Summer 2025

A variety of small fish swim around a coral reef in the ocean.
Feature

A Taste for Marine Biology

Stanton Belford’s love of marine biology began with a salty gulp of ocean water and a high school field trip.

An illustration of a wooden sign post, with multiple signs pointing in different directions.
Feature

Take a Chance on this Article

Chance, risk, probability and uncertainty live on in daily life through decisions made and events that happen.

Three people conducting a demonstration on how to make chocolate from cacao beans.
Feature

Immersed in Study Abroad

In the tropical forests of Costa Rica, Skylynn Pastorello got an up-close view of insects not found in Tennessee, such as a large wasp that preys on tarantulas and bullet ants, named for the extremely strong sting they deliver.

A bearded man with glasses, wearing a white medical coat, standing outside in front of a building.
Feature

From Patient to Doctorate

Logan McCulley’s journey to becoming a nurse practitioner began at 14 when the four-wheeler he was driving flipped and landed on his right leg.

A bald man, wearing a suit and glasses, points at a collection of framed portraits of cold case victims.
Feature

Case Closed

Surreal. That is the word Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brandon Elkins uses to describe what it’s like to let families know that newly identified remains belong to their missing loved one.

A man with glasses, wearing an orange 'Tennessee' sweatshirt, sits working on a laptop.
Feature

A Groundbreaking Partnership

Higher education can be a competitive environment. While faculty from different institutions often collaborate and share knowledge, institutions themselves rarely do.

A man, wearing glasses and a gray suit, sits alone in a theatre filled with rows of red seats.
Feature

Behind the Curtain

Leon Scioscia (Martin ’76) caught the bug at an early age to write plays and make a living in the theater world.

Two law enforcement officers sitting in a room, with a large projector screen.
Feature

Taking a Chance on People

Rick Dierenfeldt, a former police officer turned academic, knows what it means to take a chance on people, unconventional ideas and the power of data-driven solutions. “This is not a ... Read more

A group of college athletes standing on a stairway, holding up a banner that says "NIT 2025 Champions."
Feature

UTC Mocs Make History with NIT Championship Win

The UTC men’s basketball team made history this spring by winning the National Invitational Tournament — becoming the first Southern Conference school ever to claim the title.

Three women look at a computer screen while working on a project in a laboratory.
Grand Challenges

Getting Cellular

Two UT Knoxville professors launched TennWell, a research initiative exploring how stress impacts teen mental health and biology at the cellular level.

A cluster of diverse silhouettes, all connected with dashed lines.
Alumni Association

Leading the Team

Stephanie Simpson believes being an alumni volunteer is more than a title. It’s a mindset. As she steps on the court as UT Alumni Association Board of Governors president on July 1, she’s challenging fellow alumni to suit up, step in and get involved.

Four people wearing blue and green scrubs work inside a mobile medical center.
Alumni Association

A Legacy of Transformation

UT Chattanooga students practiced helping an older adult navigate in and around an apartment, finding ways to overcome challenges.

Students enter an arena in preparation for their college graduation ceremony.
From the President

The Power of Taking a Chance

As we celebrated 9,652 new graduates this May, we were reminded that every bold step begins with a choice. Each diploma represents a student who made an intentional decision to pursue a better future.

An astronaut spacewalking while working on the International Space Station.
Historically Speaking

The Space Legacy of UT Alumni

It’s an exclusive club to which 10 UT System graduates belong. They each have ventured into space as an astronaut—some multiple times, and some became news along the way.

An astronaut spacewalking while working on the International Space Station.
The Last Word

NASA Wants Their Stuff Back

One of the strengths of the UT Space Institute is our work in hypersonics, flight through the atmosphere at extreme speeds.

A table with rows of glass and metal award plaques sitting on top.
News and Updates

Research Foundation Ranks Among Top For Patents

The UT Research Foundation earned the No. 71 spot on the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2024 list published by the National Academy of Inventors.

A diverse group of men and women standing on stage, each holding a framed plaque.
News and Updates

UTK Student Excellence

Three UT Knoxville students were awarded Goldwater Scholarships—the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarship of its kind—for the 2025-26 academic year.

Three young women standing together for a photo in front of a blue, white and gold mobile health clinic.
News and Updates

MobileMOC Launches

UTC is expanding its reach by partnering with the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD) to bring evidence-based programs to senior centers in Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie counties.

Four young men wearing gray polo shirts standing in front of a red brick building, with a black entrance covering that says "The Martin."
News and Updates

Landmark Turns 20

For two decades, the Martin Movie Theater at UT Southern has served as more than just a place to watch films—it’s been a cornerstone of campus life and a cultural anchor for the Pulaski community.

A black male wearing a blue and gray suit speaks to room from behind a podium.
News and Updates

UT Trustees Approve UTM Strategic Plan

The new UT Martin strategic plan, approved by the UT Board of Trustees at its winter meeting, highlights the university’s commitment to innovative learning opportunities, strengthening industry partnerships and supporting economic development in West Tennessee and othzer areas.

A female scientist carefully pours a pink liquid into a clear container with measurement markings.
News and Updates

UTHSC Earns R1 Status

UT Health Science Center has earned the prestigious R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

A large, secluded chicken coop full of white chickens.
News and Updates

Faculty Unite Against Avian Flu

To fight the latest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, faculty in veterinary medicine, animal science, wildlife management, epidemiology, virology, diagnostics, agricultural engineering, mathematical modeling and related fields created a new One Health Initiative working group in the spring.

A man wearing glasses and a blue shirt sits inside a recording studio with headphones on.
News and Updates

TLC Enhances the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Experiences

Often called the Smithsonian of Country Music, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville is the world’s largest repository of country music artifacts.