Updates and news for the week of May 16 – 22, 2023

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 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.

Campus Updates  |  University Events Master Calendar  |  UTC News

National Employee Health and Fitness Day

Join the UTC Be Well Advisory Committee and UTC Employee Wellness as they celebrate National Health and Fitness Day from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. today (May 16).

Throw on your blue and gold and parade around Chamberlain Field with colleagues for sunshine, UTC spirit and conversation.

Coffee with the Chancellor

Coffee with the Chancellor takes place from 8:15-9:30 a.m. Wednesday (May 17) in the Advancement House.

For those who haven’t attended Coffee with the Chancellor, stop by and chat, grab a cup of coffee and keep the mug. The only agenda is meaningful dialogue, so bring your creative ideas and any questions or concerns.

New MyMocsNet Launches May 24

New UTC Calendar Coming this Summer

Later this summer, UTC will roll out a new events calendar using software from Localist. The new UTC calendar will enable members of the campus community to easily share, manage and publicize events from a single, convenient platform. Event information shared via this platform also is accessible to the public. In addition to enabling easily adding an event to the calendar, the platform will automatically incorporate events from other calendars—such as events hosted by Mocs Athletics, the UTC Library and more. The new calendar tool will offer:

• Ease of use
• Customizability
• Possibility of improved engagement/turnout at campus events

Teams involved with the project are in the final stages of development and expect to share this resource later this summer.

UTC Part of Two Teams Receiving NSF Engines Development Awards

Last week, the National Science Foundation announced the first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines program awards to 44 unique teams spanning universities, nonprofits, businesses and other organizations across the U.S. states and territories—with each awardee team receiving a $1 million first-phase funding award to put toward planning a proposal to submit for a possible second-phase funding award of up to $160 million.

Two of the teams include UTC:

• An alliance of Kentucky and Tennessee universities and partner entities make up the Generate Advanced Manufacturing Excellence for Change (GAME Change) coalition that has been awarded a $1 million NSF grant. UTC has a “core partner” role in the coalition led by the University of Kentucky. UTC Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research Reinhold Mann leads the University’s involvement with the coalition.
• UTC is one of 90 organizations within a statewide coalition called Advancing Technology-Enabled Mobility Solutions (ATEMS-TN). The alliance of academics, industry and technical societies will put the $1 million “Type-1” NSF award toward outlining a statewide transportation mobility strategy to position Tennessee to compete for up to $160 million in federal funding awarded in 2025 to implement that strategy. UTC has a pivotal role in the initiative as a result of Dr. Mina Sartipi, executive director of the UTC Research Institute, serving as chief research officer for ATEMS-TN.

The outstanding people of UTC

Congratulations to UTC faculty and staff who received awards or submitted proposals for sponsored programs in April. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs announced that faculty and staff attracted $575,341 in external grant and contract awards during the month and submitted proposals for the potential to generate over $6,590,939 in external funding, if awarded.

Among those receiving awards in April was Dr. Chris Smith (pictured), who received $500,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the project titled, “Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases.”

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Dorota Zalewska, left, and Coach Colette Murray (photo credit: Lucy Berres/Wake Forest)

Mocs women’s golfer and recent graduate Dorota Zalewska won the NCAA Raleigh Regionals to advance to this week’s NCAA Championships in Scottsdale, Arizona. Zalewska, who captured medalist honors by four shots, turned in rounds of 69, 66 and 69 over three days for the first NCAA Regionals win for the women’s golf program.

The last time a UTC golfer sat atop an NCAA leaderboard at the end of an event was 2012 when current PGA Tour pro Stephan Jaeger won the Bowling Green (Kentucky) Regionals.

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Check out these Mocs making a difference:

• Dr. Michael Danquah, associate dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and professor of chemical engineering, was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Joseph Cannon Award in Chemical Engineering by the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. The Joseph N. Cannon Award in Chemical Engineering is awarded to a chemical engineering professional who has demonstrated excellence in their field.
• Assistant Professor of History Edward Brudney was selected as an American Council of Learned Societies Project Development Grant Program 2023 awardee. Project Development Grants are designed to support scholars in teaching-intensive roles whose research agendas can make important advancements in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. His winning project was titled “Changing the Rules of the Game: Labor, Law, and Citizenship in Argentina, 1973-1983.”
• As part of its story on Chattanooga’s quantum venture, MarketWatch Financial News talked to Dr. Mina Sartipi.
• Laurie Allen, executive director with the Arts-Based Collaborative and the Challenger STEM Learning Center, was quoted in the announcement of EPB’s 2023 ArtSpark Goes to School challenge.
• At the recent Southern Conference track and field championships in Cullowhee, North Carolina, distance runner Lesley Green won all-conference honors twice after winning the 10,000-meter title and finishing third in the 5,000-meter run. Teammate Maddie Wheatcroft was named to the 1,500-meter All-Freshman Team.
• After presenting at the recent National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Brock Scholar and mechanical engineering student David Brown was selected to receive a Student Research Video Competition Award. The rising junior is a graduate of Hamilton County Collegiate High (at Chattanooga State).
• Recent UTC graduate Mackenzie Clark has joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science as graduate recruitment coordinator. Her role will include outreach to undergraduate students, schools and companies to promote the CECS master’s, doctoral and certificate programs.
• The UTC Police Department hosted the official swearing-in ceremony for a trio of newly graduated officers: Freddy Castellanos, Dakota Johnson and Tyler Wooden. The three were sworn in by Chief of Police Robert K. Ratchford at a Patten Chapel ceremony.

Coming Soon: Brown Bag Lunch

As part of the introduction of the UTC Research Institute, a brown bag lunch is taking place from noon-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, in the UTC Library Southern Writers Room.

The brown bag lunch is designed to engage faculty and staff across campus in identifying opportunities for collaboration.

Bring the family for a night of summer fun

UTC Campus Recreation will be hosting a series of family nights at the Aquatic and Recreation Center this summer open to all faculty and staff, starting this Friday (May 19). Come on out for games in the gym and try out the pool and the rock climbing wall. Family nights will take place from 5-8 p.m. on May 19, June 16 and Aug. 11.

• The cost for non-ARC members is $10 per person. Adult guests must show their UTC photo ID.
• Click here to learn about Campus Rec memberships.
• For more information, email colleen-houghton@utc.edu.

Sign Your Campers up for UTC Volleyball Camp

The UTC Volleyball program is offering a 10% discount to all faculty, staff and students for the following volleyball summer camps:

• Scrappy’s Boys and Girls Camp: June 14-15
• Father/Daughter Clinic: June 18
• Middle School Day Camp: June 14-15, July 19-20
• High School Advanced Camp: June 14, July 19
• Positional Camp: June 28-29

Click here to register online. For more information, contact julie-torbettthomas@utc.edu.

Notice of Final Defense: Upcoming Research Presentation

The UTC Graduate School announced that the following student will be presenting a final work of research as an advanced degree candidate. Everyone is invited to attend.

• Friday, May 19: Erin Gaylord will present master’s research titled, “Developing a Predictive Geospatial Habitat Model for a Rare Species of Salamander in Tennessee: A Case Study for the Green Salamander (Aneides Aeneus,” Holt Hall Room 225, 2 p.m. | Master Calendar Info

June 1 application deadline for 12-month cybersecurity program

UTC is actively recruiting highly motivated students for the new Bachelor of Applied Science – Information Technology in Cybersecurity (BAS-IT CyS) accelerated degree program for fall 2023. The application deadline is June 1.

Click here for more information. For eligibility review and other information, email program recruiter Stephen-reiter@utc.edu or call the CECS Dean’s Office at (423) 425-2256.

GEAR UP Seeking Mentors For Summer Program

GEAR UP is seeking volunteer mentors this summer to lead 10th- and 11th-grade students on campus and community adventures. As you may know, GEAR UP students come from mostly low-income backgrounds and attend high schools that typically do not send their graduates to college in very large numbers. This summer, the students will be attending morning classes in a head start math program before participating in afternoon activities.

GEAR UP is here to give the extra help that can set these amazing students up for college. If you could help weekdays June 5-16 from 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m., contact hunter-huckabay@utc.edu. For more information, click here.

Campus Updates

Dr. Caitlin Randolph will be the keynote speaker for the Department of Chemistry and Physics’ 37th annual summer Undergraduate Research Program next Tuesday, May 23. The seminar, titled “Microfluidics Assisted Mass Spectrometry-based Artificially Intelligent Platform for Single Cell Lipidomics,” will take place from 3-4 p.m. in Grote Hall Room 411.

Randolph earned her biochemistry degree from UTC in 2016 and received her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Purdue University in 2020. She is currently a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow at Purdue.  

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The Tony Award-winning best musical “Dear Evan Hansen” is coming to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium May 23-28, and UTC employees, students, their families and friends are being offered a 25% discount code for select performances.

Interested? Click here to go through the purchase process, and you’ll receive the 25% discount.

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In order to provide new transfer students and their guests with the most information in a limited time frame, New Student and Family Programs is holding a UTC Student Services Fair from 8-9 a.m. in the University Center Tennessee Room during check-in for all in-person transfer orientation sessions on June 8, July 13 and Aug. 1.

If your office or area provides a service or program that would be beneficial to an incoming transfer student, please consider attending the Student Services Fair. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today by emailing your name and program and/or department to Carrie-Sherbesman@utc.edu.

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The Sycamore Institute will host a half-day workshop from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, in the University Center Chattanooga Room to discuss the trade-offs of state and local criminal fee and fine policies in Tennessee. Campus members are invited to attend and to share this invitation with colleagues and networks. Click here for more information.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration information and a detailed agenda can be found here.

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We all have people who influence our lives. Parents, teachers, leaders, friends and neighbors can all shape our identity and show us new pathways. Who helped you succeed? Who gave you a push in the right direction?

Do you want to engage with students in real-world learning experiences that will positively influence their lives? Hamilton County Schools has joined the CommunityShare network to give you an easy way to connect with K-12 teachers and share your skills, passions and real-world experiences with students in Hamilton County.

Visit CommunityShare to make an impact on Hamilton County students and teachers today.

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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 following summer dates: June 10 and July 15. If you are interested in working one session or both, email cathy-jackson@utc.edu.

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Mocs Card Services is issuing new ID cards to all faculty, staff, and students. As campus card readers are being replaced, this new card will be necessary for door access and use.

The ID Office summer hours of operation are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please anticipate a higher-than-normal volume of customers on Orientation days.

What is the difference in the current Mocs Card and the NEW Mocs Card? The new Mocs Card is embedded with an RFID chip (tap technology) that will coincide with the installation of new card readers across campus.

• Bring your current Mocs Card to the ID Office in University Center Room 262 to exchange for the new card.
• If you do not bring your current ID, there is a $30 replacement fee. Replacement fees are processed in the Bursar’s Office (University Center Room 274).
• Contact Mocs Card Services (423-425-5819) or the ID Office (423-425-2218) with questions.

Looking ahead

This week’s Mocs Athletics calendar:

• Today (May 16): Men’s Golf at NCAA Regionals (Auburn, Alabama), all day
• Wednesday (May 17): Men’s Golf at NCAA Regionals (Auburn, Alabama), all day
• Friday (May 19): Women’s Golf at NCAA Championships (Scottsdale, Arizona), all day
• Saturday (May 20): Women’s Golf at NCAA Championships (Scottsdale, Arizona), all day
• Sunday (May 21): Women’s Golf at NCAA Championships (Scottsdale, Arizona), all day

Looking back

Dr. Tian Li and Dr. Reinhold Mann

Meet Dr. Reinhold Mann and Dr. Tian Li, two of the research scientists leading UTC into the world of quantum technologies.

Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:

• This fall, August 2022 graduate Sara Marc is headed to Bordeaux, France, to be a teaching assistant and U.S. cultural ambassador as part of the Teaching Assistant Program in France. She has been placed in the Académie de Bordeaux at the secondary school level (middle and/or high school).
• Students and faculty from UTC will travel back to San Salvador Island this summer, a small island in the Bahamas overflowing with history and biodiversity.
• Andrew Eubanks gets a bit choked up when he talks about the work being done by the Solar Decathlon team at UTC. As an entrant in the inaugural Orange County Sustainability Decathlon, the 20-member team’s first challenge is to design and build—in the Engel Stadium outfield—an 1,800-square-foot, energy-efficient house. The second is to break it apart and send it to California for the October competition.
• Dawn Callahan took the reins as division head of the French-American School of New York middle school in 2022, the same year she graduated from the School Leadership program at UTC.
• An environmental science course offered during the spring 2023 semester was beneficial to students interested in growing fresh food and healing the local community.

Watch: Mason Woods profile

Biochemistry major Mason Woods (pictured), a rising senior, recently met with the UTC Video crew to talk about his time at UTC and his career aspirations.

WUTC Spotlight: Rising Rock

On a recent episode of WUTC’s Scenic Roots, students from Rising Rock, a class for storytellers, talked about their spring semester showcase of audio stories.

Student participants in the panel discussion included lead editor Maddie Van Horn, audio editor Madelyn McCrary, editor Kylee Boone and videographer Jules Jackson. They were joined by UTC Department of Communication Associate Lecturer Billy Weeks.

Click here to listen to The Rising Rock Special: Class of Spring 2023.