Our Bureau
Chattanooga, TN
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga recently announced that Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi has been named dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), effective July 1.
The announcement was made by Dr. Jerold L. Hale, UTC provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Dr. Yelamarthi brings a combination of strong administrative ability, a distinguished record of scholarship, research and teaching, and valuable experience in academic leadership,” Hale said.
Yelamarthi comes to UTC from Tennessee Technological University, where he has served since 2021 as associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering. In that role, he supported more than 3,100 students and 85 faculty members across seven departments and 18 programs.
He previously led the School of Engineering and Technology at Central Michigan University, overseeing eight programs and managing a $4 million annual budget.
At UTC, Yelamarthi will hold a joint faculty appointment in electrical engineering and computer science.
“When I visited UTC, I was immediately struck by the campuswide commitment to student success,” Yelamarthi said. “The passion from everyone I met—from faculty to staff—was unmistakable.
He added, “The University’s deep integration with the Chattanooga community was unlike anything I’ve seen before, and I’m excited to join a college that is ready to help meet regional and national needs for engineers and computer scientists.”
Yelamarthi said. “I feel fortunate to be selected for this role and am eager to get started—and so is my family. My kids are already excited about what the future holds for all of us in Chattanooga.”
He holds a bachelor’s degree in instrumentation and control engineering from the University of Madras in India—and both a master’s degree in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in engineering from Wright State University in Ohio.
Yelamarthi’s career spans leadership in undergraduate and graduate program development, industry engagement, student retention and recruitment, and research collaboration with national laboratories and academic institutions.
Yelamarthi will succeed Dr. Ahad Nasab, who has served as interim dean of CECS for the last two years.
