$175 million Fundraising Campaign Announced

Featured photo: Charlie Moore, UT Martin RISE fundraising campaign co-chair, makes the opening coin toss before the Sept. 11 home football opener when the campaign was announced.

UT Martin kicked off its fourth and most ambitious capital campaign, RISE, Sept. 11 when university officials announced a goal of $175 million. UTM recently completed the Prepare for Takeoff five-year strategic plan that was instrumental in campaign planning. The RISE campaign priorities are aligned with two of the UT Martin Strategic Plan themes. Those are Strategic Theme One: Enhance Student Outcomes (recruit, retain and graduate students who are prepared to be responsible, informed and engaged citizens and leaders); and Strategic Theme Two: Strengthen Our Engagement (be a model of responsible stewardship while improving the vitality and prosperity of West Tennessee and beyond).

“It also creates a virtuous cycle of well-served students becoming giving—of their time and money—alumni and therefore paying it forward to serve future students well. Our mission is the reason our campaign, RISE, is important. I believe we, as a university, community and nation, will do just that,” UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver says.


Blaylock Inspirational Oracle Coming

A group of people hold dirt in ceremonial blue and orange shovels at a groundbreaking
Pictured left to right, Charley Deal (Martin ’92, ’96), university advancement; Petra McPhearson, finance and administration; Keith Carver, chancellor; Paul Blaylock; Phil Watkins (Martin ’56), vice chancellor emeritus of student affairs; and Andy Lewter (Martin ’94), student affairs. Watkins was Blaylock’s close friend and mentor when Blaylock was a UTM student.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 9 during UT Martin Homecoming for the new Blaylock Inspirational Oracle. The structure will be named for Dr. Paul Blaylock (Martin ’68) from South Fulton, who has worked more than four decades as both a trauma physician and as a trial attorney in the Portland, Oregon, area. The structure will be designed as an open-air Greek Parthenon located near the Boling University Center. Some of the expected uses include a reflection area for students and alumni, an outdoor classroom and a meeting space. The facility will include a fountain and a large plaza.


UT Martin partners with Nile University

UT Martin's MBA leaders pose in front of a virtual screen with leaders from Nile University
From left, Christie Chen, associate professor of management; Mahmoud Haddad, professor of finance; Jenny Killebrew, MBA Program and Student Services coordinator; and Ahmad Tootoonchi, College of Business and Global Affairs dean.

UT Martin and Nile University officials announced a dual MBA-Executive MBA program agreement Oct. 13 during a Zoom call that linked the universities virtually. Nile University is in Giza City, Sheikh Zayed District, located south of Cairo, Egypt. The agreement allows Nile University students to take UT Martin’s core courses and MBA capstone course, in addition to enrolling for courses at Nile University. Students who successfully complete the curriculum will be awarded the dual degree from UT Martin’s AACSB-accredited program.


17 UTM Graduates Attend Veterinary School

Seventeen members of UT Martin’s spring 2021 graduating class have been accepted into veterinary schools, one of the largest groups of graduates to be accepted from UT Martin.

“The faculty and staff understand what it takes for these students to be successful, and they are passionate about relaying this information to students beginning in their first semester as freshman and continuing that advising and support through graduation,” says Jason Roberts (Martin ’99, Knoxville ’02), animal science professor and Veterinary Health Technology Program director. “We also have a large teaching and demonstration farm, which includes veterinary facilities where students can gain hands-on experience throughout their undergraduate careers.”