For release: August 14, 2012
For press information, contact Curt Guenther, 901-678-2843

Dr. Tom Nenon

Dr. Tom Nenon has been appointed interim provost at the University of Memphis. In making the announcement, U of M President Shirley Raines noted that Nenon has served as a professor or an administrator at the University of Memphis since 1985.

The appointment, which takes effect September 1, follows an announcement last week that Dr. Ralph Faudree is stepping down as provost to return to full-time teaching after a one-year sabbatical.  Faudree has served as provost since 2001.

“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Nenon has accepted the interim provost position.  He is an excellent choice because he has a broad knowledge of the University and our operations, strength and respect among his faculty peers, is dedicated and has a strong work ethic,” said Raines.  “Recently, he has led our retention and graduation efforts, represented the University in the acquisition of the Lambuth campus, served as co-leader of the Banner implementation and the Process Redesign, along with other Tennessee Board of Regents initiatives.”

A native Memphian and a graduate of Christian Brothers High School, Nenon took his first college course at the U of M the summer after he finished high school.  He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy; a B.A. at Regis College in Denver, an M.A. at Boston College, and a Ph.D. degree in 1983 from Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg, Germany.

Nenon came to the University of Memphis in 1985 as a visiting assistant professor of philosophy. In 1993 he became director of the Marcus W. Orr Center for the Humanities, and from 2002 to 2004 he was director of International Programs.  He was named an assistant vice provost for academic affairs in 1997 and an associate vice provost for academic affairs in 2003.  In 2006 he was made vice provost for undergraduate programs and in 2007 vice provost for assessment, institutional research, and reporting. Recently his work has centered on strategic planning, and he has played a key role in facilitating strong improvements in the university’s student retention and graduation rates.

“I am proud to have served under the leadership of President Raines and Dr. Faudree, and my goal is to build on the progress the University has made academically under their direction,” said Nenon. “I have spent virtually my entire career at the University, and I look forward to continuing our work so that the University is recognized as an outstanding place of research and higher learning that our students, faculty and alumni can continue to be proud of.”

Nenon is married to Monika Gunst Nenon, a professor of German and German literature in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Memphis.