UT President Lamar Alexander announced in January 1989 the appointment of Dr. Michael Nettles to the newly created position of vice president for assessment. Nettles held the bachelor’s degree from UT and two master’s degrees and a doctorate from Iowa State. He came to UT from the Educational Testing Service in Princeton where he was a senior research associate, and he had previously served as assistant director of academic affairs at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. He was selected from among 31 applicants.