ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ

Academic Affairs 
The Office of Academic Affairs works under the leadership of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Tim Huebner. Dr. Rashna Wadia Richards serves as the Associate Provost, along with three Deans and two Associate Deans.

Message from the Provost

One of ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ College’s most cherished traditions is that students do not walk across the college seal on the floor of Southwestern Hall until the day of their commencement ceremony. The reason is simple: the seal represents the three values at the heart of a ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ education—Truth, Loyalty, and Service.

Truth is important because we are truth seekers. As a college of the liberal arts and sciences, ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ encourages intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge, perspective, and wisdom. Through reading, discussing, thinking, researching, writing, and presenting, ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ students encounter new ideas, difficult questions, and diverse viewpoints. Curiosity challenges us, and at times we experience discomfort or disagreement. Sometimes this disagreement helps us to sharpen our own thinking, while other times it prompts us to change our minds. At ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ, we lean into curiosity and truth-seeking.

Loyalty reflects our commitment to community. ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ students join a tradition shaped by generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters who built this remarkable institution. Loyalty means being faithful to one another, to our shared values, and to the standards that define our community. The Honor Code stands as a powerful expression of that courage and commitment, reminding us that trust, integrity, and mutual respect are essential to life and learning at ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ.

Service captures our belief that education should make a difference in the world. ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ seeks to develop leaders of character who use their knowledge and talents in service to others. Through community engagement, internships, research, study abroad, and countless other experiences, you will have opportunities to connect learning with purpose and to make a meaningful impact in Memphis and beyond.

Together, Truth, Loyalty, and Service form the foundation of the ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ experience. They challenge us to seek understanding, support one another, and contribute to the common good.

We are living in an extraordinary time – a time of fragile democratic institutions, partisan polarization, and rapid technological advancement. We’re living in an age when smart phones, social media, and AI can inform us and connect us like never before.  But we also know that these tools and technologies can be overused, misused, and abused. As technology marches on, it is more important than ever that we have the civic and ethical understanding that will allow human beings to wield these powerful technologies with wisdom, perspective, and due regard for the wellbeing of others.  And it’s more important than ever that we educate students, citizens, and leaders of character.

Truth, Loyalty, and Service – that’s what the ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ experience is all about.

Timothy Huebner
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs