment, and community partners. Joy Fulkerson will serve a two-year term as the chair of the committee, and Dr. Susan McCracken and the Office of Community Engagement will provide administrative support.
Details of the committee’s charge and membership are located on the committee website.
The '24-'25 Campus Read
The 2024-25 campus read is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This book explores the power of human connection and kindness in the midst of war and affirms the value of education. Mr. Doerr spoke at ETSU's Festival of Ideas on Tuesday, February 25. Learn more.
Great Lecture Series
ETSU’s 2024-25 Great Lecture Series will conclude on Friday, April 25, with lectures by Dr. Deidre Pierce and Dr. Alan Stevens.
This lecture series celebrates and showcases the work of faculty recently promoted to full professor at ETSU. Faculty play an integral role in the mission of ETSU through their teaching, research and service, and this lecture series provides them an opportunity to share their work with the broader community.
The faculty will deliver their lectures at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 25, in the East Tennessee Room on the second level of the D.P. Culp Student Center. It is free and open to the public.
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.