KNOXVILLE -- The University of Tennessee announced Tuesday morning that Jimmy Cheek, the chancellor of the system's Knoxville campus, is stepping down and returning to a faculty position.
Cheek has been UT's chancellor since Feb. 1, 2009, and he will remain in the position until his replacement is picked.
The search for that replacement, according to UT president Joe DiPietro, will begin shortly after the university's board of trustees meets later this month, and DiPietro hopes it will be concluded by next spring.
"Chancellor Cheek and I have had several conversations related to this decision over the past few months, and I am very appreciative of his leadership in moving our flagship campus through a seven-year period of unprecedented growth and forward momentum," DiPietro said in a statement.
"Leading a campus with thousands of employees, students and stakeholders is a demanding role that comes with numerous challenges, but it also has many rewards.
"Chancellor Cheek has served us well, and I am grateful for the energy and vision he has brought to the University of Tennessee and our Knoxville campus."
In a letter on UT's official website, Cheek expressed his gratitude for the opportunity he had to serve as the university's chancellor.
"Serving as your chancellor," he wrote, "has truly been the capstone of my career."
Cheek set a goal of turning Tennessee into a top-25 national research university, and the campus underwent a facelift thanks to widespread construction and renovations of multiple buildings.
"During his tenure," DiPietro said, "Chancellor Cheek has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing the overall living and learning experience for students and creating the kind of professional environment that has attracted some of the world's most outstanding faculty and staff."
One potential replacement is current East Tennessee State president Dr. Brian Noland, who has a degree from Tennessee and also worked as the associate executive director for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.