Under the watchful eye of her mother, Kyndal Aiken, 2-year-old Amelia smiles as she tries out the mobility chair for the first time. Photo by Angela Foster.

In the hallway outside Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu’s lab at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2-year-old Amelia Aiken put her hands on the pink wheels of her new mobility chair and started moving forward.

She took to it almost immediately. The smile on her face said it all.

For her mother, Kyndal Aiken, the moment meant a lot.

“Yeah, it’s very rewarding. It’s very exciting. You can’t anticipate what her reaction is going to be,” Aiken said about the July 30 introduction of Amelia to the chair built in Kaplanoglu’s Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab in UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “You hope she’s going to respond to it well, but there’s nothing that I can make her do. So it’s very exciting to see her take right to it.”

That moment had been building for months.

In early April, Aiken sent an email to the College of Engineering and Computer Science asking whether anyone might be willing to help. Her daughter, who has cerebral palsy, needed a mobility device that could help her move more independently.

Aiken had learned about a 3D-printed Toddler Mobility Trainer, a child-sized mobility chair designed to help young children explore and move on their own. The family had already applied for one through an existing maker network, but after waiting a couple of months, no one had picked up the request.

So she reached out to UTC.

In the email, she asked whether UTC students might be willing to take on the project so Amelia could begin learning to use the chair before starting preschool.

Amelia was unable to breathe at birth and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects her entire body. Her mother said Amelia’s biggest long-term challenge is mobility—being able to access things on her own.

Kaplanoglu, department head and professor of engineering management and technology, did what he often does when a health-related request reaches campus.

He said yes.

Then he handed the project to mechatronics major Austin McDade.

McDade, a rising junior from Ringgold, Georgia, serves as president of UTC’s Mechatronics Club and lab manager for the Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab. He also has experience in biomechatronics research and 3D printing, both on campus and at home.

“I was in here one day and Dr. K said that we’ve got a walker project,” McDade said, “and he told me this one’s going to be a 3D-printable wheelchair.”

McDade joined Kaplanoglu’s lab during his freshman year and has since worked on hand-related projects, battle bots and a radio-controlled car of his own design.

This was the second time he had worked on a mobility device to help a child.

The first involved a young boy named Jack and centered on a walker rather than a chair. McDade said that earlier experience helped show him how much a mobility device can affect a child’s daily life.

“It’s a wonderful thing to help someone because it can make such an impact, especially early on in life,” McDade said during an interview while the chair was still being printed. “For a 2-year-old to be able to move around and perhaps to see something on the other side of the room and to be able to get herself to the other side of the room to see that object or to look at it, that’s going to be really helpful for a child.”

Kaplanoglu said that kind of work is exactly what he wants students doing.

“When they start working here, I call them the research team and team members,” Kaplanoglu said. “There’s no, ‘He’s a professor, he’s a student.’ No. We are the whole research team.”

That approach shaped this project from the beginning. Kaplanoglu let McDade lead the work and communicate directly with the family.

He said that is typical of how his lab operates, especially when the request involves healthcare.

“I usually say yes and then find a way to solve it,” Kaplanoglu said. “If we say yes, we have to do it.”

Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi, dean of UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, said the project reflects the kind of work the college wants students to do.

“At UTC CECS, we ask our students to use their talents not only to innovate, but to serve,” Yelamarthi said. “Amelia’s mobility chair is an example of what happens when technical expertise meets community need. I am proud of our students and faculty and grateful to our community for trusting us with challenges that matter.”

2-year-old Amelia Aiken and UTC mechatronics major Austin McDade.

From there, McDade got to work, and the chair was built with Amelia in mind from the beginning.

For anyone outside the world of 3D printing, that process is far more involved than it sounds.

McDade ordered filament, downloaded the design files and began the long process of turning a digital model into a physical chair sized for a toddler.

The files were downloaded from the open-source website MakerWorld and were originally designed through the Toddler Mobility Trainer project at 3D-Mobility. UTC did not design the files but used them to print and assemble Amelia’s chair.

The chair is designed for indoor use under adult supervision.

McDade said the work starts with STL files, a type of design file that has to be prepared in slicing software before a printer can use it. The software lets the user set how each part will be printed, including wall thickness and infill density, which affects both strength and material use.

Then the printing starts, piece by piece.

McDade said he chose ABS plastic, the same material used in Lego bricks, because it offers more strength and better heat resistance than PLA, another common 3D-printing material.

Aiken asked for a pink color scheme, so the device was produced in different shades of pink, with white wheels and pink thermoplastic polyurethane used to give the wheels grip.

Since Amelia’s chair includes larger structural parts, many of the print jobs took a long time.

“Anywhere from eight to 18 hours,” McDade said.

Some smaller parts could be printed together on the same printer bed. Larger parts had to be done one at a time. After printing, the pieces were assembled using a combination of interlocking connections, glue and plastic welding.

Safety drove the process, and Kaplanoglu explained that designing assistive devices for children requires a different level of care than designing for adults.

“It’s a big challenge because of disabilities and also because of the age,” he said. “You have to be careful about size, weight, how heavy or light it should be, and also noise because we don’t want to put in something very noisy and then distract or affect the kids. And also, while you’re working with kids, you have to double your safety requirements.”

McDade said the design relies on carefully engineered parts that fit together in dovetailed channels. In some places, the fit is tight enough that little reinforcement is needed. In others, glue or plastic welding adds extra support.

“There are a lot of different ways you can go about bonding these together and making sure it won’t fall apart,” he said.

Amelia is placed in the mobility chair for the first time. From left: Kenton Aiken, private duty nurse Maren Martin (standing), Kyndal Aiken, Austin McDade.

The family—Kyndal, her husband, Kenton, and Amelia’s younger brother, Barrett—visited UTC to pick up the mobility device on the way to physical therapy.

For Aiken, watching Amelia use the chair for the first time brought immediate relief.

“It shows that it’s a good design. It’s very intuitive,” she said. “She can go right to the wheels and start pushing and propelling herself without anyone teaching her how to do it.”

That matters because Amelia is going to need a wheelchair throughout her life, Aiken said, and this is her first.

The new chair, she said, “is giving her access to her peers’ level. Instead of being in a stroller or in a wagon, she’s actually on her peers’ level. And so she’s going to be able to go around school in it. She’s going to be able to pull up to a desk in it.”

Amelia turns 3 in November and is preparing for preschool. Her mother said the chair should help her begin getting used to moving through those spaces more independently.

“Independence and autonomy, absolutely,” Aiken said. “It’s great that she gets to start practicing at this age because she is going to need to wheel herself over the course of her life as well.”

Aiken said the family is already thinking about how to use the chair in everyday routines, at home, at the store and eventually at school.

“We’re going to start using a desk she can roll up to at home,” she said. “We’re going to start practicing color. Well, she already knows a lot of her colors, the color matching, number counting, those preschool skills. So this is going to help her feel acclimated before she has to jump into school.”

For McDade, seeing Amelia take to the chair made the work feel real.

“It’s really amazing,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that went into this, obviously. Most of it was done by the 3D printers, but there were a lot of technical things to sort through; once we got it all, it was just really great to see her smile and roll across the floor.

“Now she can move on into her life to the next stage, and that’s really wonderful to see.”

Amelia Aiken begins steering the tires as she moves in the College of Engineering and Computer Science hallway.

Aiken said the experience of working with Kaplanoglu and McDade was positive from start to finish.

“They’ve been very open. They’ve been collaborative,” she said. “They let us choose the colors that we wanted and updated us along the way. They kept us in the loop of how things were going. We couldn’t be happier working with them.”

She said Amelia has always brought joy to people around her and is beginning to show more and more of her personality.

“She deserves the world,” Aiken said. “And she teaches us to slow down and appreciate life and to be grateful for little things.”

Now, with Amelia’s first mobility chair ready to become part of daily life, Aiken is already thinking about what comes next, not just for her daughter but for other families.

After first looking into how to get Amelia a chair, Aiken began exploring 3D printing herself. She said she is now working toward becoming a maker in the Chattanooga area so she can help print similar chairs for other children.

“We make toys for her now. A lot of Montessori stuff, stacking rings, roller ball towers,” she said. “When we got this idea for Amelia, I started looking at access to a printer. I was thinking if we had a printer, then we could print it forward for other kids that need a chair like this in Chattanooga. I’m not there yet, but I’m practicing.”

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Photo gallery by Angela Foster

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu, Kyndal Aiken, private duty nurse Maren Martin, mechatronics major Autumn Reagan, mechatronics major Austin McDade, Amelia Aiken, Barrett Aiken and Kenton Aiken.

UTC DNP students Nicole Ward, left, and Trinity Brown work during the Chattanooga Wellness Expo in the Wolford Family Athletic Center. Photo by Angela Foster.

Despite the rain, hundreds of Chattanooga community members came to McKenzie Arena and the Wolford Family Athletic Center on Saturday, Aug. 1, for the Chattanooga Wellness Expo.

Among them were 20 faculty members and students from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

At the 25th annual event, UTC DNP students provided free screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and other health indicators while also helping community members better understand their results and what steps to take next.

Farron Kilburn, a project manager in UTC’s College of Nursing, said the college has participated in the Chattanooga Wellness Expo for more than a decade through its partnership with the nonprofit Southeast Tennessee Health Consortium.

Kilburn, who has coordinated nurse practitioner and other graduate nursing student involvement for 11 years, said research tied to UTC’s involvement points to the Expo as both a community health effort and a student learning model.

Kilburn and Dr. Amber Roaché, director of UTC’s family nurse practitioner program and an associate professor in the College of Nursing, have helped lead research on the partnership model. Their work found that 84% of UTC family nurse practitioner graduates surveyed rated the experience of serving as a provider at the health fair as “very good” or “excellent”; 92% said the work was relevant to their nurse practitioner education; and 53% said they learned something new from the experience that informed their practice.

More than 90% of UTC nurse practitioner graduates go on to work in medically underserved areas.

On the community side, survey findings shared by the college showed that 94% of respondents said they would recommend the health fair to a friend, 85% said the experience made them want to be healthier and 77% said they were committing to a healthier lifestyle change.

Roaché said the combination of education and service is the point.

“I feel like these are hugely important because this allows the students to truly meet people in the community, meet their needs in the community,” she said. “We’re providing free screening services.”

Roaché said the event gives students a chance to practice core clinical skills while also talking with patients about diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and other health concerns.

“It’s just a really great opportunity for students to start connecting their learning and what they are getting taught in class with actual hands-on patient care,” she said.

Savannah Kelley is an assistant professor of practice in UTC’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and a family nurse practitioner student in the May 2028 cohort.

Dr. Kate McKinney, the Kay K. Chitty assistant professor in the College of Nursing, said the Expo gives students a better sense of the people they will serve and the role screenings can play in getting patients connected to follow-up care.

“We’ve had a really longstanding relationship with this health fair, and so we’re honored to be a part of it,” said McKinney, who—in addition to her UTC duties—spends two days a week providing patient care as a family nurse practitioner at CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital in Hixson. “I think it’s really good for students to play a part in these health screenings, but also to see and get a feel for this community and what they can do for their communities.”

She said health fairs can help move people into the healthcare system after a problem is first identified.

“A lot of times patients will come in and say, ‘I was told my blood pressure was high at this clinic and I’ve been sent in to see a provider,’” McKinney said.

That point also came up in student conversations at the Expo.

Family nurse practitioner students Trinity Brown and Nicole Ward, both members of the cohort scheduled to graduate in May 2027, said the event gave them a chance to meet people they had never met before, put classroom learning to use and help community members who may not be getting regular care.

“Health fairs are a good way to make community contact and do screenings,” Brown said. “A big part of what we do—and what we’re being trained to do as FNPs—is screenings, health promotion and education. So it’s a great time to get connected.”

Ward said one of the biggest lessons is seeing who comes to events like this and why.

“A lot of people that come to these health fairs don’t go to a primary care provider for regular screenings,” Ward said. “Getting an opportunity to reach out to them and talk to them and kind of see what their own situation is and then trying to make an impact while they’re here, because that might be the only chance that they see a provider for the whole year.”

Savannah Kelley, an assistant professor of practice in UTC’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and a family nurse practitioner student in the May 2028 cohort, said the Expo shows why bringing care into the community matters.

“If we can get a lot of screenings done and a lot of education and healthcare done in this one space for them for free, then that could really make a difference because this could be the only point of healthcare contact for somebody,” Kelley said.

She said barriers can be as basic as insurance, transportation or work schedules that keep people from getting to a doctor during the week.

UTC was among the sponsors of the Chattanooga Wellness Expo, along with Erlanger Health System, UnitedHealthcare, Morehouse School of Medicine, Kidney Foundation of Chattanooga, Tennessee Donor Services, Coca-Cola, Southeast Tennessee Health Consortium, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Ambetter Health.

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Twenty UTC DNP faculty members and students participated in the annual wellness expo.

From left: Dr. Stephanie Eton, Dr. Vickie Blalock, Dr. Kyle Binkley, Dr. Faith Rose, Dr. Matthew Annessi, Dr. Ross von Glahn and Dr. Douglas Daniel. Photo by Angela Foster.

When Dr. Faith Rose received her framed certificate as the first graduate of the Siskin Hospital-University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency Program, the applause was for more than one graduate.

The graduation ceremony, held Thursday, July 30, at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, marked a personal milestone for Rose, a first for Siskin Hospital and another step toward preparing more specialists to serve older adults in Chattanooga and across Tennessee.

Dr. Faith Rose

Rose, who earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from UTC in 2020, completed the 12-month post-professional residency after a year of advanced clinical training, research, teaching and mentorship focused on geriatric care. The program, launched in 2025 through a partnership between UTC and Siskin Hospital, was built to meet a need that leaders in both organizations say is only becoming more urgent as the population ages.

“Older adults are really where the heart and focus of our program is,” said Dr. Matt Annessi, Siskin Hospital’s director of residency programs. “Older adults are one of the fastest growing demographics in our state.”

Speakers pointed to the changing needs of the region, the value of specialized training and the importance of giving physical therapists a deeper foundation for working with patients whose care is often more complex than a standard treatment plan allows.

Annessi said the residency is designed to help clinicians move beyond treating a diagnosis in isolation. Geriatric specialists, he said, consider the whole patient: mobility, cognition, medical history and the goals that matter most to that individual. The aim is to deliver care in a specialized, evidence-based way that helps older adults maintain strength, function and independence.

The program is currently a candidate for accreditation with the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education, and Annessi said leaders were encouraged by the program’s visit with the accrediting body in April.

For UTC and Siskin Hospital, the graduation also represented the result of months of behind-the-scenes work to build the residency from the ground up.

Dr. Stephanie Eton, associate professor of practice and director of residency education in the UTC Department of Physical Therapy, said creating the program required paperwork, planning and long conversations, and—but just as important—trust between two institutions learning how to build something new together.

“We built real working relationships between two institutions that had to learn what a residency should look like in practice,” Eton said. “Getting to build those relationships alongside the people at Siskin Hospital and UTC has genuinely been one of the most rewarding parts of my work.”

Over the past year, Eton said Rose completed a clinical schedule centered on older patients while rotating through settings that expanded her experience and sharpened her judgment. Her residency included outpatient, orthopedic, neurologic and lymphedema, and wound care rotations. She also completed a major research project, contributed to quality improvement work related to frailty screening, gave a community presentation for older adults and worked with UTC DPT students in the lab.

The year did more than add credentials, Eton said. It immersed Rose in the demands and possibilities of geriatric care.

“Faith agreed to be our first resident before any of us could promise her exactly what the year would even look like. And that took trust,” Eton said. “She came in a strong, capable clinician already, but she is leaving a clinician who thinks critically about complex geriatric presentations, who our staff already turned to for insight on difficult cases, and who carries herself with the same humility and steadiness on her hardest days as her easiest ones.”

Eton highlighted Rose’s capstone project on power training for patients with osteopenia, describing it as an example of the mindset the program is trying to develop.

Instead of defaulting to a conservative plan simply because a patient is older, Eton said, Rose followed the evidence and built an approach that safely pushed the patient toward greater strength.

“Investing in geriatric care is investing in the future,” Eton said. “Faith spent a year making sure that when that future arrives, there will be clinicians ready for it who know how to see an older patient, not as someone to manage passively, but as someone still worth pushing toward strength.”

Matthew A. Gibson, Ph.D., FACHE, President and CEO of Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, said the residency is a natural extension of Siskin Hospital’s mission and of its long partnership with UTC. He noted that the geriatric residency is one of only five such programs in the Southeast, and the collaboration gives Rose and future residents access to a wide range of learning environments.

“This is the first geriatric residency graduate,” Gibson said, “and this partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is something that we’re also very honored and excited about.”

There were lighter moments, too. In one of the ceremony’s biggest applause lines, Annessi looked at the inaugural graduate and the inaugural class record and delivered a statistic that drew laughs from the audience.

“As of today, our program has a 100% graduation rate,” he said.

But beneath the laughter was a serious point. Residency education is intensive, and it asks already licensed clinicians to spend another year pushing deeper into a specialty area while balancing patient care, scholarship and close mentorship.

For Rose, that extra year was about gaining a broader way of seeing patients and a stronger foundation for what comes next.

“I feel so relieved and happy and excited,” Rose said after the ceremony. “I feel like I’ve learned so much, and I can’t wait to use it all and continue my career and help people.”

Rose said one of the most meaningful parts of the year was the mentorship she received from clinicians across the residency.

“I am so happy that I got all the mentorship that I got from all of these wonderful clinicians,” she said.

What’s next for Rose?

“I’m going to start studying for board certification as a geriatric clinical specialist, so I’ll have some more alphabet soup behind my name,” she said. “For me, the most important thing is that I have such a broader perspective on my patients and what they need, and I’m hoping that maybe I can use that in a way to help the community at large.”

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UTC, Siskin Hospital expand partnership with new geriatric PT residency

Faith Rose receives her certificate from Dr. Stephanie Eton and Dr. Matthew Annessi during the residency graduation ceremony at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation.

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As communities across Tennessee and the country continue to face the effects of substance use disorders, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has launched its Clinical Addiction Studies Certificate, a fully online program designed to prepare more professionals to work with people affected by addiction.

UTC’s Clinical Addiction Studies Certificate aligns with Tennessee educational requirements for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, or LADACs. Faculty and staff behind the program say it was created to address a shortage of addiction-trained professionals while also providing UTC students and community members with a more direct path into the profession.

“The ratio of people who are impacted by addiction to addiction counselors, or people who have specialized training in addictions, is just not what it needs to be,” said Jami Hargrove, assistant director for health education and wellness promotion in UTC’s Center for Wellbeing. “So we definitely have a shortage of not just specific addiction counselors, but even counselors who have any sort of training in addictions.”

According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis’ 2025 State of the Behavioral Health Workforce, a shortage of over 123,000 addiction counselors is projected in 2038.

Hamilton County awarded UTC $114,344 in January 2024 through its Innovative Response to Opioids Grant program to support development of the new certificate. Program leaders said that funding enabled them to build the curriculum, move the program through approval processes and prepare it for launch.

Dr. Tyler Oberheim, clinical addiction studies program coordinator at UTC, said the certificate was designed to meet a need on several levels—and that the program’s largely online format was intentional.

“This program is helping to boost the workforce of addiction professionals,” he said. “We’re trying to extend the reach of this program to cover all of Tennessee, not just Chattanooga residents and Chattanooga professionals.”

That wider reach matters because local options have been limited, according to Megan McKnight, adjunct faculty for the Clinical Addiction Studies Certificate.

“There have not been as many places they could go to get just those educational hours in Chattanooga,” McKnight said. “So we’re trying to grow the workforce here and make it easier for folks in our community who are looking to pursue that. They may not be interested in another full degree, but could do this work through the certificate program.”

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Click here to learn more about the Clinical Addiction Studies Certificate program. Prospective students can contact Clinical Addiction Studies Program Coordinator Tyler Oberheim at steven-oberheim@utc.edu.

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Program leaders said the certificate requires 18 credit hours and is meant to serve more than one type of student. It gives UTC students in areas such as counseling, social work, and nursing access to specialized coursework that did not previously exist in this format on campus.

It also creates an option for community members and working professionals who want to pursue LADAC-related educational requirements without stepping away from their jobs.

Coursework covers introduction to clinical addiction studies; addiction counseling; addicted family systems; assessment; diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders and addiction; psychopharmacology; and addiction, culture and society. Applications will be accepted year-round.

“Most of the courses, if not all of them, are going to be asynchronous online,” Hargrove said. “If there are any synchronous, they would be in the evening, so it is geared toward people who are working.”

Faculty said that flexibility matters because many prospective students already work in helping professions and want to build expertise in addiction while continuing to work.

The curriculum was developed to align with Tennessee’s LADAC standards.

“We literally mapped those onto a curriculum map,” Oberheim said. “Then we started designing classes that made sure that all eight of those educational domains were encompassed.”

He said the result is a certificate that provides the educational component aligned with LADAC preparation in Tennessee. Completing the certificate alone does not guarantee licensure; students must still complete additional supervised clinical hours outside the program to meet full licensing requirements.

Even with that caveat, faculty say the certificate removes a significant barrier. Before the program existed, students and professionals often had to piece together the required educational hours through separate training or by traveling elsewhere for coursework.

McKnight said the value extends beyond future addiction counselors.

“You’re not doing addictions work every day, but how would additional knowledge about those impacts still help you better serve those clients?” she said, referring to professionals in fields such as nursing, physical therapy and other areas where substance use may affect patient care.

“That kind of training can help professionals better support clients, reduce stigma and connect people with appropriate resources,” McKnight added.

While the number of formally admitted certificate students remains relatively small, Oberheim said interest in the coursework has been strong. Many more students have taken the classes as electives, with total course enrollment already reaching into the hundreds.

The certificate is intended to support Hamilton County’s broader efforts around substance use disorder treatment. In UTC’s grant proposal, the University outlined three expected outcomes: increasing the number of addiction professionals in the Hamilton County area; increasing the foundational knowledge of professionals serving residents seeking substance use disorder treatment; and decreasing barriers to care related to a lack of trained providers.

Hamilton County funding also included support for 10 scholarships for the inaugural cohort. Preference will be given to applicants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, rural communities, underrepresented groups in counseling fields and those with lived recovery experience.

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In 2013, Mark Johnson stashed away a picture of a maple bacon doughnut for a future project he had in mind.

Around this time, bacon began its renaissance.

Yes, it had remained a breakfast staple, but it also made its way into desserts, cocktails, salads, sandwiches and bacon-wrapped versions of just about anything.

“It was like, ‘Oh, a little treat?’” says Johnson, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga assistant professor of history. “This little half strip of bacon garnishing my old-fashioned. If we’re already sinning or doing something that’s bad for us, might as well go for it.”

In his new book, “American Bacon: The History of a Food Phenomenon,” Johnson explores the food’s complicated history. Bacon’s story goes back centuries, and it wasn’t always something people celebrated.

For most of American history, bacon remained a practical meat, used to stretch ingredients to make meals last longer. In the South, enslaved people and later sharecroppers used small amounts of bacon or pork fat to flavor dishes.

Long before that, pork carried mixed meanings. Several religious traditions restricted it, which changed how much of the modern world viewed it.

The story really kicks off, Johnson said, in early-modern Britain, when a pork taboo emerged among “city people and wealthier people.”

“The English really valued their orderly, beautiful, fenced farms as a symbol of their civility and their respectability,” Johnson says, “and pigs just don’t fit in that.”

When English colonists arrived in North America, those ideas came with them. The reality, however, didn’t match what they had left behind. Raising hogs required less labor, as pigs foraged across fields and forests for their own meals.

“They’re trying to be proper English people,” Johnson says, “but pigs are taking off (in popularity).”

Mark Johnson, seated left, talks during a Q&A session and book signing for “American Bacon.”

Bacon quickly became embedded in American diets, even as its reputation changed depending on who was eating it. Johnson’s book follows those perceptions over time. Europeans viewed Americans as “bacon-eating people,” or uncouth. In the United States, that label shifted to the South, then to poorer white communities and to enslaved and formerly enslaved people.

This perception eventually shifted, which is something Johnson encourages students to analyze in his Food and Southern History class. He also teaches them how to cure bacon.

“I wanted to do something in class so they could get hands-on experience,” he says. “What would it have been like to the best of our ability back then? What would it have looked like and felt like and tasted like? … And how does industrialization, commodification and mass production change it?”

“American Bacon” answers this question. In the 20th century, refrigeration and shifting diets changed how Americans thought about food.

By the late 1900s, bacon started to disappear from everyday meals. Concerns about fat, sodium and chemicals pushed it out of people’s diets.

The Food and Drug Administration almost banned it.

Then, bacon came back.

“The argument in the book is that bacon had to die in a way,” Johnson says. “It had to be destroyed in the American imagination as a staple, and then it was reinvented for its associations with hedonism and decadence and doing things you don’t usually do.”

That trend gained momentum in the 1990s and early 2000s when diet fads turned to meat, even if bacon didn’t necessarily fit the health guidelines.

“The Atkins diet in the ’90s kind of gave it a jumpstart, but 2000 seems to be a pretty good starting point for the bacon obsession,” he says.

At the same time, people grew frustrated with constantly changing health advice.

“People are kind of fed up with this,” Johnson says. “It’s like one day this is good for you, and the next day it’s bad for you.”

In this cultural recipe, bacon found a new role. It wasn’t something to eat every day but occasionally.

Cooks also adapted pre-cooked bacon to a culture of ease, especially in fast food.

“Bacon has benefited from our obsession with convenience,” Johnson says. “They can add it for next to nothing to a sandwich and raise the price.”

Its role at home didn’t completely disappear.

“People like the ritual of making the bacon and slowing down,” he says. “In a way, it reminds us—even if the time and place only exists in our imagination—of a time when people slowed down and appreciated their food and sat together.

“It found its way back into Saturday morning breakfast.”

In 2013, Johnson first laid eyes on a bacon-covered doughnut while working on his previous book, “An Irresistible History of Alabama Barbecue: From Wood Pit to White Sauce,” published in 2017.

It wasn’t until he arrived at UTC in 2019 that he started “American Bacon.”

Mark Johnson, UTC assistant professor of history, teaches a class on food and Southern history in the nutrition lab on campus.

“I was able to finally get back into academia and had the resources—and the library—to go to archives,” he says.

Johnson studied the food’s layered history, from religion and labor to marketing and modern diets, understanding it as part of the same story. It fit well into his curriculum.

“I can teach some real and sometimes hard history,” Johnson says, “but bacon is a way to help you learn how we’ve thought about race and diet and gender and body image and health and wellness … that’s why it’s titled the way it is.”

Ultimately, the history book is not about food, he says.

“It’s really a story of the United States and how bacon gets all tied up in it.”

Try this historic bacon recipe yourself

Before Frederick Law Olmsted designed New York’s Central Park and other famous urban landscapes, he worked as a journalist and reformer with an interest in the southern slave economy. During the 1850s, he made a series of trips to the slave states to report on the region. Upon arrival, he remarked in his journal, “I made the first practical acquaintance with what shortly was to be the bane of my life, viz. corn-bread and bacon. I partook innocent and unsuspicious of these dishes…without a thought that for the next six months I should actually see nothing else.”

By the 1850s, northern urbanites had started to benefit from technologies and infrastructure that allowed more-varied diets, so they looked at the bacon-heavy diets of all southerners as a sign of the region’s cultural and economic backwardness. When Olmsted viewed the South, he viewed it through the lens of his own region’s industrialization.

They pointed to crackling bread as one particularly backward, humble, meager meal. They fried their fatty bacon in a cast iron skillet, removed the meaty bits and added them to their corn bread dough, and then added the dough to the skillet, per the recipe that follows.

Ingredients

• 2-3 slices of bacon
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• 1 ½ cups self-rising flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar or honey
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs, beaten

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit;
2. In a nine-inch cast iron skillet, fry the bacon until done, then remove the bacon and set aside leaving the bacon grease behind; keep skillet warm in pre-heating oven but do not let bacon grease smoke or burn;
3. While the bacon cooks, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt in a large bowl;
4. In the bowl with the dry ingredients, add the melted butter, some of the bacon grease, buttermilk, eggs, and half crumbled bacon; whisk but do not overmix;
5. Remove the skillet, pour the cornbread batter into the warm skillet, top with remaining half of the crumbled bacon, and return to the oven; bake for 18-20 minutes; cool for at least ten minutes but serve hot / warm.

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Karent Gresbrink (left), Kelly Jourdan, Chyna Germany and Dr. Kate McKinney pose at Machu Picchu. Photo courtesy of Dr. Kate McKinney.

In June, a woman in rural Peru walked five hours to receive a pap smear at a health clinic. 

Those treating the woman—and others like her—included University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Doctor of Nursing Practice students Karent Gresbrink, Chyna Germany and Kelly Jourdan, alongside faculty member Dr. Kate McKinney, the Kay K. Chitty assistant professor in UTC’s College of Nursing.

“Through my undergraduate nursing school, I went and worked with an organization in Peru, Cervi Cusco, providing women’s health services in rural areas and it’s still around,” McKinney said. “I reached out and asked them, ‘Now that I’m in an instructor role, could I bring students?’ 

“They were very excited to have us come and help out.” 

The three students, all members of UTC’s Family Nurse Practitioner Class of 2027, spent over a week providing primary and preventive care in Cusco, Peru. At their hotel, the students lived in close quarters, sharing a dormitory-style room. 

Early each morning, they boarded buses for a two-hour drive to their clinic sites, where they set up in makeshift tents or auditoriums. 

“In the family nurse practitioner program, we really emphasize the importance of cultural competency and understanding your patient’s background,” McKinney said. “Knowing where they come from and how that plays into their health because it really plays a significant role in how they make their health decisions.” 

Gresbrink, Germany and Jourdan, who all work in Tennessee hospitals, agreed that healthcare looks different in Peru. 

“In the United States, there’s immediate access to care at all times,” said Jourdan, a registered nurse at CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital Chattanooga. “You get your results back the same day or within hours. 

“It’s not like that here.” 

Chyna Germany (left) and Kelly Jourdan work with a patient.

Germany, a labor and delivery nurse who received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from UTC in 2021, described the experience as “rural health on steroids.”  

“We have problems like that, too, in our rural areas around here,” Germany said, “but seeing it to that magnitude, it was just very eye-opening and made me feel even more excited to be there and to do women’s health outreach in a different country where they don’t have as much as we have here.” 

All three students said they noticed the health differences between the rural Peruvian patients and those they typically treat in Tennessee hospitals. 

“The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension wasn’t as common there as it is in the U.S.,” Germany said. 

Jourdan believes lifestyle plays a role. 

“They’re much more active—very, very active,” she said. “They don’t eat fast food or highly processed food. They’re making things from scratch. They’re eating at home.” 

Those observations aligned with Gresbrink’s experience treating patients throughout the week. 

“When we do health fairs here in America, almost everybody comes with chronic diseases and tons of medication, and there we found people that have no medications at all,” Gresbrink said. 

Gresbrink, who moved from her home country of Panama to the United States in 2020, began working as a registered nurse at Erlanger Baroness Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic while taking prerequisite courses at UTC. 

Fluent in Spanish, she helped with translation between patients and providers throughout the trip while also working alongside a local medical interpreter. 

Gresbrink said even without a shared language, communication often came naturally. 

“There is a lot that can be communicated through body language,” she said. “Everyone had a good chance to have clinical experiences, and the people were very kind to us, too. 

“I hope more students can have this opportunity because you’re helping people at the same time you’re learning. It’s a very nicecombination of experience.” 

Germany said the trip strengthened her passion for women’s health and preventive care. 

“Seeing the difference between our healthcare system and theirs made me have a little bit more appreciation for what we have because it was very different,” Germany said. 

The group also made time to explore.  

“We got to go to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu,” Jourdan said. “It was neat learning about the cultural side of things to help connect everything. 

“We all got along so well. Dr. McKinney was wonderful. She had everything so organized … Everybody just had something to contribute, and it made the trip really enjoyable.” 

As the week came to a close, McKinney watched the students leave with stronger bonds and a renewed sense of why they chose nursing. 

“We all talk about why we’re in nursing, and it’s that we are service-driven people,” McKinney said. “I think this trip reflectsthat. Healthcare resources and services are limited in many of the communities we visited, and this experience gave us the opportunity to contribute to patient care while also learning from the people we served.

“I think the students found it really rewarding.” 

Karent Gresbrink

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Peru photo gallery

Steam Logistics Domestic Division President Jeff Wood (left), UTC student Lance Nelson, Steam Logistics Executive Vice President of Sales Travis Cook and UTC student Mason McKinnon meet on the company’s rooftop patio during the students’ summer internships.

When University of Tennessee at Chattanooga student Lance Nelson first drove into Chattanooga from his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, he made note of the color-blocked contemporary office building that welcomed him after exiting the interstate. 

Now in his senior year, Nelson and fellow UTC student Mason McKinnon are spending their summer inside that same building as interns at Steam Logistics. 

The two landed the opportunity after meeting company representatives at a UTC career fair. Nelson, a business administration major in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business with a concentration in entrepreneurship, works in domestic sales. McKinnon, a communication major with a business administration minor, works in drayage operations. 

Before joining their teams, both students completed the same three-week onboarding program as every new full-time employee. 

“Once we get on the floor, we’re just a little bit more flexible,” Nelson said. “I’ve been able to help out some of the other managers who have someone out for a week or have an influx of work.” 

Nelson spends much of his day coordinating domestic freight, communicating with carriers and customers, and researching prospective clients for the sales team. 

“I really do like the fast-paced kind of go, go, go,” he said. “Everything’s changing all the time.” 

Lance Nelson

McKinnon, who hails from Clarksville, Tennessee, found himself drawn to a different side of the business. 

“I like the drayage side more because it was a lot slower burning,” McKinnon said. 

His work consists of tracking incoming shipments, building loads into the company’s system and making sure freight continues moving through the supply chain. 

Though they work in different departments, both students said their experience at UTC prepared them to go into their internships with confidence.  

Nelson said the curriculum in the entrepreneurship program provided a foundation in nearly every aspect of business before he arrived at Steam. 

“We get accounting, finance, economic, marketing and management classes,” Nelson said. “It gave me a very strong base for everything we learned during training week.” 

McKinnon said classes like principles of marketing and professional sales introduced him to the fundamentals of the business world. The UTC experience also helped prepare him for a professional working world. 

“I think UTC as a whole is just a very good environment that helped us become our best selves for the future,” McKinnon said.  

The environment was one of the reasons McKinnon chose UTC in the first place. 

“It was just the perfect distance from home and it was still in-state,” he said. “I also took the tour for the first time and I kind of fell in love with the city itself, so I had to come here.” 

Though Nelson—who graduates next spring—plans to one day own a beachside café, they both hope the internship is only the beginning of their time at Steam. 

“Hopefully we get to come back here,” said McKinnon, who will graduate in December. “That’s the game plan.” 

They encouraged other students looking for internships to put extra effort into every prospect. 

“Tailor make every opportunity,” McKinnon said. “Whatever opportunity you see, make sure you have a specific goal for that opportunity. Cover letter, resume, have a game plan set just for that one.” 

Nelson told students not to overlook companies they are interested in because they don’t advertise internships. 

“Reach out,” he said. “Even if you don’t know if a company has internships, reach out just in case because they may not post about it or be public about it, but they do take on a couple and you might just be the lucky one.” 

Mason McKinnon

Travis Cook, Steam Logistics’ executive vice president of sales, said the internship program is familiar from both sides of the desk.

A 2014 graduate of UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business, Cook said he attended the same kind of career fairs now attended by McKinnon and Nelson. He accepted a position in logistics immediately after graduation and has spent the last 12 years in the industry. 

“UTC is a phenomenal school, especially on the business side,” Cook said. “I had a choice to go to UT Knoxville or UTC. I chose UTC.” 

He now helps recruit UTC students like McKinnon and Nelson. 

“You get somebody that’s just about to graduate that’s hungry, that wants to go start something,” he said. “You get to really work with them and see who they are as people, what’s their work ethic, what’s their ability to be coachable and learn. Hopefully, if they’re a good fit, they can accept their diploma and already have the job lined up, ready to go.” 

Cook, who is from Chattanooga, said that UTC has only become a stronger community partner for local companies and organizations as it grows. 

“It’s definitely put itself on the map,” he said. “You don’t think Chattanooga without thinking of UTC at this point.” 

Jeff Wood, president of Steam’s domestic division, said that is one reason the company continues recruiting at UTC. 

“We feel like there’s a lot of good talent in this town that go to UTC,” Wood said. “It’s an opportunity for us to almost reinvest in our people here in this town versus just heading up the street to Knoxville.” 

Wood, who recently relocated to Chattanooga after helping launch Steam’s Minneapolis office, said the University’s growth mirrors the city’s own evolution. 

“UTC is bringing people in from the outside too and not just Chattanooga residents,” he said. “We’re a people-first company, and we always look at the people and the personalities of the people more so than maybe even the resume. We’ve had success and want to keep having that with therelationship with the University.”

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Kate Powers is part of the ABSN Program for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing. The program builds on what students learned in their previous degree programs, with students taking only the nursing-specific courses. Photo by Angela Foster.

For Kate Powers, becoming a nurse wasn’t a matter of if—it was a matter of when.

Now a student in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s College of Nursing, Powers recently received a March of Dimes Undergraduate Nursing Scholarship.

In 2018, she began pursuing her pre-nursing studies at California State University Channel Islands.

As part of that degree pursuit, she volunteered at a local hospital and eventually earned a COPE Health Scholar internship, working across departments. That experience led her to become a certified nursing assistant.

“Ever since I was 16, I had an interest in nursing,” Powers said. “I loved volunteer work. I liked helping people, especially talking with them. I started volunteering at a local hospital near me just as a student volunteer and absolutely fell in love with it. I was so excited every weekend when I had a shift.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic happened, her plans changed.

“When my dad first got sick with COVID,” she recalled, “my mom was sitting down with me and said, ‘Hey, it’s just too much of a risk for us to have someone in the family that’s in an environment when this is just so rampant right now.’

“I actually stepped back from direct patient care after that, reevaluating things, reevaluating my interests, what I want to do, how I felt like I could help and what my purpose is.”

One takeaway from her clinical experiences was the realization that many health issues are preventable, which inspired her to pursue a degree in public health.

“I really saw the importance of health education and how it could make a huge difference not only at the individual level but also at the community level,” Powers said. “I finished up my bachelor’s degree in health science, which was a little bit of everything.

“I started working as a peer educator on my campus doing health promotion programming and presentations and wanted to continue and further my education. I ended up moving to Austin (Texas) to pursue my master’s degree in public health and specifically in public health education and promotion.”

After earning her master’s degree from the University of Texas, she began a career as a health and wellness coordinator at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. While there, she contracted COVID, which made her reevaluate her career.

She enjoyed her role in an office but explained that working directly with people was her passion.

“I’ve been on this path, this trajectory and it’s been good,” Powers said. “I’ve been able to help people, but I never really forgot about nursing and knew I wanted to go back to school,” which led her to UTC’s ABSN program.

During her clinical rotations this summer, she has already seen the advantage of her previous career. She often thinks about what care will look like after patients leave the hospital.

“Public health helped me look at patient care through a broader lens, where it’s not just about addressing them at the bedside but also about helping connect them,” she said. “It’s also a goal of mine to help connect them to resources and get support outside the hospital once they’re discharged, to address those other areas.”

This summer, Powers received an undergraduate nursing scholarship from March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health of mothers and babies. She said March of Dimes resonated with her because she was one of triplets born from a high-risk pregnancy.

“I grew up hearing a lot of my mom’s story about when she was pregnant with us and when she was delivering … just how chaotic that was,” she said. “How many risks were involved and also seeing the financial limits on that and her struggling to be able to keep up with all of our care.

“It’s a lot and a huge responsibility.”

Powers said she also was drawn to the organization for its focus on closing gaps in healthcare, particularly in an area close to her heart.

“When I got the call that I got it, I was floored, honestly,” Powers said. “I was so excited that I get to at least be a small part of this organization and what they’re doing.”

ABSN Program Director Kristen Singletary said Powers is compassionate, detail-oriented, and “you can just tell that she’s going to be an awesome nurse.”

“The scholarship highlights what we’re here for and that we support our students,” Singletary said. “They’re super motivated and they push to do things. It’s really important for people to see that that’s what we’re about and that we support that and we help with that, encourage it in fact.”

Powers pointed to Singletary’s own transition from a previous career to nursing as an example of what makes the program distinctive.

“Dr. Singletary is amazing,” Powers said. “Our whole class imprinted on her. She’s like ‘Mama Singletary’ to us. I’ve just been so blown away by the staff we have because it is a hard program and it moves fast, but there’s just so much support. It’s really obvious that the professors care and want us to succeed, not only as nurses but as people.”

Powers cited her classmates as another example of the support she has received at UTC.

“I really lucked out with our cohort,” Powers said. “They are just some of the best people that I’ve ever met. The coolest thing about our class is that we’re all really passionate about the same thing but came to it from different angles.

“We have people that did speech pathology. We have people that were policy writers in D.C. There were so many different career paths and people that came out of college and were just like, ‘Yep, this is what I want to do.’”

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Operation Move In at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga kicks off Aug. 19-20 and marks the beginning of Fall Opening. Whether you’re moving in or just helping unload, a few smart steps can make the day go more smoothly.

Check out the Operation Move In info page for all the information, but here’s a basic rundown (all info as of July 27, 2026).

Before you arrive

A little planning can save you a lot of frustration.

Pro Tip: Bring a small tool kit. A screwdriver or measuring tape comes in handy more often than you’d think.

Move-in day

Operation Move In at UTC is busy but well-supported. Students, staff and faculty will be out helping unload, directing traffic and getting students settled in.

• Label everything with your name and room number. Painter’s tape works great and comes off clean.
• Dress for the heat and stay hydrated—it’s August in Tennessee.
• Use bins or laundry baskets with handles for easier carrying.
• Expect some waiting. Elevators fill up, traffic slows down. Remember, patience is a virtue, especially on move-in day.

What to bring (and what to leave at home)

You’ll find a full packing list in the official housing guide, but here are a few reminders:

Commonly forgotten but useful items:

• Shower shoes
• Extension cords and power strips (check for surge protection)
• First-night bag with essentials like clean clothes, meds, toiletries and your phone charger

Items not allowed in residence halls:

• Candles or any open flame devices
• Hot plates or appliances with exposed heating elements
• 3M strips
• Pets (sorry, even lizards)
• Oversized furniture or extra-large décor

After unpacking

Moving into your UTC residence hall is just the beginning. UTC Fall Opening continues with events and resources to help you settle in, meet your fellow Mocs and handle last-minute details before classes start.

• UTC Convocation (Aug. 21): A spirited UTC welcome tradition for all first-year and transfer students in McKenzie Arena, aka “The Round House.” Convocation is a must for all new Mocs.
• Weeks of Welcome (Aug. 23-Sept. 5): Two weeks of food, activities and events designed to help you meet people and get involved, UTC’s Weeks of Welcome is unmissable.

For maps, labels, FAQs and more, the Operation Move In page has it all. See you soon.

Dr. Frederick Obear (photo by Angela Foster)

Dr. Frederick Obear, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga chancellor from 1981 to 1997 and interim chancellor from 2004 to 2005, died July 24, 2026. He was 91.

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Dr. Obear graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1956 and received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of New Hampshire in Durham in 1961.

From 1960-1981, he worked at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, where he held the positions of professor of chemistry, dean of freshmen, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

As UTC chancellor, Dr. Obear was initially tasked with strengthening University governance and refining and focusing the University mission. The student population when he became chancellor was just over 7,000. By the time his tenure ended, that number had increased to over 10,000.

His many highlights as chancellor included introducing undergraduate programs in physical therapy and legal systems. Graduate programs expanded in English, nursing, business, public administration and environmental sciences.

“Dr. Obear was, in every sense, a true leader,” UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce said. “Part of what made him so very special was that he showed us how someone can be a strong, effective and transformational leader while always having a gentle spirit.

“When I had the opportunity to spend time with him, I wanted him to know something clearly: this campus loves and adores him. I wanted him to know that his impact here has been profound and lasting, and that generations of people have benefited from his leadership.”

Chancellor Frederick Obear, 1986 (courtesy of UTC Library Special Collections)

Dr. Obear’s tenure also set the foundation for institutional expansion. He strongly advocated for tuition breaks to students in neighboring states living within the metropolitan Chattanooga area. He also began the push to make UTC a destination for out-of-state and international students, laying the groundwork for the expansion of on-campus housing.

His tenure did come with personal loss. His first wife, Trisha, suffered an aneurysm in late December 1993 and died unexpectedly at the age of 56. In her honor, he established the Patricia Draper Obear Distinguished Teaching Professorship. His mother, Dorothea, was a frequent campus visitor before passing away in 1986; he established the Dorothea Woods Obear Scholarship in the Honors College in her memory.

While on sabbatical leave from UTC after 16 years of service, Dr. Obear served as acting vice president for academic and international programs for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities—spending one year in Washington, D.C.

He returned to UTC in a part-time teaching/part-time administrative role before serving as interim chancellor from 2004-2005.

In retirement, Dr. Obear was involved with two consulting firms: the Penson Center for Professional Development and Capital Formation Counselors, a strategic planning group for large, family-owned, privately held corporations. He was also an active member of Chattanooga’s Rotary Club and served on numerous nonprofit boards.

He was a longtime member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Association for Higher Education. He was the recipient of the ACE Fellows 25th Anniversary Service Award and the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award, and he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

Dr. Obear and his second wife, Ruth, were often found in the stands at UTC sporting events. Their enthusiasm for Mocs athletics earned them much recognition; they won the athletic department’s Harold Wilkes Award and the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame’s Fred Gregg Jr. Memorial Award.

Ruth Obear passed away in 2024.

Dr. Obear is survived by three children, Jeffrey, Debbie and James; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Dr. Obear’s family will host a reception to honor his life on Friday, Oct. 9, on the UTC campus. Details to follow. His ashes will be buried in a private family celebration at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends and family to consider supporting the Patricia Draper Obear Distinguished Teaching Professorship at UTC. In memory, gifts may be made online at give.utc.edu/patobear or via mail (UC Foundation, 605 Oak St., Dept 6806, Chattanooga, TN 37403). Checks should be made payable to the UC Foundation with Patricia Obear Endowment written in the memo line.

Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, Battlefield Parkway.

Dr. Reetesh Ranjan joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty in 2019. Photo by Angela Foster.

At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, research reaches from the lab to the launchpad.

Dr. Reetesh Ranjan, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, develops and applies multi-scale models of turbulence, a longstanding challenge in fluid dynamics with applications in combustion and energy conversion, rocket propulsion, high-speed aerodynamics and stratified ocean flows.

Over the years, his research has received support from several federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He has collaborated with researchers across leading institutions, including the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Central Florida, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the University of Cincinnati and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

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Why did you choose engineering?

“I wanted to become an engineer from an early age. I was always fascinated by how things work,  particularly in mechanical engineering, where you can design and build systems that solve real-world problems, from everyday technologies to advanced systems like engines and aircrafts.

“Growing up, I was especially fascinated by mechanical and aerospace applications, and I dreamed of becoming an engineer. My interest was also shaped by my father, who was an electrical engineer. He encouraged my curiosity through hands-on projects and would involve me in activities like building small windmill models that demonstrated electricity generation for school projects. Those experiences sparked my fascination with creating and understanding how things work. I would take apart toys just to see what was inside and then put them back together. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a desire not just to understand existing systems, but to learn how to design and build them myself.”

Could you explain the research you are currently working on?

“I would explain one of the topic areas that I am currently working on. It is focused on the development and application of reduced-order models for the simulation of rocket combustion.

“Think of a rocket engine: fuel is burned inside a combustion chamber to generate the thrust needed for launch. Even for relatively simple fuels like natural gas or methane, combustion is far more complex than what we learn in introductory chemistry. The process involves hundreds of chemical reactions and interactions across multiple scales. While we can build experimental systems and test them, those experiments are extremely expensive and time-consuming. Instead, we use high-performance computing to simulate the complex physics that govern combustion processes.

“However, even the most powerful supercomputers in the world cannot fully capture all the fine-scale phenomena that occur during combustion, especially in extreme environments like a rocket propulsion system. The computational cost remains a major challenge.

“My research focuses on developing advanced models that can capture the essential physics of these processes while requiring significantly fewer computational resources. These models enable faster and more efficient simulations without sacrificing accuracy. The goal is to achieve realistic predictions at a fraction of the computational cost, making high-fidelity simulations more accessible for engineering applications.”

In 2024, Dr. Ranjan earned national recognition from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, serving as an AIAA Class of 2025 Associate Fellow.

Why does turbulence interest you?

“I first became interested in turbulence during an undergraduate course. At my institution, mechanical engineering students could choose from several electives, and because I was fascinated by aerospace engineering, I decided to take most of my electives in that area. During the first semester of my junior year, I was introduced to turbulence. I quickly realized that it was one of the most fundamental and challenging unsolved problems in fluid mechanics. The complexity of the physics involved immediately captured my interest, and I was hooked from that very first course.

“Around the same time, a visiting faculty member from Germany came to India and presented results from a turbulence simulation. Seeing those large-scale simulations displayed on a huge screen was fascinating, but what stood out even more was his discussion of the remaining challenges and unanswered questions in the field.

“I was already drawn to fluid mechanics, and turbulence represented the ultimate challenge within that discipline. When I applied to graduate programs, I looked for institutions with strong fluid mechanics research programs, which led me to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That experience deepened my interest in turbulence, and I have continued exploring this challenging and fascinating field ever since.”

What advice do you have for students interested in engineering research?

“Undergraduate education provides students with a strong foundation in the fundamentals, but research offers an opportunity to explore how that knowledge can be applied to solve complex problems. I have mentored several undergraduate students, high school students, and even exceptionally talented younger students, and my advice to them is to get involved in research early.

“Throughout their four years as undergraduates, I encourage students to participate in two or three research projects, ideally exploring different topics and working with different faculty members. At that stage, many students may not yet know what they want to pursue as a career or whether research is the right path for them. Experiencing different areas of research helps them discover their interests and better understand their strengths.

“Research is not necessarily the right fit for everyone, and that is perfectly fine. Society needs people with diverse skills and career paths, for example, engineers, managers, researchers, professors, and many others. The key is for students to explore different opportunities and find the path that best aligns with their interests and goals.”

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Nishat Tasnim Nisha during testing of the Market Street draw bridge. Photo by Angela Foster.

Nishat Tasnim Nisha’s internship at the Tennessee Department of Transportation began with a visit to a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga career fair. 

After learning about the opportunity, the master’s student in civil engineering—with an emphasis in transportation and environmental engineering—applied with encouragement from her graduate advisor, Dr. Jejal Reddy Bathi. This summer, she’s helping TDOT keep major transportation projects on track while continuing her graduate research at UTC. 

Nisha’s work with TDOT includes reviewing project plans, schedules and guidelines for projects delivered through alternative methods such as design-build and Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC). She also had the opportunity to observe a routine inspection of Chattanooga’s Market Street Bridge, where she saw the process engineers use to evaluate the structure. 

“Seeing how transportation projects are managed from planning through construction has been my biggest learning experience,” Nisha said. “It helped me understand how much coordination happens behind the scenes.” 

While the internship introduced her to transportation project delivery, Nisha is also conducting research on microplastic transport in stormwater systems under Bathi’s mentorship. She said his guidance has been instrumental throughout her graduate studies. 

“My coursework and research at UTC taught me how to approach engineering problems critically and gave me the confidence to work on real projects,” she said. 

The internship has proven Nisha’s interest in transportation engineering and infrastructure development, building on a graduate career that already includes several honors. She received the 2025-26 Outstanding Graduate Student Award from UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, the UTC Dean’s Graduate High GPA Merit Award and the 2026 AWWA/CWP Kentucky-Tennessee Student Committee Scholarship. 

Nisha also founded UTC’s Water and Environmental Society Student Chapter, serving as its first president and organizing networking events where engineering students could connect with industry professionals. 

Nisha encouraged other students looking for internships to stay curious. 

“Don’t worry about knowing everything before you start,” she said. “Be willing to learn, ask questions and make the most of every opportunity.” 

UTC civil engineering student and TDOT intern Kironmoy Paul Shourov.

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Photo gallery by Angela Foster

Gary W. Rollins will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the University’s highest recognition presented to an alumnus. Movita Steiner has been selected for the Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary service to UTC. Dr. Alexis Rollins Bennett will receive the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Excellence Award, honoring exceptional achievement by a recent graduate.

The recipients will be recognized during UTC Homecoming and celebrated at additional University events and engagements throughout the year.

“Our honorees exemplify the very best of UTC through their leadership, generosity, innovation and service,” Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce said. “Gary Rollins, Movita Steiner and Dr. Alexis Bennett have each transformed lives in unique ways while strengthening our University and our community. Their accomplishments reflect the enduring impact of a UTC education and the many ways our community continues to lead and serve. We are proud to celebrate their remarkable achievements.”

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Distinguished Alumni Award: Gary W. Rollins

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the University’s highest honor presented to an alumnus whose accomplishments have brought distinction to UTC through exceptional professional achievement, leadership and service.

Rollins, a 1967 UTC graduate, has spent more than five decades helping build Rollins Inc. into one of the world’s leading consumer services companies, serving as chief executive officer from 2001 to 2022 and now as executive chairman emeritus. Under his leadership, the company experienced significant growth while expanding its global footprint. His business accomplishments have earned numerous honors, including being named one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs and receiving the prestigious Crown Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the pest control industry.

His commitment to giving back has been equally transformative. Alongside his wife, Kathleen, Rollins established the Gary W. Rollins College of Business through a historic $40 million gift in 2018 and followed with a $30 million investment to expand Fletcher Hall, creating opportunities that will benefit UTC students for generations.

“Success is most meaningful when it creates opportunities for others. UTC helped shape my journey and has helped me create those opportunities for the business leaders of the future.”

Outstanding Service Award: Movita Steiner

The Outstanding Service Award recognizes an individual whose sustained leadership, generosity and dedication have significantly advanced the mission of UTC.

Steiner’s philanthropy and steadfast support have made a lasting impact across the University of Tennessee system and particularly at UTC. A longtime Chattanooga business and community leader, she and her late husband Jack Steiner have significantly invested in the University through support of scholarships, athletics, academic programs and student opportunities.

Among her many contributions are a transformational gift supporting a future Women’s Athletics Complex, the establishment of endowed scholarships for students and sustained annual support that enhances the student-athlete experience. Her generosity, volunteer spirit and unwavering belief in students continue to strengthen UTC and create opportunities that extend far beyond campus.

“I’m honored by this recognition, but the real reward has always been seeing students thrive and creating opportunities that change lives.”

GOLD Excellence Award: Dr. Alexis Rollins Bennett

The GOLD Excellence Award recognizes alumni who have graduated within the past decade and have distinguished themselves through exceptional professional achievement, leadership and service early in their careers.

A 2016 graduate of UTC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Bennett quickly established herself as a leader in healthcare, education and alumni engagement. She serves as physical therapy manager at Erlanger, where she leads clinical teams while helping develop the region’s first advanced acute care physical therapy residency program. Her expertise in neurological rehabilitation and brain injury care has distinguished her as a respected clinician and educator.

Bennett remains deeply connected to her alma mater as president of the UTC Physical Therapy Alumni Board, a member of the UTC Alumni Board of Directors and an adjunct faculty member in UTC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

“UTC gave me the foundation to build a career I love. Returning to mentor students and serve the university is my way of investing in those who will care for the next generation.”

The University’s annual awards celebrate individuals whose accomplishments and service exemplify UTC’s mission while strengthening communities across Tennessee and beyond. Together, the Distinguished Alumni Award, Outstanding Service Award and GOLD Excellence Award recognize individuals whose leadership, generosity and commitment continue to elevate the University and inspire future generations of Mocs.

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About the Division of Advancement: The mission of the Division of Advancement at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of Chattanooga Foundation is to build meaningful connections for all Mocs and inspire generosity for Chattanooga’s university. By fostering relationships and investment, we strategically bring together alumni, donors and friends of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for the collective betterment of our campus and city.

Hosted Sept. 14-16 in Chattanooga, Chattanooga Connect will convene national experts, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders to share how emerging technologies are moving beyond research and pilot projects into real-world deployment. The three-day event will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, technology demonstrations and collaborative discussions focused on advancing practical, scalable solutions to some of today’s most pressing infrastructure and mobility challenges.

“One of the most important responsibilities of a public university is preparing students for the opportunities of tomorrow while helping strengthen the community we serve,” said UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce. “At UTC, we’re building a research enterprise where education, discovery and community partnerships come together to create lasting impact. Chattanooga Connect is a true reflection of that vision—connecting ideas to implementation, preparing the workforce of the future and strengthening Chattanooga’s role in Tennessee’s innovation economy.”

Chattanooga Connect is hosted by UTCRI, whose research portfolio spans transportation and mobility, quantum information science and engineering, digital infrastructure, advanced computing and other interdisciplinary research initiatives focused on solving complex, real-world challenges.

“Research alone isn’t enough,” said UTC Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Executive Director of UTCRI Mina Sartipi. “The real challenge is helping promising technologies move beyond the laboratory and beyond pilot projects into practical, scalable solutions. Chattanooga Connect exists to move promising research toward deployment by creating the collaboration and momentum needed to turn bold ideas into solutions that make communities safer, stronger and more connected.”

Early-bird registration for Chattanooga Connect 2026 begins today and will remain available through July 31. Discounted registration rates are also available for students. Additional conference announcements, including keynote speakers, panelists and the full program agenda, will be released in the coming weeks.

Initial sponsors for Chattanooga Connect 2026 include EPB, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Chattanooga. Additional sponsorship opportunities remain available for organizations interested in supporting the conference and connecting with leaders in transportation, technology, research and innovation.

For registration, conference information and sponsorship opportunities, visit go.utc.edu/cc or email utcri@utc.edu.

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About the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute (UTCRI) advances interdisciplinary research, innovation and workforce development by bringing together researchers, faculty, students, industry, government and community partners to address complex challenges that cannot be solved through a single discipline alone. The institute fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, develops strategic research partnerships and expands UTC’s research infrastructure to translate discovery into real-world solutions.

UTCRI’s research enterprise includes the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress, the Quantum Center and the Nanoengineering Center, with additional focus areas in applied computational science and engineering, sustainable and smart energy systems, mobility and transportation and emerging technologies. Together, these initiatives strengthen UTC’s role as a leading metropolitan research university while preparing the workforce of tomorrow and advancing innovation that benefits Chattanooga, Tennessee, and beyond.

Chattanooga Connect returns Sept. 14-16.

Christopher Stokes, top, and Dr. Erkan Kaplanogu are recipients of 2026 UT System President’s Awards. Individual photos by Angela Foster. Awards photo courtesy of UT System.

Two members of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga family, Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu and Christopher Stokes, have been named recipients of 2026 UT System President’s Awards, the highest honor a faculty or staff member can receive from the UT System.

The announcement was made by UT System President Randy Boyd.

“These awards honor the exceptional talent, service and leadership of faculty and staff systemwide,” Boyd said in the UT System release. “Through their work, each honoree strengthens communities and creates lasting impact in Tennessee and beyond. They have earned this distinction and are helping define the greatest decade in UT history.”

Kaplanoglu, department head and professor of engineering management and technology, was recognized in the “Optimistic and Visionary” category.

Stokes, assistant director for fraternity and sorority life in the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community, earned the President’s Award in the “Embrace Differences” category.

Other 2026 UTC nominees included faculty members Dr. Sarah Einstein, Dr. Saeid Golkar, Dr. Liz Hathaway, Dr. Hunter Holzhauer, Dr. Chandra Ward and Dr. Kristi Wick, and staff members Terrence Banks, Dr. Emily Blackman, Allison Evans, Meredith Perry, Chuck Wasserstrom and Sgt. John West.

Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu, department head and professor of engineering management and technology.

Since joining the UTC faculty in 2019, Kaplanoglu—who serves as director of the Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab and leads the UTC Research Institute’s recently launched Biomechatronics in Healthcare Initiative—has built a body of work centered on using engineering to improve people’s lives. His research and teaching focus on biomechatronics, rehabilitation robotics, wearable systems and artificial intelligence-enabled healthcare technologies.

Through the Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab, he has led projects supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the State of Tennessee and industry partners.

His recent accomplishments include a 2025 U.S. design patent for a pneumatically actuated rehabilitation platform designed to improve balance control and assistive therapy outcomes and a 2026 U.S. patent for an upper-extremity tremor control device. In 2025, he received the University of Tennessee Research Foundation Innovation Award for pioneering rehabilitation technology and translational engineering research.

Kaplanoglu said the President’s Award recognition reflects both the work being done at UTC and the people behind it.

“It’s truly an honor to receive this award,” he said. “It means a great deal to me, both personally and professionally.

“Personally, it reinforces the belief that optimism, combined with hard work and collaboration, can make a real difference. It also challenges me to set even higher goals for myself. Professionally, this recognition reflects the support of my students and colleagues at UTC and what we’ve been able to accomplish together by developing engineering solutions that improve healthcare.”

Kaplanoglu said his optimism comes from seeing how engineering can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

“Even simple engineering solutions can help individuals regain their health, independence or quality of life,” he said. “I view every challenge as an opportunity to create a positive impact. My research motto is ‘Strive to eliminate barriers.’

“What keeps me optimistic is our students. Their curiosity, creativity and passion inspire me every day and remind me that the next generation has the potential to shape a better future.”

Kaplanoglu’s work has extended beyond the lab. He has launched a health technology internship program for high school students, signed research agreements with startup companies EVBots and Sensory Bridges LLC, and has been invited to deliver keynote presentations in Albania, Greece and Azerbaijan on artificial intelligence applications in prosthetics and rehabilitation.

His research has also been closely tied to community impact. He initiated a collaboration with the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality in Türkiye to help expand access to advanced prosthetic care for individuals affected by the Syrian war and recent earthquakes. In Chattanooga, he designed and developed a supported stepping and mobility device for a 1-year-old child with cerebral palsy, which is now being used by the family. He also designed a rehabilitation exoskeleton system for stroke recovery and is collaborating with physical therapists at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation to evaluate and advance its clinical applications.

“Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu exemplifies what it means to be optimistic and visionary through his commitment to innovation, his passion for empowering students and his dedication to improving lives through technology,” UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce said. “His leadership and groundbreaking research continue to elevate UTC while providing a meaningful impact on our community and internationally, making him exceptionally deserving of this recognition.”

Christopher Stokes, assistant director for fraternity and sorority life in the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community.

A 2003 UTC graduate with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Stokes began working for the University in 2004 as a resident director with University Residence Life.

For Stokes, the honor recognizes a career spent helping students feel seen, valued and connected.

“Embracing differences has been my life story,” he said. “From every facet of my life, I have had to navigate significant barriers and challenges. Through each of them, I learned to appreciate the struggle and how to overcome it in mostly healthy, creative and meaningful ways that not only added to my understanding of my identity but also helped me appreciate—through empathy—the stories of others, their journeys and our collective journeys.”

Over two decades at UTC, Stokes has served in Residence Life, TRIO programs, Multicultural Affairs and Fraternity and Sorority Life. Along the way, he has helped build programs, partnerships and spaces that strengthen belonging, leadership development and student success.

His work has included helping launch the Multicultural Ambassador Program and the Multicultural Presidents Council; supporting retention and mentorship initiatives such as GUIDE, BMOCS and TRIO; and partnering with faculty, staff, alumni and community organizations to create opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and student engagement. He helped advance the creation of the UTC Divine Nine Heritage Park, a project that aligned campus priorities with cultural recognition and alumni engagement.

Stokes has built and sustained partnerships with more than 20 multicultural student organizations, fraternities and sororities, and community partners. He has facilitated campus workshops, events and training on cultural responsiveness, risk management and leadership development, and has served on committees focused on hazing prevention, retention and campus climate.

“Christopher Stokes embodies what it means to embrace differences through leadership that builds community, creates belonging and empowers students to succeed,” Bruce said. “UTC is stronger because of his service.”

Stokes said the recognition is deeply personal.

“I envision humanity as a tapestry, with each thread, each hue, woven with intention. Even if one is removed, it impacts the overall masterpiece,” he said. “I draw some of my inspiration from the Maya Angelou poem ‘Human Family’ as it closes with its final two stanzas: ‘We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.’”

That outlook, he said, has shaped the way he works with students.

“I maintain an active archive of times I or others have felt unseen and when I have potentially overshadowed others,” Stokes said. “This awareness keeps me learning and astute, not jaded. It is a living frame of reference that helps me build or discover paths to help others navigate barriers so they do not have to walk alone. I keep my door open for transparent talks with students, faculty and staff about the unique journeys students have toward earning a degree. I recognize patterns of opportunity and growth and share those insights with students so they can provide space for others while building relationships along the way.

“My conversations change each year, but the core message remains the same. I want everyone to know they belong to something bigger, even when they may feel small. Two key beliefs guide my work and I actively share them: You are meant to be here, and you are not on this journey alone.”

Photo courtesy of UT System

The President’s Awards were established in 2016 to annually honor UT faculty and staff whose work advances the University’s Be One UT values: Bold and Impactful, Embrace Differences, Optimistic and Visionary, Nimble and Innovative, Excel in All We Do, United and Connected, and Transparent and Trusted.

Previous UTC recipients of President’s Awards include:

• 2025: Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt (Optimistic and Visionary category) and Erica Holmes Trujillo (Nimble and Innovative)
• 2024: Dr. Mina Sartipi (Nimble and Innovative) and Brett Fuchs (Excel In All We Do)
• 2023: Dr. David Rausch (Nimble and Innovative), Dr. Abeer Mustafa (Excel In All We Do) and Michelle Rigler (Embrace Diversity)
• 2022: Dr. Frank Butler (Bold and Impactful) and Carla Mason (Excel In All We Do)
• 2021: Val Sample (Support)
• 2019: Dr. Valerie Rutledge (Diversity)
• 2017: Dr. Chris Smith (Connect)

Honorees are chosen from a system-wide pool of candidates nominated by campus and institute leaders. Each winner receives a commemorative plaque and a $3,000 monetary award, and will be recognized by Boyd, university chancellors and vice presidents during a special luncheon in August.

Learn more

UT System President’s Awards

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How to apply

One of his summer assignments was to go on a walking tour of attractions, restaurants and things to do near campus for students new to UTC—especially those without cars. Here are some of his suggestions.

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Every August, as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga begins a new academic year, more students without a reliable mode of transportation move on campus.

UTC is located in an area of Chattanooga featuring plenty of places and activities within a reasonable walking distance for students. As a student who has lived on campus for several years, my friends and I have explored the city to find things to get into.

Here are 10 sites and activities that UTC students can walk to from campus and check out with their friends.

Coolidge Park photo by Angela Foster

Coolidge Park (150 River St.)

Located about a mile and a half north of West Campus, Coolidge Park has been a staple of Chattanooga’s North Shore since 1999. Students will have to cross either the Market Street Bridge, the Veterans Memorial Bridge, or the soon-to-be-reopened Walnut Street Bridge to get there.

With its riverfront walking path, wide open green space, antique carousel and interactive fountains, Coolidge Park is one of Chattanooga’s most lively and inviting outdoor spots. My friends and I have walked there from campus several times to throw a football and hang out. On any given day, you’ll see people picnicking by the river, strolling along the trail or cooling off in the fountains.

Coolidge Park is surrounded by plenty of North Shore shops, restaurants and dessert spots, such as Taco Mamacita, Totto Sushi & Grill, Chipotle and Clumpies Ice Cream. So, if anyone needs a quick bite, treat or refresher after visiting the park, it’s not hard to find one.

Front entrance of the Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium and IMAX Theater (201 Chestnut St.)

A mile from campus, the Tennessee Aquarium sits on the riverfront in downtown Chattanooga.

The aquarium has two buildings: River Journey, home to otters, alligators and turtles, and Ocean Journey, where visitors can see sharks, stingrays, penguins, lemurs and a variety of large fish.

The aquarium’s IMAX 3D movie theater offers its own entertainment. The theater shows the latest releases, as well as documentaries and films about aquatic life and nature.

If you are at all interested in marine biology, aquatics, nature or watching new movies, all of that can be found about a 20-minute walk away.

Hunter Museum of American Art

Hunter Museum of American Art (10 Bluff View Ave.)

One of the most popular sites in Chattanooga is the Hunter Museum of American Art, located about half a mile from campus.

The Hunter Museum houses nearly 3,000 works of art spanning American history, from early 19th-century works to post-World War II art. The museum showcases a variety of art, including sculptures, paintings, photography and decorative art, among other collections. The museum also offers various events and programs, such as fiber arts and printmaking workshops.

The view of the Tennessee River from the balcony of the Hunter Museum is breathtaking, especially at sunset, and is followed by a clear path into downtown Chattanooga. The Hunter Museum offers plenty of entertaining and educational options for students to explore.

Classic Arcade Pinball Museum

Classic Arcade Pinball Museum (409 Broad St.)

If you are into arcade games and retro vibes, then check out the Classic Arcade Pinball Museum on Broad Street.

Chattanooga’s only fully retro arcade is about half a mile away from West Campus. The museum includes 43 playable pinball machines and 21 arcade machines. The $20 admission wristband gives customers unlimited access to all arcade games in the museum and lets them come and go as they please throughout the day.

For any student looking for a quick and easy way to play games with friends or enjoy ’80s and ’90s nostalgia, the Classic Arcade Pinball Museum is a great, close-to-campus destination.

Universal Joint

Universal Joint (532 Lookout St.)

A fun UTC student hangout close to campus is Universal Joint. Located less than half a mile from campus, Universal Joint offers a variety of entree options, including burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads and more. It is also a nice place to catch sporting events on their televisions, and their patio offers a decent view into downtown Chattanooga.

Those aren’t the only reasons that Universal Joint deserves a shout-out. Wednesday nights offer team trivia games, where students can band together to win cash prizes and Universal Joint gifts. Thursday nights feature Mario Kart tournaments on a big screen TV, where students and other players can compete.

Culture Coffee

Culture Coffee (610 Georgia Ave.)

Located directly across the street from Universal Joint is Culture Coffee. It is quiet and great for studying, meeting up to chat with friends or just chilling out. They offer a variety of caffeinated beverages, including seasonal options, as well as desserts and pastries, such as cookies, muffins, danishes, cinnamon rolls and scones.

About a year ago, I met up with several classmates at Culture Coffee to work on our group project. Before that, I had never heard of this coffee shop. However, after a handful of study sessions with that group, I came away thinking it was a solid study spot for anyone who might need it. It also helps that it is within walking distance from campus.

Chattanooga Public Library Downtown Branch

Chattanooga Public Library Downtown Branch (1001 Broad St.)

Speaking of nice study spots, what better study spot than a cozy municipal library? Less than a mile away, the downtown branch of the Chattanooga Public Library can provide that.

The Chattanooga Public Library has a wide variety of books for anyone with a library card to check out. There are multiple areas throughout the building where people can hide away to read, study or get work done.

One of the cooler aspects of the library is the 12,000-square-foot makerspace on the 4th floor. The makerspace offers plenty of different technology and media for anyone who needs to scratch their creative itch, including a 3D printer, a vinyl plotter, button makers, laminators, a photography studio and a fiber arts studio. More information about the makerspace can be found on the Chattanooga Public Library’s website.

UTC students and staff can access library materials with their UTC IDs. So if any of the aforementioned aspects of the Chattanooga Public Library sound interesting or fun, it’s all easy to access.

Ignis Glass Studio

Ignis Glass Studio (401 Broad St.)

About half a mile away from West Campus is Ignis Glass Studio. Ignis is a glass-blowing studio where customers can design and blow their own glass ornaments, paperweights, bowls or vases. A professional glassblower will be there to walk guests through the process and assist you. Your new glass possession will be available for pickup the next day.

Ignis also has a gift shop where customers can buy premade glass items and collections.

While it may not be the cheapest or most traditional experience, Ignis could be a unique activity for any UTC student interested in art, or even for anyone who wants to experiment. The ornaments could also spice up anyone’s dorm or apartment.

Choo Choo sign above the Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo

Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo (92 Choo Choo Ave.)

About a mile off campus is the historic Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo, often referred to as the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. What opened as a train terminal station in 1909 became preserved by the city of Chattanooga and eventually renovated by Chattanooga-based investors in the 1980s. Now, it is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions and offers plenty to explore at the station.

The Choo Choo has multiple stores and shops, as well as restaurants and coffee shops. They also host many events and concerts and open an ice-skating rink during late fall and early winter.

UTC students walk across a Tennessee Riverwalk bridge

Tennessee Riverwalk

Getting to the Tennessee Riverwalk trail is less than half a mile away from campus. Starting from the UTC ARC, you can access the trail by crossing East 4th Street and Riverside Drive.

From there, the Riverwalk can guide you to different areas of downtown Chattanooga, including the Veterans Memorial Bridge or the Walnut Street Bridge. It is also a convenient way to reach many locations on this list, such as the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Tennessee Aquarium.

Learn more

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DNP acute care student Alexis Murray—who received her doctoral degree from UTC in May 2026—talks with a patient’s daughter during an AI simulation. Photo by Angela Foster.

Two University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Nursing faculty members recently shared their work on AI-assisted simulation with an international audience, leading a webinar on how the technology can help prepare graduate nurse practitioner students for difficult conversations in palliative care.

Dr. Chris Doneski, director of UTC’s acute care nurse practitioner program and a simulation faculty member, and Dr. Rosebelle Peters, nursing simulation program director and senior lecturer, presented “Prepare Graduate Nurse Practitioners for Difficult Conversations with AI Palliative Simulations” through HealthySimulation.com.

HealthySimulation is a leading healthcare simulation resource that reaches more than 60,000 people each month. Doneski said more than 100 people attended the live webinar, and a recording is available through free registration.

Palliative care focuses on easing symptoms, stress and other challenges associated with serious illness. It often includes difficult conversations about a patient’s goals, quality of life and care options, making communication training especially important for future nurse practitioners.

For Doneski and Peters, the webinar was a chance to share work already happening at UTC while also putting the College of Nursing in front of a broader professional audience.

“Our number one goal is to provide education and safe learning to the students, and we also want to display what we do here at the College,” Doneski said.

The webinar opportunity grew out of earlier conversations about AI in nursing education. Peters said she attended a HealthySimulation webinar focused on AI and mentioned that UTC was already using it in graduate programs. That led to an invitation to present and build on UTC’s earlier AI simulation work, which used the technology to help nursing students navigate difficult conversations with patients and their families.

“We had already started providing education and lectures to faculty here about incorporating AI,” Doneski said.

Peters put it more simply: “Chris had already been presenting. We just made it more comprehensive.”

The session was aimed at beginners, but the audience stretched well beyond that. Doneski said participants included people with a wide range of experience in simulation, from those just getting started to professionals already running simulation centers. Attendees also joined from outside the United States, including Canada and countries across Europe and Asia.

Dr. Chris Doneski, director of UTC’s acute care nurse practitioner program and a simulation faculty member, and Dr. Rosebelle Peters, nursing simulation program director and senior lecturer.

The presentation centered on a gap the two faculty members see in graduate nursing education.

Doneski said students often receive training in procedures, prescribing and transition to practice, but communication training for difficult situations can be harder to build in meaningful ways.

“A lot of the research is on comfort with procedures, prescribing and the transition to practice,” he said. “There wasn’t really a lot out there from a graduate nurse practitioner student standpoint on training and communication.”

That matters in palliative care, where future nurse practitioners may need to answer hard questions, respond to anxiety and uncertainty, and guide patients and families through emotionally difficult discussions.

At UTC, Doneski explained, generative AI is used to create voice-enabled patient interactions that respond in real time to students’ input. Instead of relying only on case studies or classroom discussion, students can practice through a scenario that changes based on their responses, with the technology generating replies based on the character created for the simulation while keeping the same core subject matter.

He said there are guardrails in place to keep scenarios from drifting too far off course, but the technology’s conversational nature allows students to have a more realistic exchange.

Doneski said one of the webinar’s main points was that this kind of simulation can be built at a beginner level without a major investment of money or staffing. Programs without patient actors, larger simulation teams or extra faculty support can still create communication-focused experiences for students.

Peters said that practicality has helped make the approach attractive.

“It’s not high cost,” she said, “so sustainability is there.”

She also said the work reflects a larger approach within UTC’s College of Nursing. Rather than depending on prepackaged scenarios, Peters said faculty build simulations around the needs they see in their own programs.

“We don’t use pre-program simulations,” she said. “We write them from scratch based on the gaps analysis or needs analysis that we do.”

That has allowed the College to tailor simulations to specific learning outcomes while continuing to revise and improve them over time. Faculty can adjust scenarios, refine prompts and build on the experience as the technology evolves.

Dr. Chris Doneski and Alexis Murray during the AI simulation.

Both Peters and Doneski said the use of AI in simulation has continued to expand at UTC. Doneski said interest has grown among other faculty members since his earlier pilot work, including in areas beyond acute care and palliative conversations. He said that includes work tied to the College’s psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program, where difficult conversations are also central.

For Peters, the value extends well beyond palliative care.

“The difficult conversations are not just being had in palliative or hospice,” she said. “It’s across the healthcare system.”

That is why simulation matters, she said. Students may encounter death, grief, fear, reluctance or other emotionally charged situations in many clinical settings. Giving them repeated exposure in a safe environment can help them build confidence before facing those moments in practice.

“When you give them these tools and continue to expose them to these conversations in a safe space, that gives both the learners and the instructors or the facilitators feedback instantly,” Peters said.

“Simulation builds confidence. When a nurse is confident or a nursing student is confident, they’re going to perform versus hesitate.”

The recorded webinar is available through HealthySimulation.com. Users must register for a free account to view it.

Learn more

UTC College of Nursing

DNP Nurse Practitioner Program

Simulated patient, real emotions: AI bringing realism to UTC nursing simulation

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How to apply

Dr. Keenan Dungey (right) collects samples in Bumbee Creek. Photo by Angela Foster.

On a summer morning in the mountains of East Tennessee, a group of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students and researchers waded through the waters of Bumbee Creek. 

The group filled bottles with stream water and documented conditions at each site. Back on campus, those samples would help researchers identify pollutants that could be affecting the laurel dace, one of North America’s most endangered fish. 

The project includes faculty and students from UTC’s Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science, along with researchers from the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI).  

“We’re not trying to analyze what’s in the fish,” said Dr. Keenan Dungey, professor and head of UTC’s Department of Chemistry. “We’re trying to analyze what’s in their environment and the potential negative impacts on the laurel dace.” 

While chemistry faculty and students are often associated with laboratory work instead of collecting samples in mountain streams, Dungey said studying water quality requires both. 

“I was an indoor chemist,” he said with a laugh. “Normally, what you think of as a chemist is someone who’s got a white lab coat at a bench mixing chemicals. I got dragged outside and found this whole other way of doing chemistry.” 

Dungey has researched environmental water quality since 2006, but this is his first collaboration with TNACI, the research arm of the Tennessee Aquarium. While aquarium researchers monitor fish populations and health, UTC’s chemistry team studies the water. 

The team is studying several factors that could be contributing to the laurel dace’s decline, including warming water temperatures, sediment from agricultural runoff, and pollutants such as excess nutrients and pesticides. 

“You could have pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and chemicals sprayed on the crops,” Dungey explained. “The excess being washed out by rain into the water, fish being exposed to these toxins and then the fish need to eat the little zooplankton or algae—those get killed by pesticides.” 

Anna Craddock

Anna Craddock, Dungey’s undergraduate research student, said the project is unlike anything she expected when applying for summer research. 

She first met Dungey because she was interested in his previous work with E. coli. During their conversation, he mentioned the laurel dace project with TNACI. 

“I was drawn to it,” Craddock said. “I was like, ‘That’s the one I want to do.’” 

A rising senior from Nashville, Craddock came to UTC as a biology major before switching to biochemistry after discovering a passion for chemistry. The laurel dace project allowed her to reconnect with the ecological side of science she thought she had left behind. 

“This opportunity has been a great combination of both for me,” she said.  

Craddock has helped launch the project from the ground up, attending planning meetings, collecting water samples in the fieldand analyzing them back on campus using ion chromatography. 

“I know Dr. Dungey has told me that it is rare that an undergraduate research student gets to start a project from the very beginning,” she said. “I’ve really been involved with every single part of this project.” 

Working closely with a fish like the laurel dace gave her a new perspective on conservation. 

“Being out in the field and getting to see the fish actually pulled from the stream in the healthy population is amazing,” Craddock said. “It’s very humbling to know that human impact is causing this issue. It makes you really question some of the things you do every day.” 

The project brought together students and researchers from across disciplines. 

Graduate environmental science student Rio Palmeira, a Tennessee Aquarium fellow and watershed conservation assistant, helpswith biodiversity and species surveys while UTC researchers analyze the chemistry of the streams.  

Graduate student Anna Sherrill contributes sampling and sediment analysis through a collaboration involving her advisor, Dr. Azad Hossain.  

Associate Lecturer, Dr. Elise Chapman, provides expertise in river ecology, while environmental science major Jasmine Castellano and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School student Ajla Rizvic, participating through UTC’s American Chemical Society Project SEED program, also contribute to the research. 

Rio Palmeira

Palmeira said that collaboration is one of the project’s biggest strengths. 

“I have learned the importance of collaboration to support a common conservation goal,” Palmeira said. “Using people’s varying expertise to investigate different aspects of a problem provides us with more information and allows for the best management decisions in the future.” 

Her work with TNACI also includes educating landowners and community members about conservation. 

“The public being informed about what a special place we live in, and them caring enough to want to save these spectacular little creatures, makes me hopeful for the future,” Palmeira said. 

Sherrill said working alongside researchers from different backgrounds has proven the value of interdisciplinary science. 

“Collaboration is the key to making a difference,” she said. “Being able to collaborate with other students, researchers and organizations truly changes the processes and outcomes of such research.” 

She also appreciates the opportunity to learn from everyone involved. 

“I really love learning about all the different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences of all those involved,” Sherrill said. “It feels special to be a part of such a diverse and committed collaboration.” 

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Photo gallery by Angela Foster

Every semester, students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga purchase textbooks and course materials for their classes. Beginning this fall, they will have a new option designed to simplify the process and help reduce costs.

Starting Monday, July 27, the MocsBooks Total Access Program will offer UTC undergraduate students a simpler, potentially more budget-friendly option for buying their textbooks and materials.

Students will be automatically enrolled in the program and will receive an email 30 days before the start of the semester. The email will include the courses they are enrolled in, what the program covers and an estimate of how much they could save each semester.

“Students are charged a flat rate of $22 per credit hour, which is automatically billed to their student account,” explained Mocs Bookstore General Manager Chelleigh Holland. “It covers all of the required digital and physical materials, and they automatically receive their digital materials in Canvas.

“If you’re a student and you take a three-credit-hour course, that’s $66 for a book that costs $325. You’re only paying the $66 and you get all that comes with it.”

While the program offers significant savings for many students, some may prefer to purchase their course materials another way. Holland said students can opt out of the program before the Aug. 30 deadline through several simple options.

“In the email, there is a link where you can go to opt out,” she said. “They click on that link, and it will take them to the landing page on UTC’s website. Within that landing page is a button that says ‘opt out.’ If the student is actually in the bookstore and they don’t want to participate, we have QR codes that will be up during the first two weeks of class where they can scan, and it will take them there.”

Holland said that the benefits of MocsBooks may vary from one student to another. The goal of the MocsBooks Total Access Program is to save students as much money as possible while pursuing their education.

“We really want to save students money,” Holland said. “That was our first goal. The second goal was to make everything as streamlined as possible in an orderly time and have everything ready by the first day of class.”

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Jenny Hogg joined the UTC faculty in 2017. Photo by Angela Foster.

The applications of research at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga range from quantum and the automotive industry to Tennessee’s rivers and streams, and even to track, field and hardwood.

Dr. Jenny Hogg, an athletic training professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, aims to help athletes perform at their best.

Using augmented reality and machine learning, Hogg’s research examines athletes’ biomechanical performance and methods to improve it.

“My research marries hip, knee and ankle biomechanics,” Hogg said. “Examining joints and angles where you’re moving your hip in a way that’s good for your knee and vice versa.”

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Why did you become an athletic trainer?

“I was injured in high school, which I think is a common answer and that’s probably partly true. I tore my ACL in high school. I was a junior playing basketball and received really good care. I was able to come back my senior year to play basketball, run track and play softball.

“I remember my freshman year in college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life as most people don’t. I’m like, ‘Well, this athletic training sounds like the least objectionable thing.’ I can still have sports in my life. I can help people. It’s something I’m familiar with and I think I would like this more than anything else out there.”

Can you explain some of the research you are conducting?

“Most people are surprised that females are actually at a higher risk of ACL tears, but hour for hour, when you control for exposures, it’s like three to five times greater. This project was developing an injury prevention program specifically targeting females aged 13 to 15.

“We’re trying to make it really accessible for people who may not have access to athletic trainers, strength coaches or physical therapists. We’re also studying implicit learning in tandem. For instance, how do you best complete a motor task? Let’s say that you want to shoot a free throw or a tennis serve. You know it becomes automatic at some point.

“What we did is in augmented reality; there is a rectangle and each vertex and each point is tied to a specific biomechanical parameter. So staying symmetrical, like when you’re doing a squat, staying symmetrical, putting equal pressure on both feet, that’s one vertex. Make sure your trunk is upright; that’s a side. Making sure your knees aren’t collapsing is another piece of the puzzle.

“Using that biomechanical aspect with some of the motor learning literature to try to develop automatic behavior in biomechanics for young females now, but it has implications throughout the lifespan.”

What is the athlete’s response to the test?

“We had a placebo and then an actual control. The placebo just got white noise in their figure. Those people got really frustrated. The people in the true arm liked it because it was gamified. It makes it interesting. You’re trying to figure out a puzzle.”

If students are interested in your research, what would you suggest they do?

“Come see me. I have plenty of projects that I need help with right now. My gracious colleagues in the physical therapy department—I work with them a lot—have a motion lab. Most people may not realize they just invested in a new camera system. The camera system over there is a big deal. It is markerless. There’s no need to tag individual anatomical landmarks with the retroreflective markers anymore. It’s a huge upgrade.

“They would learn how to use that system and collect data, and I could teach them some signal processing and filtering—how we get usable numbers out of these signals.”

For students interested in athletic training, what advice would you give them?

“Know what you’re getting into and ask questions. I didn’t ask enough questions. I wasn’t as curious as I could have been. Looking back, it’s great to have all the answers to the questions. That’s just being a good student. But at some point, I think your mind has to flip. You have to know the questions that are worth asking, which is an entirely different way of thinking. I wish I had done that more.

“Shadow a variety of settings. Most folks are aware that ATs are in college and high school settings, but many are not aware that we have a strong presence in industry right now. The Volkswagen plant, ATs are running their own prevention clinics because it saves the manufacturer time and money on workman’s comp. We’re in the military and performing arts. We’ve got a few grads who are working in ballet. The opportunities are much more varied.”

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