Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Your hard work, determination and perseverance have brought you to this momentous milestone. Whether you’re beginning your career or continuing your education, I wish you every success in the journey ahead. Wherever life takes you, remember—you will always be part of the UTC family. We are incredibly proud of you. Once a Moc, always a Moc!

Commencement is a time of celebration not just for our graduates and their families but for our entire campus community. During UTC’s 265th commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, more than 1,300 undergraduates and 300 graduate students will proudly receive their degrees.

Thank you to the faculty members who have graciously agreed to serve as marshals during commencement—and to the staff who volunteer their time to help make the ceremonies memorable. Your presence means the world to our graduates. You have been instrumental in their journey, helping to shape their success and bring out their very best. Your dedication makes a lasting difference in the lives of our students, and we are deeply grateful for all that you do.

I would also like to express my gratitude to our commencement speakers, Dr. Tyler Forrest (’10, ’12, ’21)  and Cindy Monroe (‘98), for sharing their wisdom and inspiration with our graduates. Their messages will be highlights of the weekend! To learn more about our speakers and some of our featured graduates, be sure to visit the UTC Newsroom.

• Friday at 2:30 p.m.—Graduate School Commencement (Vimeo link)
• Saturday at 9 a.m.—Undergraduate Commencement for College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering and Computer Science (Vimeo link)
• Saturday at 2 p.m.—Undergraduate Commencement for Gary W. Rollins College of Business and College of Health, Education and Professional Studies (Vimeo link)

*     *     *     *     *

Thank You for Engaging in the Chancellor Search Process: I am grateful to everyone who participated in this week’s public forums for the finalists in the search for UTC’s next chancellor. I appreciate the faculty, staff, students and community members who took the time to attend the sessions, ask thoughtful questions and engage in this critical process. If you were unable to attend, recordings of both forums are available on the search website, along with finalist information and an opportunity to submit feedback. 

Honoring a Visionary Gift: I am thrilled to share that Max Fuller, a 1975 graduate of UTC, has made a transformational $5 million commitment to name the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Max’s extraordinary generosity reflects his deep belief in the power of innovation and entrepreneurship and the impact of UTC students and faculty on the business world. His gift will propel the Max Fuller Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship mission forward, expanding opportunities for student learning, research and collaboration. We are incredibly grateful to Max for his investment in our campus and our future.

Looking Back at a Memorable Year: The Mocs Top 10 video series offers a great recap of the 2024-25 academic year and many of the incredible moments we’ve shared as a campus community. I am deeply grateful for all that you do to support our students and make UTC such a special place. Thank you for your dedication and passion and for helping make this year one to remember. 

Passport to Diplomacy: Congratulations to sophomore Vinny Nguyen, who has been awarded a prestigious Critical Language Scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan this summer. Vinny, a double major in political science and economics with a minor in Asian studies, will spend two months at Tamkang University as part of this U.S. Department of State initiative. A member of the Innovations in Honors program, he is passionate about language and international engagement—and we’re proud to see him representing UTC on the global stage!

Aiming High: Congratulations to senior Durand Henderson, a U.S. Air Force veteran and business administration major, on being selected for the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship Spark program. This summer, Durand will spend nine weeks immersed in Korean language study, preparing for a future career in diplomacy with aspirations to join the U.S. foreign service. A Veteran and Military Affairs Student Ambassador, Durand credits UTC faculty for encouraging him to pursue this competitive opportunity. We are proud to see him representing UTC on the national stage and wish him great success in this exciting endeavor.

Honoring Faculty Excellence: Congratulations to Dr. Nancy Fell and Dr. Stephanie Eton of UTC’s Department of Physical Therapy for earning top honors from the Tennessee chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Dr. Fell, a longtime leader and advocate in the profession, received the 2025 Carol Likens Award—APTA Tennessee’s highest honor. Dr. Eton, our director of residency education, was named the 2025 Outstanding Physical Therapist Educator. Both were recognized for their exceptional contributions to physical therapy practice, education and mentorship. We are proud to celebrate their well-deserved recognition and grateful for the impact they make every day on our students and our community.

Welcoming Our New SGA Leadership: A big thank you to our Student Government Association members for their leadership and dedication to making UTC a welcoming community for all students. I have truly enjoyed working with our SGA leaders this semester! Looking ahead, I’m pleased to congratulate our newly elected SGA team for 2025-26, including SGA President Beeta Baghaevaji, Vice President Bridgette Greene and Treasurer Ivy Whitten. They’ll be joined by 21 senators representing each of UTC’s academic colleges.

A Championship Experience to Remember: Some moments are genuinely once in a lifetime—and our student media team lived one in Indianapolis. Five UTC communication students—Mallori Crocker, Sydney Banks, Zoie Denton, Emma Sutherland and Trevor Jolley—joined Lecturer James Tanner to capture unforgettable content during the men’s basketball NIT championship. For Trevor, the excitement didn’t stop there; he also competed in a national championship as part of the UTC Roller Hockey Club. What an incredible experience for these talented students who represented UTC with distinction on a national stage!

Celebrating Our University High Graduates: This month, we also celebrate the inaugural graduating class of University High—a unique partnership between UTC and Hamilton County Schools. Located right here on our campus, University High blends high school courses taught by HCS educators with college-level classes led by UTC faculty, providing students with an incredible head start on their academic journeys. We look forward to honoring these outstanding students at their graduation ceremony on Friday, May 9. Congratulations to our University High graduates—and thank you to everyone at UTC who has supported this remarkable collaboration!