UT board approves 1st woman chancellor in UTC history

Staff photo by Mason Edwards / Lori Mann Bruce, seen April 30, 2025, was approved by the University of Tennessee board of trustees as the next chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Friday. She is the first woman to hold the position at UTC. Staff photo by Mason Edwards / Lori Mann Bruce, seen April 30, 2025, was approved by the University of Tennessee board of trustees as the next chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Friday. She is the first woman to hold the position at UTC.

By Shannon Coan May 16, 2025 3 min read

The University of Tennessee board of trustees appointed Lori Mann Bruce as the next chancellor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Friday.

Bruce, a provost and vice president for academic affairs at Tennessee Tech University, becomes the first woman to hold the role in the university’s 138-year history. She will begin working at UTC on June 30.

“UTC is a dynamic institution with a proud tradition of academic excellence, innovation and community engagement,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students and the Greater Chattanooga community to build on this strong foundation and lead UTC into its next chapter of growth and opportunity.”

Bruce will make $450,000 per year and receive a housing and one-time moving allowance. Her predecessor, Steve Angle, earned a base pay of $422,039 annually, according to a UT System salary database.