Mission
Student Life Effectiveness (SLE) facilitates assessment, evaluation, planning, and other research activities that actively contribute to the culture of evidence within the Division of Student Life at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). Through training and skill development related to program review, assessment, evaluation, planning, and research, SLE strives to help departments embed these areas in day to day operations of their programs and services to continuously improve and enhance learning for all students.
Last reviewed Spring 2019
Vision
Student Life Effectiveness seeks to become a national exemplar for student affairs assessment by firming the culture of evidence within the Division of Student Life with sustainable, rigorous, and transparent practices surrounding program review, assessment, evaluation, planning, and research that contribute to the longstanding tradition of excellence at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
SLE Staff
Melissa A. Brown, Ph.D.
Director of Student Life Effectiveness
Melissa joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in September 2017 as the inaugural director of SLE. She has over 15 years of experience teaching and working in higher education assessment and accreditation. Prior to working in higher education, she was a public school teacher for 10 years. Her passion for assessment began in those early years as she spent time working on local, state, and national assessment and accreditation initiatives. Melissa earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2019. She has published and presented on the topics of the construct validity of the American Association of Colleges and Universities VALUE rubrics, social justice-focused assessment practices, and campus climate. Her areas of expertise have been developed over the years in the areas of strategic planning, assessment, survey design, and the program review process.
Noelia Pacheco Diaz, Ph.D.
Assessment Coordinator
Noelia brings over 10 years of experience in higher education. She oversees assessment plans for all 20 units within Student Life at UT, advising departments on best practices for defining outcomes, designing surveys, and implementing effective data collection techniques. Noelia’s work ensures that the data collected is meaningful and actionable, driving improvements in the student experience. She also conducts research to support Student Life priorities and collaborates with Institutional Research to produce reports that help departments better understand their programs, services, and the students they serve.
Massih Forootan, Ph.D.
Data Analyst
Massih joined the University as a data analyst in 2025. With experience since 2018 across government and academic environments, he has a widespread background in data analysis. Prior to that, he has spent 7 years in biotechnology research and teaching statistics. His data analysis work covers road safety and cancer bioinformatics. He has developed live dashboards for the State of Tennessee and automated data processing pipelines for the Center for Translational Data Science, University of Chicago. He is using this experience to implement a platform that can collect data from multiple sources and shape it into actionable insights.
SLE Committees
Assessment Champions
Assessment Champions serve as liaisons for assessment within each department, promoting a culture of assessment and providing guidance and support to fellow staff members. In addition, they act as advocates for assessment within their departments, encouraging staff members to use data to inform their work, providing best practices, and celebrating successes and achievements. Overall, Assessment Champions play a crucial role in ensuring that the Division of Student Life meets its goals and objectives and provides the best possible services and programs to students.