UTA selects Tamara L. Brown as new provost
Dr. Tamara Brown will serve as the next provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at The University of Texas at Arlington, effective Aug. 1.
Brown comes to UTA from the University of North Texas (UNT), where she served as executive dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences since 2019. In that position, she increased both student retention and diversity of the faculty.
“As the University’s chief academic officer, Tamara will take responsibility for realizing our central mission of promoting and achieving academic excellence,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. “She has the vision and experience to help UTA realize its collective vision of becoming one of the nation’s most inclusive and impactful research universities.”
Prior to her time at UNT, Brown was interim dean of graduate studies from 2018-19 at Prairie View A&M University. From 2012-18, she served as dean and professor of Prairie View’s College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology and executive director of the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center. From 1999-2012, she was an assistant professor and then associate professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky.
Brown earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Longwood College. She also has a master’s of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.
“UT Arlington is renowned for its innovative and expanding research portfolio, its focus on fostering student success and its ability to attract bright, hardworking students from across Texas and around the globe,” Brown said. “I’m looking forward to joining the Maverick family and playing a role in the University’s continued success.”
James P. Grover, who led UTA’s national search as chairman of the provost search committee, said Brown’s strong academic credentials and proven leadership will help guide UTA into a new era as the state’s newest Tier One university.
“Throughout her career, Tamara has provided strategic leadership focused on improving student success, increasing retention and creating new opportunities for learning,” said Grover, dean of the Graduate School and UTA’s interim vice president for research. “She also has a proven track record of working collaboratively with faculty to increase diversity, promote their scholarship and support increased research and grant activity.”
Brown replaces Pranesh Aswath, who has served as UTA’s interim provost since 2020.
“Pranesh played a vital role in UTA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has worked tirelessly to sustain and build on the University’s momentum in the face of an ever-evolving higher education landscape,” Cowley said. “We are fortunate to have benefited from his energy and expertise in the interim role.”