Mary TannerMary Poston Tanner announced Thursday that she has accepted an interim position as executive director of the Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies.
Tanner, who served the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies for 17 years, will fill the Ochs Center position for the next few months.
"She's uniquely positioned to do a great job in terms of utilizing all the expertise she has gained over the years by working with researchers to help our community," said Ben Pitts, the Ochs Center's board chairman.
Tanner retired on July 1 after spending one year as UTC's interim provost, but accepted the Ochs Center position to support it through a rebuilding stage, working to identify a new leader for 2014.
"UTC has always been an important partner for us," Pitts said. Tanner "will be able to help us meet our goals that we have outlined in our strategic plan, as well as help us partner with UTC."
Tanner said she plans to reach out to UTC and the city at large.
"This year, the Ochs Center celebrates 50 years of making vital contributions to the city of Chattanooga and the metropolitan region," she said. "Ochs Center has the premier responsibility to provide organizations and leaders with good data upon which information regarding the future can be gleaned.
"From this information, insights can be gained and actions can be inspired to continue to make Chattanooga the community that has made us so proud."