Mission
The Office of Assessment and Strategic Initiatives (OASI) 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, OASI 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
The Office of Assessment and Strategic Initiatives (OASI) 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.
OASI Staff
Melissa A. Brown, Ph.D.
Director of Assessment and Strategic Initiatives for the Division of Student Life
Melissa joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in September 2017. She has a decade 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.
Noelia Pacheco Diaz
Graduate Research Assistant
Noelia is a doctoral student working towards her PhD in Evaluation Statistics and Measurement (ESM) in the Educational Psychology and Counseling Department. She graduated from Ohio University with a Masters in Spanish Literature and Linguistics. Noelia also worked as a Spanish lecturer at Ohio State University and here at UT. In her program, she had the opportunity to gain experience in evaluating and assessing programs based on quantitative data. She is looking forward working as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Division of Student Life.
Assessment Steering Committee
The Division of Student Life Assessment Steering Committee provides guidance and strategic direction to the Office of Assessment and Strategic Initiatives. They contribute recommendations for seamless reporting of retention, graduation, and outcomes-based initiatives for the Division. The steering committee determines and helps to communicate the overall assessment efforts for the Division.
- Chair – Dr. Melissa A. Brown, Director, Assessment and Strategic Initiatives
- Dr. Sean Basso, Associate Director, RecSports
- Ian Crone, Director, Student Union
- Lauri Dusselier. Director, Center for Health Education & Wellness
- Noelia Pacheco Diaz, Graduate Research Assistant, Assessment and Strategic Initiatives
- Dr. Lori Smith, Assistant Director, Student Disability Services
- Blake Weiss, Coordinator of Special Projects, Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Assessment Champions
Student Life Assessment Champions serve as the liaisons or “go-to” staff members for all things assessment within each department. More information on the role of Assessment Champions can be found in the Assessment Champions Handbook. More information on champion’s deadlines can be found here.
| Department | Assessment Champion |
| Center for Health Education & Wellness | Lauri Dusselier |
| Jones Center for Leadership & Service | Brooke Squires |
| Center for Student Engagement | Jordan Smith-Porter |
| Student Life Communications | Landin Lynd |
| Dean of Students Office | Kelly Rubin |
| Multicultural Student Life | Ronni Williams |
| Pride Center | Bonnie Johnson |
| RecSports | Cameron Freeman |
| Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life | Jennifer Pierce Thomas |
| Student Conduct & Community Standards | Shaun McComas |
| Student Counseling Center | Judi Gibbons |
| Student Disability Services | Sara Conrad |
| Student Government Association | Abigail Brumfield |
| Student Health Center | Daniel Del Toro |
| Student Life Tech Group | Jolyon Gray |
| Student Media | John Kennedy |
| Student Union | Alison Ward |
| University Housing | Chandra Myrick |