The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Nursing is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) to expand access to cardiovascular care for older adults in rural Southeast Tennessee. Building on the success of the University’s MobileMOC program, the new initiative—titled “Connecting Community Partners: Breaking Down Barriers to Heart Health”—is designed to connect senior centers, local providers and community resources to help older adults monitor and manage their blood pressure while learning practical ways to maintain heart health.
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.
Multidisciplinary escape room challenges students to collaborate for a healthier community
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, nursing and interior architecture students worked together to build a healthier community by completing an escape room.
UTC receives $2.4 million HRSA award to address behavioral health workforce needs in Southeast Tennessee
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is the recipient of a $2.4 million federal grant to bolster the pipeline of highly trained behavioral health professionals serving children, adolescents and young adults in underserved areas of Southeast Tennessee.
Rolling relief: A day on the road with UTC’s MobileMOC health team
MobileMOC—an outreach health clinic on wheels—is designed to provide health care access for older adults in local rural communities, offering services such as preventive care, screenings, chronic disease management and social services.
From holistic healer to social worker, Lori Coletta’s path to purpose
As advanced degree recipients from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Graduate School crossed the McKenzie Arena stage on Friday, May 2, one in particular stood out—not because of a number, but because of her story. At 62 years of age, Lori Coletta accepted her Master of Social Work degree—a moment of “legitimacy” marking the culmination of a decades-long path rooted in advocacy, exploration and the pursuit of purpose.
Marcelle Baez-Carlo: Serving Chattanooga on and off the court
When University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Marcelle Baez-Carlo first stepped on campus in 2021, the most crucial question to her was: “How can I help?” Recruited from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, to play volleyball, Baez-Carlo has spent her time at UTC committed to improving her performance on the court—but also to her new community.
UTC honors outstanding graduate students during appreciation celebration
As part of UTC’s Graduate Student Appreciation Week, which recognized the contributions, impact and value of UTC’s graduate and professional students, students were honored by their respective programs during a celebration event on Friday, April 11.
Social work students take advocacy to heart during State Capitol visit
For social work students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the 2025 Social Work Day on the Hill was more than a visit to the Capitol—it was an opportunity to bring real-world advocacy to life. Day on the Hill, organized by the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, gives social work students the chance to see the legislative process in action while learning how advocacy can shape their professional paths.
UTC Innovation Lab students hit the road with ideas to improve Chattanooga’s transit
Students in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Innovations in Honors program are changing the city’s transportation game. As part of Dr. Jordan King’s Innovation Lab, housed in the UTC Honors College, students have spent the 2024-25 academic year coming up with ideas and working with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) to address issues in Chattanooga’s public transit system.