Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and University Registrar
Brian Coldren joined UT in February 2022 as the inaugural Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and University Registrar. In this role, he works proactively to serve the campus by promoting and helping to implement academic initiatives and operational enhancements that support student success measures and strategic campus initiatives. Coldren leads the Office of the University Registrar while also serving as a member of the Vice Provost’s Leadership Team.
Coldren has over 20 years of professional experience in higher education working in campus life, advising services, and registration and records at Indiana State University, Creighton University, and Drake University. Before coming to Rocky Top, he most recently served as the Assistant Provost and University Registrar at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. During his 9 years at Oglethorpe, Coldren was recognized as the Employee of the Year two times, becoming the first person to ever receive the award more than once. Coldren earned his BA in international studies from Rhodes College and an MS Ed in higher education administration from Drake University.
“I am inspired by the transformative power of higher education for our students and communities. Here at UT, we are growing our student body and academic programs to meet the challenges of today’s world. A contemporary Registrar’s office can be a critical partner in shaping academic programs and policies and providing tools to enhance student success. At the university, we want to be fundamental to helping our campus realize the strategic vision. We are positioned at the intersection of academic and administrative life, serving all constituents of the institution. It’s a great time to be part of an office and division that is helping to inform academic and student success initiatives in our daily work. I get to live the Volunteer Creed every day in this role, and I can’t imagine any better place to be right now than on Rocky Top!”
CliftonStrengths: Connectedness, Individualization, Relator, Arranger, Achiever