The Division of Student Success (DSS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is proud to welcome Meredith Malburne-Wade as its new Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowship (OURF).
An esteemed professional with an impressive track record in fostering inclusive excellence and student development, Dr. Malburne-Wade most recently served as the Director of the Office of Student Awards, Initiatives, and Research (STAIR) as well as the Office of Fellowships and Awards (OFA) at James Madison University (JMU).
The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recently announced Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe as the incoming Faculty Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (OURF) within the Division of Student Success.
Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe
In her new role, Dr. Jean-Philippe will work with the OURF Director and OURF staff to foster a campus culture where undergraduate research is a deeply engaging experience that is accessible to all students.
Michael Camponovo has been recognized for this work with electromagnetic radiation, but it’s his work as director of UT’s GIS Outreach & Engagement Laboratory that has earned him the recognition of Campus Career Champion by the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration. As director, Camponovo fosters interest and excitement about GIS and geospatial technologies while encouraging Vols to pursue a career in geography.
This year’s event was hosted in UT’s Student Union with 1,179 students showing 868 projects from a wide range of disciplines and methodologies. On May 4 during a closing awards ceremony, participating colleges presented a total of 161 awards for excellence in undergraduate research and creative achievement. Nine colleges and the Baker Center for Public Policy were represented with students from over 56 departments participating.
Nathaniel Bradley with members of the CCDAE team receiving his award.
One undergraduate and one graduate student recently received the Lumsden-Greenberg Excellence in Career Management award. Nathaniel Bradley is a senior in English with a concentration in technical writing and a Wildlife and Fisheries management minor. The graduate student awardee was Ekramul H. Ehite, a graduating PhD student in biosystems engineering.
Goal area one of the university’s Strategic Vision, Cultivating the Volunteer Experience, calls for collaborative and experiential educational opportunities that are responsive to the needs of learners. While many efforts are being lifted to respond to this call, one unifying strategic investment that UT has named is a sustained focus on our scholars’ well-being.
The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recently announced the inaugural class of University Honors Faculty Fellows within the Division of Student Success.
The University Honors Faculty Fellows consist of 12 faculty members from various colleges on campus with the goal and purpose of developing a core honors curriculum that places a strong emphasis on the application of innovative methodologies, such as design thinking to address complex problem solving.
When your school’s athletic mascot is a dog and your nickname is “the Volunteers,” it only makes sense to blend the two together and that’s just what a group of University of Tennessee, Knoxville students are doing.
Students from UT’s Honors & Scholars Programs and Haslam College of Business have partnered alongside Smoky Mountain Service Dogs (SMSD) to become the first cohort of UT students socializing puppies as part of the dogs’ training towards becoming service animals.
“I am pleased to announce our exceptional UTK students have completed training and are now ready to embark on an exciting journey of socializing puppies for Smoky Mountain Service Dogs,” said Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success. “This program embodies the spirit of volunteering and fostering collaboration across multiple colleges and departments, especially with our veterans and veterinarians, and brings me such immense joy and excitement!”
After completing 12 hours of rigorous online training and an additional eight hours of hands-on training with members of SMSD, the students will move on to working directly with the puppies. They will meet with their furry companions each Tuesday throughout the semester and will socialize the puppies by taking them through campus and into classrooms, getting the dogs used to being around people and crowds of all shapes and sizes.
By utilizing students, the dogs can help be exposed to different environments than what the normal service trainers might have in mind. “Many of our long-term volunteers are seniors; they live pretty predictable lives,” said Amy Clugg, faculty lecturer at the Haslam College of Business’ Department of Marketing and SMSD volunteer. “(The regular volunteers) are incredible in terms of raising these puppies but (the puppies) are not getting a diversity of experiences: ages, situations, environments, youthful energy, sporting events, elevators, library, classes and more!”
Founded in 2010, the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs provide mobility support dogs for other-abled military and first responder veterans. A fully accredited institution by Assistance Dogs International, SMSD has placed 60 dogs and worked with 55 U.S. veterans.
In addition to the Honors and Haslam students, SMSD will also partner with other departments throughout UT and the Division of Student Success, including the Veterans Success Center, ROTC and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“It’s a magical realization of a small idea and a tremendous school where the volunteer experience is alive and well,” said Clugg.
ABOUT UT
The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 54,000 students statewide; produces about 13,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 433,000 alumni around the world.
ABOUT SMOKY MOUNTAIN SERVICE DOGS
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to Enhance the Physical and Psychological Quality of Life for Veterans with Disabilities by Providing Custom-Trained Mobility Assistance Service Dogs. SMSD trains mobility assistance service dogs for veterans with service-connected physical disabilities where canine assistance is appropriate like balance assistance, picking up dropped items, et cetera. SMSD’s service area is regional, serving a 350-mile radius or an approximate six-hour drive from Knoxville, Tennessee. SMSD serves the entire state of Tennessee and portions of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia regionally.
Members of the Volunteer community gathered Friday, March 3 for the second annual Career Outcomes Summit in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Student Union.
Stephanie Kit, executive director of the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, presented data from 2021-2022 graduates on their post-UT outcomes while Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success, welcomed the panel while also offering closing remarks.
“It was a pleasure to hear directly from our faculty about the nuanced ways they integrate career-readiness into their curriculum. These intentional moments help scholars connect their classroom experiences to their future careers.” said VPSS Williams.
Highlights included a 90% positive career outcome rate for the 2022 graduating class, the highest in UT history. Positive career outcomes are defined as obtaining employment, attending graduate or continuing education, performing military service, or working with a service organization.
Overall, 60% of students who did achieve employment are employed in-state, with a $56,624 mean salary, while 70% completed an internship or similar experience. Top employers include: The University of Tennessee, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, Pilot Flying J, UT Medical Center, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
During the summit each faculty member, from a variety of colleges and departments, shared ways in which they include career in their curriculum, ranging from hands-on projects that involve employers and community organizations to assignments that allow students to connect what they’re learning in their major classes to the career competencies they are building.
Ultimately the faculty panel’s main goals are helping students to be better prepared to solve the challenges they will encounter in the workforce.
The Faculty Panel consisted of:
• Dr. Leonard Clemons, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
• Dr. Erin Darby, Associate Professor, Religious Studies and Faculty Director, Undergraduate Research & Fellowships
• Dr. Julie Ferrara, Assistant Department Head and Lecturer, Business Analytics & Statistics
• Dr. Laura Knight, Assistant Professor, Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Ms. Ashleigh Powers, Coordinator of Academic Advising, Psychology
• Ms. Cary Staples, Professor, Graphic Design
• Dr. Liz Derryberry, Associate Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Sponsored by the Division of Student Success and the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, the Summit connects faculty and staff at UT with information on students’ post-graduation outcomes to evaluate their success while at college. The data collected from the career profile enables UT to improve academic and student success initiatives that support scholars as they set and achieve their post-graduation goals, securing employment or continuing education.This strategy aligns with UT’s Strategic Vision, particularly Goal One of cultivating the Volunteer Experience.
The Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration utilizes multiple outlets for getting career outcomes and collects this data for up to six months after graduation. These include attending on-campus events to gather information, participating in calling campaigns, and researching online outlets such as LinkedIn for post-graduation outcomes. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) provides career outcomes guidelines for higher education institutions on collecting and reporting post-graduation career outcomes.
The center also recently rebranded their What Can I Do With This Major? website. This additional resource features major-specific profiles with information on common career paths, employers in that field, and strategies to maximize opportunities.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, student scholars recently traveled to the Tennessee Capitol to present their undergraduate research projects to state legislators as part of the annual Posters at the Capitol. The event provides students exposure and access to state leaders and legislators, including Governor Bill Lee who addressed the students to open the poster exhibition.
“I expanded my network by meeting other undergraduate researchers while sharing incredibly important entomological research with Tennessee’s state representatives.” Kathleen Coffman, a senior majoring in plant sciences, said. “This opportunity inspired me to continue communicating science to people of all backgrounds and educational foundations.”
The student scholars who participated were:
Kathleen Coffman, Senior, Plant Sciences, Presented: Zombie Ant Fungus: It’s Now Among Us, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. J.F. Grant
Madlen Conley, Junior, Geography, Presented: Exploring the Dendrochronological Potential of Eastern Red Cedar Trees at the McGhee-Carson site, Vonore, Tennessee, Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Matthew Kerr & Dr. Jaqueline Kerr
Tony George, Senior, Biomedical Engineering, Presented: Experimental Study of Aspiration Catheter Removal for Ischemic Strokes, Faculty Sponsor: Bryan Good
Gillian Hertslet, Junior, Biological Sciences, Presented: Investigation into the Conformational Dynamics of Glucagon Receptor using Single-Molecule Fluorescence Microscopy, Faculty Sponsor: Rajan Lamichhane
Jada Laws, Senior, Psychology, Presented: Prenatal Wellness Interventions’ Influence on Postpartum Contraceptive Plans, Faculty Sponsor: Jill Maples
Hannah Morris, Senior, College Scholars (Education Reform and Policy), Presented: Play and the Built Environment: An Interdisciplinary Examination of Children’s Access to Play in Knoxville-Knox County, Faculty Sponsor: Professor Michael Camponovo & Dr. Margaret Quinn
Tyler Myers, Sophomore, Microbiology and Neuroscience, Presented: Investigating Dopamine Modulation by Bacterial Symbionts in Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Heidi Goodrich-Blair
Caleb Napper, Senior, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Presented: Analysis of Alternate Binder Properties in Optimized Concrete, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Ma
Breanna Polen, Senior, Food Science, Presented: Listeria monocytogenes: Survival of the Fittest!, Faculty Sponsor: Doris D’Souza
Ellie Pritchard, Senior, Neuroscience, Presented: Advancing Neurodegenerative Disease Research using Brain Slice Culture, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rebecca A. Prosser
Skylar Sopko, Senior, Nursing, Presented: Correctional Nurses’ Perceptions of Substance Use Withdrawal Treatment for Pregnant Women in Jail in the South-Central Appalachia Region, Faculty Sponsor: Sadie Hutson & Dr. Carrie Lingerfelt
Before traveling to Nashville, Undergraduate Research & Fellowships hosted an orientation to help scholars refine their posters and presentations. Christie Kennedy, director of research marketing and communications for UT’s Office of Communications & Marketing, presented to the scholars about how to effectively communicate their research to a broader audience. David Smith, director of external affairs for The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, advised the students about how the students can contribute to statewide efforts to translate academic research into real-world policymaking.
In addition to our Vols, students from the University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Memphis, Austin Peay University, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, and Middle Tennessee State University, the organizer of the event, also presented. The Tennessee Board of Regents and University of Tennessee System hosted the event.
The Division of Student Success (DSS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is proud to welcome Meredith Malburne-Wade as its new Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowship (OURF). 
The 
Goal area one of the university’s 
