Bernie Savarese

Vice President for Academic Affairs, Research, and Student Success

Dr. Bernie Savarese is the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Research, and Student Success for the University of Tennessee System. In this role, he works closely with leaders at the university’s five campuses to coordinate and promote high-quality academic and student experiences. At the UT System office in Knoxville, Bernie leads teams in academic affairs, research, student success, institutional effectiveness, access and engagement, and health and wellness while also serving as a staff liaison to the UT Board of Trustees, an adjunct assistant professor at UT Knoxville, and a university representative in state, regional, and national conversations.

Prior to joining the University of Tennessee, Bernie served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Success and the Student Experience at New York University (NYU). In this role, he oversaw the creation of the Office of Student Success, led NYU’s Student Success Steering Committee, and served as a subject matter expert to leaders on the New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai campuses. Prior to his time at NYU, Bernie worked at The Ohio State University for almost two decades, most recently serving as the director of the university’s nationally recognized First Year Experience (FYE) program and leading teams in Undergraduate Admissions. Before his time in FYE, Bernie held various leadership roles in Ohio State’s Division of Student Life

Bernie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and an MBA from The Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from New York University where his dissertation focused on efforts to support the success of Black men at research universities.

Bernie has been recognized with honors such as Bowling Green State University’s President’s Award for Distinguished Service, NYU’s Making a Difference Award, and he was inducted into the 2016 Class of “Forty Under 40” by Columbus Business First. Bernie is active on numerous boards including the Penguin Random House First-Year Reading Advisory Board, the National Advisory Board of the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, and he serves as Board Chair for the Ohio State University Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. Bernie lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife, Krystyne – a fellow higher education leader, their two teenage sons, and their spunky Boston Terrier.

Silvia Patricia Rios Husain

Associate Vice President for Student Success

Rios Husain partners with university and external stakeholders to advance the retention, timely graduation, career readiness and lifelong employability of our students and to inform and enhance best practices in higher education student success. She provides strategic direction and oversight to the Career Center, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, Student Success Center and University 101 Programs and guides the coordinated student success network. 

Rios Husain has more than 20 years of experience in higher education. Prior to joining USC, she served as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Gaston College in North Carolina.  She has robust experience with developing and redesigning processes and systems to better support student success and a demonstrated record of community and employer engagement position.

Rios Husain earned her doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin; her education specialist, master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Florida; and her associate degree from Miami Dade College.