Chancellor’s Update
The end of the spring semester is coming up fast. Monday is the last day of classes, followed by Reading Day. Final exams take place April 27-May 3.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched this country’s history, culture and achievements, occurs in May. Since many of you are not on campus after finals, numerous events have occurred throughout April, including the K-pop Culture Club Dance Showcase this Saturday night at the University Center. Check out MocSync for other upcoming events.
The Student Government Association is the largest student advocacy group on campus with the stated purpose of ensuring that UTC is a supportive campus environment for students from all walks of life. I have had the pleasure of working with SGA president Taylor Bradshaw over the past year, and I look forward to learning about her future success. I am excited to have the opportunity to interact with the newly elected SGA executives and senators for the 2022-2023 academic year, including president Delali Gadzekpo, vice president Marissa Lott and treasurer Cora Power.
Congratulations to Thomas Wiegand, a graduate research assistant in Guerry Professor Jennifer Boyd’s environmental science lab, on being awarded the Garden Club of America’s Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship in Conservation Horticulture. This national fellowship is given to two students a year for research at a botanical garden that supports the mission of the Center for Plant Conservation and the student’s academic program.
A big thumbs up to marketing major Madison Myers on being selected as an EPB muralist for the second straight year. Madison was one of 12 artists chosen to paint the wall facing Foster Street at EPB’s 10th Street Substation. Last year, she was one of nine artists who painted the 10th Street wall as part of “The Soul of MLK—How Artists Visualize the Heartbeat and Soul of MLK in Arts, Music and Culture.”
Kudos to Assistant Professor of Practice Matthew Grubb for being selected as the Tennessee chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Outstanding Occupational Therapy Educator for 2022. This award is given to an APTA Tennessee member who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the education of physical therapy students and demonstrates the ability to go above and beyond what is expected as an academic educator.
A school-record five Mocs—Tyron Arnett, Rashun Freeman, Jerrell Lawson, Christian Snyder and Cole Strange—earned membership in the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame 2022 Hampshire Honor Society. All five members of the group played the 2021 season as post-graduate students. The five are part of an elite group of student-athletes selected from all levels of collegiate football who maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.
Best of luck to Cole Strange in the upcoming NFL draft on April 28-30. Cole, an offensive lineman, is looking to become the first Moc selected in the NFL draft since Corey Levin (6th round) in 2017. Terrell Owens, chosen in the 3rd round of the 1996 draft, was the highest-drafted player in Mocs history.
Congratulations to women’s golfer Dorota Zalewska on winning the Brickyard Collegiate earlier this month in Macon, Georgia. It was the second collegiate victory for Dorota, who became just the fourth UTC women’s golfer with multiple career wins. Go Mocs!
There will be a lot of action this weekend at the UTC Tennis Center, as the Southern Conference tournament for both women’s and men’s tennis will be taking place today through Sunday. Good luck to all participants!
How about another big round of applause to our campus health team for all the work they did—and continue to do—to keep UTC safe and healthy! Chris Smith, Yasmine Key, Dawn Ford and their respective staffs have done a masterful job navigating through two-plus years of a pandemic.
We are always looking for ways to pay tribute to our campus’ many outstanding staff members. Please continue to help recognize these employees who go the extra mile by submitting nominations for the Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award. All full and part-time non-faculty UTC or UC Foundation staff are eligible for the award.
|
