January 14-20, 2025

Updates and news for the week of January 14-20, 2025

The UTC Campus Weekly newsletter is distributed every Tuesday morning. If you have news, events or announcements you would like shared with campus, please submit your information to peyton-l-schultz@utc.edu or chuck-wasserstrom@utc.edu in the Division of Communications and Marketing by 3 p.m. on Friday for placement in the following Tuesday’s newsletter.

UTC News  |  UTC Events Calendar  |  Campus Updates

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Highlights

A UTC Winter Wonderland

Campus was blanketed by snow on Friday. Undeterred by the chilly weather, University photographer Angela Foster, video team members Mike Andrews and Sam Blevins, Scrappy and a group of enthusiastic UTC students made their way to snow-covered Chamberlain Field.

Senior Noah Camacho, a communication major from Clarksville, Tennessee, has taken thousands of photos during his time as a UTC student. One subject that was new to him, though, was covering a snowstorm. Camacho, who will be graduating from UTC in May, took full advantage of the Jan. 10 school closure to capture snow scenes through his camera lens.

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UTC MLK Day Commemorative Brunch

Join the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, in the University Center Tennessee Room for the MLK Day Commemorative Brunch. Director of the UTC Africana Studies Program Dr. Michael Williams and Director of Community Relations and Development for the Bessie Smith Cultural Center Elijah Cameron will discuss the impact Dr. King had in the Chattanooga area. Register here.

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Submit your Black History Month events

The Office of Multicultural Affairs has selected the theme “A Celebration of Firsts” for Black History Month, emphasizing the landmark experiences of African Americans. This month will showcase the intellectual and collective impact of African Americans who have championed excellence and innovation in their respective fields.

If you are sponsoring or are aware of events (on campus or in the Chattanooga area) you would like to see included in the UTC Black History Month calendar, please submit your information to Christopher-Stokes@utc.edu.

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SEND IN YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE UTC PARENT AND FAMILY ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

It is again time to recruit campus partners to send in information for the UTC Parent and Family Association newsletter, a monthly roundup distributed to more than 5,400 parents/family members.

To share information with the families of UTC students—upcoming events, important deadlines, helpful suggestions and departmental news—email hannah-turcotte@utc.edu by 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. The November newsletter will be emailed to members Wednesday, Feb. 5.

• Please keep info to one paragraph of 200 (or fewer) words.
• Images or logos to accompany the paragraph may be submitted.
• Click here to see a sample of a recent PFA newsletter.

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Nominate Award-Winning Alums

The 2025 Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Service and GOLD Excellence Award nomination forms are live. If you know an alumnus/a who is exemplary in their field, someone who champions UTC with their time and talents or a newer graduate making early strides in their career, nominate them today. More information and simplified nomination links can be found at alumni.utc.edu/awards. The deadline for nominations is Fri, Jan. 31.

Outstanding People of UTC

DeAnna Beasley (center) and Terrence Banks (right)

UTC’s Dr. DeAnna Beasley and Terrence Banks were presented the prestigious 2024-2025 All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team Award at the men’s basketball game Thursday night.

Beasley, a UC Foundation associate professor in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, and Banks, associate director of recruitment in Undergraduate Admissions, were chosen to represent UTC alongside faculty and staff members from each of the 10 SoCon institutions.

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UTC Department of Mathematics Assistant Professor Xiunan Wang is drawing international recognition for her work in mathematical modeling to forecast the spread of infectious diseases. Her innovative research was recently highlighted in an article by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, one of the three major U.S. math organizations with international memberships.

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The RAIL System team includes, from left, Dr. Heather Nudd (UTC), Dr. Merilee McCurdy (UT Knoxville), Dr. April Ebbinger (Tennessee Department of Education), Dr. Amanda Hardin (UTC) and Dr. Patrick Morin (UTC).

The UTC School Psychology program is bringing a new kind of railroad to school districts across Tennessee with the Rural Assessment Intervention Library (RAIL) System. Beginning later this year, the RAIL System will give rural school psychologists the chance to access assessments they need to properly diagnose students so they can provide adequate services and support.

School Psychology Program Director Amanda Hardin was the principal investigator for the initiative, which is being funded through a UT System Grand Challenges Grant.

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Associate Professor of Anthropology Morgan Smith spent the past year co-producing the documentary “Finding the First Floridians” in collaboration with PBS and Florida affiliate WFSU. The film, which is free to the public, explores underwater indigenous landscapes in Florida and includes many experts in the field. Watch the documentary here.

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For the second year in a row, the UTC chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has earned national recognition for its achievements. Over winter break, the chapter learned that it had once again received the Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS National Office, cementing its status as a top-tier student-led organization.

The UTC SPS chapter officers are senior Landon Boone (president), senior Evan Humberd (vice president), junior Olivia Ziemer (secretary), and sophomore Ike Deitch (treasurer), and the chapter advisor is Dr. Tatiana Allen

Mark Your Calendar

Jackson Hurst, right (photo courtesy of gomocs.com)

This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:

• Wednesday, Jan. 15: Men’s basketball vs. Wofford, McKenzie Arena, 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 16: Women’s basketball vs. Samford, McKenzie Arena, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 18: Women’s basketball vs. Mercer, McKenzie Arena, 2 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 19: Wrestling vs. Campbell, Maclellan Gym, 2 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 20: Women’s tennis vs. Lee University, UTC Tennis Complex, 2 p.m.

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The Gary W. Rollins College of Business will hold virtual information sessions about UTC’s Master of Business Administration, MS Management, MS Data Analytics and Master of Accountancy graduate programs. The Rollins College of Business graduate degree programs provide flexible course options and career advancement resources to advance your education and elevate your career.

MSDA Information Sessions

• Tuesday, Jan. 14: Noon: Register Here … 5 p.m.: Register Here
• Thursday, Jan. 30: Noon: Register Here … 5 p.m.: Register Here

MBA Information Sessions

• Wednesday, Jan. 15: Noon: Register Here … 5 p.m.: Register Here 
• Friday, Jan. 31: Noon: Register Here

MAcc Information Sessions

• Thursday, Jan. 16: Noon: Register Here … 5 p.m.: Register Here
• Tuesday, Jan. 28: Noon: Register Here … 5 p.m.: Register Here

MSM Information Sessions

• Friday, Jan. 17: Noon: Register Here
• Wednesday, Jan. 29: Noon: Register Here … 5 p.m.: Register Here

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The Center for Wellbeing is offering a monthly lineup of trainings for faculty and staff. If interested, sign up here. The Center is happy to schedule trainings for specific teams or departments at other times throughout the year. Reach out to megan-mcknight@utc.edu with questions or to request a training.

• Wednesday, Jan. 15: Promoting Healthy Sleep Among Students (Virtual), noon-1pm
• Thursday, Jan. 16: QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer (University Center 350), noon-1pm
• Thursday, Jan. 23: Suicide Prevention Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (University Center 350), noon-1pm
• Monday, Jan. 27: Opioid Overdose Response and Narcan (University Center 350), noon-1pm
• Thursday, Jan. 30: Psychological First Aid (University Center 350), noon-1pm

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UTC Professor Gary Wilkerson will be one of the featured panelists for “AI and Health Care: What Works & What’s Ahead,” a virtual interdisciplinary discussion hosted by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) via Zoom from 1-2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

The interdisciplinary group of health care experts will address these topics along with practical and hands-on examples of how AI is transforming their own education and workplace settings. The general public can view a live broadcast of the webinar on Facebook, Instagram and X.

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Join the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures for the first session of the Mesa De Español at 12:10 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Lupton 239 (MCLL Language Lab). The session will offer informal conversation practice in Spanish for speakers of all levels. If you like Spanish and want to hear and practice it, you are welcome.

Other sessions during the semester are from 12:10-1:10 p.m. in Lupton 239:

• Jan. 29, Feb. 5, March 5, March 19, April 2, April 16

Otras sesiones durante el semestre serán de 12:10 a 1:10 en Lupton 239:

• 29 de enero, 5 de febrero, 5 y 19 de marzo, 2 y 16 de abril

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To celebrate Dolly Parton’s birthday on Jan. 19, Signal Centers is partnering with the Chattanooga Library and local businesses for a week-long celebration starting Monday, Jan. 13.

As part of the festivities, attendees can earn a stamp on their Dolly Parton Birthday Passport by joining UTC’s women’s basketball game against Mercer on Saturday, Jan. 18. Complete activities throughout the week for a chance to win a new iPad.

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Interested in advancing your career and education? Attend UTC’s Virtual Grad Fair via Zoom from noon-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, to:

• Explore programs: Discover your path with UTC’s 30-plus graduate degree programs.
• Meet experts: Connect with faculty, staff and program representatives.
• Get answers: Gain insights on career paths, admissions processes and more.

Free application fee waivers will be available for attendees when attending a program breakout session (domestic students only). The event is open to anyone interested in transforming their future with a graduate degree from UTC.

Visit utc.edu/virtual-graduate-fair to learn more and register today.

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Join the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and the Probasco Chair of Free Enterprise for a panel titled “The Economics of Sports” from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Wolford Family Athletic Center.

Randy Boyd, UT System president and owner/operator of five minor league baseball teams joins sports economist Brad R. Humphreys and sportswriter Jay Greeson to explore today’s sports industry. From the impact of name, image and likeness (NIL) publicity rights, to taxes, subsidies and market trends, gain an insider’s view of the complex economic forces shaping today’s sports world. With an open Q&A and lunch provided, this is a must for anyone fascinated by the business behind the game. Register here.

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The Prism Center will be conducting Safe Zone Aspiring Ally training sessions on the following dates:

• Thursday, Feb. 6: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 5: 1-5 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 1: 1-5 p.m.
• Monday, May 5: 1-5 p.m.

A Safe Zone is a space in which anyone in the LGBTQ+ community will be supported and affirmed. Safe Zone training will help participants learn to create a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ members of campus by providing education, resources and advocacy. The training includes small group activities, an information session and large group discussions. Participants will then be able to display a UTC Safe Zone Aspiring Ally sticker in their office to demonstrate their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.

Space is limited, so please click here to register.

Campus Updates

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The Staff Senate will represent non-exempt and exempt staff on campus and is intended to be one of unity and cooperation. Our shared goals are to consider methods and means by which employment conditions may be improved at UTC, to receive and consider matters concerning working conditions of membership, to make such recommendations it deems appropriate to promote and support the strategic goals and vision of UTC, and to provide a means of communicating problems of mutual concern to the Chancellor’s Strategy Team, formerly the Executive Leadership Team.

Furthermore, the Staff Senate will not include faculty (currently represented separately by the Faculty Senate) or members of the Chancellor’s Strategy Team; however, the voice of the Employee Relations Committee will continue to be present through the Staff Senate’s subcommittee for ERC. The Chair of the ERC will also hold a seat on and be a voting member of the Staff Senate’s Executive Committee.

We are excited to have a Staff Senate as it will allow us to sit, listen, share and learn about the concerns our various areas and roles face and work collectively toward solutions. We encourage you to be involved in the process, to ask questions, to share problems and to brainstorm ways for us to do better. We are truly one team, and our Staff Senate will highlight our collective power.

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Learning and Leadership is currently accepting applications to its summer 2025 Ph.D. and Ed.D. cohorts. If you, your friends or colleagues with a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution are interested in pursuing their terminal degree in leadership at UTC, we encourage them to apply or to reach out for more information.

Due to the cohort nature of the programs, applications are typically accepted December through February for each incoming summer cohort. New cohorts are admitted in summer only. All application materials, including official transcripts, must be submitted by Friday, Feb. 28.

• Leadership and Decision-Making (Ph.D.): Hybrid delivery
• Leadership and Instructional Practice (Ed.D.): Primarily Internet delivery

We routinely schedule Zoom meetings with the Program Advisor to determine whether our doctoral programs are a good “fit” for prospective applicants’ specific academic and professional goals. Prospective applicants may contact the LEAD Program Office at utclead@utc.edu to schedule a meeting. Click here for the Campus Updates post.

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Register and reserve your spot for the 2025 UT Innovative Technologies Symposium, taking place Jan. 28-29 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Hosted by the Office of Innovative Technologies, this two-day symposium will focus on our everyday IT challenges, shared interests, honed skills and newfound passions. Together, we aim to foster innovative IT solutions, expand knowledge and form strategic collaborations that can significantly impact the University of Tennessee system. We encourage anyone from the entire UT System to participate, present and attend.

• Event Registration
• Lodging information for attendees traveling to the symposium is available on the registration site and the symposium website: https://oit.utk.edu/general/ut-itsymposium/.

The Survivor Advocacy Services, a program within the Center for Women and Gender Equity, is partnering with the Office of Title IX compliance on our “Don’t Cancel Your Class” initiative. Rather than canceling your class when you have a time conflict (conference, scheduled time off, etc.), consider using it as an opportunity for your students to learn about resources for survivors of gender-based violence.

The educational sessions can be offered in person or virtually when professors are needing to cancel class or bring in a guest speaker. The objective of these programs is to educate students about resources for survivors, connect them with advocates and facilitate discussions about the chosen topic. We can discuss adapting presentations to a topic not listed if that better suits your class. Use this link to request a presentation.

The topics include:

• Overview of Gender-Based Violence
• Realities of Gender-Based Violence
• Rape Culture
• Media Impacts on Gender-Based Violence
• Gender-Based Violence in the LGBTQ+ Community
• Supporting Survivors
• Consent
• Healthy Relationships

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Mark your calendar for Feb. 13-14 and join the UT Grand Challenges Summit in Murfreesboro for a two-day event that brings together UT faculty, staff, state organizations, private industry and community leaders to address Tennessee’s most pressing issues. With a focus on K-12 education, strengthening rural communities and overcoming addiction, this summit is your opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the UT System, share innovative research, and ignite transformative partnerships.

This year’s summit features presentations by faculty and staff from all UT campuses and institutes, as well as keynote speakers, including celebrated author and former school superintendent Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, UT System President Randy Boyd, and leadership from every campus and institute during the “State of UT” address.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation shaping Tennessee’s future. Use this link to learn more and register before all spots are taken.

UTC Newsroom

In 2022, Kidron Bullock joined UTC as a coordinator for student engagement, playing a key role in some of the most beloved campus activities. In this “Get to Know the People of UTC,” Bullock shares more about his work on campus.

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To get a leader and “team mom” to young players, the UTC women’s basketball team turned to an Icelander with a pedigree in the sport.

Sigrún Björg Ólafsdóttir, a graduate student in business administration, leads this season’s team in minutes played while averaging nearly 8.0 points per game. Read more about her basketball career here.

WUTC

WUTC-FM 88.1 is set to launch a series of monthly one-on-one conversations with Interim Chancellor Robert Dooley.

Hosted by Ray Bassett, “Chatting with the Chancellor” will air on WUTC’s “Scenic Roots” at 3 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21. Episodes will also be available on demand through the WUTC website, app and wherever podcasts are found.

In Memoriam

Dr. Robyn Bible Tobias, a lecturer in the UTC School of Nursing, passed away on Jan. 2, 2025. Dr. Tobias was a four-time graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, earning her bachelor’s degree (1997), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2004), Master of Science in Nursing–Family Nurse Practitioner (2012), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (2023). She taught in the UTC School of Nursing for the past 13 years, primarily in the RN-to-BSN program. An obituary is available here.

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Dr. (Robert) Reed Sanderlin, 87, former Professor of English and UTC Golf Coach Emeritus, died Dec. 10, 2024, at home surrounded by his family, after a lengthy struggle with lung disease. A beloved professor at UTC for 35 years, Reed also taught masters-level courses in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology program for several years. In addition to teaching, Reed coached the UTC men’s golf team from 1977 until 2005. His services were originally scheduled for Jan. 10, but were postponed due to last week’s weather. They are now scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. A full obituary is available here.

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This section is reserved for memorial announcements of current and former UTC employees as the Office of Communications and Marketing becomes aware. To publish an announcement, a publicly available obituary must be provided. Please send any announcements to Vice Chancellor JAy Blackman at jay-blackman@utc.edu.