Director of Assessment
Dr. Sean C. Basso is the inaugural Director of Assessment in the Office of Student Success Analytics (OSSA).
A scholar–practitioner with more than two decades of experience in student services & assessment, he believes that data are most powerful when used to elevate student success and inform institutional decision-making. His work focuses on assessment design, survey methodology, student engagement, and the creation of actionable analytics that support student thriving inside and outside the classroom.
He began his career in collegiate recreation as an undergraduate intramural official—an experience that shaped his commitment to student development and mentorship. Before joining OSSA, he served as the Associate Director of RecSports, where he led campus-wide assessment initiatives, developed student training and leadership curricula, and was a member of various divisional, institutional, and system-wide committees. His campus service has included contributions to the Pulse Survey, Student Success Grants, large-scale instrument design, and institution-wide assessment planning.
At UT, he also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies department, where he has taught courses in finance, leadership, and ethics. He was an affiliated researcher with the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC). His scholarly interests center on ethical leadership, assessment literacy, and the use of analytics to enhance student well-being.
Nationally, Dr. Basso has been an active member of national associations for more than 15 years, presenting educational sessions at the state, regional, and national levels. He has served as a state director and has completed multiple terms on both national research & assessment committee and national finance committee.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Basso earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Masters’s of Science in Sports Leadership, and a PhD in Higher Education Administration. His professional journey has included roles at Sacramento State, the University of Kentucky, and more than a decade of service at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Beyond his professional roles, Sean is a devoted husband and father of three. He enjoys coaching youth sports, exploring local parks and trails with his family, and celebrating a Vols win on Saturday.
CliftonStrengths: Competition, Achiever, Analytical, Futuristic, Focus