August 20, 2026
The Start of Something Meaningful: Welcome to a new academic year, Mocs! There’s always something special about this time of year as campus comes back to life and we get ready for what’s ahead.
To our students, I encourage you to make the most of the opportunities in front of you. Get to know your classmates and professors, ask questions and take part in the life of the University beyond the classroom. Weeks of Welcome, running Aug. 23 through Sept. 5, offers many ways to get connected, beginning with the Oak Street Roast. These events are designed to help you find community, explore campus and begin building the relationships that will shape your UTC experience.
To our faculty and staff, thank you for the care, commitment and energy you bring to the start of every academic year—and a special thank you to everyone who took the time to volunteer for Operation Move In, Convocation or one of our Weeks of Welcome events. Your presence and willingness to lend a hand makes a meaningful difference as we welcome students to UTC and help them begin to find their place in our community. I am grateful for all you do to create a welcoming, supportive campus and for what we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
I look forward to welcoming our students, faculty and staff tomorrow at 10 a.m. in McKenzie Arena for Convocation.
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Establishing a New Gold Standard: As we celebrate UTC’s 140th anniversary year, I invite our campus community to join a new campus tradition: Gold Fridays. Every Friday, wear gold to show your Mocs pride—whether you are in the classroom, working in an office, conducting research, volunteering off campus or attending a UTC event—and upload your group photos to the Gold Fridays page.
For 140 years, generations of Mocs have helped build a University that creates opportunity and strengthens Chattanooga. Gold Fridays are a simple, visible way to honor that legacy and share the pride we have in UTC’s future.
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Name That House: The Office of the Chancellor has moved to 551 Oak St., a distinctive campus landmark many know as the Alumni House. Completed in 1896 as the home of Chattanooga industrialist Caleb B. Isbester, the Queen Anne Revival house has served many purposes over its 130-year history—as a private residence, the home of a Chattanooga mayor, a University of Chattanooga residence hall, the Provost’s House, and most recently, the Office of Alumni Affairs. As it begins its next chapter, I invite our UTC community to help give this remarkable place a new name.
We are seeking a name that honors the house’s history, reflects its important role on campus and represents the spirit of UTC. Faculty and staff are to submit ideas here for a new name for the house. After entries are narrowed to three or four finalists, the UTC community will select the new name during an open house at 551 Oak St. during Founder’s Week.
I look forward to seeing the creativity of our community and welcoming you into this special place.
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Engineering Independence: I want to applaud mechatronics major Austin McDade and Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu for creating a custom 3D-printed mobility chair for Amelia Aiken, a 2-year-old Chattanooga toddler with cerebral palsy. Working in the Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab, Austin led the work to print and assemble the chair after Amelia’s family contacted UTC seeking a device that would help her move more independently before beginning preschool later this year.
This project is a prime example of the care and practical problem-solving that happens when student learning meets a community need. Under Dr. Kaplanoglu’s guidance, Austin applied his technical skills to create a device that gives Amelia greater independence and access to the spaces around her. Thank you for making a meaningful difference for Amelia and her family.
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Building a Stronger Behavioral Healthcare Workforce: Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Counselor Education Tyler Oberheim, Assistant Director for Health Education and Wellness Promotion Jami Hargrove and adjunct faculty member Megan McKnight for launching UTC’s new Clinical Addiction Studies Certificate program. This important initiative responds to a critical shortage of addiction counselors by creating a clear pathway for students and working professionals who want to develop the knowledge and preparation needed to serve individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.
I am grateful to Tyler, Jamie and Megan for their leadership in developing an opportunity that will help strengthen the behavioral healthcare workforce and support the well-being of our community.
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Preparing Specialists to Serve Older Adults: Congratulations to UTC alum Dr. Faith Rose on becoming the first graduate of the UTC-Siskin Hospital Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency Program. A 2020 graduate of UTC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Dr. Rose completed a year of advanced clinical training, research, teaching and mentorship focused on geriatric care.
As our population ages, preparing clinicians with specialized expertise in the care of older adults is increasingly important. I am grateful to the faculty, clinicians and leaders at UTC and Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation who built this residency, and I congratulate Dr. Rose on establishing a strong foundation for the residents who will follow in her footsteps.
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Serving Our Community One Screening at a Time: I want to recognize the 20 faculty members and students from UTC’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program who provided free health screenings earlier this month at the Chattanooga Wellness Expo. Their work gave community members access to screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and other health indicators while helping students apply their clinical learning in service to the people of Chattanooga.
This is exactly the kind of work we are highlighting through 140 Community Events for 140 Years, an initiative recognizing the many ways UTC connects with the community we serve. I encourage campus groups to share their community-focused events as part of our 140th anniversary celebration and help demonstrate the many ways UTC makes a difference across Chattanooga and beyond.
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Celebrating Historic Donor Support: More people than ever before chose to invest in UTC during fiscal year 2026, making it the largest year of donor participation in University history. A record 7,645 donors contributed more than $29.3 million to support our students, faculty and programs, while 57,883 alumni engaged with UTC through meaningful opportunities to connect and give back. This remarkable participation shows the enduring connections Mocs share with their University and the belief our alumni, friends and partners have in UTC’s future.
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Constructing the Future of Our University: Across UTC, significant investments are reshaping our campus and expanding the spaces where students live, learn and discover.
Approximately $460 million in capital projects are in planning or under construction, reflecting a long-term commitment to creating exceptional learning, living and research environments. The expansion of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, the new Oak Street Residence Hall and the Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building will create new opportunities for students, strengthen academic programs and support continued growth at the University. I am also pleased to welcome students, faculty and staff back to Brock Hall this fall following extensive renovations.
Each of these projects represents an investment in the future of UTC and in the value of a UTC degree. Together, they are helping us build a modern campus that serves the evolving needs of our students and our community.
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Strengthening International Partnerships: It was exciting to welcome the Japan-America Society of Tennessee to UTC on Aug. 10—including Consul-General of Japan in Nashville Shinji Watanabe and Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville Mitsuru Shinozaki—and leaders from across government, industry and education. Their visit provided an opportunity to share the work taking place at UTC and to strengthen relationships among Japan, Tennessee and our region.
During their time on campus, guests learned more about UTC’s research and innovation efforts, including our work in quantum technology, intelligent urban infrastructure, and autonomous transportation.
The Japan-America Society of Tennessee has long helped foster mutual understanding and cultural awareness while supporting the economic ties between Japan and our state. I am grateful to our guests for their enthusiasm for partnership and for the ways these connections create new opportunities for our students, our community and the future of Tennessee.
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