{"id":78722,"date":"2026-08-20T07:51:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T11:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=78722"},"modified":"2026-08-20T08:10:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:10:43","slug":"the-people-of-utc-get-to-know-miss-wanda-goins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/the-people-of-utc-get-to-know-miss-wanda-goins\/","title":{"rendered":"The people of UTC: Get to know ‘Miss’ Wanda Goins"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"Wanda

Wanda Goins worked security at the Chattanooga Wellness Expo at the Wolford Family Athletic Center. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cMiss\u201d Wanda Goins moved to Chattanooga in 1974\u2014four years after graduating from <\/span>Dalton (Georgia) High School<\/span>. At the time, she did not know just how much she would become ingrained in the community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She began working at Erlanger Baroness Hospital that year and, since 1990, has <\/span>also<\/span> become a familiar face <\/span>at Chattanooga Lookouts baseball games\u2014where she is affectionately known as \u201cWanda the Program Lady.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Goins joined the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1990 as an usher at McKenzie Arena. Today, she works security in the James R. Mapp Building while continuing to serve at campus events throughout the year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On <\/span>Tuesday, Aug. 18<\/span>, Goins was inducted into the Bessie Smith Cultural Center Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the Chattanooga community. As she described what the honor meant to her, she became emotional, saying she was overwhelmed to learn she had been selected.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How did you get to UTC?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy cousin, Fran, was working at UTC and came to my house one day. She said, \u2018You want to make some extra money?\u2019 I said, \u2018Well, I don\u2019t care.\u2019 The Chattanooga Lookouts were still on Third Street then, and Jimmy Buffett was having a concert at the ballpark.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI worked that concert, and I guess I was having so much fun because they asked if I wanted to keep working. I put in an application and started with the Lookouts. About two weeks later, I started working at UTC, and I\u2019ve been here ever since.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What was your first role at UTC?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started at McKenzie Arena doing what they called crowd control back then. Today, you\u2019d call it ushering. I\u2019d show people where they sat and help them get where they needed to go.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow I work security in the James R. Mapp Building, but I still work the arena, football, basketball, commencement\u2014I still do everything.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does your role in the James R. Mapp Building entail?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI make sure strangers don\u2019t just come into the building. I watch the doors downstairs and upstairs, and if somebody needs help, I help them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI see a lot of people come through here every day and I enjoy talking to them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What has UTC meant to you over the past 36 years?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot because even though it\u2019s part time, it\u2019s still a job, and I take my job seriously. I love UTC, and I just enjoy it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve met so many students, faculty and staff over the years. People will come up and say, \u2018Miss Wanda!\u2019 and I\u2019m trying to figure out where I know them from. Is it Erlanger? Is it UTC? Is it the Lookouts? It makes me feel good when they remember me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve become well known throughout Chattanooga. What has it been like to have so many people recognize you?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt really makes me feel good. People will say, \u2018I remember you when I was a little boy,\u2019 and I tell them, \u2018You\u2019re telling my age now.\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have students here at UTC ask, \u2018Didn\u2019t I see you at the Lookouts game?\u2019 I tell them, \u2018Yeah.\u2019 I don\u2019t meet no strangers. I just enjoy people.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Wanda

Wanda Goins holds her Bessie Smith Cultural Center Hall of Fame induction certificate during a ceremony at a Chattanooga Lookouts game. Photo by Dixie Edmondson.<\/p><\/div>\n

You were inducted into the Bessie Smith Cultural Center Hall of Fame. What does that honor mean to you?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know anything about it. They told me to come into a room at the ballpark, and I wasn\u2019t paying attention. Then they started telling me they wanted to give me this award.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t even talk. They told me I deserved it and that everybody loves me and that I make Chattanooga special. I was just honored. When I got home that night, I couldn\u2019t even sleep. Those were happy tears.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What keeps you going and where does your positive attitude come from?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople ask me all the time, and I tell them I\u2019m not going to retire. I love my two part-time jobs. When the Lookouts are through, football season kicks in. Then you\u2019ve got basketball and all the other events. I just enjoy doing it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve just got to give God all the credit. I\u2019ve been through a lot, but He always had my back. I worked three jobs for over 30 years while taking care of my mama after she got lung cancer. I got tired, but I didn\u2019t give up. God saw me through it. That\u2019s why I try to stay positive.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Wanda

Wanda Goins works security in the James R. Mapp Building. Photo by Dixie Edmondson.<\/p><\/div>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo gallery by Dixie Edmondson<\/h4>\n
\"Wanda <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"P1018517\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"P1018596-2\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Wanda <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"P1018686\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Wanda <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"P1018812-2\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cMiss\u201d Wanda Goins moved to Chattanooga in 1974\u2014four years after graduating from Dalton (Georgia) High School. At the time, she did not know just how much she would become ingrained in the community. On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Goins was inducted into the Bessie Smith Cultural Center Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the Chattanooga community.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2000,"featured_media":78735,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,15,7712,8244,64],"tags":[8324,127447,119567,124535,126418,124544,127092,127071,127061,127446],"class_list":{"0":"post-78722","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-campus","8":"category-community","9":"category-faculty-and-staff","10":"category-honors-and-awards","11":"category-news","12":"tag-bessie-smith-cultural-center","13":"tag-bessie-smith-cultural-center-hall-of-fame","14":"tag-chattanooga-lookouts","15":"tag-department-of-public-safety","16":"tag-dixie-edmondson","17":"tag-get-to-know-the-people-of-utc","18":"tag-goal-2-1-faculty-staff-experience-strategic-plan-2030","19":"tag-goal-2-2-faculty-staff-success-strategic-plan-2030","20":"tag-goal-5-1-community-engagement-strategic-plan-2030","21":"tag-wanda-goins","22":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nThe people of UTC: Get to know 'Miss' Wanda Goins | UTC News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cMiss\u201d Wanda Goins moved to Chattanooga in 1974\u2014four years after graduating from Dalton (Georgia) High School. 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