Celebrating Our Mocsters: What an incredible Homecoming Week! Despite last week’s rain, the energy on campus was contagious. It was fantastic to see alumni, students, faculty and staff come together to celebrate everything that makes UTC special.
A special congratulations to this year’s Homecoming King and Queen, xxxxx and xxxxx, and to Joshua Clay and Carolina Shank—recipients of the Public Service Awards from the UTC Alumni Board and the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. These students exemplify what it means to lead with a heart for service both on campus and in the community.
Thank you to everyone who made this Homecoming so memorable. From the student organizers and volunteers to the alumni who returned home to celebrate, you made my first UTC Homecoming one I will always cherish.
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Honoring Our Military-Connected Community: As Veterans Day approaches, we pause to honor the service and sacrifice of our students, faculty, staff and alumni who are veterans or active members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
More than 15% of our UTC family is military-connected, a source of tremendous pride for our campus. Through the work of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, we provide tailored support, peer mentorship and a strong sense of belonging for those who have served. That commitment is definitely noticed—with UTC being recognized earlier this week as a Top Veteran-Friendly School by U.S. Veterans Magazine.
Next Tuesday, we’ll gather for the Chancellor’s Annual Veterans Day Luncheon to celebrate this extraordinary community and express our gratitude for all they bring to our campus. To our veterans and military families: thank you for your service, your leadership and your example. Go Mocs! Go Vets!
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A Milestone for Nursing and for UTC: The elevation of our School of Nursing to the College of Nursing is a recognition of excellence that has been decades in the making. For more than 50 years, our nursing graduates have cared for patients across this region, and this new designation reflects the scale and strength of their impact.
With nearly 1,000 students across undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, UTC nursing continues to earn national recognition for excellence and workforce readiness. Becoming a college brings well-deserved visibility to an enterprise that delivers care, compassion and impact across Tennessee and beyond.
I want to thank Dr. Chris Smith—our inaugural dean—and our faculty, staff, students and alumni for the dedication that made this achievement possible.
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Expanding Access to Mental Health Care: Last week, we celebrated the opening of the Parkridge Mental Health Therapy Center at UTC, a new on-campus resource that expands access to mental health care for our students, faculty and staff.
We know that mental and emotional wellness are essential to success in the classroom, at work and in life. This new center offers a welcoming, confidential space where members of our campus community can find support from licensed therapists close to where they live, learn and work.
I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Chris Smith, Counseling Center Director Corinne Webster and our partners at Parkridge Health System for their shared vision and long-standing commitment to this project.
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Introducing Cheryl Montgomery: I’m delighted to share that Cheryl Montgomery has joined UTC as chief of staff. In this key leadership role, Cheryl will serve as a strategic advisor to me and work closely with campus and community partners to help advance our University’s priorities.
Cheryl brings an extraordinary blend of experience in higher education, government and industry. Most recently at Tennessee Tech, she led major institutional initiatives that strengthened partnerships and expanded visibility. Earlier in her career, she served in the U.S. Department of Justice under Attorney General Janet Reno and held leadership roles with Sprint Corporation and on Capitol Hill. Her strategic insight, diplomacy and deep commitment to public service make her an exceptional addition to our campus.
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Opening Doors for Future Mocs: November is an exciting time for high school students and families exploring what it means to be a Moc. Next week, UTC will host three events designed to help future students see themselves here: the Power C Tour on Nov. 12, College Quest on Nov. 14, and Blue and Gold Preview Day on Nov. 15. I want to thank every faculty, staff and student working these events and making them so special for our future Mocs.
These events bring the UTC experience to life, giving us on-campus opportunities to showcase our strong academic programs, affordable pathways and the community spirit that makes this University so special. I hope every future Moc and their parents leave campus feeling what we already know: this is a place where students are challenged, supported and inspired to launch their futures.
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Grammy Moment: It’s not every day you can say there’s a Grammy nominee on campus!
Congratulations to Dr. Jonathan McNair, the Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music, whose piano composition “Rabun Gap” is featured on “Piano Crosscurrents,” an album nominated for a Grammy Award.
Inspired by the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, Jonathan’s work was recorded through a UTC faculty development grant and now represents our University on a national stage. What a wonderful reminder of the creativity and excellence that define our faculty.
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Creativity on Display: When you walk into The Hub—the College of Arts and Sciences Student Success Center—you’re now greeted by the artwork of senior integrated studies major Sydney Zwart.
Sydney designed and painted two murals for The Hub, including a Scrappy-themed piece and a “selfie wall.” What began as a summer project has become a lasting part of The Hub’s character, reflecting the talent and heart our students bring to everything they do.
As a transfer student, Sydney found her place at UTC through The Hub. In turn, she has helped create a space that welcomes others. Well done, Sydney!
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The Power of Giving: What an incredible Mocs Give Day! On Oct. 7, our community came together to raise more than $1.8 million from 2,616 donors in just 24 hours. That’s a powerful reminder of what happens when alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends unite for a shared purpose.
I’m grateful to our Division of Advancement team for leading this tremendous effort and to everyone who contributed. Every gift—large or small—helps strengthen UTC and creates new opportunities for our students. Thank you for showing how generosity fuels our students’ success.
