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Engineering dean Wayne Davis to officially start as UT's interim chancellor

According to UT President Joe DiPietro, Davis agreed to serve in the role for six to 12 months.

UT Knoxville has named Tickle College of Engineering dean Wayne Davis as the interim chancellor.

According to UT President Joe DiPietro, Davis agreed to serve in the role for six to 12 months.

He takes office on Monday.

It comes less than a day after DiPietro announced Chancellor Beverly Davenport's demotion to a faculty member in the College of Communication and Information.

MORE: Beverly Davenport out as UTK chancellor, effective July 1

"Wayne Davis is a proven and respected University leader who has served the flagship campus in numerous capacities for more than four decades. As its dean, he has presided over a thriving Tickle College of Engineering, growing in enrollment, research productivity and achieving new heights of national recognition," DiPietro said. "I greatly appreciate Wayne and his wife, Sylvia, postponing retirement to continue serving their alma mater during this critical time."

RELATED: DiPietro letter blasts UT chancellor's communication, leadership, 'us vs. them' attitude

TIMELINE: Beverly Davenport's 14 months as UTK Chancellor

Davis said the sudden change in the senior leadership position was unsettling.

“The University of Tennessee holds a special place in my heart. As an alum, a faculty member and an administrator, I have been committed to this great University and its journey toward excellence for more than 45 years," he said. "I am deeply honored to be asked to serve in this interim role as the university identifies the next steps toward its search for a new chancellor.”

According to the university, Davis has served in faculty and administrative roles at UT for 44 years. From 1985 through 1988, he was the assistant dean of the Graduate School. He served as associate dean from 1988 through 1991.

Davis

became interim dean of the Tickle College of Engineering in 2008 before assuming the role permanently in 2009.

In 2003, he was named University Macebearer which is UT Knoxville's highest faculty honor.

This is a developing story and will be updated with more information shortly.

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