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Updates and news for the week of June 11-17, 2024
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.
From the UTC Podlab: Tennessee Valley Crossroads
 Communication major Dandy Diaz, left, and exercise and health science student Shelby Harlan “Tennessee Valley Crossroads” is a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga student-produced podcast that brings classmates together to have candid, unscripted conversations, fostering empathy and breaking down barriers between students from different cultures and backgrounds. Under the direction of Will Davis, students came to the UTC PodLab and opened their lives with stories about their families, their politics and their hopes for the future.
This episode features a conversation between communication major Dandy Diaz and exercise and health science student Shelby Harlan talking about the grind.
- “Tennessee Valley Crossroads” is inspired by StoryCorps’ One Small Step initiative, which brings together to find the humanity in each other.
- You can listen to “Tennessee Valley Crossroads” on WUTC 88.1 FM every Monday during Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and subscribe to the “Tennessee Valley Crossroads” podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
The outstanding people of UTC
 From left: Lori Hensley, Gretchen Potts, Catherine Meeks Quinlan and Monica Miles (photo courtesy of Gretchen Potts) Biology, Geology and Environmental Science Department Head Gretchen Potts, Catherine Meeks Quinlan (environmental studies and English) and Monica Miles (BGE) recently toured the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park to see how environmental science and environmental studies might engage UTC students in service learning.
The tour was led by 1992 UTC alumnus Lori Hensley (CEO of Longevity Consulting and consultant for the Sculpture Fields) and Andrew Nigh (board member and sculpture burn artist).
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 From left: Dr. Heather Riley, Dr. Keenan Dungey, Bob Jackson The Chattanooga Fire Department recently responded to an incident in downtown Chattanooga. As part of their response, they contacted UTC with a request for assistance; more specifically, they were trying to confirm their understanding of the chemicals they were dealing with and the hazards present.
Director of Environmental Health and Safety Bob Jackson contacted Dr. Keenan Dungey, head of the Department of Chemistry. Dungey quickly reached out to the department’s laboratory coordinator, Dr. Heather Riley.
As a result, Riley met with the officer in charge at the command post and was able to assist the CFD by confirming potential hazards and proper methods of decontamination.
“This was another example of UTC being a partner with the City of Chattanooga and our first responders,” Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police Sean O’Brien said.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- Center for Regional Economic Research Director Howard Wall and Dr. Bento Lobo, head of the UTC Department of Finance and Economics, were featured in a Times Free Press story about the center’s creation.
- Anthropology professors Derek Boyd and Kylie Williamson played a major role in identifying the remains of a missing women. Their work in piecing together skeletal remains was shared by Local 3 News.
- U.S. Olympian and UTC sociology major Olivia Reeves was a live studio guest on The Daily Refresh.
- Mocs rising senior Garrett Engle fired a final round 6-under 66 to win the 2024 Dogwood Invitational. He won by five strokes, shooting 22 under over 72 holes at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta.
- Communication faculty members Billy Weeks and Chris Dortch were interviewed about Engel Stadium by WVTM-TV in Birmingham as part of a series on that city’s Rickwood Field.
- Computer Science and Engineering Lecturer Chang Phuong was featured on The Daily Refresh.
Mark your calendar
The UTC Research Institute, which aims to support groundbreaking projects that address applied computational science and engineering, engage multidisciplinary teams, and leverage community or industry partnerships, is excited to announce its next call for concept papers, seeking proposals from talented researchers across the campus community.
A “Call for Concept Papers” information session will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday (June 13) in UTC Library Room 435. Refreshments will be provided.
This round of CEACSE funding is up to three years of support for a total amount up to $900,000 to start a new focus area.
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The Office of Multicultural Affairs and the UTC Black Faculty and Staff Association are hosting UTC’s Juneteenth celebration from noon-2 p.m. on Friday (June 14) in the Lupton Hall first floor lobby. The event is open to faculty, staff, students, alumni and family.
Food and T-shirts will be provided while supplies last. Attendees are asked to RSVP via MocSync by Wednesday (June 12).
Learn more about Juneteenth’s origins as we celebrate its culture and heritage. This is a family reunion-style event where we gather to learn, celebrate and engage with our campus community.
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The public is invited to the Summer Solstice Science Seminar at the historic observatory—designed in art deco style by local architect Clarence T. Jones—from 10 a.m.-noon on Thursday, June 20. The event is free and open to the public.
The Clarence T. Jones Observatory is located at 10 N. Tuxedo Ave. in Chattanooga. Parking is available behind the adjacent Brainerd United Methodist Church.
View Chattanooga’s 20.5″ telescope, built in 1938. Learn the science of the solstice. View the sun through a solar telescope. Learn about dark skies. Try a demonstration of less-polluting light fixtures. Meet members of the UTC Chemistry and Physics department and the Barnard Astronomical Society.
For further details, large groups or special accommodations, contact keenan-dungey@utc.edu.
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New Student and Family Programs will be hosting orientation sessions throughout the summer for all new students entering UTC in the fall, including the upcoming following dates in June:
- Freshman sessions: June 17, 18
- Transfer sessions: June 21, 27 (online)
On average, the University sees over 6,000 new students and their guests throughout the summer program.
- Click here for the “Save the Date” flier.
- Click here for the schedule of events for freshman and parent/guest orientation.
All in-person orientations will have an information desk located in the University Center’s first floor gallery. Please direct anyone with orientation-related questions to the information desk.
Please contact carrie-sherbesman@utc.edu if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for making our orientation program a success.
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The Center for Wellbeing will be hosting a series of trainings for staff and faculty this summer. If interested, please sign up here. The Center’s staff 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 (June 12): Promoting Student Wellbeing: The Dimensions of Wellness (virtual), 2-3 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 26: Promoting Student Wellbeing: The Dimensions of Wellness (University Center 350), 11 a.m.-noon
- Thursday, July 11: Promoting Healthy Sleep Among Students (University Center 350), 1-2 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 17: QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer (University Center 350), 10-11 a.m.
- Wednesday, July 17: Suicide Prevention Using C-SSRS (University Center 350), 11 a.m.-noon
- Thursday, July 18: Promoting Healthy Sleep Among Students (virtual), 10-11 a.m.
- Monday, July 22: Opioid Overdose Prevention & Narcan (University Center 350), 1-2 p.m.
- Thursday, July 25: Mental Health First Aid (University Center 350), 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 31: Recovery Allyship: How to Support Students Who Are Struggling or Have Struggled with Substance Use (virtual), noon-2 p.m.
- Monday, August 5: QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer (virtual), 2-3 p.m.
- Monday, August 5: Suicide Prevention Using C-SSRS (virtual), 3-4 p.m.
Notice of Final Defense: Upcoming Research Presentations
The UTC Graduate School announced that the following students will be presenting their final works of research as advanced degree candidates. Everyone is invited to attend.
- Today (June 11): Ayman Gumaa, Zoom, 10:30 a.m., Calendar
- Wednesday (June 12): Benjamin Swords, ECS Room 404, 10 a.m., Calendar
- Thursday (June 13): Mohammad Murshed, Zoom, 2 p.m., Calendar
- Monday (June 17): Nafiseh Ghaffar Nia, MDRB Room 218, 2 p.m., Calendar
- Thursday, June 20: Li Dai, Zoom, 10 a.m., Calendar
- Thursday, June 20: Masumi Sugiyama, Zoom, 10 a.m., Calendar
- Friday, June 21: Brenda Zaragoza, 540 McCallie Room 461, 10 a.m., Calendar
Campus Updates
Human Resources provided a series of June staff development opportunities—including an Optum-hosted online event, “Communication: Beyond the Basics,” taking place from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. Click here for the complete list.
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 Photo credit: UT System Join the UT System Institutional Effectiveness (IE) team for the 2024 IE Summit from July 9–11, where data practitioners across all UT campuses and institutes will explore the future of data-driven excellence. At a one-hour virtual session each day, participants will engage with colleagues through insightful sessions on AI technologies, data stewardship and the evaluation of our data dashboards.
Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the next chapter in supporting the UT mission through data. Register now to be part of the conversation.
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Save the date! UTC is excited to participate in the United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s city-wide “Day of Caring” volunteer service initiative on Friday, Sept. 20. Your serving hands are needed to represent, bring together and impact the residents and partners in Chattanooga.
Indoor or outdoor projects may include painting, moving debris or gardening. Interested students, faculty and staff will be able to indicate a preferred volunteer site, and transportation will be available. Additional details, including registration information, is forthcoming.
Email Daniel-Grzesik@utc.edu, the director of Leadership Development and Programs, if you have any questions about getting involved with this volunteer service initiative.
Looking back
 From left: Dr. Richard Brown, Fatima Sheikh, Shanayla Moore, E’Shawn Massey The Richard Brown Inclusive Access Scholarship commemorates the contributions of its namesake, Dr. Richard Brown, who began working for the University in 1984 and rose to executive vice chancellor for administration and finance. He then took on a dual role in 2021 as a special advisor to UTC Chancellor Steven R. Angle and UT System President Randy Boyd before retiring at the end of that year.
Recipients of the Richard Brown Scholarship have included Fatima Sheikh, who graduated last December with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and incoming first-year students Shanayla Moore and E’Shawn Massey.
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 UTC nursing students in the simulation environment The UTC School of Nursing simulation program has received the designation of “endorsed” for the cornerstone standards of prebriefing, debriefing, facilitation and professional integrity from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), a professional organization dedicated to advancing the science of health care simulation.
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 Senior environmental geology major Samantha Doss-Watson installs edging around The Rockery. At the end of the spring term, the UTC Geology Club created The Rockery, a rock garden located alongside Grote Hall on the path from campus to Mocs Alumni Drive. The garden features four distinct groups of rocks: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary as well as a unique collection showcasing local Chattanooga rocks.
WUTC Spotlight: Terminus Technologies
 Traffic display, courtesy of Terminus Technologies Terminus Technologies is a startup in Britain that describes itself as an “urban data mining company” whose expertise aims to help cities be “smarter, safer and more efficient.” The company is involved in several projects in this country, including here in Chattanooga as a participant in the Sustainable Mobility Accelerator program—a collaboration with The Company Lab and gener8tor, a startup accelerator.
Joshua Ward, co-founder of Terminus, sat down for an interview with WUTC-FM’s “Scenic Roots” during his recent visit to Chattanooga for the CO.MOBILITY Summit.
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