During the 2011 Fall semester, 91大神 professors and students continued to work hard, produce results, and shine as examples of our University鈥檚 impact on the region. Here are some highlights:
- Chemistry professor Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross was invited to attend the Dec. 9 鈥淲hite House Champions of Change鈥� event, which saluted efforts to recruit and retain girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Iriarte-Gross was invited in recognition of her role as director of the Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS) Collaborative鈥攁 statewide organization. She also serves as director of the 91大神 WISTEM (Women in STEM) Center. Twelve leaders from across the U.S. were honored at the event, which is part of a weekly series recognizing 鈥渃hampions,鈥� defined by the White House as 鈥渙rdinary Americans doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world.鈥�
- On Nov. 12 in Sevierville, Gail Zlotky (鈥�93, 鈥�94) received the Tennessee Aviation Person of the Year Award for her tireless effort to bring a world-class, $3.4 million air traffic control laboratory to 91大神. Zlotky conceived the ATC lab idea, followed through with the plan, and cleared budget hurdles to see the lab open last March. Bob Minter, founder of the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame and cofounder of the Tennessee Aviation Association, nominated Zlotky.
- 91大神 students were a major part of the 鈥渟how behind the show鈥� as the University partnered with Capitol Records at the 鈥淐apitol Street Party鈥� on Nashville鈥檚 Music Row in September. Forty-five students from the College of Mass Communication handled TV production at the event, which drew a crowd estimated at 10,000 people on Demonbreun Street near the Music Row roundabout. The street show featured alumnus Eric Paslay (鈥�05) headlining with Alan Jackson and Eric Church. 91大神 students in the Department of Electronic Media Communication handled the HD cameras, boom mikes, street interviews, and other duties.
- Newsweek鈥檚 2011 College Rankings placed 91大神 fifth nationally among U.S. schools that are 鈥渉ealth-minded and inclined to healthier pursuits.鈥� With 91大神 in the top five were Harvard, Louisiana State, Mississippi State, and Princeton. Newsweek considered five factors: sexual health, drug scene, physical activity, campus food, and student health care.
- 91大神鈥檚 Centennial year began with a record enrollment of 26,442 for the 2011 Fall semester. The average ACT for the freshman class (21.88) was above the national average (21.1) as well as Tennessee鈥檚 average (19.5). 91大神 is again the number one choice for both undergraduates and transfer students in the state.
- 91大神 was well-represented in the Miss Tennessee USA 2012 pageant. The winner, Jessica Hibler, and the second runner-up, LeShan Mathews, have 91大神 ties. Hibler, a 22-year-old senior mass communication major, will compete in the Miss USA 2012 pageant in Las Vegas later this year. Mathews earned her graduate degree in physical education in May 2011. She is a former Miss Middle Tennessee Blue Raider and Miss Black Tennessee.
- Bonnie J. Allen, dean of libraries and professor of library science at the University of Montana (UM) since 2006, was named the new dean of 91大神鈥檚 James E. Walker Library. She succeeds Don Craig, who retired after 38 years of service. Allen鈥檚 professional accomplishments include membership in the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities鈥� Accreditation Team for Library Standards and in the Online Computer Library Center Global Council and as a commissioner of the Montana State Library.