At your service: UTC staff and faculty honored for employment milestones

From left: Teresa McKinney, Chancellor Steven R. Angle, Dr. Lucien Ellington and Vanasia Parks at the 2023 Annual Service Awards Luncheon. Photo by Angela Foster.

Vanasia Parks said it’s the students and the staff.

“When I go to homecoming, you would not believe the number of students that have graduated and come back to say, ‘If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have graduated. You helped me in the Bursar’s Office,’” said Parks, the senior associate vice chancellor for business services at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “And then I think the reason that I’m still here is because of the staff I have. I mean, they are awesome.”

Teresa McKinney said it’s the people.

“It’s a family; it’s always been a family,” said McKinney, the administrative assistant to Chancellor Steven R. Angle. “It has been that way since I started in the music department. As I moved around to other departments, got married, had kids, this was a great place to raise kids and was a great family to be around.”

Parks and McKinney—both 40-year employees of UTC—were among the 199 members of the UTC family honored for reaching significant service milestones at the UTC Service Awards Annual Luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the University Center Tennessee Room.

Service awards are granted in five-year increments, beginning with the fifth year of regular service. Honorees at this year’s luncheon included 27 people recognized for service totals of at least 25 years.

“Each of you is so important to what we do as a University. Think about it, but you define the University,” said Angle—an award recipient himself thanks to celebrating his 10th year as chancellor.

“I’ve had students tell me, ‘If somebody hadn’t taken the time to talk to me when I needed it, I wouldn’t have stayed in school.’ So you may not realize the difference you make in the lives of our students and the community, but you really make an impact.

“You are the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and we take great pride in saluting each of you striving for excellence.”

Dr. Lucien Ellington, a professor in the School of Education and director of the Asia Program and the Center for Reflective Citizenship, is also a new member of the “40-years at UTC” club. He has been the driving force in leading UTC’s annual Constitution Day event, ensuring the day is honored and celebrated; this year’s event will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

“I have a real attitude of gratefulness for UTC because they rewarded me,” Ellington said. “It’s been a comfortable place to work for a long time.”

Ellington recalled that enrollment was fewer than 6,000 students when he first arrived at the University.

“As you know, we have more than doubled that enrollment,” he said, “and one of the interesting things is that it’s still relatively easy to interact with the leadership team and with other faculty members. That’s a continuing asset.”

Parks is a 1983 graduate of UTC with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She has progressively worked her way up the administration ladder to the executive level during her 40 years at UTC, serving as a staff accountant, assistant bursar, bursar, director of disbursements, assistant vice chancellor and associate vice chancellor.

“I remember my first day as an employee in the Financial Aid office. My first real boss was Ann Tinnon, the director of Financial Aid,” Parks recalled. “And, as a student, I worked in the Testing Center and was hired by Barbara Hyde.”

McKinney graduated cum laude from UTC with a bachelor of music: vocal performance degree in 1984. Her work experience with the University includes stints with Music, Curriculum and Instruction, the Graduate School, the Southeast Center for Education in the Arts, Human Ecology, the Office of the Dean of Education, the Office of the Provost and—since 2015—the Office of the Chancellor.

She invited Dr. Mary Tanner, retired dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, as her guest.

“I spent 20 years in Education with Mary Tanner, which included some of the best 20 years of my life,” McKinney said, “and she prepared me for moving on up. I wouldn’t have made it to this level without the training I received from working with her.”

Following are the 2023 Service Award recipients, courtesy of Human Resources. The list includes several employees who recently left UTC.

5-Year Service Awards

Chris Acuff: Assistant Professor, Political Science and Public Service
Mary Andrews: Clinical Associate Professor, School of Professional Studies
Austin Baird: Systems Analyst, Client Services
Jamie Booth: Study Abroad Advisor, Center for Global Education
Endia Butler: Lecturer, Management
Amanda Chambers: Student Support Coordinator, School of Education
Elise Chapman: Associate Lecturer, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Julia Cummiskey: Assistant Professor, History
Sami Dakhlia: Associate Professor, Finance and Economics
Shelly Dell: Administrative Support Assistant, History
Rick Dierenfeldt: Associate Professor, Social, Cultural and Justice Studies
Angela Dittmar: Director of Teaching Artist Residencies, Arts-Based Collaborative
Kevin Doyle: Assistant Professor, School of Professional Studies
Matthew Durham: Program Manager, Psychology
Leslie Ellis: Senior Custodian, Building Services
Thomas Felton: Parking Operations Manager, Auxiliary Services
Jessica Freeman: Assistant Professor, Communication
Angelique Gibson: Lecturer, Communication
Mary-Elizabeth Goodman: Mosaic Assistant Director, Disability Resource Center
Angela Griffith: Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Advancement, Advancement
Donna Guffee: Systems Administrator, Client Services
Lisa Hancock: Coordinator of Outdoors, Campus Recreation
John Harbison: Associate Professor of Practice, Learning and Leadership
Sara Harper: Total Compensation Specialist, Office of Human Resources
Dominik Heinrici: Associate Lecturer, English
Sherion Hudgins: Senior Custodian, Building Services
Erin Hungenberg: Lecturer, School of Education
Nyssa Hunt: Research Associate, Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor
Hamdy Ibrahim: Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Kristen Johnson: Contracts Specialist, Procurement and Contract Services
Jackie Jones: Customer Service Specialist, Bursar’s Office
Lynn Worcester Jones: Assistant Professor, Music
Holly Kell: Evaluation Counselor, Undergraduate Admissions
Yasmine Key: Director, Student Health Services, University Health Services
Seong Dae Kim: Associate Professor, Engineering Management
Alfred King: Senior Custodian, Building Services
Bryan Lane: Station Manager, WUTC Radio
Steven Layne: Lecturer, Management
Francesca Leasi: Assistant Professor, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Mohammad Mahtabi: Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Loman Martin: Project Manager, Budget and Finance Office
Sherry McClain: Senior Custodian, Building Services
Warren McEwen: Associate Lecturer, Accounting
Dunstan C. McNutt: Assistant Professor, UTC Library
Jaclyn Michael: Assistant Professor, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures-Philosophy and Religion
Thomas Morris: Grounds Tech, Housing and Residence Life
Deborah Mullen: Associate Professor, Management
Nancy Mullins: Assistant Director of Events, Advancement
Sheena Murray: Assistant Professor, Finance and Economics
Abeer Mustafa: Associate Vice Chancellor, Housing and Residence Life
Chuck Nalley: Assistant Director of Strategic Enrollment Technology, Strategic Enrollment Technology
Kelli Nelson: Associate Lecturer, History
Diane Perkins: Finance Specialist, Center for Professional Education
Paula Jo Peters: Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Laura Petrus: Director of Student and Family Engagement, Student Outreach and Support
Lisa Piazza: Director and Associate Professor, Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor
Jared Pienkos: Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Cindy Poole: Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
Jana Quinn: Senior Custodian, Building Services
Teresa Ray: Senior Custodian, Building Services
Christopher Riddle: Applications Administrator, UTC Library
Kashunndra Robinson: Senior Custodian, Building Services
Kyle Ruschell: Head Wrestling Coach, Men’s Wrestling
Ryan Russell: Lecturer, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Junrong Shi: Assistant Professor, School of Professional Studies
David Steele: Chief of Staff, Office of the Chancellor
Trevor Thomas: Coordinator, Developmental Math Labs, Mathematics
Leslie Tyler: Internship Coordinator, Health and Human Performance
Devoirsia Underwood: Security Officer, UTC Police Department
Hannah Wakefield: Assistant Professor, English
Abby Walker: Production Specialist, Mocs Vision, Digital Media Services
Shane Ward: Assistant Professor, Art
William Watson: Workforce Development Specialist, Center for Professional Education
Angela Wharton: Director, Employment Services and HR Operations, Office of Human Resources
Harriett Whitaker: Administrative Specialist II, Athletics Administration and General
Kristi Wick: Assistant Professor and Vicki Gregg Chair, School of Nursing
Tina Willemain: Customer Service Specialist, Bursar’s Office
William Wilson: Assistant Athletics Director, Athletics Administration and General
Adam Wolcott: Lecturer, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Bryan Wootan: Graphic Designer and Web Specialist, Engineering
Mengjun Xie: Associate Professor, Computer Science
Wang Yong Yang: Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Nagwan Zahry: Assistant Professor, Communication

10-Year Service Awards

Raga Ahmed: Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
Steven Angle: Chancellor, Office of the Chancellor
Theresa Blackman: Assistant Director, Pre-Health Student Services, Student Success Center
Ashli Brown: Cheerleading Coordinator, Athletics Administration and General
Leonora Brown: Associate Professor, Finance and Economics
Laura Cagle: Director of Stewardship and Donor Events, Advancement
Rebekah Caldwell: Business Manager, Honors College
Eve Cartee: Assistant Director of Accounting, Advancement
Jodi Caskey: Associate Lecturer, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Katrina Craven: Director, Marketing and Communications, School of Business Administration
Annette Daniell: Accounting Assistant III, Ticketing
Michelle Deardorff: Professor and Head, Political Science and Public Service
Jeffrey Drye: Associate Lecturer, English
Tammi Franklin: Administrative Specialist III, Administration
Linda Frost: Dean and Professor, Honors College
Diana Fryar: Assistant Registrar, Registrar’s Office
Jose-Luis Gastañaga: Associate Professor, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
Amie Haun: Associate Lecturer, Accounting
Irene Hillman: Director of Student Success, Engineering
Ben Hoge: Device Management Technician, Client Services
Shewanee Howard-Baptiste: Vice Provost, Office of the Provost
Rik Hunter: Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator, English
William Kuby: Associate Dean and Professor, Honors College
Yu Liang: Professor, Computer Science
Chuck Margraves: Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Kristina McClure: Education Specialist, Center for Community Career Education
Jeffrey Melnik: Managing Editor, College of Health, Education and Professional Studies
Kathy Melton: Career Coordinator, Disability Resource Center
Courtney Muller: Housing Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Housing and Residence Life
Cheryl Murphy: Director, Office of Research Integrity
Andrew O’Brien: Associate Professor and Associate Department Head, Art
Sumer Patterson: Program Coordinator, Integrated Studies
Laura Perryman: Business Manager, UTC Library
Laurel Rhyne: Associate Lecturer, School of Nursing
Carolyn Runyon: Associate Professor, UTC Library
Charlene Schmidt: Associate Professor, Health and Human Performance
Jill Shelton: Associate Professor, Psychology
Joanna Stephanos: Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Finance, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Rebecca Stimson: Associate Lecturer, Chemistry
Chantelle Swaren: Associate Professor, Outreach and Assessment, UTC Library
Susan Thul: Associate Professor, School of Nursing
Robyn Tobias: Associate Lecturer, School of Nursing
Debbie Troutman-Cantrell: Associate Lecturer and Advisor, School of Education
John Trussel: Professor, Accounting
Jean Vaudreuil: Associate Lecturer, English
Christina Vogel: Associate Professor, Art
Michal Wells: Work Control Manager, Administration
Amanda Winesburgh: Business Manager, Repairs and Maintenance
Weidong Wu: Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Jaclyn York: Assistant Director, Decosimo Success Center, School of Business Administration

15-Year Service Awards

Sybil Baker: Professor and Associate Head, English
Jill Beard: Senior Lecturer, English
Jay Blackman: Deputy Athletics Director , Athletics Administration
Jennifer Boyd: Professor and Associate Head, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Jeremy Bramblett: Senior Lecturer, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Stylianos Chatzimanolis: Professor, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Alicia Coller: Administrative Support Assistant II, Center for Community Career Education
Chapel Cowden: Associate Professor, UTC Library
Shayla Davison-Brown: Academic Coordinator, Center for Community Career Education
Jennifer Faires: Assistant to the Provost, Office of the Provost
Jenny Holcombe: Associate Lecturer, School of Nursing
Rowan Johnson: Senior Lecturer, English
Brad Kiser: Assistant Director, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Institutional Research
Melissa Laseter: Director, Student Support Services
Laird Leathers: Facility and Project Manager, UTC Library
Phillip Lewis: Professor, Art
Floyd Mathis: Education Specialist, Center for Community Career Education
Marcus Mauldin: Associate Professor, Political Science and Public Service
Catherine Middleton: Director of Assessment and Senior Lecturer, Finance and Economics
Dale Mobley: IT Administrator II, Client Services
Steve Ray: Professor and Chair, Theatre and Speech
Angie Russell: Assistant Director, Client Services
Erika Schafer: Professor, Music
Cathy Scott: Associate Professor, School of Professional Studies
Stephanie Todd: Senior Lecturer, English
Danny West: Director, Administration
John West: Police Sergeant, UTC Police Department
Andre Yates: Grounds Supervisor, Housing and Residence Life
Mato Zglav: Craft Specialist III, Repairs and Maintenance

20-Year Service Awards

Angelique Cook: Business and Academic Operations Coordinator I, Psychology
Kevin Ford: Professor, Music
Ron Hill: General Maintenance Technician, Housing and Residence Life
Eva Hunter: Administrative Associate III, Computer Science
Catherine Kendall: Professor, School of Professional Studies
Becca McCashin: Coordinator I, LEAD
Tim Parker: Senior Lecturer, English
Tracye Pool: Senior Lecturer, English
Freddy Sturdivant: Custodial Foreman, Building Services
Talia Welsh: Professor and Director of Integrated Studies, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures-Philosophy and Religion
Thomas Wilson: Professor and Graduation Coordinator, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences

25-Year Service Awards

Elizabeth Bell: Director, School of Business Administration
Chris Charland: Senior Service Supervisor IV, Campus Services
Yancy Freeman: Vice Chancellor, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Ronald Goulet: Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Zibin Guo: Professor, Social, Cultural and Justice Studies
Maggie Hall: Accounting Coordinator, Accounting
Karyn Herrin: Budget Coordinator, Client Services
Jim Hicks: Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean, Student Outreach and Support
Michael A. Jones: Professor and Associate Dean, School of Business Administration
Ann E. Mayer: Early Childhood Specialist (Infant/Toddler), UTC Children’s Center
Mike R. Roeser: IT Administrator, Engineering

30-Year Service Awards

Tatiana Allen: Professor, Chemistry
Joe Dumas: Professor, Computer Science
Linda Gehron: Administrative Specialist III, College of Arts and Sciences
Donnie Hodge: Maintenance and Operations Superintendent, Power Plant
Craig R. Laing: Associate Professor, Social, Cultural and Justice Studies
Deborah McAllister: Professor, School of Education
Jonathan W. Mies: Professor, Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Joanie Sompayrac: Professor, Accounting
Michael Ward: HPC/HTC Administrator, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Richard Winham: Senior Radio Program/Announcer, WUTC Radio

35-Year Service Awards

Karl Fletcher: Director, Office of the Dean
Shirley Hatfield: Accounting Specialist I, Bursar’s Office
Ossama A. Saleh: Professor, Mathematics

40-Year Service Awards

Lucien Ellington: Professor, School of Education
Teresa McKinney: Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor, Office of the Chancellor
Vanasia Parks: Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Accounting