November 4-10, 2025
Updates and news for the week of November 4-10, 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
Looking back at Homecoming Week
 Neel Patel (left) and Carolina Shank were crowned Homecoming King and Queen at the 2025 Homecoming game. UTC celebrated Homecoming Week 2025 with a week full of events, activities and plenty of Halloween costumes.
The week culminated on Saturday, with the Homecoming football game, where UTC fell to Western Carolina 35-28 in a nail-biter. During halftime festivities, Neel Patel and Carolina Shank were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Click here for a full recap story. The full Flickr gallery is available here.
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Public Service Award Winners named
 Joshua Clay and Carolina Shank were recognized with Public Service Awards at halftime of the Homecoming game. The awards were presented by Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Artanya Wesley and Claire Smith, president of the UTC Alumni Board of Directors. UTC students Joshua Clay and Carolina Shank were selected as recipients of the 2025 Public Service Award, a $1,000 scholarship recognizing distinguished service to the University and the Chattanooga community.
Clay, an accounting and integrated studies major graduating in May 2026, is a Chancellor’s Ambassador, First-Generation Mentor, Orientation Leader, SGA senator, resident assistant, campus ambassador and events manager in the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community. In the community, he serves as treasurer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chattanooga, mentors students at Tommie F. Brown Academy and volunteers with the Chattanooga Food Bank.
Shank, a mechanical engineering and criminal justice major with a minor in mathematics, will graduate in May 2028. She is president of the Society of Women Engineers, treasurer of both the UTC Mock Trial Team and Women’s Legal Caucus, and a Chancellor’s Ambassador. Her community service includes volunteering with Operation Christmas Child, the Chattanooga Food Bank, and the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians, where she serves as a service unit delegate.
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First-generation students forge their own path during First Gen Week
Nearly a quarter of UTC’s students are first-generation college students, and with this status come responsibilities, expectations and new experiences.
For first-generation college students, the pressure of knowing which steps to take on campus can feel overwhelming. Understanding the pressure some students may face, First Gen Week—taking place from Nov. 3-7—gives students a chance to build a community and have their questions answered. Click here for the full calendar of events.
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UTC Prepares for Federal Accessibility Deadline
The U.S. Department of Justice now requires all public institutions to make their digital content, including PDFs, webpages and other online materials, accessible by April 24, 2026.
UTC is working toward full compliance, and everyone who creates or manages digital content has a role to play. Making sure our materials are accessible helps every student, faculty member, staff member and visitor fully engage with what UTC offers.
- Review your PDFs: Remove, archive (include “archive” in the file name), update for compliance or convert to webpages.
- Check vendor sites: Let the Accessibility Task Force know if you manage external or vendor-hosted pages and include required disclaimers.
- Web content: Ensure text, images, videos and links meet accessibility standards.
If someone from the Accessibility Task Force reaches out, please work with them to bring your content into alignment. Together, we can ensure UTC meets this federal requirement and maintains accessibility long term. Click here to learn more about compliance. Contact the Accessibility Task Force with any questions.
Outstanding People of UTC
 From left: Dr. Veronica Warren, Erical Beasley, Becca Williams, Dr. Corinne Webster, Dr. Chris Smith, Chancellor Lori Bruce, Dr. Chris Cosby, Dr. Krikor Jansezian, Kristy Palomino, Jake Golich, Farlie Chastain, Daniel Kiser. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last week to officially open the Parkridge Mental Health Therapy Center at UTC, marking the launch of a new on-campus resource for comprehensive mental health care.
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 Terrell Owens When Pro Football Hall of Famer and UTC alumnus Terrell Owens walks across campus, he still feels at home.
Owens, who first made his mark on Chamberlain Field as a wide receiver in the 1990s, returned to Chattanooga for UTC’s 2025 Homecoming Week—a celebration of pride, purpose and community that stretched far beyond the football field.
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UTC has named Cheryl Montgomery as chief of staff to Chancellor Lori Bruce, effective Monday, Nov. 3. In this key position, Montgomery will serve as a strategic advisor to the chancellor, providing executive-level support in advancing institutional priorities, managing complex initiatives, and fostering collaboration across the University and the broader Chattanooga community.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- Chancellor Lori Bruce joined two episodes of Jed & JR Mornings. Listen to both episodes here and here.
- Dr. Zihao Wang was featured by Teknovation.biz for his research in interpretable 3D image modeling.
- UTC esports program coordinator Chase Daffron and esports players Jacob Rozier and Austin Mendoza were featured in a Times Free Press story.
- Director for the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education Allen Pratt spoke to the Times Free Press about Chattanooga’s time zone.
- Center for Regional Economic Research Director Howard Wall spoke to NewsChannel 9 about home prices rising in Chattanooga. Wall also spoke to the Times Free Press about new subdivisions in Hixson and East Brainerd.
Mark Your Calendar
 Kamdyn Munro (photo courtesy of Trevor Jolley/GoMocs.com) This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:
- Friday, Nov. 7: Women’s Tennis—UTC Fall Invite, all day
- Friday, Nov. 7: Volleyball vs. Western Carolina, Maclellan Gym, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Women’s Tennis—UTC Fall Invite, all day
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Football vs. Furman, Finley Stadium, noon
- Sunday, Nov. 9: Women’s Tennis—UTC Fall Invite, all day
- Sunday, Nov. 9: Wrestling vs. Ohio State, Maclellan Gym, 1 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 10: Chat With the Mocs, Miller’s Ale House (Hixson), 96.1 FM, 7 p.m.
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The Department of History will host “Historians React to Current Events: Surviving War Edition” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. today (Nov. 4) in Grote Hall Room 131.
The event will feature Associate Professor Annie Tracy Samuel discussing “Israel and Iran at War” and Assistant Professor Michael Samuel presenting “Gaza Ceasefire” In this presentation, both will provide historical context for recent global conflicts and share their personal experiences of living in a war zone.
The event is sponsored by the Department of History. For more information, contact Michael Samuel. Click here to learn more.
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The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures is organizing a Summer Study Abroad program in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Madrid. Students can study abroad for one month in June (nine credit hours) or two months in June and July (15 credit hours).
Courses cover language, culture and literature through topics such as art, film, gastronomy, politics and sports. Students interested in participating can contact Dr. José-Luis Gastañaga to learn more about the program and available opportunities.
A general information meeting will take place at 5 p.m. today (Nov. 4) in Lupton Hall Room 239 (Language Lab).The session will include details about the program, scholarships and other forms of financial aid.
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The Decosimo Success Center will host a LinkedIn Seminar at 5:30 p.m. today (Nov. 4) in Derthick Hall Room 101, offering students tips and strategies for building standout LinkedIn profiles that attract recruiters.
Guest speakers LC Williams, co-founder and managing partner of The Ionado Group, and Randy Carroll, HR manager and privacy advisor at Olin Chemical Corporation, will share insights from their experience in cybersecurity, human resources and leadership. Attendees will gain practical advice on professional branding, networking and using LinkedIn effectively to advance their careers.
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Ministry.org, a student organization founded by UTC student Joshua Harris, will host a Pop-Up Shop clothing drive from noon-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Chamberlain Pavilion.
The event will feature more than 500 items of clothing available free to UTC students. Stop by to pick up free clothes, shoes, hats and more.
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Information sessions are taking place for the spring 2026 study abroad course, “Doing Business in The Balkans,” which is open to all UTC students. The course has no prerequisites and includes a two-week international study trip to the Balkans, visiting Italy, Croatia and Albania (tentatively scheduled for May 11-24). The Balkans course is led by Dr. Beni Asllani, head of data analytics and native of Albania.
Information sessions:
- Wednesday, Nov. 5: 1:30 p.m., Zoom
- Tuesday, Nov. 11: 12:30 p.m., Zoom
- Thursday, Nov. 20: 2 p.m., Zoom
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Information sessions are taking place for the summer 2026 study abroad course, “Doing Business in Germany,” which is open to all UTC students. The course has no prerequisites and includes a two-week international study trip to Germany, visiting Berlin, Nuremberg and Munich (tentatively scheduled for June 20-July 3). The Germany course is led by Dr. Michael Jones, senior associate dean of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.
Information sessions:
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Scrappy’s Markets are back this semester and will continue through the fall. The next markets will be from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and Tuesday, Nov. 18, on Vine Street.
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The Center for Wellbeing offers a monthly lineup of trainings for faculty and staff. Please sign up here. Sessions that count toward completion of the Mental Health Ally Program are marked with an asterisk (*).
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.
- Wednesday, Nov. 5: Opioid Overdose Response and Naloxone, University Center Room 350, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 14: Sleep Matters: Improving Sleep Among Employees and Students, Zoom, noon-1 p.m.
- *Friday, Nov. 14: Mental Health First Aid, Library Room 209, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
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The College of Arts and Sciences invites you to the “AI Research Symposium: Rethinking Humanities and Social Sciences Research in the Age of AI” from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, in the University Center Chickamauga Room.
The symposium will feature two in-person panels. The first will offer a cross-disciplinary conversation on the role of AI in research, featuring perspectives from Sarah Einstein, Lucy Schultz and Chris Vidmar. The second panel will highlight faculty research projects funded by the CAS AI Grants Program, with presentations from Feng Guo, Ruth Walker and Ahmet Kule. Coffee and lunch will be provided, and faculty, students and staff are encouraged to attend and join the discussion on how AI is transforming research and scholarship.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Jennifer Pierre, a user experience researcher at YouTube, will deliver a virtual talk via Zoom at 11 a.m. titled “Generative Creation: How GenAI Is Fueling New Forms of Content Making and Research.” Her biography is available here, and advance registration for the Zoom keynote is available here. For inquiries, contact Nagwan Zahry or Chandra Ward.
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Interested in earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a concentration in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control? Join an information session from noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, via Zoom to learn more about the program and application process.
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Dr. George Siopsis, professor and director of the Quantum Leap Initiative at UT Knoxville, will present “Fun with Quantum Light” from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, in UTC Library Room 435. This will be the final Quantum Colloquium Series event of the fall semester.
Siopsis will explore the surprising world of quantum light, where particles can behave like waves, distant photons can share a mysterious connection called entanglement, and information can be transmitted in fundamentally secure ways. Beginning with the historical roots of quantum mechanics—Planck’s quanta, Einstein’s photons and the EPR paradox—he will explain how these once-puzzling ideas now power technologies such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing.
See all speakers and details on the Quantum Center – QCS Events page and add the event to your calendar from the UTC events page.
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Open Source Camp Chattanooga 2025—a full-day, hands-on experience—is designed for developers, designers, content editors, marketers and project managers—in other words, anyone curious about building for the web.
Trainings will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Business Development Center on North Shore. The Saturday, Nov. 8, sessions will take place from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the UTC Library, with UTC presenters focusing on PDF accessibility remediation. UTC employees and students can register free of charge, and lunch will be provided.
Click here to see the session list and here for the session list. Register with coupon code DCCHAA2025.
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Dr. Will Lynch from Georgia Southern University will present a Department of Chemistry seminar from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, in Grote Hall Room 411. All are welcome.
Lynch will discuss “Hierarchy in Hydrogen and Halogen Bonding in Co-Crystals.” Halogen bonds, akin to more familiar hydrogen bonds, are Lewis acid-base interactions that involve the donation of a lone pair of electrons from a donor atom to the σ* orbital (σ-hole) of an acceptor atom. In this presentation, Lynch will explore the hierarchy of bonding in pyridine and pyridine N-oxide motifs as well as in halogen versus hydrogen bonding systems where both types of interactions are available.
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The Marian Anderson String Quartet, the first African American ensemble to win a major classical music competition, will be in residence at UTC from Wednesday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 7.
The residency includes a free public concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, in Cadek Recital Hall. Free parking is available in the adjacent Lupton Hall parking garage; both the parking garage and Cadek Hall are accessible to people with disabilities.
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High school students and families are invited to experience what it means to be a Moc during the Power C Tour from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Aquatic and Recreation Center. The event connects future students with UTC leaders, faculty, staff and current Mocs to learn about academics, housing, financial aid and campus life. Qualified seniors can even earn admission on the spot through the University’s “Moc Minute” program.
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Students in Dr. Katelyn Hancock’s Ethics in Criminal Justice course will showcase their artwork during the Pouring for Purpose Gallery from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the University Center Chickamauga Room.
The event features abstract paintings created by students exploring ethical dilemmas and solutions in the criminal justice system. Attendees can take home a student painting in exchange for a donation, with all proceeds benefiting the local nonprofit Partnership for Families, Children and Adults’ HOPE Initiative Program. Both cash and electronic donations will be accepted.
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Dr. Amy Brock-Hon, Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology, will lead a lecture on Raccoon Mountain Caverns and regional geology at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, in Grote Hall Room 319.
Following the lecture, Brock-Hon will guide a tour of the public section of the caverns at 5:30 p.m. (319 W. Hills Drive).
Space for the cavern tour is limited to 10 participants, but the lecture is open to all. Those interested in the tour are asked to attend the lecture first, as key background information will be shared there. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended for the tour.
Click here to register for the lecture and tour and learn more about the caverns.
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 College Quest student panelists Bentley Adkins, left, Shelby Alford, Tooba Tanveer and Lukas Wise On Friday, Nov. 14, high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing careers in professional health care, engineering, computer science and technology—along with their families—are invited to College Quest at UTC.
Co-hosted by UTC’s Pre-Health Professions Advising, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and UTC Admissions, College Quest combines targeted academic sessions, lab experiences, and a student panel with a parent track that covers financial aid, housing, career services and academic support. Click here to learn more about the panelists and their UTC stories.
The half-day event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Wolford Family Athletic Center. The event is free and complimentary parking is available in Lot 31. Registration for College Quest is required by Nov. 4 and is available online by visiting go.utc.edu/college-quest.
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The UTC Theatre Co. will perform Euripides’ “Medea,” translated by Diane J. Rayor, from Nov. 18-22 in the Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre at the UTC Fine Arts Center. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. nightly, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors (student ID required). Tickets can be purchased online or through the UTC Fine Arts Center Box Office—by phone at 423-425-4269 or in person.
Directed by Assistant Professor Drew Davidson, “Medea” explores betrayal, exile and revenge in a fast-paced, 90-minute adaptation that balances classical language with modern accessibility.
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Join the Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science (CAGDS) on Wednesday, Nov. 19, to celebrate GIS Day, a global event recognizing the work of geographic information systems (GIS) professionals. This year’s theme highlights how today’s geospatial thinkers are “geo-generalists,” applying spatial thinking across disciplines such as public health, marketing, climate science and logistics to solve complex challenges using data-driven insight.
CAGDS will host a free workshop, “GeoAI — Deep Learning for Imagery Classification in GIS and Remote Sensing,” from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Multidisciplinary Research Building (MDRB 102). Registration is required. Participants will explore the intersection of GIS and artificial intelligence (AI), learning how deep learning techniques can analyze high-resolution imagery to:
- Classify land cover types such as forests, farmland, water and urban areas
- Detect and count buildings, vehicles or roads
- Identify storm or wildfire damage to support disaster response
By combining AI with GIS, users can process large datasets faster, uncover hidden patterns and gain new insights about the world around us.
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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.
Campus Updates
In August, the UTC campus experienced a criminal act intended to cause disruption, chaos and trauma. While similar incidents have impacted other institutions across the country, UTC was among the first targeted this academic year—serving as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and collective resilience.
At the direction of University administration, UTC will now require mandatory Active Violence Response Training for all regular full-time employees (faculty and staff) and affiliated staff (Aramark, Barnes & Noble and Canon). This marks the first year the training is mandatory for the campus community.
To assist in delivering the program, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has partnered with Defend Systems, a life safety and security consulting firm specializing in active shooter response and emergency preparedness. The training will focus on emergency awareness, critical response actions and strategies that improve survivability. Click here to register for a session.
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Often, we think of summer programs when we think of Programs for Minors, but UTC has a wealth of programs designed for our area youth that run throughout the year. The Programs for Minors policy, a UT system policy, is in place to ensure that minors (youth 17 and younger) and the individuals who work with them are protected.
If you have questions about the policy or a program you are planning, please visit the Programs for Minors webpage or contact UTCDPS_Compliance@utc.edu.
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Housing and Residence Life is looking for resident assistants for the spring 2026 academic semester and the 2026-2027 academic year. RAs are students who work and live in the residence halls to provide resources, programs and support to their fellow students. This position offers free housing, a meal plan and a stipend. Being an RA is a great way to get involved on campus and develop transferable skills for your future career. Visit utc.edu/ra to learn more
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Interested in UTC’s multidisciplinary Learning and Leadership (LEAD) doctoral programs. Join a virtual information session hosted by Dr. Elizabeth Crawford, LEAD programs advisor, and Dr. David Rausch, LEAD programs director.
Register here to receive an Outlook calendar invite with the Zoom meeting link.
Applications for the Summer 2026 Ph.D. and Ed.D. cohorts will be accepted from Dec. 1, 2025, through Feb. 27, 2026. Step-by-step application instructions and additional details, including FAQs, will be available on the LEAD program websites. For questions, email utclead@utc.edu.
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UTC Campus Recreation is offering a new Faculty and Staff Walking Membership for $10 per month.
Payroll deduction is available for full-time faculty and staff. Sign-ups begin Nov. 3 at the Campus Recreation Office in the Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC). Office hours can be found here. Please note that this membership is valid only for the indoor walking track. Other areas of the building, including machines and free weights along the track, are off-limits.
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The R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Program is a national self-defense course that focuses on awareness, prevention, risk reduction and realistic hands-on training. Classes are taught by certified UTC Police and Public Safety instructors.
- Free for students, faculty and staff
- No experience necessary
- Emphasis on safety and empowerment
- Offered multiple times throughout the year
Click here or email Marion Perkins to register or learn more.
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The Clarence E. Harris Chair of Excellence in Entrepreneurship in UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business is excited to announce the third year of Mocs Innovate: The Harris Chair Seed Fund for Innovation. This mini-grant program is designed to foster inventive research and entrepreneurial initiatives on campus. UTC faculty and staff are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $4,000 to support new ideas with commercialization potential.
The Mocs Innovate mini-grant program aims to inspire and support creative projects at all stages of development and is open to any UTC faculty or staff member with innovative ideas that demonstrate clear pathways for licensing or entrepreneurial ventures. By providing up to $4,000 in funding, the Mocs Innovate initiative seeks to accelerate the development of ideas that can have a meaningful impact both within and beyond the University.
Click here to learn more. The deadline to apply for this cycle of grant funding is Dec. 15.
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The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) will host a training session to help the campus community transition to DASH Research, UTC’s new research administration platform.
DASH Research Safety: The Research Safety module will go live on Nov. 10, replacing the current IBC email/Word document submission process. Principal investigators will not be required to submit new registrations until Jan. 12, 2026, allowing ORI to migrate active registrations first. ORI will host an in-person demonstration of the new platform from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. Lunch will be provided. To attend, RSVP to the IBC at ibc@utc.edu.
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The National Science Foundation Noyce Track 2 fellowship project is accepting applications from STEM-degreed professionals to prepare to teach secondary mathematics and science through the Master of Education degree program. The 2026-2027 cohort will begin coursework in May 2026. Please contact Deborah McAllister or click this link for project details.
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Are you in need of physical therapy services? The Department of Physical Therapy offers short-term care for students, faculty and staff for free. The on-campus clinic is led by PT faculty and doctoral students during the fall and spring semesters. If you are experiencing functional limitations, pain, lingering injuries, recent injuries, or would like guidance to improve overall fitness, they are happy to evaluate you.
The clinic is located in University Health Services in Maclellan Gym (545 Terrell Owens Way). Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and 1-3 p.m. on Thursdays.
To schedule an appointment, call University Health Services at 423-425-2266. For additional information, email ptclinic@utc.edu.
UTC Newsroom
“He is an example of what the University of Chattanooga has been. His intense interest in the future represents the University that is to be.” With these words in May 1969, University of Chattanooga President William H. Masterson celebrated the retirement of Professor Irvine W. Grote and simultaneously announced the building to be named in his honor—Grote Hall.
In his role as University archivist, UC Foundation Associate Professor Noah Lasley, the researcher behind “If These Walls Could Talk,” works to acquire, arrange and describe official UTC records and other valuable materials that document the University’s history.
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 Interior architecture and design student Monse Espinoza (green shirt) worked with students in the nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and social work programs during an escape room exercise in the Metro Annex. UTC occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, nursing and interior architecture students worked together to build a healthier community by completing an escape room.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
WUTC
An episode of WUTC’s “Scenic Roots” featured a panel discussion from UTC’s first international quantum workshop led by Charlie Brock, CEO of the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative.
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