Ellen McIntyre Reappointed as Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Ellen McIntyre Reappointed as Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Ellen McIntyre, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been reappointed for a second five-year term. Provost John Zomchick announced the reappointment to faculty and staff, highlighting McIntyre’s impactful leadership since joining CEHHS in 2020.

McIntyre’s tenure began at a challenging time, as the university transitioned to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after her arrival. Despite these uncertainties, her leadership ensured that CEHHS upheld its high standards in research, scholarship, and student engagement.
Under McIntyre’s guidance, CEHHS achieved remarkable growth. Over the past five years, enrollment has steadily increased, with nearly 1,000 first-year students joining the college in multiple years. Significantly, CEHHS has defied national trends of declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the field.
A champion of collaboration and innovation, McIntyre spearheaded efforts to “reimagine” CEHHS departments, fostering interdisciplinary opportunities and optimizing departmental structures. Her leadership resulted in the merger of some program areas from the Department of Child and Family Studies and some program areas from the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling into the new Counseling, Human Development, and Family Science (CHDFS) department. She also worked closely with faculty and staff in the Theory and Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE) department to create three specialized units: Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching, Language, Culture, and Teacher Education, and Special Education and Applied Learning Sciences.
During her tenure, McIntyre led the College in developing the infrastructure in the Office of Research and External Funding to support more high-impact research. She also led departments in writing new bylaws, which included higher expectations in teaching and research, which will take effect fall 2027.
“I am so encouraged by members of this college who understand deeply where we need to go; the new bylaws have faculty holding themselves accountable for quality, high-impact work,” said McIntyre.
McIntyre’s journey in education began in Newport, Kentucky, where she taught in the Newport Independent Schools. Her passion for literacy and teacher preparation fueled a transition to higher education, where she has held numerous leadership roles. Before joining UT, she served as dean of the Cato College of Education at the University of North Carolina Charlotte for seven years. She has also served as department head and interim associate dean at North Carolina State University and as professor at the University of Louisville.
Her extensive experience, commitment to student success, and ability to drive institutional progress make her a vital asset to CEHHS and the broader university community.
As she begins her next term, McIntyre remains focused on fostering academic excellence, supporting students and faculty, and building on the strong foundation of CEHHS. She is excited about what the future of CEHHS can be.
“I believe we can work to develop world-class programs that attract students from all over the world. Already I see we have faculty who attract our students to study with them, and I would like to see us ensure our programs are those others seek out as the place to study,” said McIntyre.
Through its seven departments and 13 centers, the UT Knoxville College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences enhances the quality of life for all through research, outreach, and practice. Find out more at cehhs.utk.edu