Andrew Seidler serves as Special Assistant to Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of University Honors, Dr. Patrick Akos. Andrew has more than a decade of experience working with Honors students and developing innovative, high-impact co-curricular learning experiences. In his role as Special Assistant to Dr. Akos, Andrew works on strategic projects related to the University Honors curriculum. He also teaches and coaches in the Haslam Leadership Scholars Program.

Andrew formerly was Director of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships. Under his leadership, UT emerged as one of the nation’s perennial Fulbright Student Top-Producing Institutions, and also produced back-to-back Rhodes Scholars, UT’s first-ever Gates Cambridge and Mitchell Scholars, its first Truman Scholar in 25 years, its first Marshall Scholar in 35 years, and, in 2020, a national-record five Goldwater Scholars. His leadership at the university has been recognized with the Chancellor’s Ready for the World Citation, in part for creating and leading UT’s first-ever study abroad program in Cuba.

Prior to coming to Rocky Top, Andrew worked as an editor and newspaper reporter. He received multiple awards for his newswriting, including from the Illinois AP Editors Association and the Illinois Press Association.

Andrew has a bachelor’s degree in history from Colby College and a master’s degree in education and social policy from Northwestern University.

Andrew’s spouse, Caitlin, is an art teacher at Fulton (Knoxville) High School; President of the Board of the Tennessee Art Education Association; and Chair of the Board of Knoxville’s Three Rivers Market food co-op. Andrew and Caitlin are foster parents, as well as host parents to international-exchange students.

Clifton Strengths: Ideation, Intellection, Adaptability, Strategic, Deliberative