College of Engineering names Christy Wheeler West associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs
The College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University has appointed Christy Wheeler West, Ph.D., as associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs, a key leadership role focused on advancing academic excellence, student success and program innovation across the college’s undergraduate programs.
Wheeler West, an associate professor of chemical engineering at Tennessee Tech, brings more than a decade of faculty and academic leadership experience, with a strong record of advancing undergraduate education, student success initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration.
“Dr. Wheeler West is a proven leader in undergraduate education with a deep commitment to student success and I’m excited to welcome her to our leadership team,” said Joseph C. Slater, dean of the College of Engineering. “Her experience leading large-scale student success initiatives, securing significant external funding, strengthening pathways for student achievement and overall leadership in engineering education will be instrumental as we continue our commitment to delivering high-quality, forward-looking undergraduate education aligned with workforce needs and student success.”
In her new role, Wheeler West will provide strategic oversight of all undergraduate academic programs, including interdisciplinary, transfer and online offerings. She will lead initiatives across enrollment management, curriculum development, accreditation and assessment and faculty development in teaching and pedagogy, while working closely with the college’s Student Success Center to enhance recruitment, retention and graduation outcomes.
Prior to joining Tennessee Tech in 2025, Wheeler West previously served as director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of South Alabama, where she managed programming, compliance and operations supporting undergraduate research initiatives. In that role, she led efforts to expand student participation, improve program accessibility and enhance faculty engagement in undergraduate research mentorship.
Wheeler West has a strong track record in securing funding to support student success, including leading a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional team to successful funding of a $5 million S-STEM program from the National Science Foundation to launch a program to provide scholarships, academic supports and programming for low-income students pursing math-intensive STEM degrees.
Her research and scholarship center on undergraduate student success, including transfer student pathways, persistence in STEM, and the impact of undergraduate research experiences on student learning and professional development. She is also a recognized leader in engineering education, serving in national roles with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and as an ABET program evaluator.
Wheeler West has received multiple awards for excellence in teaching and engineering education, including national recognition from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education.
“I am honored to step into this role at such an exciting time for the College of Engineering,” said Wheeler West. “The college’s growth, investment in facilities, and commitment to hands-on, student-centered learning create tremendous opportunities. I look forward to working with faculty, staff, and students to strengthen the undergraduate experience and support student success at every stage.”
The College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech continues to experience significant growth, with enrollment reaching a record 3,239 students and expanding academic offerings across multiple disciplines, including the new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence. The college recently opened the 100,000-sq. ft. Ashraf Islam Engineering Building and broke ground on the 80,000-sq. ft. Advanced Construction and Manufacturing Engineering (ACME) Building in Fall 2025, both designed to support hands-on, interdisciplinary education.