Joy DeSensi, who is currently head of the Department of Exercise, Sport and Leisure Studies in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, has been appointed associate dean of the UT Knoxville Graduate School, effective Aug. 1.
DeSensi comes to the Graduate School with a great deal of administrative experience, having held positions as unit leader and department head since 1999. Throughout her 24 years as a faculty member at the University of Tennessee, she has been vigorously involved in graduate education as a teacher and mentor, as a chair or committee member for more than 100 theses, dissertations and non-thesis projects, and as a graduate program director.
DeSensi has a distinguished record of scholarship and service to the profession. Her numerous national and international awards and recognition include recent invitations to present at the Oxford Roundtable, Oxford University (2008), and to serve on the Science Board of the President’s Council for Physical Fitness (2007-2010).
She has received honors both inside and outside the university for her excellent teaching and skills in mentoring and for her strong commitment to diversity, which is reflected in her high rate of success in recruiting international and African American students, faculty and staff to the program.
As associate dean, DeSensi will play a key role in the Best Practices in Teaching Program, she will assist Carolyn Hodges, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, and her staff with management of fellowships, assistantships and programs that support graduate student professional development, and will work closely with the Graduate Council.
For more information call 974-3694.