The University of Tennessee at Martin Faculty and Staff Newsletter | May 7, 2019

addendaLovett congratulates graduates on

‘crossing the fence’UT Martin Chancellor Keith

Carver welcomed a capacity audience to commencement exercises May 4 in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center and later conferred degrees to students from 62 Tennessee counties, 28 states outside of Tennessee and seven nations in addition to the U.S.

The university’s Office of Academic Records reported that 718 students were eligible to graduate at the conclusion of spring semester. A total of 550 graduates participated in commencement exercises, which included 526 undergraduates and 24 graduates.

Following a piano performance by graduating music major Gian Garma, of Martin, Carver introduced the commencement speaker, Dr. Kenyatta Lovett, executive director for Complete Tennessee. The veteran administrator is responsible for developing and implementing the programming necessary to support Tennessee’s vision to increase the number of state residents who hold postsecondary degrees by year 2025. He previously served as assistant vice chancellor at the Tennessee Board of Regents and also held several administrative posts at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin.

Lovett used the symbol of a fence as he congratulated graduates for overcoming the challenges that stand in the way of completing a college education.

“The fence represents the hurdles, the hardships, and the heroics that make up your success journey in this college experience,” he said. “Some actions were minor; others tested every fiber of your being. The fence symbolizes the barriers faced when you first make the choice to enroll in college and all that took place to bring you here to this point in your life.”

He reminded the audience that some have a clearer view than others for finding a way over or through this fence. His father was a college faculty member, so he was better prepared “to see over the fence” than others. For others, the way to college success

is more difficult, and he gave the example of a college friend who faced many challenges in his quest to earn a degree.

“When I think about completing college and the challenges and hardships of what many of our students face, I’m reminded of one of my former classmates who his journey started at the front door of his home in Brooklyn, New York, right around August, time for school to start,” Lovett said. “He had a duffle bag in his hands, and his parents were watching TV on the couch in that front part of the house. And he simply said, ‘I’m getting ready to go to go to college.’ And

they just looked at him and told him, ‘Good luck.’”

The friend rode a bus from Brooklyn to Washington, D.C., where Lovett and others met him that first night. A homeless shelter and Lovett’s floor became places for the friend to land until he could secure a job to pay for room and board and the rest of his college expenses.

“So, make no mistake,” Lovett said. “What you have accomplished today is a great feat, and I think of that fence and what it means to each and every one of us, knowing that some have had more hurdles to cross than others.”

Continued on page 3

Dr. Kenyatta Lovett, executive director for Complete Tennessee, was UT Martin commencement speaker, May 4. Also pictured on stage are Chancellor Keith Carver (center), and Dr. Todd Winters, dean, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.

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YoUTMs highlighting the excellence of our faculty and staff

Rogers chosen to represent UT faculty systemwide

Dr. Jeff Rogers (left), professor of geography, has been confirmed as the voting, full-time faculty representative to the UT Board of Trustees’ Education, Research and Service Committee for the upcoming fiscal year. Rogers was unanimously nominated by the UT Martin Faculty Senate and recommended by the provost and chancellor. He will serve on the committee from July 2, 2019, until June 30, 2020. Rogers has taught at

UT Martin since 1995 and was promoted to the rank of full professor in 2011. In addition to his extensive university service, he was also awarded the UT National Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award in 2001 and the North American College and Teachers of Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit in 2017.

The voting faculty representative position rotates among the primary UT

campuses each year. The purpose of the Education, Research and Service Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in overseeing the university’s educational mission of teaching, research and service, including matters related to academic programs, the faculty, student success, student conduct, research, service and outreach.

Michael Washington has joined the UT Martin family as director of the Office of Human Resources. He has more than 15 years of experience with human resources in higher education and corporate settings. He is also a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional. He can be reached at 881-7845 and is temporarily located in room 215 of the Paul Meek Library with the rest of

the Office of Human Resources. Holly Rowan started May 1 as the new safety and emergency management coordinator. She comes to UT Martin from West Tennessee Healthcare Dyersburg Hospital, where she served as facilities and safety coordinator. She has more than six years of experience working with environmental safety and emergency planning. She can be reached at 881-7583.

Drs. Thomas Blanchard, Nancy Buschhaus, Joaquín Goyret, Jennifer Greenwood, Lisa Krueger and Dawn Wilkins, all from the Department of Biological Sciences, recently accompanied 14 UT Martin students to the 80th annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists held in Memphis. UT Martin was a featured institution during the meeting. The group presented

10 research posters, all of which were co-authored by students and eight of which were presented by students. Additional UT Martin faculty authors were Drs. Donald Shaw and James Smart, from the Department of Biological Sciences, and Dr. Paula Gale from the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources.

Somerville Center presents student workshops

College and dual-enrollment students attending classes at the University of Tennessee at Martin Somerville Center this spring were able to participate in five professional development workshops facilitated by Katie Mantooth, assistant director of the UT Martin Office of Career Planning and Development. Sessions focused on resume writing and application tips; dressing for success; interview strategies; work behavior expectations; and dining etiquette. The Fayette Cares Thrift Store collaborated with

the center to provide examples of business casual, business professional and interview outfits. Community leaders were invited to the final workshop, where students were able to demonstrate their skills and network for potential job and internship connections. The workshops were primarily attended by dual-enrollment students from Fayette-Ware High School. Pictured: Mantooth gives a presentation on formal place settings and dining etiquette during the final workshop session.

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Lovett also noted a significant upside to the challenges that individuals face when earning a college degree. “Whatever the story, however the journey played out for each of you, you have successfully crossed that fence that has alluded so many,” he said. “Were it not for the hurdles, hardships and heroics, you would never know what greatness was inside of you.”

He closed his remarks by urging the new graduates to give back through their money and time.

“I ask each and every one of you, as you venture into the world after this commencement, to make a deliberate effort to do something about this growing fence,” he said. “Give consistently and cheerfully to the university’s foundation to help the most-in-need students with the resources they need to complete college. Mentor enrolled and soon-to-be college students, so that many may have the encouraging voice they need to know that there is promise and hope beyond the

completion fence.” Lovett concluded with a quote

about overcoming barriers from legendary boxer Muhammad Ali: "Impossible is just a word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

Dr. Linda Martin, UT System vice president for academic

MEEK AWARDS – Dalis Lampkins, of Gleason, and Ashton Sawyers, of Gallatin, received Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Awards during the University of Tennessee at Martin’s spring 2019 commencement exercises May 4. These awards showcase outstanding community and campus service by graduating students and are the only awards given during commencement each semester. Lampkins recently completed a position as a public policy intern with the University of Tennessee Office of Government Relations and Advocacy in Nashville. Sawyers is the most recent president of both UT Martin’s National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Kappa Omicron chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. See the UT Martin news archives for more information.

Continued from page 1affairs and student success, congratulated graduates on behalf of the University of Tennessee and highlighted the accomplishments of several class members. “We are excited about the opportunities afforded to you as graduates of UT,” she said. “Graduates, it’s our expectation that you will use the knowledge you have gained for the betterment of your family, community, the state of Tennessee and for all of humanity.”

Skyhawk Regional Retention Summit held this weekUT Martin will welcome more

than 200 registered attendees from five states to the inaugural Skyhawk Regional Retention Summit, which begins tonight with a pre-summit workshop for chancellors and presidents, and chief academic and student affairs officers.

The summit itself begins tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., and

the main program will feature Chancellor Keith Carver’s presentation on a collective approach to student success at 9:10 a.m. Dr. John Gardner, keynote speaker and CEO of The Gardner Institute, will address what higher education instutitions have learned about student retention over the past 50 years beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Both speakers will present in Watkins Auditorium.

Concurrent sessions covering a variety of academic and student-affairs topics will be held before and after lunch, during which Mike Krause, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, will speak.

Session facilitators represent

public and private, two-year and four-year, faith-based and state schools across Tennessee and the surrounding region. Pre-registration was required to attend this event. For more information, visit utm.edu/retentionsummit or call the UT Martin Office of Academic Affairs at 881-7010.

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Congratulations, graduates!

SPRING COMMENCEMENT 2019 – (clockwise from top left) A capacity audience filled the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center for spring commencement May 4. Dr. Kenyatta Lovett served as commencement speaker before 550 graduates crossed the stage to receive their degrees (see page 1). According to the Office of Academic Records, 718 students were eligible to participate in the ceremony.; Dr. Lynn Alexander (left), dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and Doug Cook, chair of the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts, prepare to attend the ceremony.; Chancellor Keith Carver (left) congratulates a graduate.; Graduates file into the arena and find their seats. Their brightly colored stoles and cords designate various academic, social and service organizations and awards.; Dr. Mahmoud Haddad, professor of finance, served as mace-bearer for the spring commencement ceremony and led the faculty line down the aisle.; A student is seen celebrating outside the Elam Center prior to the ceremony.

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addendaPublished weekly during the academic year and biweekly during the summer by UT Martin, Martin, TN 38238

Randy Boyd – Interim President, University of Tennessee System • Dr. Keith Carver Jr. – Chancellor • Erin Chesnut – Addenda Editor UT Martin is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. E05-0425-00-001-19

•May 7-8 – Skyhawk Regional Retention Summit; attendance by pre-registration only•May 9 – UT Martin small jazz ensemble performance; Rhythm on the Rails, Discovery Park of America, Union City; 6:30 p.m.; admission•May 13 – Maymester begins; administrative drop date for Maymester

May Calendar•May 16-18 – Baseball vs. Tennessee Tech; Skyhawk Park; see utmsports.com for individual game times•May 20 – SOAR session 1; Boling University Center; 8:30 a.m.•May 21 – SOAR session 1; Boling University Center; 8:30 a.m.•May 24 – Memorial Day

You Tell Me

•Question – I saw several photographers taking pictures during Saturday’s commencement ceremony. Is there a way to see if my child was photographed?

•Answer – GradImages, a contracted photography service, captures two images of each graduate as he or she crosses and exits the commencement stage. Proofs of these photos and ordering information will be mailed to you over the summer at the address provided on the back of the graduate’s commencement card.

Any photos taken by a UT Martin photographer can be viewed online by clicking here. Full-resolution photo files are available for purchase for $8 per photo or $20 for a CD of images. Call the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615 for additional pricing information.

Submit your questions anonymously to the Suggestion

Box link at www.utm.edu/suggestionbox.

UT Martin will offer a community course on mobile device monitoring from 5:30-7:30 p.m., May 14, on the main campus. Olivia Phifer, a manager in the UT Martin Office of Information Technology Services, will instruct parents and guardians of young children and teens on ways to track and filter applications and web access on a smart phone.

The course registration fee is $20 per person, and the class will cover smart phone and tablet set-up and ways to block restricted content, track device usage time and location, set usage limits and other parental controls. Phifer will also cover new features in the latest operating system versions for popular smart phones and discuss applications such as Spyzie, Life360, FamiSafe and others. Both Apple and Android devices will be covered.

Click here for more information or to register. For assistance, contact UT Martin outreach at 731-881-7104.

Course available on mobile device

monitoring for parents and guardians

Commemoration Ceremony; University Center plaza; 9 a.m.•May 27 – Memorial Day observed; no classes and administrative offices closed•May 30 – Administrative drop date for summer semester•May 30 – UT Martin choro ensemble; Rhythm on the Rails, Discovery Park of America, Union City; 6:30 p.m.;

admission•May 31 – Maymester classes end•May 31 – Transfer and Adult Orientation session; Boling University Center; 9 a.m.

Addenda is published bi-weekly during the summer semester. The next issue will be May 20. Please send submissions to Erin

Chesnut by noon on Thursdays. Click here to submit.

All UT employees are required to complete K@TE training regarding Title VI responsibilities. This presentation lasts approximately 15 minutes and is loaded as a required course in the K@TE system. To complete this training, click here and choose UT employee login and use your NetID and password.

Title VI training

UT Transparency InitiativeUT Interim President Randy Boyd’s UT Transparency Initiative seeks to make commonly-requested information available to the public for all UT campuses. This information, including entries for UT Martin, can be found at tennessee.edu/transparency.