Happy New Year, and welcome back! I hope everyone had an enjoyable winter break and is re-energized for the spring semester.
A big “Hello” to all of our new Mocs. During the academic year, I like to share news of University happenings with a C-Note on the first and third Thursday of the month. Welcome to our newest Mocs and the first C-Note of 2022!
COVID continues to be a challenge and concern for our campus. We have been working to determine what precautions we should take to protect our campus community from the spread of COVID while we also follow State and Federal laws and executive orders. We have a campus communication describing our precautions undergoing final review. Expect to see something before close of business on Friday, January 7.
UTC will participate in two MLK Day of Service events on Monday, January 17. The City of Chattanooga’s Department of Equity and Community Engagement is collaborating with the UTC Office of Multicultural Affairs, River City Company, the NAACP, Scenic Cities Beautiful Commission, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the Unity Group of Chattanooga on a donation drive to benefit organizations located in the M.L. King Boulevard/11th Street area. UTC also is co-sponsoring a virtual MLK Breakfast with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s Psi Lambda chapter, and program speakers include Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Yancy Freeman and Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement Stacy Lightfoot.
Congratulations to Professor Mark Schorr in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science and Chris Stokes, assistant director of multicultural affairs and National Pan-Hellenic Council advisor, on being named to the All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team. Mark and Chris were selected for their shared characteristics of dedicated service to our students and contributions to campus life and the local community. Great Work!
Congratulations to Mocs defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell on being named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year. The winner will be announced on January 7. Also on the football beat, kudos to Mocs offensive lineman McClendon Curtis on being one of the 15 national finalists for the Stats Perform FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. McClendon, who was featured in the fall edition of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Magazine, is pursuing a master’s degree in school leadership after receiving a bachelor’s degree in sport management last May.
Bravo to UTC alumna Martha Summa-Chadwick, whose “Power of Music” concert event, which focused on the therapeutic and connective power of music, was selected as a semifinalist in The American Prize’s virtual concert category. The “Power of Music” concert, which included participation from the UTC Music Division, highlighted the value of music through the collaboration of science, art and therapy.
Mark your calendars! ReSEARCH Dialogues, a two-day academic conference celebrating research and creative activities on the UTC campus, will be held April 12-13. Two new events have been added to the conference schedule for 2022, a Pitch Competition hosted in partnership with the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and the Discovery Showcase.
It’s not every day where I can welcome a Grammy Award-nominated recording artist to the UTC campus. Ruben Studdard, winner of the second season of “American Idol,” will be leading two master classes in the Department of Performing Arts’ Music Division this March. Welcome to UTC, Ruben!
Just a reminder: The University will be closed Monday, January 17, for the Martin Luther King Day holiday.