Dr. Shawn Bingham named dean of the UTC Honors College

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has named Dr. Shawn Bingham as the next dean of the Honors College, effective July 1, 2026.

Bingham currently serves as director of the University Honors Program and Mykles Endowed Chair of Honors at Colorado State University, where he leads a program of more than 1,800 students and works across colleges to expand high-impact learning opportunities. He brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education to UTC, including leadership roles in honors education, interdisciplinary programming and undergraduate research.

Dr. Jerold L. Hale, UTC provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, announced the appointment.

“Dr. Bingham’s vision of honors as a strategic engine contributing to institutional priorities, including an enhanced student experience, enrollment growth, and strong faculty and community engagement, is an excellent fit with UTC’s fabric and its strategic plan,” Hale said. “His lengthy and impactful experience with honors education helped him emerge from an incredibly strong candidate pool.”

Bingham’s previous roles include serving as associate dean of undergraduate studies and director of the Honors College at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, as well as leadership positions at the University of South Florida, where his work focused on connecting academic programs with research, community engagement and student development.

“What drew me to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is the alignment between its student-centered mission and the kind of honors work I care most about—creating structured pathways that connect curiosity to meaningful engagement in the world,” Bingham said. “UTC is uniquely positioned to do that in partnership with the city, and I’m excited to join that work.”

Bingham said he sees the Honors College as a space that extends beyond coursework and into how students understand themselves and their role in the world.

“One question I return to often with students is simple: Who do you want to be?” he said. “Not just what you want to study or what job you want, but how you want to move through the world. At its best, honors creates space for that kind of reflection, where intellectual work connects to purpose, judgment and everyday decisions.

“Honors occupies a unique position across the University. It isn’t tied to a single discipline. It connects students, faculty and ideas across colleges, linking research, undergraduate education and community engagement in ways that are often difficult to coordinate elsewhere.”

That cross-campus reach, he said, is especially important as the University continues to grow its research profile while maintaining strong ties to the Chattanooga community.

“UTC is at a pivotal moment, expanding its research profile while deepening its commitment to the region,” he said. “Honors is uniquely positioned to bring those priorities together in the student experience, connecting learning with the life of the city in meaningful and lasting ways.”

For Bingham, Chattanooga itself plays a key role in that experience.

“Chattanooga itself is an incredible asset. Honors can help make the city not just a backdrop, but a site of learning, where students engage with real questions, real communities and real opportunities to contribute,” he said.

Hale thanked Gary W. Rollins College of Business Dean Robert Dooley, who chaired the national search, and the members of the search committee for their work in leading this effort.

He also recognized Dr. Linda Frost, who has led the Honors College since 2013. Frost will continue her work at UTC as a member of the Department of English.

“Under the outstanding leadership of Dean Frost, the Honors College experienced strong growth while maintaining high academic standards,” Hale said. “She made important strides in increasing scholarship support for students in the Honors College. She cultivated an inclusive and exciting student experience, coupled with wonderful community and alumni engagement. Under her leadership, students in honors were retained and graduated at impressive rates.

“I have appreciated her leadership across the academic landscape. Her contributions to efforts like the reaffirmation of UTC’s national accreditation, its current Quality Enhancement Plan focused on cohort learning, and on academic policies will serve the University well into the future.”

“It’s an honor to follow Dr. Linda Frost, whose leadership has helped build a strong and respected Honors College at UTC and across the broader honors community,” Bingham said. “I’m grateful for the foundation she has established and excited to build on that work.”

During his campus visit, Bingham said he was struck by the sense of connection between students, faculty and the city.

“I’m humbled to join the UTC community,” he said. “What stood out to me during my visit was the thoughtfulness of the students, the commitment of the faculty, and the strong connection between the University and the city. I’m excited to be part of what comes next.”

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