University of Tennessee professor placed on leave following aggravated assault charge

A University of Tennessee associate professor has been placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest for the alleged physical assault of his girlfriend.

Jonathan Hasford, 41, faces a felony charge of aggravated assault stemming from an incident on 17 March at a residence on Pinellas Drive.

According to reports from WVLT and WBIR, Knoxville police responded to the home after Hasford allegedly attacked the woman during an argument and subsequently fled the scene.

Officers noted visible injuries on the victim, including a red mark on her throat and an abrasion on her chin.

The altercation reportedly escalated after Hasford had been drinking. During the dispute, the woman allegedly threw flowers and grabbed his arm, to which Hasford responded by pushing and dragging her.

He is further accused of choking the victim until she could not breathe, allegedly telling her he intended to "teach her a lesson" about touching him.

Hasford, who teaches marketing at the Haslam College of Business, has been a member of the university faculty for several years.

Following the formal charges, the university administration moved to suspend his professional duties pending the outcome of the case.

Hasford’s defence attorney, T. Scott Jones, released a statement to PEOPLE,maintaining his client's innocence and expressing confidence that the charges will eventually be dismissed.

Jones emphasised that Hasford remains transparent regarding the matter and believes in the justice system's principle of being innocent until proven guilty.

A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled to take place on 1 May 2026. The university continues to monitor the situation to ensure behavioural standards are upheld.