The Executive Search team takes pride in its ability to match exceptional candidates with positions that align with their skills, experience, and aspirations, ensuring a mutually beneficial partnership that fosters growth and innovation within the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Martha Mallicote | Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM)
August 10, 2026
As associate dean, Mallicote will oversee the academic and student affairs components of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, with a focus on maintaining UTCVM’s strong reputation for graduating practice-ready veterinarians while continuing to adapt to the evolving demands of the profession.
She completed a residency in large animal internal medicine at the University of Florida in 2012 and subsequently joined the UF faculty. Since that time, Mallicote has worked as a clinician in the UF Large Animal Hospital, teaching veterinary students and residents while managing cases across multiple large animal species. Her clinical and research interests include equine endocrinology, infectious disease and neonatology.
Ryan Otto | Chief of Staff and Strategy, Graduate School
August 1, 2026
Ryan will serve as a strategic advisor and operational leader for the Graduate School, working closely with Dean Puymbroeck and the senior leadership of the Graduate School to advance the school’s mission and institutional priorities.
Ryan is joining the University of Tennessee after two and a half years on missions staff, working with children in Central America. Ryan has a breadth and depth of service in higher education that includes leadership in student services, institutional research, accreditation, organizational and operational effectiveness, academic program expansion, program assessment and evaluation, and other institutional project leadership roles.
Ryan graduated with his PhD in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Tennessee, his MA in English from East Tennessee State University, and his BA in Business from Baylor University.
Lindsay Lucas | Director of Budget Operations, Planning and Reporting
August 1, 2026
Lindsay will oversee the development and management of UT’s institutional budget, leading annual budget administration, Responsibility Center Management model oversight, financial forecasting, and EPM reporting and dashboards. She will partner across campus to support data-informed financial decision-making for colleges, units, and senior leadership.
Lindsay comes to UT from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she served as Assistant Director of Budget and Finance for 10 years. During her tenure, she led budget operations, co-architected the school’s transition to a centrally funded budget model, and developed financial reporting tools to expand visibility and support data-driven decision-making across more than 50 units.
John A. Robinson Jr. – JD | Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Winston College of Law
July 15, 2026
John will provide strategic and operational leadership for student affairs at the Winston College of Law, overseeing student support services, student organizations, orientation, wellness initiatives, student conduct, and leadership development while serving as a key member of the college’s leadership team. He will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, university partners, and students to foster an inclusive, supportive, and engaging law school community that promotes academic success, professional development, student well-being, and preparation for legal careers.
John joins the University of Tennessee from The Citadel, where he served as Executive Director of Student Affairs and Academic Services. Throughout more than 20 years in higher education leadership, he has held executive leadership positions at The Citadel, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, and Villanova University, leading large-scale student success initiatives, crisis response efforts, strategic planning, assessment, and organizational transformation.
John earned a Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law, a Master of Business Administration in Organization Development from Villanova University School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Columbia University.
Michael Walker | Assistant Vice Provost and Director, Graduate Enrollment Management
July 1, 2026
In this role, Michael will provide strategic leadership for graduate admissions, enrollment operations, enrollment analytics, and CRM initiatives while serving on the Graduate School’s executive leadership team.
Walker brings more than 14 years of enrollment management leadership experience across graduate, professional, and undergraduate education. Most recently, he served as Director of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Student Services at Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, where he led enrollment strategy for multiple graduate health sciences programs and achieved significant growth in applications and yield.
His previous leadership experience includes roles at Emory University Goizueta Business School, University of Maryland Global Campus, Year Up United, and Care Courses. Walker earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Tyler and a BBA from Capella University.
Angela Witzel Rollins | Department Head, Small Animal Clinical Sciences
July 1, 2026
As Head of the Small Animal Clinical Sciences Department in the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Angela will provide strategic leadership for one of the university’s largest academic departments by overseeing its clinical, teaching, research, and service missions. She will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, residents, interns, and college leadership to advance excellence in patient care, student education, faculty development, and scholarly activity.
Rollins has been a faculty member of the UT College of Veterinary Medicine since 2009 and most recently served as assistant department head for Small Animal Clinical Sciences. A board-certified veterinary nutritionist, she has also held national leadership roles as president of both the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. A three-time UT graduate, Rollins earned her Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and PhD from the University of Tennessee, where she also completed a residency in small animal nutrition.
Mariel S. Clark | Assistant Vice Chancellor, Integrated Communications
June 1, 2026
In this role in the Office of Communications and Marketing, Mariel will lead a team of communications professionals across news and public relations, media and internal relations, research marketing and communications, and a new team dedicated to integrated planning with colleges and major university units.
Mariel joins UT from Warner Bros. Discovery, where she served as Vice President of Branded Content and Multiplatform Production for HGTV. She also spent several years as an adjunct at UT Knoxville in the School of Journalism and Media.
Earlier in her career, Mariel worked as a news editor, television producer, and television news reporter. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Science in Journalism and Digital Media from Columbia University.
March 2026 – Eric Milhous, Director of Business Analytics, Modeling and Strategies
July 2025 – Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Vice Provost and Dean of UT Graduate School
January 2025 – David White, Dean of Herbert College of Agriculture