Dr. Laurie Couch named UT Martin chief academic officer

MARTIN, Tenn. – Dr. Laurie Couch has been named as the new provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The announcement was made in a university wide message Dec. 16 to faculty and staff from UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman. Her start date will be announced in the coming weeks.

Couch is currently provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Salisbury University in Maryland. Her duties include overseeing faculty and student success, curriculum, enrollment management, strategic planning and research. She is also responsible for instructional design and delivery, student academic support, policy oversight, experiential learning, program review and budget management.

Couch was previously associate provost for undergraduate education and student success at Morehead State University in Kentucky, where she also was a psychology faculty member for 26 years.

“UT Martin stands at a significant juncture – one rich with opportunity to strengthen student outcomes, broaden our academic offerings, and deepen our connections with communities across West Tennessee and beyond,” Freeman said in a university announcement Tuesday. “Dr. Couch possesses both the vision to see what’s possible and the practical experience to make it happen.”

Couch comes to UT Martin as the university experiences positive momentum on several fronts, including two consecutive years of enrollment growth.
“UT Martin represents the best of what higher education has to offer,” Couch said in a statement. “The university is focused squarely on promoting the success of its students through innovative, career-ready programs.

“Its dedicated faculty and staff are deeply committed to ensuring academic excellence through exceptional teaching and rich learning experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.”
Couch earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in experimental psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mississippi State University.

UT Martin’s chief academic officer position was previously held by Dr. Philip Cavalier who in July became president of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Dr. Stephanie Kolitch serves as the university’s transitional provost until Couch begins her duties.

UT Martin is a primary regional campus in the University of Tennessee System offering 23 undergraduate degree programs that include 142 specialized concentrations and eight graduate degrees, featuring 30 specialized concentrations.

In addition to the main campus, the university has six regional centers in Jackson, Parsons, Selmer, Ripley, Somerville and Springfield. UT Martin Online offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, including the online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree for working adults.

The university’s 2025 fall enrollment was 8,101 students, including 1,329 first-year students, the highest at UT Martin in 15 years. A new residence hall is planned for completion in fall 2028 and a new state-of-the-art Business Administration Building is expected to be completed in 2030.

For information about the search and UT Martin, contact the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615 or go to www.utm.edu.

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