Three recent UTC School of Education graduates are being recognized early in their careers for the influence they are already making in Tennessee classrooms. Lauren Cardenas, Reagan Lowrie and Madisson Mantooth have each been named Novice Teacher of the Year recipients in their respective school districts, an honor that recognizes full-time teachers in their first three years in the classroom who demonstrate excellence in instruction, professionalism and student engagement.
UTC’s RAIL System delivers early cost savings for rural school districts
In its first 3½ months of operation, the RAIL System, housed within the UTC School Psychology program, served 19 school districts across Tennessee and provided access to 186 assessment tools and related resources—saving participating districts more than $22,000 in costs they would otherwise have incurred purchasing the materials themselves.
Master’s student April (A.P.) Horn turns undergraduate research into a future in teaching
With the start of the spring semester, December 2025 UTC graduate April Horn is now enrolled in Graduate School thanks to the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship, a competitive National Science Foundation-funded fellowship that provides STEM graduates with a fully funded pathway to earn a master’s degree in secondary education from UTC in just 14 months.
Charles in charge: Storyteller turns his UTC student experience into a career
When Charles Kemp walks across the McKenzie Arena stage at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, he’ll be thinking about how far he’s come—both as a student and as a storyteller.
UTC honors Moc’s Golden Feather recipients Christopher Brown and Andre Yates
UTC has selected Christopher Brown from the School of Education and Andre Yates from Housing and Residence Life as the Moc’s Golden Feather Award recipients for September 2025. The Moc’s Golden Feather Award, launched earlier this year by the Office of Human Resources, recognizes staff members who provide outstanding service and contributions to make UTC a great place to work and learn.
Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien named vice provost for faculty affairs
Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien, a UC Foundation professor and director of the School of Professional Studies in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, has been named UTC’s vice provost for faculty affairs. Her appointment is effective Jan. 2, 2026.
From military service to helping others: A veteran’s journey at UTC
Through her love of Chattanooga, Necole Gonsahn decided that the long commute to UTC was worth it to pursue a Master of Education degree in counseling. The May 2025 graduate, who served in the U.S. Army Reserve, reflected on her time at the University and partnering with the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.
Painting with a purpose: Student’s murals reshape The Hub’s look and feel
Sydney Zwart, a senior integrated studies major from Gallatin, Tennessee, came to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a transfer student last year. Today, her work is one of the first things students see when they walk into The Hub—the College of Arts and Sciences Student Success Center.
STEAMagination Festival blasts off at Challenger STEM Learning Center
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Challenger STEM Learning Center hosted its third annual STEAMagination Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11, showcasing what the center has to offer to the local community.
UTC lands NSF grant to strengthen STEM education in Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has received a $500,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) award to launch a three-year project that will prepare and retain middle and high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers through research experiences in STEM settings (RESS) in microelectronics and artificial intelligence.