May 6-12, 2025
Updates and news for the week of May 6-12, 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
Giant steps: The class of 2025 walks the walk at UTC commencement
UTC celebrated its 265th commencement on Friday and Saturday with three McKenzie Arena ceremonies recognizing the Class of 2025.
Over the two days, the University’s four degree-granting colleges presented 1,565 candidates for degrees.
Click here for a flickr gallery of commencement photos and click here to view the video recap.
Click here for more UTC Commencement 2025 stories.
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MOCS TOP 10
Join UTC in celebrating some of our most exciting moments over the past year. Click here to watch all Top 10 videos.
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Introducing the Moc’s Golden Feather Award
The Moc’s Golden Feather Award, formerly known as the Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award, is designed to celebrate and honor the dedication and excellence of our UTC staff. This program reflects our belief that every member of our campus community plays a vital role in creating a supportive and dynamic environment where students and colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to succeed.
The award will honor staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, creativity and innovation, and a commitment to fostering a collaborative and welcoming campus culture. As the saying goes, “Mocs fly together,” and this award celebrates both teamwork and the individual contributions that uplift our community.
To learn more and to submit nominations, please visit the Moc’s Golden Feather Award webpage.
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YOU’RE INVITED TO HOST A MOCS FIRST CLASS
UTC is launching A Moc’s First Class, a new retention initiative to welcome incoming first-year students in partnership with Academic Affairs, Access and Engagement, and Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.
Faculty and staff are invited to serve as session hosts from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15, immediately following Convocation. Each session will offer a relaxed, meaningful opportunity to connect with a group of 25 students, share tips for the first week of classes and help ease the transition to college.
A BBQ lunch on Chamberlain Field will follow from 12:30-2 p.m. for students, faculty and campus leaders. Informational sessions for hosts will be offered in early August. Click here to sign up to host a session.
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Coming Soon: Staff Senate Ballots
The ballot for the Staff Senate at UTC will be distributed via email this week and you will have several days to make your selections. Please vote and encourage your co-workers to participate. This is an exciting time on campus—and your voice matters.
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STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT PLAN ANNOUNCED
UTC has enlisted Huron Consulting Group as its partner to engage in the development of a Strategic Enrollment Plan (SEP). To learn more, read this announcement to campus made by Interim Chancellor Robert Dooley.
Outstanding People of UTC
 Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi has been named dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, effective July 1. Yelamarthi comes to UTC from Tennessee Technological University, where he has served since 2021 as associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering. In that role, he supported more than 3,100 students and 85 faculty members across seven departments and 18 programs.
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 Kobe Joseph (Photo courtesy of Laura O’Dell/GoMocs.com) Five Mocs football players—Chase Artopoeus, Kobe Joseph, Reuben Lowery III, Jordan Walker and Reid Williams—have been named to the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society, recognizing academic and athletic excellence. This marks the fourth straight year UTC has had five or more honorees.
A busy week on the athletics front included the following news:
- The Mocs softball team clinched its 16th Southern Conference regular-season title on Sunday. The team heads to Spartanburg, South Carolina this weekend for the SoCon Tournament.
- The Mocs men’s tennis team will make its first postseason appearance since 2000 after earning an invitation to this year’s UTR Sports National Invitational Tennis Championship. The event will be held Wednesday through Friday (May 7-9) at the Rome (Georgia) Tennis Center.
- Mocs sophomore men’s golfer Camden Braidech is preparing for next week’s NCAA Regionals in Auburn, Alabama. Braidech, making his first postseason appearance, is playing as an individual in the 13-team, 75-player field.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- Jim Reynolds, the voice of the Mocs for the last 45 years, celebrated his 70th birthday last week. The event was broadcast as part of his Jed & JR Mornings show on WGOW 102.3 FM. Mayor Tim Kelly, UTC coaches and a number of local media personalities were among the hundreds who attended during the morning show.
- Kit Gresham, a senior art major who graduated last weekend, was featured in a Times Free Press story about her success as an athlete on UTC’s beach volleyball team.
- UC Foundation Professor Sean Richards joined Jed & JR Mornings to discuss the potential dangers of cooking with plastic utensils.
- Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Service Jeremy Strickler discussed Donald Trump’s first 100 days of presidency on Jed & JR Mornings.
- A Chatter Magazine story about Chattanooga barbecue joints featured Dr. Mark Johnson, assistant professor of history and author of “An Irresistible History of Alabama Barbecue: From Wood Pit to White Sauce.”
- Students in Mark Kennedy’s feature writing class wrote reviews of Chattanooga barbecue restaurants for a Chatter Magazine article.
Mark Your Calendar
The Walker Center for Teaching and Learning will host the 2025 Instructional Excellence Conference today (May 6) featuring keynote speaker Dr. Michelle Miller.
Miller is a cognitive psychologist, researcher and author whose work supports higher education faculty in creating effective and engaging learning experiences. Her books include:
- “Minds Online: Teaching Effectively with Technology” (Harvard University Press, 2014)
- “Remembering and Forgetting in the Age of Technology: Teaching, Learning, and the Science of Memory in a Wired World” (West Virginia University Press, 2022)
- “A Teacher’s Guide to Learning Student Names: Why You Should, Why It’s Hard, How You Can” (University of Oklahoma Press, 2024)
She is a professor of psychological sciences and a President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Northern Arizona University.
Click here to register for the Instructional Excellence Conference. This event is free for UTC faculty, lecturers and adjuncts.
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Science on Tap continues in May with UTC School of Nursing’s Dr. Meagan Oslund as the featured speaker.
Join the discussion from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, at the Tap House in St. Elmo. Oslund will share how MobileMOC—a custom-built mobile health clinic—is helping expand care for older adults and caregivers in rural communities.
Funded through a $2.6 million Tennessee Department of Health grant, MobileMOC is the centerpiece of the School of Nursing’s ROAD MAP initiative. The vehicle will be on site for attendees to explore before and after the talk.
Enjoy free snacks and appetizers, with local brews and other beverages available for purchase at happy hour prices. Additional 10% discount for military, first responders and students with ID. Register here.
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Only one session remains in CPE’s Spring 2025 CHAIN Lunch and Learn Series. Attendees can enjoy lunch, network with other local professionals and explore how AI can improve productivity in both professional and personal life.
- Thursday, May 15: “AI and Society – Global Challenges, Environmental Impacts, and a Responsible Future” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
The cost is $25 and includes lunch. Departments may pay with a transfer voucher after registration. Visit the CHAIN webpage or call the Center for Professional Education at 423-425-4344 to register or for more information.
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A town hall focused on healthy aging, rural health and community partnerships will take place from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, in the Wolford Family Athletic Center.
The event will feature regional leaders, including Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, and spotlight innovative programs supporting older adults across the region and state. It will also celebrate MobileMOC, the Rural Health and Older Adult Interprofessional Mobile Health Program.
Register here by Wednesday, May 14. All are welcome.
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After 35 years of teaching, research and service at UTC, Professor of Physics Ling-Jun “Eddie” Wang is retiring. Please join the Department of Chemistry and Physics in celebrating his career from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, May 23, in the University Center Chickamauga Room.
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The UTC Graduate School announced that the following student will be presenting final works of research as an advanced degree candidate. Everyone is invited to attend.
Campus Updates
The University is implementing a new electronic platform for IRB submissions, DASH Research IRB. In preparation for the transition from our current email submission system to DASH Research IRB, we want to inform you of some important upcoming dates. Please read carefully and make plans for your research submissions accordingly. Note that training will be provided by the UTC Office of Research Integrity so you can familiarize yourself with DASH Research IRB. Here is what you need to know now:
- Only fully approved projects will be moved into the new system. Any submissions that are not approved by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 27, will not be moved to DASH Research IRB and will need to be re-submitted in DASH Research IRB after go-live on Monday, July 14.
- To allow time for the IRB to process and approve new applications by Friday, June 27, no NEW IRB submissions (including change requests and annual reviews) will be accepted between Wednesday, June 16, and Monday, July 14.
- Please check on any outstanding IRB submissions now to see if you have any pending submissions that need to be addressed prior to this date. We recommend sending any pending submissions back to the IRB by no later than Monday, June 16, to ensure the board has time to process them.
- If you have a study that has an expiration date in June or July that you wish to continue past that end date, the IRB strongly recommends that you submit a Form B, Request for Changes, by Saturday, May 31, to avoid any issues with getting approval before the study expires.
- Monday, July 14, is the scheduled go-live date for DASH Research IRB: All new IRB applications will be submitted through this module.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Baley Whary or call 423-425-5867 for assistance.
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Operation Move In (OMI) 2025 is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 13-14, in first-year residential spaces across campus. This marks a return to a campus-wide collaboration to welcome UTC’s newest Mocs this fall.
OMI is an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and organizations to come together and create a warm, supportive environment for incoming students and their families. A campus-wide committee is being formed to coordinate the two-day event. Volunteer roles will include unloading, parking, traffic flow, greeting and more. There will be follow-up communication to request volunteers for OMI.
For more information, contact OMI committee chair Jason Harville.
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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.
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Starting in July, rising second to sixth graders in the Challenger Exploration Camp will have the opportunity to participate in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) challenges, rocket launches and explorations of space and Earth. Each day, campers can also go on excursions to locations such as the Chattanooga Zoo, the UTC Aquatic and Recreation Center, the Clarence T. Jones Observatory and the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center.
To learn more about the Challenger STEM Learning Center and to access a link to the Challenger Exploration Camp, visit this link.
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The UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science will host the Summer Algebra Enrichment Program for rising 8th through 11th graders from July 7-18 at the CECS building (735 Vine St.). The program runs from 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. each day and the cost is $75 per student.
This two-week experience is designed to strengthen algebra skills and introduce students to career pathways in engineering, computer science and other STEM fields. The program includes Algebra 1 instruction led by experienced educators, mentoring sessions with UTC students and hands-on career exploration activities. Space is limited to 30 participants and registration is required.
For more information or to register, click here or contact CECS Outreach Coordinator Alex Coker.
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Upcoming Transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11: Microsoft will be ending support for the Windows 10 operating system on Oct. 14. After that date, there will be no more security updates, feature updates or technical support for Windows 10. To prepare for this, Information Technology will be gradually upgrading all UTC owned Windows 10 devices to Windows 11 this year, with full completion expected by October. For more information on the Windows 11 project timeline and upcoming next steps for faculty and staff, visit our Knowledge Base – Windows 11 articles.
UTC Newsroom
In case you missed them, check out these stories about some of UTC’s Class of 2025:
- Andrew Farmer’s UTC experience, sparked by a coin toss, led him to discover a passion for communication, marketing and data analytics.
- April Van Brunt’s path from film production to kindergarten teacher shows it’s never too late to find your true calling.
- Bailee Smith, a first-generation college graduate, turned her passion for cognitive science into a successful academic and research career at UTC.
- Chamyra Teasley made her mark at UTC through leadership, service and a drive to inspire change—both on campus and beyond.
- Chello Gardner turned a chance encounter with Scrappy into a transformational journey of leadership, resilience and finding her voice.
- Destiny Pope turned campus involvement and leadership experiences into a career-launching path to human resources.
- Jordan Fall used his platform as Student Government Association president to advocate for students at the highest levels of UTC leadership.
- Landon Boone combined his passion for physics and LEGOs into research opportunities that helped define his undergraduate experience at UTC.
- At 62 years of age, Lori Coletta earned her Master of Social Work from UTC, turning a life of global advocacy, holistic health and caregiving into a new career of service.
- Marcelle Baez-Carlo made an impact on and off the volleyball court at UTC, combining athletic excellence with a deep commitment to serving the Chattanooga community.
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 Megan Cales (left) It started at Thanksgiving dinner. Megan Cales watched her partner’s 5-year-old son—who is autistic—struggle to manage his voice in a noisy room full of family. She searched online for a discreet, wearable tool that might help him self-regulate. Nothing existed. She made a mental note and moved on.
Then, an email from UTC caught her eye.
WUTC
On this special edition of “Scenic Roots,” listen to the student storytellers of Rising Rock from the spring 2025 semester.
IN Memoriam
Former UTC Registrar Sandy Zitkus passed away on April 22, 2025. Zitkus had over 42 years of service to UTC when she retired in 2019. The Hixson, Tennessee, resident loved cooking, gardening, reading, pottery, camping and boating, and she was known for her incredible generosity, both in her charitable contributions and in her personal life. Click here for her full obituary.
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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.
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