A Celebration of Black History: February is Black History Month, an opportunity to highlight Black leaders and celebrate those who have impacted the country and the world with their achievements. The Office of Multicultural Affairs, in conjunction with campus partners and the community, has put together an exciting calendar of events emphasizing the landmark experiences of African Americans. Please check the Black History Month webpage for the most up-to-date schedule.

Introducing the Violence Reduction Initiative: Congratulations to Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt and the Department of Criminal Justice on the official launch of the Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI), a research center dedicated to bridging the gap between academic research and real-world solutions to violent crime in Chattanooga and beyond. The VRI is being led by Dierenfeldt—a former police officer—and will utilize data-driven research to tackle pressing public safety challenges. Dierenfeldt recently spearheaded efforts that have resulted in federal grant awards for the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.

Partnering for Health and Community: UTC is expanding its reach in Southeast Tennessee by partnering with the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD) to bring evidence-based programs to senior centers across a 10-county region—Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie. The UTC interprofessional initiative is spearheaded by Dr. Kristi Wick (Nursing), Dr. Erin Melhorn (Occupational Therapy) and Dr. Cathy Scott (Social Work). Congratulations to all for the work you’re doing to support our neighboring communities and create opportunities for students to observe and participate in hands-on training.

Revolutionary Research: Congratulations to computational engineering doctoral candidate Joshua Tyler, who has developed the world’s first usable artificial intelligence network capable of learning how to encrypt itself. This innovation promises nearly unbreakable cryptography, vastly enhancing communication security. Alongside his faculty mentor, Dr. Don Reising, Joshua has shared a draft of their findings on arXiv, an open-access repository for scholarly papers, and submitted an invention disclosure to the UT Research Foundation for a provisional patent.

Brewing Innovation: I love a good cup of coffee as much as anyone, so I was fascinated to learn how junior chemical engineering major Katelyn Hamilton has turned her work as a coffee shop barista into the foundation of her academic and career aspirations. Collaborating with Assistant Professor Venkateswara Rao Kode, Katelyn is researching innovative uses for spent coffee grounds. Her inspiring story shows how passion and creativity can drive meaningful progress in environmental science.

Building Success in Business: Junior finance and marketing: professional sales double major Gage Keeble is a standout example of ambition in action. As a member of the inaugural Phillips Scholars in Free Enterprise cohort, a chief analyst for the SMILE Fund and the owner of Scenic Shine Window Cleaning—a business he launched at age 20—Gage is balancing academics, investment management and entrepreneurship in building a bright future. Congratulations to Gage and the Gary W. Rollins College of Business faculty and staff for contributing to his remarkable success.

Physics Students Continue to Shine: For the second year in a row, the UTC chapter of the Society of Physics Students has earned national recognition by receiving the Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS National Office. This prestigious honor highlights the chapter’s continued excellence as a top-tier student-led organization. Congratulations to the chapter officers—senior Landon Boone (president), senior Evan Humberd (vice president), junior Olivia Ziemer (secretary) and sophomore Ike Deitch (treasurer)—and advisor Dr. Tatiana Allen on this terrific achievement.

A First for UTC: Congratulations to Emma Sprayberry, a May 2024 graduate (Innovations in Honors student, bachelor’s degrees in both humanities: international studies and Spanish), on becoming the first UTC graduate to be selected for the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Program. The Pickering Fellowship program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, prepares outstanding individuals for careers as U.S. Foreign Service Officers by providing funding for graduate studies, internships, and professional development opportunities. Emma is currently teaching English in Taiwan after being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Celebrating Underwater Research: Congratulations to Associate Professor of Anthropology Morgan Smith on the release of “Finding the First Floridians,” a documentary co-produced with PBS and Florida affiliate WFSU. This fascinating film, free to the public, explores Florida’s underwater indigenous landscapes and features insights from leading experts. Don’t miss this incredible work!

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Present Your Research: The 2025 UTC Spring Research and Arts Conference, the largest academic conference at UTC, will be held on Wednesday, April 9, at McKenzie Arena. The event showcases the research and creative works of UTC undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff. The submission deadline—February 23—is fast approaching, so make sure to register. Last year, 665 total presenters participated in the conference.

Science on Tap: A free and casual monthly event hosted by UTC, “Science on Tap,” launches Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 5-7 p.m. at the Tap House in St. Elmo. The debut speaker, UTC Quantum Center Director Rick Mukherjee, will present “The Quantum Technologies All Around Us,” exploring quantum science and its real-world applications. You can learn more here and register for the event. Join us for “Science on Tap” every second Tuesday of the month.

Please Keep Me Up to Date: I like to attend as many events as my schedule allows, so please make sure to post your activities to the UTC Events Calendar!