UNC Asheville Names Dr. Tim Channell as Inaugural Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

The University of North Carolina Asheville has announced the appointment of Dr. Timothy Channell as the inaugural Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Channell, an accomplished academic administrator, higher education consultant, and Professor of Music Business, will assume this pivotal leadership role to steer the newly structured college, aligning its academic programming with the University's commitment to a future-facing liberal arts and sciences education.

The University of North Carolina Asheville has announced the appointment of Dr. Timothy Channell as the inaugural Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Channell, an accomplished academic administrator, higher education consultant, and Professor of Music Business, will assume this pivotal leadership role to steer the newly structured college, aligning its academic programming with the University’s commitment to a future-facing liberal arts and sciences education.

As the inaugural dean, Dr. Channell will oversee a diverse and dynamic portfolio that integrates the arts, humanities, social sciences, and key professional programs, including Business and Education. His appointment arrives at a transformative moment for UNC Asheville as the institution enters its next chapter of academic revitalization.

“Dr. Channell understands both the enduring value of the liberal arts and the importance of preparing students for a rapidly changing world,” said UNC Asheville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Yvonne Villanueva-Russell. “His ability to build partnerships, support innovation, and lead collaboratively will be a tremendous asset to UNC Asheville.”

Dr. Channell brings more than two decades of executive higher education experience to UNC Asheville. He recently served as the Interim Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Radford University, where he successfully guided five creative departments through a complex transition into the 178,000-square-foot Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity. During his interim deanship, Dr. Channell implemented cross-disciplinary faculty initiatives and strategic recruitment efforts that boosted new student enrollment by 21 percent.

An expert in academic operations, budget management, and accreditation, Dr. Channell’s prior leadership roles at Radford University include serving as Assistant Provost for Budget and Academic Operation, Chair of the Department of Music, as well as leading a successful SACSCOC reaffirmation. His career also features significant expertise in institutional advancement, having secured a transformative $1 million planned gift for Radford’s Music Department and contributing to a major $43 million capital campaign earlier in his career at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

“I am truly honored and excited to join the UNC Asheville community,” said Dr. Channell. “From my earliest conversations during and throughout the search process, it was clear that UNC Asheville is a place defined by passionate faculty and staff; talented students; meaningful relationships; and a deep commitment to creativity, innovation, and student success.”

Dr. Channell has a proven record of establishing regional partnerships. Notably, he co-led the creation and state approval of the New River Valley Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, establishing an early academic pipeline for high school students. His forward-thinking approach to education also includes studying the responsible and ethical integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into curriculum design.

“I believe that the humanities, arts, and social sciences are central to helping students understand the world by engaging thoughtfully with complex challenges and imagining new possibilities for the future,” Dr. Channell added. “At a time when higher education is being asked to innovate and adapt in meaningful ways, our College’s disciplines remain essential in developing creative thinkers and strong communicators.”

Dr. Channell holds a Doctor of Education from Marshall University, a Master of Business Administration from West Virginia Wesleyan College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Marshall University. He was also selected as a prestigious American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow for the 2022–2023 academic year.

About UNC Asheville

Founded in 1927, UNC Asheville is a proud member of the University of North Carolina System. With award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and 60+ academic programs in the natural sciences, human sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences, the University is recognized for its robust paid internship programs to prepare students to immediately enter the workforce. In the US News & World Report 2025 edition of Best Colleges, UNC Asheville is ranked No. #9 in Top Public Schools, and No. #7 in Princeton Review’s 2025 Top 50 Guide to Green Colleges. Known as the Bulldogs, UNC Asheville student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA Division I Teams in the Big South Conference. For more information, please visit: www.unca.edu.