A Season of Giving Thanks:  The fall semester is flying by, and Thanksgiving is next week.  My family and I wish our students, faculty and staff a Happy Thanksgiving!  Thank you for all you do to make UTC a special place.  Together, we are UTC! 

Congratulations, Dr. Dooley!  UT President Randy Boyd selected Dean Robert Dooley to serve as interim chancellor beginning January 1, 2025.  Dr. Dooley has had a transformative impact as dean of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.  Robert is an inspiring leader and will do an outstanding job!  Congratulations!  

Countdown to Commencement:  We return to campus on Monday, December 2, for the final day of classes for the semester.  Reading Day is Tuesday, December 3, and final examinations take place December 4-10.  Commencement ceremonies will be held in McKenzie Arena on Friday, December 13, for Graduate School students and Saturday, December 14, for undergraduates.  Approximately 850 students are scheduled to graduate. 

A Power C Salute:  A big round of applause to everyone involved in planning and participating in this fall’s Power C Tour events in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.  Thank you to everyone who worked the events and helped us show off UTC to prospective students and their families.  Great work!! 

All-Conference Honors:  A big “GO MOCS” to Dr. DeAnna Beasley and Terrence Banks on their selections to the prestigious 2024-2025 All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team.  Beasley, a UC Foundation associate professor in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, and Banks, associate director of recruitment in Undergraduate Admissions, were chosen to represent UTC alongside faculty and staff members from each of the 10 SoCon institutions.

Campus Voices:  Kudos to Political Science and Public Service faculty members Dr. Chris Acuff, Dr. Jeremy Strickler and Dr. Sarah Heise for their excellent work in leading the campus’ Election Preparation Series.  At a pivotal moment in our democratic process, it was essential for our University community to explore ways to boost civic engagement, encourage productive dialogue and seek common ground.  Our PSPS faculty excelled in leading this important initiative.

Scholar and Athlete:  A big “Go Mocs” to defensive back Reuben Lowery III (graduate school/engineering/Powder Springs, GA) on being named a finalist for the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, given annually to the top student-athlete in FCS football.  Reuben received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in May and returned to the Mocs this fall for his final season of football eligibility.  He also represents student-athletes nationwide as a member of the NCAA Football Oversight Committee/Student-Athlete Connection Group.

Breaking Barriers:  What an inspirational story about Arly Perez-Morales (junior/civil engineering/Chattanooga), a first-generation college student pursuing a career in a field historically underrepresented among women and Hispanic/Latinx professionals.  Arly recently was awarded the Dr. Roberto S. Benson Cultural Value Leadership Scholarship offered by the Cultural Value Leadership Institute—a local organization founded by UTC alum Veronica Herrera.  Congratulations Arly!

Steeped in Service:  The achievements of our graduate students serve as a crucial barometer for the caliber of our programs.  I was so impressed in reading the Veterans Day feature about Erin Lunt, a second-year graduate student in the athletic training program who works with our Mocs student-athletes.  Erin serves our country as a first lieutenant in the Tennessee National Guard, where she is an ordnance officer with her maintenance platoon.

Silver Medal Award Winner:  Congratulations to Andrew Gaddis (senior/criminal justice/Chattanooga) on winning the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Meritorious Service Silver Medal Award.  Andrew, who is on pace to graduate in May, has been taking classes at UTC since 2015—right before he started an eight-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Bus Stop” at the Fine Arts Center:  The UTC Theatre Co.’s production of “Bus Stop” runs through Saturday night (November 23).  If you haven’t seen the performance, you have to check it out!  Congratulations to everyone involved in the production—including the eight-member student cast, crew, faculty and staff!