Winter 2023

In Tennessee, we find ourselves faced with seemingly intractable problems—ones that are large scale, complex and can lead to difficult futures for Tennesseans and their children. The University of Tennessee System selected three of these to address: K-12 education needs, substance misuse and rural community decline. We call these Grand Challenges.

In this issue, you’ll discover more about the challenges and what UT is already doing to address them. Will you join us? It will take experts from a myriad of areas working in concert to straighten what has been snarled.

State of Tennessee symbol (3 stars) are covered with illustrated tangles.

Untangling a State

At what point does a challenge become too challenging? For the UT System, the answer is never. We’re tackling the…

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An illustration of a tornado made of drugs, spinning through a small town.

Disease Realities

Tennessee is in the throes of a substance abuse epidemic. It’s time for us all to get SMART.

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Gloria Thomas Anderson, left, founder of Heart Tones, offers information to attendees at the engAGING Communities Open House workshop in Nashville.

The Unknown

Even when Alzheimer's is detected early, its effects are inescapable. Often the earliest symptom to appear? Fear of the unknown.

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Betsy Logan teaches students at Martin Middle School.

Meant to Do

Now more than ever, educators need extra support. At UT Martin, support abounds.

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A student works to machine a part in the Machine Tool Research Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, during the ACE Bootcamp training.

Manufacturing Renaissance

If the manufacturing industry were a brick-and-mortar building, the sign on its window would read “help wanted.” UT Knoxville, however,…

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Deborah Reed works with a student as part of the Tennessee Reading Research Center.

Good Reading

Tennessee’s literacy story needs a happier ending. UT is helping to rewrite one.

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Mike Mayfield, owner of Mayfield Angus Farm, speaks to members of the Regional Leadership cohort.

Changing The Narrative

How can rural communities find success when dialogue about them shoves them into pre-constructed boxes? The Turner Center for Rural…

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Nurse midwifery students hope to better maternal health in Tennessee.

Changing Outcomes

Tennessee has a maternal health crisis. The passion and education carried by the 16 students in the UTHSC nurse midwifery…

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Breaking Barriers

Nobody wants to talk about money. But, according to the UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences team, everybody needs to…

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Sreedhar Upendram (middle) demonstrates using a hot spot for broadband to James Mingie, a research associate, left, and graduate student Amrit Shrestha.

No One-Size Solution

What would life today be like without the internet? For many rural Tennesseans, the experience isn’t one that needs imagination—it’s…

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UT President Randy Boyd reads You Can't Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime to children during a Money Week class about financial literacy. Photo By Sam Thomas

UT Tackles Challenges

The UT System, with its statewide presence, people, expertise, resources and influence, is uniquely positioned to tackle grand challenges.

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Grand Challenges in Tennessee

With our five campuses and two institutes, the University of Tennessee System can uniquely collaborate within the system and with…

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Pathways to Teaching

For some educators, like these three alumni, the pathway to teaching is a winding road. But, despite its twists and…

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First Lady Visits UT, Praises ‘Grow Your Own’ Collaboration

First Lady Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited UT Knoxville in September to recognize Tennessee’s Grow…

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Former Tennessee Governors Host a New Podcast Series

The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy launched You Might Be Right, a new podcast series hosted by…

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Fine Arts Center Reopens After Four Years of Renovations

The 456-seat Roland Hayes Concert Hall and the 256- seat Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre are finished, and performances are returning.

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UTS Special Education Students Spread Fire

UT Southern students studying to teach special education developed the FIRE (Fostering Inclusion through Resource Efforts) resource fair for disability…

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Latimer-Smith Building Dedicated

The $65 million, 120,000-square-foot, three-story building will house the departments of chemistry and physics, computer science, engineering, mathematics and statistics,…

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Historic Investiture Held

Peter Buckley has been formally installed as the 11th chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

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UTIA Establishes New School of Natural Resources

The Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries (FWF) will be named the School of Natural Resources.

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CTAS Hosts Orientation for Newly Elected County Officials

Close to 800 newly elected county officials gathered in Franklin in August to ready themselves to take office.

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