UT Health Science Center’s Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology held a grand opening ceremony and reception for its nearly $20 million state-of-the-art renovated space in the UT Conference Center at 600 Henley St. in Knoxville. Increasing the department’s space to 65,000 square feet, the renovation gathers its academic, research and clinical operations under the same roof for the first time in 40 years. Among other educational, clinical and research spaces, the new facility adds a 124-seat lecture hall; an apartment simulation; the Tamika Catchings Indoor Inclusive Playground, named for retired professional WNBA star and former UT Lady Vol Tamika Catchings; a feeding, swallowing and voice suite; a dizziness and tinnitus suite; student study rooms; 13 research laboratories; and the Silverstein-Luper Alumni and Visitor Welcome Center.
First Leadership Town Hall Fosters Dialogue
The first in a series of town halls with the university’s Executive Leadership Team launched in September in Memphis to increase communication with the campus community. The town hall provided the opportunity for an open dialogue with executive leadership, including Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Raaj Kurapati; Vice Chancellor for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs Cindy Russell; Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships Paul Wesolowski; and Chancellor Peter Buckley. Chief Wellness Officer Jessi Gold served as moderator. Additional town halls were scheduled for the Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville campuses.
Inaugural Vols Football Watch Party Wins Big
More than 200 faculty, staff, students and friends of the UT Health Science Center community gathered in the Historic Quadrangle on the Memphis campus for its first Vols Football Watch Party. With a large LED video wall, orange attire, music, dancing and food, attendees enjoyed each other’s company and cheered on the Vols as they beat the Oklahoma Sooners. “This was the first time we have used our beautifully restored courtyard to bring together our campus community to show our support as part of the UT System for one of our sister institutions,” says UT Health Science Center Chancellor Peter Buckley. “We are all One UT.”
Third Family Campaign Exceeds Donor Goal
The third Family Campaign reached 765 donors, exceeding its original goal of 700. It also surpassed last year’s Family Campaign by 141 donors. The monthlong campaign in September encouraged UT Health Science Center faculty, staff, residents and students to support the university, its mission to transform lives through collaborative and inclusive education, research and scholarship, clinical care, public service, and its vision of Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.
