MARTIN, Tenn. – Dr. Andy Lewter, current dean of students at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, will become the new vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Tennessee at Martin, effective Jan. 1, 2019. Lewter’s appointment follows a national search and recommendation by a search committee to UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver. Lewter succeeds Dr. Margaret Toston who retired June 30.
“Dr. Lewter has the experience and vision needed to lead our Division of Student Affairs,” said Carver. “He emerged as the top person from an excellent candidate pool, and his professional background and familiarity with the university position him for success in this important role. I’m grateful to the search committee for their hard work identifying student-centered candidates capable of moving this division to the next level.”
Lewter is a native of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from UT Martin in 1994. He also holds a master’s degree in education from the University of South Carolina in Columbia and a doctor of education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He previously served in several student affairs positions from 1996-2013 at Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee.
“Returning to campus in this role has been a dream of mine since graduation (from UT Martin),” Lewter said. “I am excited about this opportunity to serve the students of UT Martin and look forward to working with the student affairs staff to ensure student safety, promote student success and provide students with an amazing college experience.”
Lewter has significant experience in key student-affairs areas, including programming, student counseling and health, Greek life, campus recreation, career services and assessment. As a UT Martin student, he was active in both Greek life and student-leadership positions. He will lead the UT Martin Division of Student Affairs, which serves students at the main campus and five educational outreach centers in Jackson, Parsons, Ripley, Selmer and Somerville.
Lewter will be joined in Martin by his wife, Megan, who is also a 1994 UT Martin graduate, and their two sons: Andrew, 18, and Mitchell, 7.
The search committee was chaired by Dr. Todd Winters, dean, UT Martin College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. Other search committee members were: John Abel, interim vice chancellor, UT Martin Division of Student Affairs; Debi Adcock, administrative specialist, UT Martin Division of Student Affairs; Kameron Echols, success counselor, UT Martin Student Success Center; Marvin Flatt, community representative, fraternity adviser and Weakley County director of career education; Jenifer Hart, clinical coordinator, UT Martin Office of Student Health and Counseling Services; Devin Majors, UT Martin Student Government Association president; Ryan Martin, assistant director, UT Martin Office of Housing; Kurt McGuffin, director, UT Martin Office of Intercollegiate Athletics; Renard Miles, interim director, UT Martin Office of Career Planning and Development; Jemima Potter, international student and UT Martin student athlete; and Jason Stout, associate professor of art, UT Martin Division of Visual and Theatre Arts.
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