June 17-23, 2025
Updates and news for the week of June 17-23, 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 Schultz (peyton-l-schultz@utc.edu) in the Division of Communications and Marketing by 3 p.m. on Friday for placement in the following Tuesday’s newsletter.
Highlights
Plan ahead: Dates set for Power C Tour and admissions events
Undergraduate Admissions announced its Power C Tour and other important dates for the 2025-2026 academic year:
- Sept. 17: Power C Tour Nashville/Franklin
- Oct. 2: Power C Tour Memphis
- Nov. 4: Power C Tour Knoxville
- Nov. 12: Power C Tour Chattanooga
- Nov. 15: Blue and Gold Preview
- Feb. 27: Accepted Student Day
- March 25: Power C Tour transfer at ChattState
- April 11: Blue and Gold Preview Spring Edition
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Mark your calendar for Operation Move In
Operation Move In takes place Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Thursday, Aug. 14, for incoming freshmen and transfer students.
Housing and Residence Life could use as many hands as possible to make this day go as smoothly as possible for our newest residents. If you are interested in volunteering for OMI, please fill out the OMI volunteer signup form and share the link with others.
Those who volunteer will receive a meal voucher for UTC Dining and a signature OMI T-shirt as a special thank you. Learn more here.
For more information, contact OMI committee chair Jason Harville.
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UTC to host Quantum Technology Workshop June 23-25
The Quantum Center at the UTC Research Institute will soon welcome internationally recognized scientists, researchers and industry leaders for a three-day event aimed at exploring how quantum systems can help shape the future of computing, sensing, simulation and communication.
The Quantum Technology Workshop will take place Monday, June 23-Wednesday, June 25, in the Multi-Disciplinary Research Building. Workshop sessions will explore a wide range of quantum topics, including algorithm development, hardware challenges, simulation techniques and near-term applications in industry.
The workshop schedule and speaker list can be found at go.utc.edu/quantum-workshop-25.
Outstanding People of UTC
 Dr. Murat Barisik Dr. Murat Barisik, assistant professor in the UTC Department of Mechanical Engineering and a leading researcher in nanoscale heat transfer, received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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 Emma Sprayberry UTC alum Emma Sprayberry has been selected for the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship—a prestigious U.S. Department of State program that prepares individuals for careers in the U.S. Foreign Service. The May 2024 graduate is the first UTC student or alum to earn a Pickering Fellowship.
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The UTC Athletics marketing team earned national recognition at the 2024-25 National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) Convention, taking home one gold and two bronze “Best Of” awards. The gold award honored the creative “Bob Ross Night” at a Mocs soccer game, while bronze awards recognized the “Mocs in the Classroom” outreach initiative and a library ticket partnership that promoted community engagement.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- UC Foundation Associate Professor Trevor Elliott sat down for a segment of This n That to discuss UTC’s engineering programs.
- Emily Maddux, a lecturer in the Master of Public Health program, joined an episode of Jed & JR Mornings to discuss weight loss medications.
- Psychology Assistant Professor Tomorrow Arnold spoke to the Times Free Press about an addictive drug called kratom.
Mark Your Calendar
After more than 24 years of dedicated service, Obie Webster, director of McKenzie Arena, is retiring.
From January 2001 to June 2025, Webster worked tirelessly to support UTC Athletics and bring premier outside entertainment to McKenzie Arena. His faithful commitment, long hours and leadership have played a vital role in the success of countless events and in enhancing the experience for students, fans and the Chattanooga community.
Webster’s deep knowledge of the arena, steady presence and can-do spirit have been invaluable, and he will be greatly missed by colleagues, partners and all who have had the pleasure of working with him.
Please join us in celebrating Websters’s outstanding career and many contributions from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20, in the Wolford Family Athletic Center Room 301. Light refreshments will be served.
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The Center for Wellbeing is offering a series of trainings and discussions for faculty and staff this summer. If interested, please 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 with questions or to request a training.
- Friday, June 20: Mental Health First Aid, University Center Room 350, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (lunch will be provided)
- Tuesday, July 1: Recovery Allyship: How to Support Students Who Are Struggling or Have Struggled with Substance Use, Zoom, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 10: Mental Health First Aid, University Center Room 350, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. both days
- Wednesday, July 9: Opioid Overdose Response and Naloxone, University Center Room 350, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 11: Sleep Matters: Improving Sleep Among Employees and Students, Zoom, 11 a.m.-noon
- Wednesday, July 16: QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer and Suicide Prevention Using the C-SSRS, University Center Room 350, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 23: Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Prioritizing Wellness Through the Semester Discussion, University Center Room 350, 11 a.m.-noon
- Thursday, July 31: Recovery Allyship: How to Support Students Who Are Struggling or Have Struggled with Substance Use, Zoom, noon-2 p.m.
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The public is invited to the Summer Solstice Science Seminar, taking place from 10 a.m.-noon on Friday, June 20, at the Clarence T. Jones Observatory (10 N. Tuxedo Ave.).
Hosted by UTC’s Department of Chemistry and Physics and the Barnard Astronomical Society, the event will include solar telescope viewing, science talks on the solstice and dark skies, demonstrations of low-pollution lighting, and a chance to explore Chattanooga’s 20.5 inch telescope built in 1938. Seating is limited; early arrival is recommended. Parking is available behind Brainerd United Methodist Church.
The event is free and open to the public.
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 Richard Winham After nearly four decades of shaping the sound and soul of public radio in Chattanooga, WUTC-FM host Richard Winham will retire this summer
To honor his extraordinary legacy, WUTC will host a public benefit concert from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, at Barrelhouse Ballroom, located at 1501 Long St. in downtown Chattanooga. The all-ages, family-friendly event will feature performances by local folk, blues and bluegrass artists, with a limited pre-show meet-and-greet with artists and station staff from noon to 12:45 p.m.
The benefit concert is also a fundraising event, with proceeds helping sustain WUTC’s ongoing mission to support music, arts and cultural programming in the Tennessee Valley—work inspired by Winham’s legacy. Tickets can be purchased here.
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Take a break and join the Center for Wellbeing for a staff and faculty lunch and lounge from 11 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, June 25, at Chamberlain Circle. Bring your lunch and unwind with picnic blankets, yard games and time to relax and connect with colleagues. All faculty and staff are welcome—drop by anytime, no RSVP needed.
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Please join us in celebrating Shirley Hatfield, senior account specialist in the Office of the Bursar, after more than 36 years of service, achievements, contributions and lasting impact on UTC.
The retirement celebration will take place from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, in the University Center Chickamauga Room.
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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.
- Wednesday, June 18: Carshonda Harris Martin, Zoom, 1 p.m., Calendar
- Wednesday, June 18: George Thompson, ECS 403, 1 p.m., Calendar
- Wednesday, June 18: Jacob Derrick, Zoom, 1 p.m., Calendar
- Wednesday, June 18: Abdelrahman Amin, ECS 403, 3 p.m., Calendar
- Monday, June 23: Jason McDowell, Zoom, 9 a.m., Calendar
- Wednesday, June 25: Ege Can Ek, ECS 415D, 11:30 a.m., Calendar
- Thursday, June 26: Atal Bhowmik, ECS 426, 11:30 a.m., Calendar
Campus Updates
 Dr. Tian Li leads a demonstration at UTC’s recent Quantum Summer Camp for rising 10th-12th graders. Each summer, UTC opens its campus to the community through a wide range of summer camps designed for K-12 students. From science and sports to leadership and college prep, UTC hosts hands-on programs that help kids stay engaged while school is out—and give families access to university-level experiences close to home.
Most camps are open to the public, with options for elementary, middle and high school students. Offerings include full-day activity camps, weeklong academic programs, and skill-building clinics in athletics, science, math and more.
Some of this summer’s featured camps include:
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The testing center is looking for individuals interested in helping with the administration of the ACT on UTC’s campus. This is a paid position, and proctors and room supervisors are needed for the 2025-26 school year. If you are interested in working—for one session or both—please email Cathy Jackson.
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Join open play sand volleyball at the Sports Complex at noon on Mondays through June 23. Faculty and staff are welcome to drop in as individuals or with a team—no registration required.
Intramural pickleball registration remains open. Games will take place at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 1-31 at the ARC. Registration closes at noon on Friday, June 27. All skill levels welcome. Register here.
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The CEACSE Research Innovation and Strategic Expansion (RISE) program is now accepting proposals for early-stage, high-potential research projects that strengthen UTC’s Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) and the Quantum Center.
Selected projects may receive up to $70,000 for the 2026 calendar year, supporting one month of summer salary for faculty or research staff, full-year PhD student support and additional research expenses.
- Deadline: Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, to both Hannah Archer and Claudia Colpo.
- Eligibility: Lead PIs must be faculty, research faculty or postdocs at a UT System institution. If not UTC-based, the PI must advise a UTC PhD student supported by the project.
- Project Period: Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026.
For full details and submission guidelines, view the Request for Proposals (RFP). Questions may be directed to Hannah Archer.
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Faculty and staff, are you passionate about student well-being and fostering a culture of wellness on your campus or with partners across the UT System? The new Wellness Mini Grants Program is here to support your innovative ideas.
The program offers up to ten $5,000 grants for faculty and staff to pilot projects that focus on the eight SAMHSA-defined wellness dimensions, promote collaboration across and between campuses, and create scalable, measurable student wellness innovations.
Projects that are measurable, collaborative and have a role for a student will be prioritized. Click here to learn more and apply. The application is just a short, three-page PDF and is due Friday, Aug. 1. For questions or concerns contact the UT Chief Wellness Officer.
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The Center for Wellbeing launched its Mental Health Ally training program for faculty and staff to recognize employees on campus who are engaging and learning how to best support our students’ mental health. Trainings included in the Mental Health Ally program are QPR (one hour), Suicide Prevention Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) (one hour), Psychological First Aid (one hour) and Mental Health First Aid (eight hours). Complete trainings and receive recognition on campus for your dedication to improving outcomes for students.
Recognition tiers:
- Certificate of completion: Every training
- Mental health ally sticker to display: Complete QPR, Suicide Prevention Using the C-SSRS, and Psychological First Aid
- Mental health ally sweatshirt: Complete Mental Health First Aid
- Mental health ally recognition on Center for Wellbeing website and Campus Newsletter: Complete all four trainings
If you have questions about this program, please reach out to Amy Kyriakidis or Megan McKnight.
UTC Newsroom
 Dr. Tian Li (left) and Dr. Don Reising UTC has received a $447,621 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance quantum sensing technology, which can detect small environmental changes with extraordinary precision across large-scale fiber-optic networks.
The three-year project, funded under the NSF’s Communications, Circuits and Sensing-Systems (CCSS) program, is led by Dr. Tian Li, chief technology officer of the UTC Quantum Center and an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics. Guerry and UC Foundation Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Don Reising serves as co-principal investigator. The project also involves a collaboration with Purdue University.
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 Cali Crum-Beigh Cali Crum-Beigh, a UTC junior, isn’t just focused on getting a business degree—she has her eyes set on the sky. The business management major and UTC orientation leader is a licensed private pilot and is in the process of following her dream of being a commercial airline pilot.
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 The Baja competition is a rigorous collegiate design series where university students design, build and race a single-seat, all-terrain, off-road vehicle. The Racing Mocs have registered to travel to Gray Court, South Carolina, in October to compete in the 2025 Baja SAE® Carolina competition. The event showcases student-built all-terrain vehicles by subjecting them to multiple dynamic and endurance tests.
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 URaCE Executive Director Lisa Piazza talks to students at the meet-and-greet event. For dozens of students spending time at UTC this summer, a gathering hosted by the Office for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor (URaCE) offered a chance to meet their peers and get a feel for the academic journeys ahead.
WUTC
 Jimmy Wheeler Jimmy Wheeler, director of business development for the State of Tennessee’s Music Office, joined an episode of WUTC’s “Scenic Roots” to discuss music business and creating jobs for Tennessee’s music sector.
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