Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Provostis the university’s chief academic officer and senior leader responsible for advancing the academic mission of East Tennessee State University. This leadership role oversees the Division of Academic Affairs, which includes nine academic colleges and more than 180 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs serving more than 14,000 students. This also includes the Academic Health Science Center, the largest in the state of Tennessee.
Working closely with vice provosts, college deans, faculty, and staff, the Provost promotes academic excellence, student success, innovation, scholarship, and discovery. A central focus of the role is supporting faculty at every stage of their careers and fostering an environment where teaching, research, creative activity, and service thrive. The Provost oversees the ETSU Center for Teaching Excellence, supporting faculty development and instructional innovation while advancing a culture of continuous improvement in teaching and learning. Additionally, through ETSU’s Why I Teach podcast, the Provost highlights the stories and experiences of faculty members, showcasing the impact they make in the classroom, across campus, and within their professions and communities.
The Provost is responsible for faculty advancement processes, including tenure and promotion, and champions initiatives that recognize and celebrate faculty achievement. Through programs such as Faculty Convocation, the Great Lecture Series, and other academic recognition opportunities, the Provost helps celebrate ETSU faculty accomplishments and promote a culture of excellence.
The Provost also provides strategic leadership for the university’s research enterprise, supporting faculty and student scholarship, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanding ETSU’s impact through research, creative activity, and innovation.
As a community-engaged institution, ETSU is dedicated to building strong partnerships throughout the region and beyond. The Provost plays a key role in advancing these efforts, supporting the university’s commitment to community engagement, and maintaining ETSU’s Carnegie Community Engagement Elective Classification.
Dr. Nick Hagemeier
Executive Vice Provost
Dr. Hagemeier leads and coordinates high-priority projects on behalf of the Provost, helping translate institutional strategy into action and address opportunities and challenges that require cross-unit collaboration. Dr. Hagemeier provides executive oversight for off-campus instructional sites and other areas assigned by the Provost and supports coordination across Academic Affairs and the broader university. As a member of the Provost’s senior leadership team, the Executive Vice Provost also represents the Provost as needed and assumes responsibility for the Office of the Provost during the Provost’s absence, helping ensure continuity of executive leadership and decision-making.
Dr. Michael Hoff
Vice Provost of Planning and Decision Support
Dr. Hoff serves as a key cross-functional integrator for university decision-making, aligning strategies and resource trade-offs across academic and administrative divisions in coordination with executive leadership and the Board of Trustees. Dr. Hoff also provides leadership for the Institutional Research and Institutional Effectiveness offices ensuring university compliance with state and federal reporting requirements.
Dr. Karin Keith
Associate Provost for Faculty
Dr. Keith works collaboratively with units across campus to support faculty development, engagement, and success. She oversees the development, implementation, and interpretation of academic policies and provides leadership related to faculty appointments, review, and renewal processes. Dr. Keith partners with faculty senate and shared governance groups to advance institutional initiatives and strengthen connections between faculty and student success efforts. Her areas of oversight include the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Provost Fellows for Student Success and Watermark. Through her collaborative and strategic leadership, she supports initiatives that enhance academic excellence and foster a strong campus community.
Dr. Bill Flora
Associate Provost for Curriculum
Dr. Flora oversees ETSU’s curriculum processes, academic program development, catalog management, and program assessment. He collaborates with faculty, department chairs, deans, and university committees to support academic planning, ensure compliance with accreditation and institutional requirements, and advance initiatives that strengthen the quality and accessibility of academic programs. He oversees faculty work on the Curriculum Innovation Center and the Compass Core general education curriculum. He also works with partner institutions to develop curriculum pathways for transfer students through the Office of Transfer and Adult Student Outreach, which manages summer and winter session planning and organization, as well as the Academic Common Market.
Dr. Nick Hagemeier
Interim Vice Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer
Dr. Hagemeieroversees ETSU’s research and sponsored programs portfolio, including the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Administration (ORSPA), the institution’s research compliance committees (IACUC, IBC, IRB), and research development initiatives such as the Research Funding Program and the Trail Guide Research Mentorship Program. He works closely with partners across campus, including Deans and Associate Deans for Research, to champion initiatives that move ETSU toward its vision of being a premier regional public research university.
Dr. Susan McCracken
Vice Provost for Community Engagement and Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan
Dr. McCracken leads ETSU’s Center for Community Engagement, which facilitates initiatives and community partnerships that advance teaching, research, service, and public impact. Her primary responsibilities include the Go Beyond the Classroom QEP, Community-Engaged Learning, the Carnegie Community Engagement designation, ETSU Elevates, and Alternative Breaks. She ensures community engagement initiatives align with the university's mission and strategic priorities.
Kristy Buchanan
Director of Academic Affairs Finance
Ms. Kristy Buchanan oversees budget planning, financial operations, and fiscal management for the Division of Academic Affairs. She works closely with colleges and administrative units to support strategic resource allocation, ensure compliance with university policies, and advance institutional priorities. Kristy also oversees vacancy management, coordinating position tracking and hiring processes across Academic Affairs. To ensure efficient processing, please send financial or staffing-related communications to the Provost Financial Group at provfin@etsu.edu.
Alison Crowe
Business Officer for Academic Affairs
Ms. Alison Crowe supports financial operations, budgeting, and administrative processes across the division. She works closely with departments and leadership to ensure effective stewardship of resources, compliance with institutional policies, and smooth operational workflows. Alison also assists with financial planning and day-to-day business functions that support the academic mission of the university. To ensure efficient processing, please send financial or staffing-related communications to the Provost Financial Group at provfin@etsu.edu.
Claire Shoun
Director of Executive Operations
Ms. Claire Shoun provides administrative coordination, communication, and project management for the Office of the Provost. She manages the provost’s calendar, oversees executive support functions, coordinates special projects, and assists with planning and coordinating University Council, Deans Council, and other leadership meetings.
Nicky Ridley
Executive Assistant to the Vice Provosts
Ms. Nicky Ridley provides administrative support to the Executive Vice Provost, Associate Provost for Curriculum, and Associate Provost for Faculty. She manages scheduling, coordinates communications, and assists with a variety of academic programs and events, such as the Leadership Academy, Great Lecture Series, Chairs Trainings, and Academic Council meetings.
Gina Osborne
Executive Assistant
Ms. Gina Osborne serves as a welcoming first point of contact for faculty, staff, students, and visitors, helping connect individuals with the appropriate resources and assistance. She supports the daily operations of the Office of the Provost and assists the team with a variety of administrative and office functions. She also serves as the building manager for Burgin Dossett Hall and is a member of the ETSU Staff Senate.