2017 - 2023
Dr. Keith Carver began his duties as is the 11th chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin on January 3, 2017.
During his time in office, UT Martin has developed a five-year strategic plan for university growth and development; increased overall headcount by almost four percent and first-year freshman enrollment by almost nine percent (from fall 2017 to fall 2018); and developed dual-enrollment partnerships with both Jackson State Community College and Southwest Tennessee Community College.
Carver’s tenure also includes the addition of several new programs to the academic catalog, including a new bachelor’s degree program in agricultural business; a 3+3 legal studies concentration for English and political science majors in partnership with the UT College of Law; a 3+1 transfer track in partnership with the UT Health Science Center’s School of Pharmacy; concentrations in data science and digital hardware and embedded systems in the Department of Computer Science; a concentration in mechatronics in the Department of Engineering; and concentrations in higher education leadership, special education and literacy in the master’s degree program for educational studies.
UT Martin is also a participant in former Gov. Bill Haslam’s Tennessee Strong program and received a Veteran Reconnect grant in 2018 from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Also during Carver’s time in office, the UT Martin athletics program has grown to include 450 student-athletes on campus, added beach volleyball as a women’s sport and installed a new playing surface at Hardy Graham Stadium.
Carver has worked with the UT System for 22 years and served as executive assistant to the UT president from January 2011-December 2016 before taking the post at UT Martin. Prior to his position with the UT System, Carver held various positions on the UT campuses in Knoxville, Martin and Memphis, including serving as interim vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis and as assistant vice chancellor for development at UT Martin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Memphis, and a master’s degree in college student personnel and educational leadership as well as a doctoral degree from UT Knoxville.
Carver and his wife, Hollianne, are the parents of a daughter, Carson, and two sons, Jack Thomas (“J.T.”) and Britton. The Carver family lives in Martin and has West Tennessee roots in Henderson and Crockett counties.