Sent on behalf of Chancellor Steve Angle: Dr. Joanne Romagni, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Vice Chancellor for Research and dean of the Graduate School, has decided to leave that position and return to the faculty as a professor in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science. This change will be effective Jan. 1, 2024, and Deputy Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mann will serve as UTC Vice Chancellor for Research for a period of two years starting Jan. 1. Dr. Romagni and I have been talking about this for some time. She has shared with me that family needs requiring her support make this change necessary and I support her decision. Since Dr. Romagni joined UTC in 2015 as the University's first vice chancellor for research, sponsored project award dollars have increased 76%, research and development expenditures have increased 105%, UTC has established a presence in the Edney Building in downtown Chattanooga's Innovation District and launched the UTC Research Institute on campus. Expanded opportunities over the same time period for undergraduate research, such as through the annual spring ReSEARCH Dialogues event, have enriched our students' academic experience and better prepared those entering graduate school. Dr. Romagni has been supported by a hardworking, dedicated team whose contributions and commitment to the University's research and graduate school endeavors have been pivotal in our continued progress. I am grateful to both this team and Dr. Romagni for their efforts to grow the UTC research portfolio, community engagement and undergraduate research opportunities. Our 2021-2025 strategic plan<https://www.utc.edu/chancellor/strategic-plan> calls for expanding research capacity and we are well-positioned for the key role research will increasingly have in UTC's strategic direction. Functions currently overseen by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research will remain unchanged. The Graduate School functions have reported to the Office of the Provost and will continue to do so, with increased emphasis on growing enrollment and capacity as stated in the 2020-2025 strategic plan. Dr. Ethan Carver will continue to support Graduate Studies as Interim Dean. Next steps will be based on recommendations from a study<https://www.utc.edu/chancellor/strategic-plan/proposal-for-strategic-re-staffing> that was completed by the Office of Research. We are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Reinhold Mann's scientific credentials, experience and familiarity with UTC and Chattanooga, as well as productive relationships with significant entities in the research community-including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Science Foundation and U.S. DOE-to sustain and build on our current momentum. I hope you will join me in welcoming him as UTC Vice Chancellor for Research when he assumes this role in January. [A close-up of a signature Description automatically generated] Steve Angle Chancellor