Congratulations to the Class of ’25: It was wonderful to celebrate with our graduates and their families at last weekend’s commencement ceremonies. Commencement is one of my favorite times of the year because it honors the heart of our mission—our students. It is a moment to recognize their journey, tenacity and talent, and to acknowledge all the people who helped them reach this milestone.
To every new graduate: Whether this was your first step across a UTC stage or the culmination of many years of hard work, you crossed that finish line. We are proud of you, and we cannot wait to see where your path leads next.
To our faculty and staff: Your dedication shapes our students’ journeys every day and your hard work makes commencement possible. Special thanks go to the marshals, event staff, volunteers and behind-the-scenes teams who ensured every detail was thoughtful and welcoming. Your care reflects the very best of UTC, and I am grateful for all you do for our students and for our University.
I also want to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Elaine Swafford, who addressed our Graduate School class, and Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, who spoke during our undergraduate ceremony. Their messages of leadership and service added meaning to a weekend already full of pride.
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Honoring Our Military-Connected Mocs: UTC has been recognized by Military Times as one of the nation’s best universities for veterans and military-connected students, placing second among Tennessee institutions and standing out as the only university in the state honored for both in-person and online program support.
With more than 15% of our students connected to the military, this recognition reflects our strong commitment to those who have served and to their families. My sincere thanks to our Office of Veteran and Military Affairs team for the personalized support, guidance and connection they provide every day.
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Introducing Jermaine Freeman: Please join me in welcoming Jermaine Freeman as our new Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development. Jermaine will help strengthen our industry partnerships, deepen our engagement across the region and ensure our academic programs continue to align with high-demand careers and emerging workforce needs.
A Chattanooga native and UTC MBA graduate, Jermaine brings nine years of leadership experience with the City of Chattanooga, where he advanced major economic initiatives, supported workforce strategies, and collaborated closely with employers and community partners. His understanding of our region and his commitment to its people make him a natural fit for this role.
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Athletes vs. Engineers: I want to give a shout-out to our civil engineering students and the UTC Rowing Team for bringing some friendly competition to the Tennessee River. In the inaugural “Athletes vs. Engineers” race, our student-built concrete canoe went head-to-head with a traditional rowing shell, showcasing the ingenuity of our engineering students and the skill of our rowers.
This event highlights what makes UTC such a dynamic learning community. Students from different disciplines came together to design, build, coach and compete, all while learning from one another in meaningful ways. My thanks to all the students, faculty and staff involved who helped make this race possible.
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A Story of Remarkable Resilience: Features like this remind us why we do what we do. Trinity Anthony, a Brock Scholar and art history major, survived a traumatic brain injury as a middle schooler—an accident that left her in the bottom 1% for cognitive function and required her to relearn skills many of us take for granted. What began as 15-minute “doodle sessions” during recovery has grown into a deep passion for art, history and storytelling.
Today, she’s excelling in the Honors College, conducting meaningful research in the UTC Library and exploring how art connects stories across time and place. Trinity’s determination and heart make it clear how far focus and dedication can take you. We are so proud she’s part of our UTC family.
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Cooking Up Community: Sam Burchett arrived at UTC with a background unlike most undergraduates. Before enrolling at UTC, Sam cooked in some of the world’s most competitive kitchens, including a three-star Michelin restaurant in New York City. He is now pursuing a double major in biology and Spanish as he prepares for a future in medicine, and hopes to serve through an organization like Doctors Without Borders.
Sam recently led a tamale-making workshop for Día de los Muertos, sharing his culinary skills with more than 40 students. His path is a powerful reminder that purpose can take many forms, and that our students bring extraordinary experiences and heart to UTC.
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Empowerment in Motion: Our faculty continues to make a global impact through compassion and scholarship. Dr. Zibin Guo, head of our Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Geography, recently partnered with UNESCO’s International Centre of Martial Arts to lead a five-day Wheelchair/Adaptive Tai Chi training program in Bangladesh for health care providers and community advocates. He shared a model of empowerment that draws strength from movement and dignity.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Guo has shown how cultural wisdom can address modern challenges. His leadership is a powerful example of UTC’s impact stretching far beyond our campus.
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Happy New Year! As we move into the holiday season and prepare to welcome 2026, I hope each of you finds time to reconnect with the people and places that renew your spirit. I’m excited for all that lies ahead in the new year and for the momentum we will continue to build together.
Our University is strong because of the care, creativity and commitment each of you brings to UTC every day. Thank you for the work you do, the students you support and the community you help us build together.
I’m excited for all that lies ahead and for the momentum we will continue to create as one UTC family. Wishing you a restful break and a bright start to 2026!
