Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visited UT Martin to hear university program updates. Also visiting were State Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield, and State Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon. The visit began at the Latimer-Smith Engineering and Science Building, where the governor met with Chancellor Yancy Freeman and concluded with a Business Administration Building tour. Then Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower visited the campus with UT President Randy Boyd following a stop at the Milan No-Till Field Day. Mumpower met with university officials and academic deans, toured the teaching farm and joined students and others for lunch in the Dunagan Alumni Center in his first visit to UT Martin.
Coon Creek Lab Named
Bub Lively found peace digging for fossils at the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center in McNairy County. He battled cancer, and he wanted to assure that future generations of children would share his Coon Creek experience. A gift from the family following his death earlier this year will help support those opportunities through the Clinton W. “Bub” Lively Paleontology Lab. Considered one of the most important fossil sites in the U.S., the center is a 76 million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that’s home to almost 700 preserved marine species.
25th African American Leadership Conference Held
Chancellor Yancy Freeman was the keynote speaker for the 25th African American Leadership Conference held April 16 in Jackson. The idea for the conference originated with the 1997 WestStar Class when Bob Smith, WestStar co-founder and UT Martin chancellor emeritus, suggested the conference as a class project. The conference is the first and only of its kind in the state that explores challenges and opportunities for the African American leader. Since its inception, conference organizers have presented 15 awards each for under-40 and over-40 African American leaders.
UTM/TCAT Sign Articulation Agreement
UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman signed an articulation agreement in Crockett County with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest that will enable more West Tennessee students to pursue a UTM degree. Also signing the agreement was Youlanda Jones, TCAT Northwest president. “This articulation agreement will be invaluable for the growth and expansion for our farming operations technology and our digital agronomy programs,” Jones says. “It will align perfectly with the UT Martin Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in general agriculture.”