Chancellor's Investiture
Please join us for the investiture of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor
Dr. Lori Mann Bruce
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 3 p.m. McKenzie Arena
Doors open at 1:30 p.m. with access through Gate 1, Gate 2 and Gate 3.
Parking available in Mocs Alumni Garage (Garage 31) and Lots 32 and 33 across from McKenzie Arena.
Seating is on the Gate 1 side of the arena in the Lower Level and Gold Circle. For those unable to attend the investiture in person, the ceremony will be streamed live with closed captioning provided here.
About the event
An investiture is one of the oldest traditions in higher education, a ceremonial event that formally confers authority upon a new university leader. Rooted in centuries of academic heritage, the ceremony represents both continuity and renewal—symbolizing UTC’s enduring mission and the promise of new leadership.
The ceremony will include remarks from Chancellor Bruce, University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd and campus dignitaries. Program highlights will include performances by the UTC Chamber Singers and the traditional presentation of the University mace and chain of office—symbols of the authority and responsibility entrusted to the chancellor.
About Dr. Lori Mann Bruce
Bruce assumed her role as Chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on June 30, 2025, becoming the 19th leader in University history. Her higher education career encompasses extensive experience in both academic and administrative roles.
Bruce came to UTC after serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Tennessee Technological University since 2018. In that role, she oversaw all academic operations and led research and strategic planning efforts for more than 10,000 students across eight academic colleges.
Under her leadership, Tennessee Tech achieved a perfect academic program quality score from the state—an accomplishment unmatched in over four decades. She led the development and launch of multiple new academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. levels, each aligning with statewide and regional workforce needs.
Bruce spearheaded efforts to increase annual research funding from $16 million to more than $46 million, with projections indicating even higher figures for fiscal year 2025. She oversaw $350 million in campus infrastructure improvements—from new science and engineering facilities to major building renovations.
She also established the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence, implemented a campus-wide compensation study that led to pay increases across faculty and staff ranks, and worked to foster a supportive culture around professional development.
Prior to her tenure at Tennessee Tech, Bruce served as associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School at Mississippi State University. During her time on that campus, she held appointments as Giles distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering; associate dean for research and graduate studies in the Bagley College of Engineering; executive director of the High Performance Computing Collaboratory; and interim director of the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.
As a faculty member, she led research projects funded with more than $20 million from federal and industry partners, resulting in over 150 peer-reviewed scholarly publications that have been cited more than 6,000 times.
Bruce is no stranger to Tennessee. She grew up on a working farm in rural Lincoln County, about 90 minutes west of Chattanooga. Her early life experiences shaped her values of hard work, service and education, especially after her mother enrolled in college while raising children—a decision that left a lasting impression on the family.
She earned a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She also completed graduate coursework in biomedical engineering through the Georgia Tech/Emory Medical School joint program.
Her husband, Dr. JW Bruce, is a professor of electrical engineering at UTC. Their son, Walker, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering at UT Knoxville.
University Mace and Chancellor's Chain of Office
The University Mace and the Chancellor’s Chain of Office are two of the most significant symbols of authority, leadership, and tradition at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Designed by renowned New York artist and State University of New York silversmithing professor Kurt J. Matzdorf in 1977, both are steeped in the history of the institution. They link today’s University community to its founding in 1886 and represent the continuity of UTC’s mission across generations.
The University Mace serves as a ceremonial emblem of institutional authority. Carried at the head of academic processions by the president of the Faculty Senate during commencements, convocations, and chancellor investitures, it signifies the formal opening of University functions.
Above the six angled struts is a crown in which the seal of the University has been engraved. Between the six struts are six shields with two of each of the following state symbols: the mockingbird (state bird), the iris (state flower), and a branch of the tulip tree (state tree). “The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 1886” is engraved below the shields.
The Chancellor’s Chain of Office, worn during formal occasions, symbolizes the trust, responsibility, and leadership vested in the University’s chief executive. Bearing the name and emblems of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the chain visually connects each chancellor to their predecessors, reinforcing the unbroken line of stewardship that has guided UTC for more than a century. Its presentation during the investiture ceremony marks the formal conferral of authority.
Together, the Mace and Chain embody the spirit of UTC—anchored in tradition yet forward-looking in purpose. They remind students, faculty, alumni, and the broader Chattanooga community that the university’s strength lies not only in its academic mission but also in its shared values, history, and enduring commitment to serve.
When not in use, the Mace and Chain are displayed in Founders Hall as a daily reminder of UTC’s enduring values—academic excellence, service, leadership, and community engagement.