U.S. Department of Education Awards Tennessee Reading Research Center $1.7 Million to Study Summer Reading Effects

July 15, 2024 by Alyssa Seisser

Multi-Year Research Project Will Analyze Summer Reading Benefits and Losses in Grades K-5

Deborah Reed, Tennessee Reading Research Center director, is the recipient of a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. The project will review and meta-analyze two bodies of research: One on the summer learning effect and on the other on the effectiveness of summer reading interventions. The results of the four-year project could inform school planning for summer programs, existing policies on students’ summer learning, and the gaps in what we know about students’ reading achievement over the summer. Also partnering on this work are Terri Pigott from Georgia State University and the Tennessee Reading Research Center’s Research Assistant Professors  Anna Gibbs and Huibin Zhang.

Find our more about the project here: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/grantsearch/details.asp?ID=5972

The Tennessee Reading Research Center began in 2022 as a collaboration between the University of Tennessee System and the Tennessee Department of Education. It is the only reading research center in the country to connect multiple campuses within a university system. Collectively, faculty and staff bring expertise in reading development, writing development, early literacy, adolescent literacy, literacy for diverse learners, effective instruction, valid and reliable assessment, speech and language, educational technology for literacy, preparation of literacy educators, and literacy research methodology.

For more information:
Trace Riggs, Communications Specialist Manager
triggs3@utk.edu

865-974-0782

Reed Featured in PBS “Summer Reads” Series

June 14, 2024 by Alyssa Seisser

Deborah Reed, Director of the Tennessee Reading Research Center and Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, collaborated with East Tennessee PBS to create several video shorts as part of PBS’ “Summer Reads” series. Each short contains suggestions for parents and caregivers to support literacy during summer activities. From reading about travel locations to writing about animals in the community, the videos are full of ideas families can take anywhere the summer leads. Each video includes a QR code to access related resources or additional ideas.

Reed filmed the segments at East Tennessee PBS studios on May 24th, and the shorts have been airing alongside other summer programming. You can watch all of them on PBS’ YouTube channel. Special thanks to the partnership of East TN PBS, PBS Kids, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee.

William T. Grant Foundation Announces Funding for UT, Cherokee Health Systems for Research-Practice Partnership

June 5, 2024 by Alyssa Seisser

Trustees of the William T. Grant Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Doris Duke Foundation and the Bezos Family Foundation have approved funding for the winners of the 2024 Institutional Challenge Grant competition. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Cherokee Health Systems will receive $650,000 to grow their unique research-practice partnership — and to learn how to implement community-engaged scholarship that results in ongoing positive outcomes.

UT has a long history of working with CHS, a federally qualified health center that provides outpatient services to more than 65,000 Tennesseans annually. “Over years of working together in different ways and different parts of our organizations, we have built a foundation of trust and integrity,” said CHS CEO Parinda Khatri. “The time was right to deepen this relationship. Receiving this grant acknowledges that our vision, approach and the hard work that has gone into this are truly worthwhile to invest in.”

“As far as we know, we are the only academic partnership with a federally qualified health center,” said Kristina Gordon, associate dean for community engagement for both the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and the College of Social Work. “FQHCs frequently work with under resourced populations who are also underrepresented in health care research. Developing a strong research-practice partnership with CHS will allow us to generate more research that addresses health care inequity.”

Improving care from the start

The William T. Grant Foundation, who co-funded the award with the Doris Duke Foundation, is dedicated to reducing inequality in youth outcomes. Over the grant’s three-year cycle, UT and CHS will apply the funds to improving outcomes for maternal and child health for Black families in East Tennessee. “We are not only developing and testing interventions for a population that has a high health care priority,” said Khatri, “but we are building a workforce that can be part of the solution.”

Grant-funded efforts will center around the development of a training program for CHS practitioners and UT students and faculty. The training program will involve hands-on projects that help participants develop skills relevant to the community’s needs and help CHS deliver its services even more effectively. It will likely explore themes highlighted by previous UT-CHS collaborative initiatives, including the need to incorporate family and community support in health interventions, how to establish health care environments in which women feel empowered to speak up, and how to seamlessly connect women and the community resources available to help them have healthy pregnancies.

Space for collaboration

UT and CHS already have important elements for collaboration in place. In addition to established relationships and ongoing communications, they have neighboring units in Knoxville’s Cherokee Mills office complex, where CHS runs a pediatric and OB-GYN clinic. Khatri referred to the shared location as “our hub for incubating innovation.”

Gordon pointed out the everyday reality of collaboration thanks to physical proximity at Cherokee Mills: “Our nutrition students, for example, can just walk over to the CHS space to see clients or bring clients over to our office.”

Khatri and Gordon seek to involve CHS practitioners from the start of the new grant-funded initiative, enabling them to drive the direction of research. Housing the initiative at CHS rather than UT — and basing the first hands-on project at the Cherokee Mills location — will facilitate co-creation of research and resources.

Gordon said, “This can help us bridge the research-practice gap,” which occurs when evidence-based interventions developed in academic settings are not adopted widely or don’t match community needs.

Steps for 2024

During the first year of the three-year grant cycle, UT and CHS will collaboratively plan the training program and how to implement it. Another research team will evaluate the planning process itself to better understand this phase of implementing successful research-practice partnerships.

“We’re all learning together,” said Khatri. “We don’t know what will work, but we’ll find out together and build a path that communities nationally can use.”

The third step in 2024 is creating a task force to identify and evolve university policies that could inadvertently discourage community-engaged scholarship. For example, a common challenge across many universities relates to how faculty are evaluated for promotion and tenure: the white papers, research-informed community resources, policy statements and other products resulting from community-engaged scholarship are often not given the same weight as publishing in academic journals. “I believe UT can find ways to value both the traditional and the community-engaged scholarly products,” said Gordon.

A heart for discovery and community

Gordon and Khatri believe the funding will enable UT and CHS to become more effective partners and build something that will last beyond the grant’s three-year cycle.

“At its heart, this grant brings together CHS’s mission and UT’s,” said Gordon. “We will generate scholarly discovery and live out our land-grant university mission to serve the community by bringing our research into it.”

“Working together, with the help of this grant,” said Khatri, “we can become a force multiplier for collective community impact.”

CEHHS Top Grads | Class of 2024

May 15, 2024 by Alyssa Seisser

Emily Archibald

Hometown: High Point, NC

Major: Audiology & Speech Pathology

What You’ve Loved Most: I love how close I was able to get to my audiology and speech pathology cohort! Having every class together senior year forced us all to become very close. They became my biggest motivators and support system through hard classes and grad school applications.

Favorite UT Tradition: Checkered Neyland Stadium!

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Soak in every moment and say yes to all positive opportunities because four years go by so quickly.

Next Steps: Attending the University of South Carolina to pursue my Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Tori Bateman

Hometown: Atoka, TN

Major: Child & Family Studies, Early Childhood Education, Integrated Birth-Kindergarten

What You’ve Loved Most: The amazing, caring instructors and the ability to complete a teaching licensure program completely online.

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Trust yourself and your abilities!

Next Steps: I have accepted a position as a Kindergarten Teacher with Tipton County Schools for the 2024-2025 school year.

Fun Fact: I am a Munford High School graduate. I maintained a full-time position as an Educational Assistant for Lauderdale County Schools while completing my bachelor’s degree, all while holding a perfect GPA.

Liza Burroughs

Hometown: Knoxville, TN

Major: Audiology & Speech Pathology

What You’ve Loved Most: My favorite thing about AUSP is the relationships I’ve been able to make with my professors. They are all such kind and intelligent people and have been such a great guidance to me throughout my academic career.

Next Steps: Starting to work on a doctorate of audiology at UT in the fall!

Rebekah Davis

Hometown: Fayettville, TN

Major: Special Education

What You’ve Loved Most: I love how welcoming the special education program is; my professors and classmates have made my college experience so enjoyable! I am excited to watch everyone in my cohort provide the best education for their future students with the guidance received from our professors.

Favorite UT Tradition:My favorite UT tradition is the checkerboard game at Neyland Stadium. The atmosphere is like no other, and it’s such a nice view to see our school colors represented around the stadium.

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Become involved in clubs and events.

Next Steps: Following my graduation, I will be working towards my master’s degree in special education. I plan to graduate in May of 2025 and teach in a comprehensive development classroom.

Mikayla Hain

Hometown: Lovettsville, VA

Major: Elementary Education, K-5

What You’ve Loved Most: I love how my professors want us to succeed and will go above and beyond for their students.

Favorite UT Tradition: My favorite UT tradition is the checkerboarded football and basketball games.

Next Steps: I will be continuing my education here at UT to receive my master’s degree in elementary education.

McKenna Herrmann

Hometown: Bristol, TN

Major: Special Education

What You’ve Loved Most: I love my professors the most! My major has some of the most educated, knowledgeable, and supportive professors. I am so grateful that I have gotten the opportunity to work with and be educated by these amazing people.

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Take advantage of all of the services and supports that UT and CEHSS have to offer. Lean on your professors and cohort. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or support!

Next Steps: I will be teaching in a satellite classroom at Halls High School, working with students in special education who need behavioral supports!

Makayla Kindle

Hometown: Greeneville, TN

Major: Child & Family Studies, PreK-3 Education

What You’ve Loved Most: I love all of the faculty and staff in the CEHHS! Everyone I’ve had the privilege of working with in the CEHHS has been so kind and patient, and genuinely cares about the success and well-being of the students.

Favorite UT Tradition: One of my favorite traditions is walking around the seal on Ped Walkway until graduation, as there is some superstition that walking across the seal before then would mean a delay in finishing your degree!

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Take a breath and believe in yourself! It probably feels impossible right now, but it will feel so rewarding later!

Next Steps: This summer I will be taking graduate-level classes in pursuit of my master’s, and will begin my student teaching internship this coming fall.

Abby McConnell

Hometown: Franklin, TN

Major: Child & Family Studies, Community Outreach

What You’ve Loved Most: My favorite thing about my program is the practicum! My placement gave me some of the best experiences, connected me with wonderful supervisors, and helped me find my passion. I’m so grateful for the experience and miss my placement site very much!

Favorite UT Tradition: My favorite UT tradition is checkering Neyland! It’s so fun to be a part of!

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Soak up every single second of being here! These four years have flown by and given me the best friends and memories.

Next Steps: I’m pursuing my master’s in Human Development Counseling on a school counseling and clinical mental health counseling dual track from Vanderbilt University.

Haitham Rghebi

Hometown: Knoxville, TN

Major: Kinesiology

What You’ve Loved Most: Something that I really love about the Kinesiology Department is how most professors made an effort to connect and engage with students like me. Along with helping me network throughout my undergraduate experience, it showed me how passionate they are about what they teach. It just made me more excited to learn and ask questions along the way.

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: It’s crazy to think about all the personal and professional growth I underwent these past four years. Freshman Haitham would have never imagined how he’d get this far, but I would tell him to stay true to himself and enjoy the present moment. It’s not worth stressing yourself out over the unforeseeable future. With hard work, passion, and integrity, everything will fall into place as it’s meant to be.

Next Steps: Now I’m in the process of applying to medical schools, so that will definitely keep me busy over the coming months. Shortly after graduation, I’ll be traveling to Italy to shadow physicians as a way to continue immersing myself in the medical field and gaining a more world-minded approach to healthcare.

Ella Scott

Hometown: Decatur, TN

Major: Child & Family Studies, Community Outreach

What You’ve Loved Most: What I love most about CEHHS are the exceptional professors who serve as guiding lights for every student. Their dedication and expertise have deepened my understanding of child development and family dynamics. I am immensely grateful for their mentorship, which has ignited my passion and prepared me for making a meaningful difference in the lives of children, families, and my community.

Favorite UT Tradition: My favorite UT tradition is not stepping on the university’s seal! Legend has it that stepping on it can extend your time to graduation. It is a quirky tradition, but I find it rather fascinating!

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Balance is key! Make time for studying, but also for rest, hobbies, and socializing. Optimize time by prioritizing tasks and avoiding procrastination. Peak performance comes from a healthy mix of work and play!

Next Steps: Next up for me is attending graduate school right here at UT pursing my graduate studies in Human Development and Family Science. I am excited for the opportunity to dive deeper into my passion for understanding human development and relationships.

Payton Sowder

Hometown: Cleveland, TN

Major: Child & Family Studies, PreK-3 Education

What You’ve Loved Most: What I love the most about CEHHS is the community of professors and students who have a passion for teaching, working with children, and making an impact in education.

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: You are capable of doing more than you think you can! Be organized and disciplined in school, but also prioritize time for yourself and enjoy your time on Rocky Top because it flies by!

Next Steps: I will be getting married at the end of May and then will begin the job-embedded program through Lee University to finish my teacher licensure requirements while working as a lead PreK teacher in Cleveland, TN.

Troy Wilson

Hometown: Robbins, TN

Major: Recreation & Sport Management

What You’ve Loved Most: The thing I love most about UT is the sense of belonging that I have found during my time here. The friendships and connections that I have made during my four years here will go with me forever.

Favorite UT Tradition: My favorite UT tradition is actually a newer one, that being the Fans Checker games. I remember seeing the first Checker Neyland game on TV, and it was surreal to not only be part of three during my time as a student but also to take part in multiple Checker TBA and a Checker Lindsey Nelson game.

Advice You’d Give to your Freshman Self: Go out and start meeting people now. You never know who that person sitting in the chair next to you in class is or who they will become. Some of my closest friendships at UT have started in my sports management classes.

Next Steps: I am going to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics development with the goal of eventually becoming a Division I athletics director. I hope to begin that journey soon with a full-time position within the Tennessee Fund as a development assistant for internal operations.

Not Pictured:

Alice Bassett
Major: Kinesiology

Makayla Bollier
Major: Audiology & Speech Pathology

Kiersten Dutrow
Major: Special Education

Kiersten Griffith
Major: Kinesiology

Lindsay Holmstead
Major: Audiology & Speech Pathology

Melia McCarter
Major: Hospitality & Tourism Management

Blackberry Farm’s Brian Lee to Receive UT Alumni Service Award

May 2, 2024 by Alyssa Seisser

Brian Lee, Director of Guest Relations at Blackberry Farm, is a proud recipient of 2024 UT Alumni Service Award. The students in the Hotel Development and Analytics class, along with faculty and staff from the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (RHTM) surprised Brian with the exciting news of this prestigious honor. Brian has been a dedicated supporter and partner of RHTM and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, since graduating in May 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from RHTM.

Soon after graduation, he started his career at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN. Starting from a concierge (1995-1996) to dining room manager (1996-1998), lodging manager (1998-2000), guest relations manager (2000-2015), general manager (2015-2022), and finally, director of guest relations (2022-present), he has impacted nearly every department of this award-winning resort. Blackberry Farm holds membership in the exclusive Relais & Châteaux, and U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked it as the #1 Best Hotel in Tennessee and the #3 Best All-Inclusive Resort in the U.S. The resort’s world-class service quality makes it a true hidden gem in East Tennessee, and Brian’s alma mater takes immense pride in his accomplishments.

Throughout his extensive tenure at Blackberry Farm, Brian has exemplified true hospitality and emerged as one of the resort’s most influential executives. Recognizing the exceptional learning opportunities the resort offers for hospitality and tourism management students, Brian actively engaged students by sharing his expertise and providing them with access to the facility. His dedication to student development and experiential learning has been invaluable, and the RHTM department is deeply grateful for his contributions. Beyond his remarkable career achievements, Brian has consistently demonstrated a spirit of service extending beyond the hospitality industry.

“He is an incredible instructor who relates to students very effectively,” stated Junehee Kwon, Department Head of RHTM. “Brian’s numerous guest lectures have inspired students to pursue excellence in hospitality, drawing on his extensive experience in resort operations to teach lessons on world-class service standards, quality assurance, and luxury resort management.” Moreover, Brian has facilitated numerous internship and employment opportunities for UT students, regardless of their majors, at Blackberry Farm, serving as a vital link between UT students and the resort.

In addition to his educational contributions, Brian has served as a member of the RHTM Advisory Board for over a decade, providing invaluable guidance on curriculum modernization, internship and employment opportunities, and fundraising initiatives. Furthermore, Brian has served as a Chancellor’s Associate for UT for the past three years, further demonstrating his commitment to the university’s mission and community.

The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and the RHTM department extend heartfelt congratulations to Brian on receiving the 2024 UT Alumni Service Award. The award ceremony is scheduled for September 13, followed by attendance at a home football game against Kent State University on September 14, 2024.