Ut Southern Has A New Chancellor

The University of Tennessee Southern officially welcomes Dr. Melinda S. Arnold as Chancellor following the confirmation of her appointment by the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, Friday.

Dr. Arnold, an experienced higher education leader and passionate advocate for student success, was selected after a comprehensive national search and will begin her service as Chancellor on July 1, 2025.

She most recently servied as Special Assistant to the President at Texas A&M University–Texarkana.

Dr. Arnold brings more than two decades of experience to the role. She has served in senior leadership positions at regional, comprehensive universities with a strong focus on supporting first-generation, rural, transfer, and adult learners.

Dr. Arnold succeeds Chancellor Linda C. Martin, who has led the institution since 2022 and will return to her leadership role within the UT System. The UT Southern community extends its deepest appreciation to Dr. Martin for her tireless commitment to the campus and congratulates Dr. Arnold as she prepares to lead the next chapter of UT Southern’s story.