CHANCELLOR’S CORNER
The University of Tennessee at Martin and the University of Tennessee embraced a shared vision on Feb. 28, 2025, when the UT Board of Trustees approved the UT Martin 2025-2030 Strategic Plan during its winter meeting in Martin. This five-year roadmap is not just a blueprint for the future but a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and impact. Our vision is to cultivate a vibrant academic community that empowers individuals, advances knowledge, and transforms society. The steps to achieve the plan’s goals have already begun. The following initiatives support our goal to bring 10,000 students to UT Martin by 2030.
• TEST Hub construction begins: Ground was broken Feb. 28 for the $18 million Tennessee Entrepreneurial Science and Technology (TEST) Hub, set to open in early 2027. Funded by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2022, the Hub will combine educational, entrepreneurial, and manufacturing spaces around a shared industrial makerspace. Through partnerships with TCAT Henry/Carroll and Dyersburg State, the facility will support certificate, associate, and bachelor’s degrees, as well as career and technical education for area high schools.
• New Business Administration Building: Gov. Bill Lee recommended, and the Tennessee General Assembly approved, $57.5 million to replace the current Business Administration Building, originally a dormitory from nearly 70 years ago. The new building will house Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)-accredited programs in marketing, management, information systems, accounting, economics, and finance, along with the MBA program.
• Hall-Moody Administration Building upgrades: Phase one of the HVAC capital upgrade will finish by early fall 2025; phase two will wrap in early 2026. The building, opened in 1968, will welcome back the chancellor ’s office, finance and administration, university advancement, the WestStar Leadership Program, and university relations.
• New residence hall approved: In October 2024, the UT Board approved design and construction of a new residence hall to replace Browning Hall, with funding secured through the Tennessee State School Bond Authority. Demolition and construction are scheduled to begin in summer 2026; the new hall is expected to open in fall 2028 and ser ve as a cornerstone of our Living-Learning Community for first-time students.
• Cattle Outreach and Workforce (COW) Facility proposed: The UT Martin Beef Cattle Advisory Board has proposed a $5 million COW Facility to replace the current outdated beef cattle site. Located on the teaching and demonstration farm, it would feature a classroom, lab, and a large, covered barn with a full cattle-working system to support hands-on teaching and outreach.
• Waverly Center announcement: On May 6, a 1+3 signing event with Nashville State Community College marked UT Martin’s return to Waverly, which will become our seventh regional center. Many UTM alumni live in Humphreys County, and we’re proud to be back.
Your university is building for an exciting future as a primary campus in the UT System. Pardon our dust — but we don’t think you’ll mind a little inconvenience to watch a great university soar to new heights.
Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr. Chancellor
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Adnan Rasool Department of Political Science
Dr. Adnan Rasool is an associate professor of political science, but his work on campus extends much further.
He is the director of the new Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) on UT Martin’s campus, oversees the rural development program, and writes grants for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
However, teaching remains Rasool’s biggest passion, so he was excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues on pedagogy and teaching as part of his CTL duties.
“Everybody teaches slightly differently. So, in my position, I am lucky enough to see all of that and then collaborate with colleagues to strengthen our pedagogy further,” he said.
Rasool studied at Georgia State University, where he worked at one of the nation’s first Centers for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), which is why he was so adamant to throw his hat into the ring when the CTL position was announced at UTM.
“I was in the first cohort of innovation fellows at Georgia State University’s CETL,” he said. “GSU’s CETL was the first created in this country, and it is truly a center of excellence. I was one of the first GSU students to learn about pedagogical sciences, and I worked at the CETL there for three years while getting my Ph.D.”
Another project that is close to Rasool’s heart is the rural development program that he developed. It is the first of its kind at UT Martin, and many of his students are working with him on everything from rural government to needs assessment surveys.
Rasool’s favorite part of working at UTM is the students he gets to mentor.
“UTM has a special kind of student,” he said. “Most of them are at UTM because it is the university from their region. They live nearby, they like the area, they want to stay here.
“The difference is that our students want to do things even though they may not have the same number of resources. My students have potential; they are fantastic, and I want to see them shine. A lot of times, all they need is mentorship, and that is what we really focus on at UTM. I am here to help them utilize their talents and grow.”
Published semiannually by The University of Tennessee at Martin Martin, Tennessee 38238
Randy Boyd, President The University of Tennessee System
Dr. Yancy E. Freeman, Sr., Chancellor The University of Tennessee at Martin
Jeanna Curtis-Swafford Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
Dr. Jackie Johnson (’08, ’10) Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
Nathan Morgan
Campus Scene Editor, University Relations
Assistant Director of News and Visuals
Editorial Contributions
Bud Grimes (’78), Dr. Jackie Johnson, Hayden Miller ('25), Nathan Morgan, Ryne Rickman, David Snow
Design and Layout Anna Chapman (’20)
Photo Contributions
Alex Boggis (’11, ’13), Arianne Boma, Dylan Ingram (’23), Nathan Morgan, Julia Niles (Florida State University Athletics), Preston Pooler, Marshall and Cynthia Priest
Copy Editors
Norma Coalter, Bud Grimes, Nathan Morgan, David Snow
Original story ideas, photo ideas and manuscripts may be used at the editor’s discretion. Photos and submitted works cannot be returned. Some interviews are conducted via email and other electronic means. Unless otherwise noted, all towns and cities mentioned are located in Tennessee. Campus Scene is not a news magazine.
Comments and feedback may be directed to Nathan Morgan, Campus Scene editor, nmorga15@utm.edu, 224 Holt Humanities Building, Martin, TN 38238, 731-881-7617.
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UNBRIDLED DETERMINATION
By Ryne Rickman
Nathan Morgan
Bud Grimes
David Snow
David Snow
picture the
CLAY ALL DAY – Isabelle Merickle ('24) adds height and texture to “Organic Vessel III,” a nature-inspired, coil-built ceramic vase she created during her senior ceramics class in the Fine Arts Building. Merickle recently graduated from UT Martin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design. She now co-runs Cactus Grove Designs, an apparel company featuring her original artwork. Merickle said the hands-on experience of ceramics offered a creative counterbalance to her digital work and continues to influence her artistic process today.
HONORS PROGRAMS COMMEMORATE BLYTHE AND ZACHRY LEGACY – The Honors Programs celebrated the legacy of the late Dr. Ernie Blythe Jr. and the late Dr. Bill Zachry with a plaque unveiling ceremony on Nov. 13, 2024, at the Holland McCombs Center. Both men played pivotal roles in shaping the university’s Honors experience, which began with Blythe’s vision in 1981 and has since guided hundreds of high-achieving students. Blythe and Zachry, remembered as dedicated educators and mentors, served the university for decades and helped establish the University Scholars Program, now with more than 550 graduates. Chancellor Yancy Freeman and Dr. John Glass, director of Honors Programs, unveil the plaque.
UT MARTIN BREAKS GROUND ON TEST HUB – UT
Martin officially broke ground on the Tennessee Entrepreneurial Science and Technology (TEST) Hub on Feb. 28, celebrating a landmark partnership between the university, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, and Dyersburg State Community College. University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd and other state and university leaders praised the collaborative effort behind the $18 million facility, which was funded by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2022. Once completed in early 2027, the TEST
Hub will provide hands-on manufacturing engineering training, support for regional entrepreneurs, and educational pathways from certificates to bachelor’s degrees. It will also become the new home of UT Martin’s REED Center and Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Chancellor Yancy Freeman and College of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Dr. Nancy Buschhaus emphasized the TEST Hub’s potential to drive rural revitalization by fostering economic growth, industry partnerships, and educational access across Northwest Tennessee.
DR. PHILIP SMARTT RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INTERPRETATION WORK –
Dr. Philip Smartt, professor of natural resources management, received the 2024 Fellow Award from the National Association for Interpretation, the organization’s highest honor, during its annual conference held Dec. 3-6 in St. Augustine, Florida. A 30-year member of NAI, Smartt has contributed significantly to the field of interpretation, which involves connecting visitors to natural and historical sites through engaging storytelling and educational experiences. He has served on the NAI board, led training efforts, and remains Tennessee’s first certified interpretive trainer. Though unable to attend the ceremony in person, Smartt shared a video acceptance and called the award a “career pinnacle moment.”
Pictured at the TEST Hub groundbreaking are (l-r) Daniel Longserre, UT System Department of Capital Projects; John Penn Ridgeway ('02), president, TCAT Henry/Carroll; UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman; Dr. Nancy Buschhaus, dean, UT Martin College of Engineering and Natural Sciences; UT System President Randy Boyd; Amy West Martin ('97), Dyersburg State Community College and the Tennessee Board of Regents; and Mary Haizlip, Haizlip Studio, Memphis architectural firm.
STUDENTS GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AT SUPER BOWL LIX –
Twelve students gained real-world experience during Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9, continuing a 12-year tradition of student involvement in the NFL’s biggest event. Coordinated by Dr. Dexter Davis (center), professor of sport management, the students assisted with key events leading up to the game — including Super Bowl Opening Night, media gatherings, and hospitality support for On Location, the NFL’s premier event partner. The trip also included professional networking opportunities and industry panels, giving students valuable exposure to the business of sports. Several students had previously worked at major events such as NFL games in London and MLB spring training. Davis, who emphasized preparation and professionalism in the selection process, noted that the experience provided students with essential industry insights and connections to help shape their future careers.
STRATEGIC
PLAN APPROVED AS UT BOARD HIGHLIGHTS GROWTH AND INNOVATION – The UT Martin 2025–2030 Strategic Plan received unanimous approval from the UT Martin Advisory Board on Jan. 24 and the full University of Tennessee Board of Trustees during its winter meeting held Feb. 28 in Martin. The plan sets a goal of enrolling 10,000 students by 2030 and outlines priorities including educational excellence, stronger partnerships, and student success. During the UT Board meeting, leaders highlighted the university’s nearly 10% spring enrollment increase and record retention, while also celebrating milestones such as the groundbreaking of the TEST Hub, underscoring UT’s commitment to growth, innovation, and statewide impact.
UT MARTIN PITCHER USES PILOT SKILLS TO AID HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS
– UT Martin senior and Skyhawk pitcher Zach Wager put his pilot’s license to meaningful use last fall by flying critical supplies to flood victims in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the Southeast. Wager, a mechanical engineering major from Columbus, Indiana, delivered items collected by fellow student-athletes through the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the equestrian team. With help from his parents — his mother helping to pack the plane and his father co-piloting — Wager transported essentials like diapers, food, tarps, and cleaning supplies to the storm-stricken region.
BUSINESS PROGRAMS RETAIN PRESTIGIOUS AACSB
– The College of Business and Global Affairs maintained its Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International accreditation for all undergraduate and graduate business programs, following confirmation by the AACSB Board of Directors. The reaffirmation extended the university’s accreditation for another six years, continuing a legacy that began in 1995. AACSB accreditation is a globally recognized standard of excellence, held by only 6% of business programs worldwide. The announcement came just days after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee recommended funding for a new business building at UT Martin during his State of the State address — two milestones that signal continued growth for the college. The news followed UTM’s recent high rankings in U.S. News & World Report, with its online MBA program rated best in Tennessee and among the top 50 nationally.
UT MARTIN CELEBRATES 10% SPRING ENROLLMENT INCREASE –
UT Martin’s spring 2025 enrollment climbed to 7,092 students, marking a 10% increase over spring 2024 and the university’s highest spring enrollment since 2013. The growth included gains across key student groups: a 10.46% rise in undergraduate students, a 5.49% increase in graduate enrollment, and notable jumps in both transfer students (up 21.92%) and dual enrollment participants (up 21.89%). The university also achieved its highest persistence rate in over a decade, with 92.4% of undergraduates returning from fall to spring. This followed the fall 2024 enrollment of 7,507 students, the highest since 2012.
ALPHA GAMMA RHO CHAPTER EARNS TOP NATIONAL AWARD
– UT Martin’s Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity earned its fourth Maynard H. Coe Chapter Efficiency Award during the AGR national convention held Aug. 1-3, 2024, in Sacramento, California. The award, one of the fraternity’s highest honors, recognizes
chapters that demonstrate consistent excellence over a two-year period. In addition to the top chapter award, AGR received several annual honors, including recognition for alumni engagement, communications, and chapter leadership.
Housemother Jerrie Conley ('87, '96) and alumni advisor Russ Bragg ('02) were individually honored, and chapter president Macon Barrow ('25) received a national scholarship. Dr. Todd Winters, AGR chapter advisor and dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, was elected to the national board of directors during the convention.
COW AND CALF MODELS ENHANCE HANDS-ON AG INSTRUCTION AT UT MARTIN
– The Department of Agriculture and Applied Sciences advanced its animal health education by acquiring life-sized cow and calf models to help students learn essential large-animal veterinary techniques. The models, which include complete reproductive tracts, allowed students to practice assisting with various birthing scenarios, giving injections, administering stomach tubes, and using halters, skills not easily replicated with live animals. Funded through a combination of state grants and private donations led by alumnus and cattle producer Johnny Woolfolk (’71), the $37,000 project supports the university’s veterinary health technology program and aims to address the nationwide shortage of large-animal veterinarians. Faculty praised the models as effective teaching and recruitment tools, especially at 4-H and FFA events.
SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CENTER OFFICIALLY APPROVED AS UT MARTIN’S SIXTH LOCATION –
UT Martin’s sixth regional center, located in Springfield, received official approval in February from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The center, housed on the Volunteer State Community College-Springfield campus, was made possible through a strong partnership with Vol State and offers bachelor’s degrees in agricultural business, farm and ranch management, and interdisciplinary studies. The center also supports a growing dual-enrollment program with Robertson County Schools, allowing students to complete a fouryear UT Martin degree without leaving the region. Leaders from both institutions emphasized the center’s impact on educational access and workforce development. Pictured above are UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman; Erica Bell ('96, '12), executive director, Office of Regional Centers and Online Programs; and Dr. Wendi Tostenson, Volunteer State president.
CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE BREAKS RECORDS IN GIVING AND PARTICIPATION –
The 11th annual Captain’s Challenge, UT Martin’s signature day of giving held on April 2, set new records with $579,291 raised from 1,665 donors, surpassing previous highs for dollars and participation. The fundraising success began early with over $200,000 contributed during the VIP pre-giving day. Matching opportunities and peer-to-peer efforts, including $33,000 raised by 51 advocates, helped drive donations. The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences led in total gifts with $108,000, while the College of Humanities and Fine Arts exceeded its $25,000 goal by more than 250%. Donations came from across 38 states and even reached international supporters in the UK and Australia.
UT MARTIN HOSTS SOUTHEASTERN WILDLIFE CONCLAVE FOR FIRST TIME ON CAMPUS –
UT Martin welcomed 356 students from 20 universities across the Southeast for the annual Southeastern Wildlife Student Conclave, held March 27-29 on campus for the first time in the event’s history. Hosted by UT Martin’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society and advised by Dr. Eric Pelren, the event featured academic competitions, field exercises, workshops, and networking opportunities with over 100 wildlife professionals. Highlights included the signature quiz bowl tournament and a range of events from canoeing to plant identification.
FBI COLLEGIATE ACADEMY CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH FEDERAL CAREERS
– UT Martin welcomed the FBI Collegiate Academy to campus in early March, offering 20 students an inside look at federal investigative work and potential career paths with the agency. Held in the Latimer-Smith Engineering and Science Building, the event featured presentations from FBI personnel, including Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Tennessee Division. Many participating students majored in computer science, cybersecurity, or related fields — areas of growing importance in FBI operations. The academy, hosted in Tennessee for the fourth year and at UT Martin for the first time, aimed to build community relationships, dispel pop-culture misconceptions, and highlight internship and employment opportunities. Dr. Lily Pharris, assistant professor of computer science, facilitated the event, which also strengthened the university’s ties to the FBI through existing academic collaborations, including adjunct instruction by an FBI agent in digital forensics.
Pictured following the announcement and signing are (l-r) Dr. Johannah Williams, vice president of academic affairs and workforce development, Nashville State; Telaina Wrigley, Humphreys County campus and Dickson campus director, Nashville State; Dr. Shawn Wild, dean of the School of STEM, Nashville State; Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, Nashville State president; Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr., UT Martin chancellor; Erica Bell ('96, '12), executive director, UT Martin Regional Centers and Online Programs; Dr. Joey Mehlhorn, UT Martin professor of agricultural economics, dean of graduate studies, and Gilbert Parker Chair of Excellence in Agriculture and Natural Resources; and Dr. Wes Totten, UT Martin professor of plant and soil science and chair, Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources.
OFFICE SUITE NAMED IN HONOR OF LONGTIME FACULTY LEADER
DR. LYNN ALEXANDER – UT Martin honored Dr. Lynn Alexander (center), former dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, by naming the English faculty office suite in the Andy Holt Humanities Building as the Lynn Alexander Departmental Office Suite. The naming was unveiled Dec. 3 in recognition of Alexander’s 34 years of service, including her roles as dean and chair of the Department of English. Known for her passion for literature, student mentorship, and philanthropic contributions, Alexander also led major campus initiatives, including the Fine Arts Building expansion. She retired in 2023, leaving a legacy of academic excellence and community impact. Pictured with Alexander are Dr. Jeffrey Bibbee, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and Chancellor Yancy Freeman.
UTM, NASHVILLE STATE ANNOUNCE AG BUSINESS DEGREE PARTNERSHIP IN WAVERLY
– UT Martin and Nashville State Community College announced a new partnership on May 6 that will offer students in Waverly and surrounding areas a clear pathway to a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business. Beginning in fall 2025, students will complete one year of coursework at Nashville State before transferring to UT Martin, with the option to earn an associate degree along the way. The program, which includes flexible online course options, was celebrated by leaders from both institutions as a model of collaboration aimed at expanding access to higher education and supporting workforce development in rural Tennessee.
picture the athletics
SKYHAWKS 'REIN' SUPREME
– After four consecutive runner-up finishes, UT Martin’s equestrian team finally hoisted the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship trophy, clinching the 2024-25 title with a dramatic tiebreaker win over UC Davis, their first conference championship since 2013. The Skyhawks earned the crown on raw points after a 10-10 deadlock, with standout rides from Kate Davis ('25), Lexi Bailey ('25), and Logan Putvinski ('24) in reining. The victory secured UT Martin a No. 8 seed in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championship, where they later competed against No. 1 seed and reigning national champion Southern Methodist University at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. Though the Skyhawks fell to SMU, their historic season and first-ever ECAC title marked a defining moment for the program. Read more on page 18.
DAVIS GREGORY NAMED A FINALIST FOR BILL SCHWANKE AWARD
– After just two years as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Skyhawk Sports Network, Davis Gregory ('23) has already garnered national attention, as he was named one of five finalists for the 2024 Bill Schwanke Award.
Named after the longtime Montana Grizzlies announcer, the Bill Schwanke Award is annually given to the top Football Championship Subdivision play-by-play broadcaster in the country. Richmond’s Bob Black won this year’s award, while other finalists included Keaton Gillogly (Montana State), Mark Willoughby (Southeastern Louisiana), and Rick Cameron (Mercer).
Gregor y was the first Ohio Valley Conference representative to be named a finalist for the award since Austin Peay’s Brian Rives joined the exclusive list in 2021.
A Knoxville native, Gregor y was an awardwinning broadcaster on WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk,” serving as sports director for three years before graduating from UT Martin in 2023.
XOINIS WINS OVC CHAMPIONSHIP, ADVANCES TO NCAA GOLF REGIONAL
– Redshirt senior Jonathan Xoinis ('24) etched his name in the record book at the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Golf Championship, shooting a 210 (-6) at the challenging Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to tie for first place in the 61-man field.
A Chattanooga native, Xoinis’ score tied with Little Rock’s Rhett Smith for co-medalist honors at the OVC Championship tournament. Xoinis was selected as the league’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Regional, where he competed at the Auburn University Club in early May.
Xoinis became just the fourth golfer in school histor y to top the OVC Championship leaderboard, joining Jack Story (2021), Hunter Richardson (2016 and 2017) and Brendon Caballero (2015).
The 2025 NCA A Regional capped off a successful Skyhawk career for Xoinis, who also made a NCAA Regional appearance when UT Martin’s OVC championship squad competed in the Norman (Oklahoma) Regional in 2022. He sported a career-best stroke average during his redshirt senior campaign, collecting 13 top-20 finishes and playing 123 collegiate rounds.
PATTERSON, XOINIS EARN OVC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS
– Two of the six Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes for the 2024-25 season are UT Martin graduates as Izzy Patterson ('25) (soccer) and Jonathan Xoinis ('24) (golf) won the prestigious award, which is considered the highest individual honor that can be earned by any OVC student-athlete.
Recipients were selected from a group of finalists by a vote of OVC faculty athletics representatives, as they must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.5 grade-point average, and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, their institution, intercollegiate athletics, and the OVC.
The duo of Patterson and Xoinis are the 21st and 22nd all-time Skyhawk winners of the OVC Scholar-Athlete Award, as the 2024-25 season marked only the third time in school history that UT Martin boasted both a female and male winner in the same year (also occurring in 201415 and 1996-97). Patterson joined Jamie Furstenberg (2008-09) as the only Skyhawk soccer players to win the honor, while Xoinis is the second UTM golfer to achieve the accolade, joining Ben Reeves (2014-15).
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the UT Martin Athletics Board Advisory Committee, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and the National Society of Leadership & Success.
Patterson is the first player in program history to be named to the All-OVC First Team three times (2022-24) while also receiving All-OVC Second Team and All-Newcomer status in 2021. The midfielder from St. Louis, Missouri, owned a perfect 4.0 GPA as a health and human performance major and is a member of the
SKYHAWK
Hailing from Chattanooga, Xoinis was the 2025 OVC Championship individual winner and the league’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Regionals. He completed his undergraduate degree with a cumulative 3.89 GPA while majoring in engineering and was a Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar in 2023-24. A recipient of the prestigious Upper Division Engineering Award, he also served as treasurer of the IEEE Robotics Society and has volunteered with multiple campus organizations.
RIFLE ALUM ALAYNA WALTHER TO TAKE OVER
PROGRAM
AS INTERIM HEAD COACH – UT Martin Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin tabbed Alayna Walther ('25) as the interim head rifle coach for the 2025-26 season. Walther wrapped up a phenomenal career with the Skyhawk rifle program as a studentathlete in 2024-25 under coach MJ Vowell, who announced her retirement after eight seasons at the helm. Walther becomes the 10th individual to lead the UT Martin rifle program and just the fourth head coach since 1982.
An Avella, Pennsylvania, native, Walther won a combined seven All-Ohio Valley Conference postseason awards during the course of her Skyhawk career (2021-25). Outside of the range, she honed her leadership skills by serving as an athletic liaison for the UT Martin Student Government Association as well as serving as president of the Skyhawks’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Walther graduated from UT Martin with a degree in agricultural engineering in May 2025.
UT MARTIN PAIR QUALIIFIES FOR 77TH ANNUAL
COLLEGE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO – Following a pair of outstanding individual seasons, Caden Ussery (above) and Anna Wilder each earned opportunities to compete for a national championship as they represented UT Martin at the 2025 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in June.
The duo traveled to Casper, Wyoming, to compete against the best collegiate cowboys and cowgirls in the nation. Both Ussery and Wilder made their CNFR debuts in the field of over 400 student-athletes.
Both Skyhawks punched their ticket to the national championship event after finishing in the top three in the Ozark Region in their respective events. A junior from Huntersville, North Carolina, Ussery accumulated 580 points in tie down roping – a number that also ranked 25th nationally heading into the weeklong CNFR. Wilder finished second in the Ozark Region in all-around as the sophomore from Millington compiled 679.66 points.
OFFICER LLOYD THOMAS CHOSEN AS UT MARTIN’S OVC HOOPS FOR HEROES
AMBASSADOR – The UT Martin Student-Athlete Advisory Committee spotlighted Lloyd Thomas as its representative in the 14th annual Ohio Valley Conference Hoops For Heroes initiative at the 2025 OVC Basketball Championships.
The Hoops For Heroes program honors military veterans or first responders from OVC institutions. Thomas was recognized in a pregame on-court ceremony before the men’s final at the 2025 OVC Basketball Championship tournament at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
Thomas has ser ved as a police sergeant for UT Martin’s Department of Public Safety since 2023. He previously worked as a deputy sheriff at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for a decade after spending nine years as an officer with the Memphis Police Department. He also worked as a correctional officer at the Shelby County Division of Corrections (2002-03) and the Illinois Department of Corrections (2000-02). Serving his country as a cavalry scout, he served in the United States Army from 1993-99.
SKYHAWK CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK AND FIELD ALUM RYAN FORD PUTS ON IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE AT BOSTON MARATHON – Ryan
Ford ('21), who starred for the UT Martin cross country and track and field teams from 2016-21, finished 10th overall and was the third-fastest American to run in the 2025 Boston Marathon field that featured 32,080 participants from all 50 U.S. states and 118 countries.
Competing in his second career Boston Marathon, Ford completed the 26.2-mile course in a personal-best 2:08:00, which was the fourth-fastest time for an American in the 129-year history of the event. His pace trailed only Americans Connor Mantz (2:05:08, fourth place) and Clayton Young (2:07:04, seventh) in the standings while Kenya’s John Korir won the event with a time of 2:04:45.
Ford was the 2020-21 Bob Carroll Male Athlete of the Year at UT Martin, wrapping up a decorated career by becoming the first Skyhawk in program history to be named OVC Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year. He was a two-time All-OVC First Team selection in cross country and also earned a pair of medals at the OVC Outdoor Championships while qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary Championships in track and field during his senior campaign.
The Huntsville, Alabama, native wrapped up his collegiate career at Iowa State in 2021-22, earning All-Big 12 Conference accolades in cross country while nabbing honorable mention All-American status in outdoor track and field.
UT MARTIN EQUESTRIAN PROGRAM PERSEVERES THROUGH PAST SETBACKS TO EARN RIGHTFUL SPOT AMONG NATION’S ELITE
Story by Ryne Rickman
Photos from Arianne Boma
– who was in her third month on the job as an assistant under Meghan Cunningham-Corvin – reflected on that decision when none of the team’s current success seemed plausible.
“It was devastating,” said Leiter-Janes, who wrapped up her fifth season at the helm of the Skyhawk equestrian program in 2024-25. “I had just moved here from California, and this job is really what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. After I came out of that meeting, we didn’t know what was going to happen and I wasn’t sure if I would stay past the end of that season.”
Sixteen months later, UT Martin athletics underwent a change in leadership. An interim athletic director – women’s basketball head coach Kevin McMillan – joined interim Chancellor Dr. Bob Smith for a meeting. The message was clear: equestrian needed to stay.
“I have a lot of connections in the horse industry, and so much time was spent traveling around the country begging, borrowing, and knocking down doors asking for money, but we couldn’t do that every year,” Leiter-Janes said. “Kevin looked at the math and pitched a new self-funding model where our team would be completely non-scholarship and our riders would pay to play. No other equestrian program in the country does it that way, but we tried it, and here we are, using the same exact method to this day.”
With a fresh plan implemented, the news was official. In May 2016, it was announced that equestrian would remain a Skyhawk varsity sport. What was refreshing in the short term quickly turned into an admittedly rough transition.
“We had quite a few really talented riders leave because of all of the any sport at any level. The UT Martin equestrian program – once on life support – has thrived.
This past season, the Skyhawks accounted for a school-record four Ariat NCEA All-Americans – including three on the first team, which trailed only equestrian heavyweights SMU and Auburn for the most in the country. UT Martin had 11 different student-athletes combine for a programrecord 15 All-ECAC postseason awards, three of which were Conference Riders of the Year.
The individual accolades are always nice, but it’s the team accomplishments that bear more weight. After combining to go 21-6 against ECAC rivals during the regular season but suffering four straight years of heartbreaking setbacks in the conference championship finals, Leiter-Janes wanted to change some things up. She tabbed McMillan – once the interim athletic director whom she credits with saving the program and author of 10 combined Skyhawk women’s basketball league championships – to give the team a speech a few days before the 2025 ECAC Championship tournament took place on the UT Martin campus.
“I just wanted a different perspective,” Leiter-Janes said. “I knew at the beginning of the year that this could be a really good squad; we just needed to not beat ourselves with mistakes and minimize the little internal dramas behind-the-scenes that would get in the way. At the end of the day, we’re in a judged sport and the animals have a mind of their own – our ‘ball’ has a brain, weighs
tournament. We owe him a lot of gratitude.”
The Skyhawks charged forward, and following exhilarating come-from-behind victories in the semifinals and finals that came down to the last event, UT Martin triumphantly hoisted the 202425 ECAC Championship trophy in front of their home fans – the program’s second conference championship and first in a dozen years.
That was one goal checked off the season’s “to-do list.” Three days later, another surprise was in store – the NCEA selection committee had bumped UT Martin from its No. 10 national ranking up to the No. 8 seed in the 2025 NCEA Championship field. The Skyhawks were headed to sunny Ocala, Florida, with the opportunity to compete for a national title.
One thing that undeniably changed in the two-week period after the NCEA bracket was revealed was the dinging of Leiter-Janes’ cellphone. Hundreds of congratulatory calls, texts, and social media posts found their way to Leiter-Janes, many from alumni who have kept tabs on the program from far away.
“We’ve had alumni come talk at our team meetings over the years,” Leiter-Janes said. “Earlier in the season, we had an alum tell our girls that ‘you’re doing this for all of us’ and I still get chill bumps thinking about that. That legacy is huge, and we talk about that all the time. Just to be at the big show, going out and doing our best, was so rewarding for our alumni.”
By far the smallest university in the eight-team NCEA Championship field, UT Martin boasted a scrappy, veteran group in 2024-25. Its starting lineup accumulated 274 head-to-head wins and 57 Most Outstanding Players over the course of their collegiate careers – many times squaring off against a nationally-ranked opponent.
“Our team camaraderie helped us be successful,” Leiter-Janes said. “Our girls bought in from our first scrimmage and were so undeniable during the conference championship tournament. We’ve never had a group of seniors where all seven of them start, so that’s great leadership. They’re strong riders who have been in those clutch moments, and they keep coming through when we’ve needed them because of their experience. They’ve been really instrumental in our team culture, the work ethic of our team, and our success.”
Leiter-Janes, who has won four ECAC Coach of the Year awards over the last five seasons and has directed the Skyhawks to 41 consecutive appearances in the NCEA top-10 rankings since March 2023, is quick to deflect any credit for a program that’s clearly ascending.
“The girls have done the work,” Leiter-Janes said. “It takes a village, and we have the best one – our administration, the entire athletic department, the coaches past and present, the parents, the donors, the alumni all have a huge hand in this. It was very important to represent who we are at nationals – our program looks a little different as kind of that gritty underdog who is a little more blue-collar. I was just so excited to see them cross that line and showcase UT Martin, our program, and our small town – digging in and showing out with the performances that we’ve been working on all season.”
ARCHIVES
RALPH N. HURST
the UT Martin campus in the last 32 years, chances are you’ve seen the work of Ralph N. Hurst. Hurst, a native of Decatur, Indiana, moved to Tallahassee, Florida, in 1952 and joined the faculty at Florida State University in 1957 as a professor of art. Over his 27-year tenure at FSU, he taught ceramics, woodworking, and art education. He remained at FSU until 1984, when he retired to become an artist full-time.
While he primarily worked with stone as a sculptor creating three-dimensional car vings of figures, birds, animals, and fish, Hurst was also a painter, ceramist, designer, and architect who worked in diverse materials including wood, metal, marble, and alabaster.
Since his first major competitive exhibition "American Sculpture 1951" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and "Art USA : '58" at Madison Square Garden in New York, Hurst continued – in the words of Patricia Boyd Wilson of The Christian Science Monitor in April 1973 – “to stand preeminent among sculptors in the United States."
Following several years of work after his retirement, Hurst met and married Dr. Jean M. English in 1990. English came to UTM as English department chair, and that same year, Hurst began a new chapter at UT Martin as an artist-in-residence, a role he would hold for three years.
During his time at UTM, Hurst demonstrated his versatility in various media when he painted “Field of Wild Irises No. 1 and No. 2” for the Chancellors’ Conference Room in the Hall-Moody Administration Building. The paintings now hang in the office of the dean of the Paul Meek Library, Dr. Erik Nordberg.
Hurst's painting "Field of Wild Irises No. 2"
Hurst's sculpture "Grosbeak Madonna"
Hurst also has sculptures on display in the Chancellor’s Office (“Lioness and Cub”), the Chancellors’ Conference Room (“Tropical Bird Form”), and the lobby of the Paul Meek Library (“Grosbeak Madonna”).
Perhaps his most visible work, however, is the “University of Tennessee at Martin Identification Wall” located north of the Hall-Moody Administration Building along University Steet. The sign has become an icon for the university, appearing in marketing photos and videos and offering a backdrop for visitors to campus for decades.
Hurst designed the sign to commemorate the campus’ 65th anniversary as part of the University of Tennessee System, and it was dedicated on Oct. 24, 1992.
Hurst died in 2003. In a brochure about the artist from 1993, Hurst said, “We live in a world of forms. Every visual moment, our lives are made more meaningful by natural and man-made forms. In my sculpture, the forms are created to have meaning and aesthetic quality."
“From the Archives” is a feature highlighting unique and interesting items from the Alliene and Jimmie S. Corbitt Special Collections. For more information or to donate, contact UT Martin Special Collections and Archives at 731-881-7094 or speccoll@utm.edu.
A mockup of the "Identification Wall" made by Hurst
Hurst's "Identification Wall"
Hurst's sculpture "Lioness and Cub"
Hurst and Dr. Margaret Perry
SUCCESSFUL CARDIOLOGIST MAKES HEARTFELT GIFT TO NURSING PROGRAM
Story by Bud Grimes
Photos from Arianne Boma and Dr. Marshall Priest
(clockwise from left) Priest at Deadhorse Ranch State Park in Arizona; Priest with the couple’s golden retrievers, RJ and Scout, at Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona; Marshall and Cynthia Priest in a UTM nursing lab.
Throughout his journey to becoming a respected interventional cardiologist in Boise, Idaho, Dr. Marshall Priest III (’65) saw the importance of high-quality nursing care in patient outcomes. His appreciation for the nursing profession and desire to give back to his alma mater inspired him to establish the Priest Family Clinical Excellence Fund and Endowment in the UT Martin
Department of Nursing. The Priest Family Clinical Excellence Lab will help UT Martin continue to offer future nurses the best educational experience possible and carry on Priest’s legacy of healing. Priest was raised in nearby Carroll County, where his father worked with his grandfather in the family-owned Ford dealership in Huntingdon. His father, who earned a law degree from the University
His mother, Eleanor Harris Priest, was also a UT Knoxville graduate who later moved to be near Marshall while he attended medical school in Memphis. She lived the final 10 years of her life in Knoxville, where his brother, Tim, still resides. Tim is an attorney who gained fame as a UT Volunteers football great and later as longtime color analyst for the Vol Network.
Priest considered attending a university farther away from West Tennessee after graduating from Huntingdon High School, but decided to stay closer to home and attend UT Martin.
“I actually went to summer school two summers, I liked it so much,” he said.
“So, it was a good place for me to grow up to kind of light that academic fire that I needed lit. ... I think it was a great first step for me.”
He made the most of his undergraduate years as a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, teaching biology labs for a year, and excelling in his coursework. He earned a degree in education administration and next attended UT Knoxville to pursue a doctorate in zoology with the intention of teaching.
However, Huntingdon physician Dr. Scott Portis convinced him to pursue medicine instead, so Priest completed a master’s degree, was accepted to the UT Health Science Center, studied internal medicine there for three years, and then studied cardiology for another three years at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Following graduation, he had a decision to make about where to practice, and some fellow medical students suggested he go west – way west.
“I had a couple of friends from medical school who went to Idaho, and they were people
Priest with RJ and Scout at Catalina State Park in Arizona.
that I had skied with and backpacked with, and they kept after me to come out there to just look,” he recalled. “They said, ‘Before you sign a contract to go anywhere, you should come out here to Boise. You’d like this community. There’s a lot of outdoor activities available here.’”
An avid outdoorsman, Priest loved the recreational possibilities in Idaho, but he also discovered a location to grow professionally.
“There were two heart surgeons there who were nationally known in the hospital… where Cynthia (Priest’s wife whom he calls “Cy”) and I both worked,”
he said. “It (the hospital) was excellent.”
He also liked the community, and a planned one-year trial run of living and working in The Gem State lasted for 45 years, a decision that he’s never regretted.
As a nurse, Cynthia understands and appreciates her husband’s accomplishments, explaining that “he brought a level of sophistication to the community from Tennessee” along with the academic preparation to make his mark in the medical community, where he was known as an outstanding clinical teacher.
“All of the medical staff really trust his level of assessment,” she said. “He had a
very high standard. The nursing staff, the clinical staff – he really could teach topics that were hard maybe to understand, but he presented it in a way that really made sense with his critical thinking.
In addition to his medical knowledge and skills, Priest had the ability to relate to patients and their families and build relationships as he sought a path to healing. This personal quality, she said, endeared him to those he was trying to help.
“That's part of this university (UT Martin), too, that you have that relationship with the students and with each other that
Pictured are (l-r) Dr. Scott Portis, retired Huntingdon physician and friend, Cynthia and Dr. Marshall Priest, Cindy West and Ben Jones.
really fosters relationships,” she said.“That’s part of this university (UT Martin), too, that you have that relationship with the students and with each other that really fosters relationships.”
Marshall added that listening is a critical skill for success in many professions, and it’s a skill he developed and relied on throughout his medical career.
“I’m able to sit and listen and let somebody express their ideas without me jumping in,” he said. “I think that’s why I had such a good relationship with my patients, because I would let them talk. I would try to understand where they are and how I could help them.
“So being a good listener is really important. I have a granddaughter in medical school right now, and that’s one of the first things I told her was, ‘Be a good listener.’”
Marshall’s professional legacy includes his many patients and a cardiology group he helped to establish. Despite the many challenges inherent in the medical field, Priest said he would practice medicine all over again.
“I’m glad I did what I did,” he said. “I don’t think that I could write a script that would be better for me.”
Today, Cynthia and Marshall are busy with travel and enjoying retirement, but the Priests aren’t finished giving back, and his respect for the nursing profession led to his interest helping the Department of Nursing.
“I mean, I’ve been sick. I’ve been in the hospital several times with major illnesses." He said "I’m healthy right now, but there is nothing in this world like being sick and having a nurse hold your hand…
"The nurse sees you way more frequently when you’re in the hospital than your doctor does. … And without that kind of support in the practice that I did, I would never have been as successful as I was.”
Dr. Mary Radford, professor and department chair, said Priest’s gifts have already made a positive impact for the university’s nursing faculty and students.
“We were able to upgrade all of our beds in the labs to modern Stryker medical-surgical beds,” Radford wrote in an email. “We have been able to start back up our pediatric clinical experience at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
“These are things that would not have been possible without the generosity of the Priest family.”
Listening skills and caring about patients contributed to Priest’s success as a physician. Thanks to his generosity, future generations of UT Martin nursing students will learn about Dr. Marshall Priest and follow his legacy of healing.
(l-r, from top to bottom) Cynthia Priest; Stephanie Morton (’18), UTM simulation lab coordinator; Dr. Marshall Priest; and Dr. Scott Portis. Cindy West, College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences dean; Portis; the Priests. Morton, Portis, and Priest. West and Priest.
Story by David Snow
Photos from Arianne Boma
Nicholas Glenn ('05) and Tymikia Gunn Glenn ('01) met each other on the UT Martin campus and are both dedicated to serving their alma mater.
Both graduated from UTM with bachelor’s degrees, but it was Nicholas’ first day on campus that became special for both of them.
“While Tymikia ran her way into the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame, she also ran right into my heart,” Nicholas said, reminiscing on their 1999 move-in day.
“I jumped out of my father’s Dakota pickup truck, and as I’m walking into Browning Hall, Tymikia was also walking into Browning Hall,” he said. “She was the first young lady that I met on campus.
“I knew in that moment that I wanted to take her out, and I wanted to let her know that we needed to be a wonderful couple. She didn’t see things the same way, but as we see now, it turned out to be that way.”
A chance encounter in the lobby entrance of Browning Hall led to a friendship-turned-courtship. Surrounded by friends, sorority sisters, and fraternity brothers, Nicholas proposed to Tymikia in the Skyhawk Fieldhouse, and the couple married on Oct. 19, 2002.
that trains and certifies law enforcement officers and educators to teach an evidence-based drug education and violence prevention curriculum for grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
Nicholas started as a trainer for LEAD Inc. in 2016 and has been an executive for two years.
Nicholas served as a patrol officer, a school resource officer, and a lieutenant detective. He worked as a student employee in the UT Martin Department of Public Safety and, after graduation, in the City of Martin and City of Milan police departments.
His campus involvement also included the Social Work Club and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
“(LEAD was) using a curriculum that we were using at the department that I was with and saw working first-hand,” he said. “It started in 2014, and we currently have more than 6,000 instructors across the country and have a presence in all 50 states.”
Nicholas said his emphasis in LEAD Inc. is to meet with elected officials on the state and federal level and law-enforcement executives within his region to help them provide funding for training and to help the program advance by providing new instructors.
Nicholas’ service to the university is seen in his duties as the chaplain for the UT Martin football team, a position he picked up while working for the City of Martin Police Department.
“I had a speaking engagement one day in a local church, and that was the day that (UTM football head coach) Jason Simpson had his welcome reception,” he said. “A common friend walked up to me and said, ‘I need you to come meet Jason Simpson. He’s the new head football coach.’
Nicholas graduated from UT Martin in 2005 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, while Tymikia graduated in 2001 with a degree in health and physical education. They live in Olive Branch, Mississippi, but make the drive to Martin when their service requires it.
Nicholas is the executive director for the Tennessee, Mississippi, and Ohio region of Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence Inc. (LEAD), a national nonprofit organization
“He introduced us, and Jason said, ‘Come by the building one day. I want to talk to you about being part of the program and what we do. I would like to have a spiritual component with this football program.’ I went to practice one day and talked to the football team, and I’m still doing that.”
He’s been serving as chaplain since 2008 and recently celebrated the team’s fourth straight year at the top of the conference standings.
Nicholas said he enjoys being a part of his alma mater’s football team.
“I get to be there for the coaches, be there for Jason and just support them with whatever they need on that day,” he said.
Nicholas also serves as a member at-large on the University of Tennessee Alumni Board of Governors and on the UT Alumni Legislative Council.
Tymikia is a member of the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame, inducted for a stellar performance on the women’s track and field team.
“I was a sprinter, a hurdler and a jumper,” she said.
Nicholas Glenn prays with the team before a game.
Tymikia Glenn speaks at a recent commencement.
“I did the 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, 4-by-100meter hurdles, 4-by400-meter hurdles and the triple jump.”
Tymikia held seven school records when she was inducted into the hall of fame in 2019, and her marks in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:02.97 and the triple jump at 11.85 meters still stand. Her 4-by-400-meter hurdles relay team mark of 3:45.99 – where she ran the second leg – is also still a school record.
While a student-athlete, Tymikia was also active in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., helping her grow as a leader on campus.
Tymikia is the president of the UT Martin Alumni Council, which meets each spring and fall semester.
“We are the fundraising arm for the university, so we try to bring in donations,” she said. “It’s a networking opportunity to bring as many alumni back in as we can to serve and give back to the university that has poured so much into us. I love it!”
She currently oversees the Georgette and Cato Johnson YMCA as its center director, one of 12 YMCA centers in the Memphis and Mid-South region.
The couple has three sons: Terrick, Nathanael and Jonathan. Their youngest son will be joining the Skyhawk
Nicholas and Tymikia both thoroughly enjoy their work with the university.
“For me, it’s huge,” Nicholas said. “As I’ve said to so many football recruits over the years, Martin, Tennessee, will love you if you let it. As I came in here, some of the connections I’ve made with professors, I still have those connections with those same professors to this day.
“They’ve been instrumental to me not just as a student but in my career and different things that I’ve been able to do. Any way to give back to the place that has given me so much is what I enjoy doing.”
Tymikia agreed.
“When I came to college, I was shy and didn’t know if I could make it,” she said. “Every single one of my professors literally poured into me. I would not be the person that I am today if not for UT Martin.
“I still talk to a lot of my professors that I had classes with, and I try to keep up with them. I am very grateful that UT Martin saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I will forever support this university for as long as I can.”
Nicholas Glenn with Coach Jason Simpson.
Nicholas Glenn with his son, Jonathan.
Nicholas Glenn with a football player before a game.
Debbie Reynolds (Martin ’98, UTK CVM ’01) studied to become a veterinarian, but after a few years of real-world practice, she found a need that was unfulfilled — at least, in the Martin area where she lives. That’s when she decided to go into business for herself and become a veterinarian who made house calls and provided alternative medicines along with traditional ones.
Reynolds’ main business is called Veterinary Home Healthcare and Canine Chiropractic, and she specializes in the care of small animals. She also runs a retail shop called The Blessed Pet Shop, which features natural alternatives to pet pharmaceuticals.
“Right now, I just treat dogs, cats, and reptiles,” she said. “I treat the reptiles and amphibians at Discovery Park of America (in nearby Union City). I love reptiles. I think they are cool, so if somebody calls for a lizard or a snake, I’m down for that.”
Story by David Snow
Photos from Arianne Boma and Nathan Morgan
A Winding Path
A native of Sharon in Weakley County, Reynolds graduated from Sharon High School at age 17 and then West Tennessee Business College a year later. She worked as a legal secretary for 10 years, and her boss, Jim Bradberry, encouraged her to go to college to reach her full potential.
“So, in 1994, I started going to UT Martin as a nontraditional student,” she said. “I felt really old, even though I was only in my late 20s.”
At first, Reynolds thought she might want to study law, but after she looked into majoring in pre-veterinary medicine, she saw that there was an option to graduate in two and a half years. She continued working as a paralegal while taking classes at UT Martin at night and then started taking day classes “when it got down to the nitty gritty.”
Reynolds earned her degree from UT Martin in 1998 and applied to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated in 2001 and returned to Weakley County, where she worked as a full-time associate in a veterinary clinic for seven years. It seemed like she had found a solid career.
“I thought that I would be an associate or work for another vet, and that would have been fine with me,” she said.
But life took another turn when her daughter, Chesney, was born in 2005 with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, in which part of chromosome 22 is missing. The syndrome has more than 120 anomalies associated with it. Each child who has it has a different combination of symptoms and is affected differently.
“She had surgery on her aorta at 2 days old, and she had openheart surgery at 2 months old — just intense medical needs,” Reynolds recalled. Her daughter’s therapy sessions and medical appointments piled up.
“When she was about 3 years old, I quit my associate veterinary position, and it was scary,” she says. “I left that practice that I had worked at all those years, and I didn’t have a plan in place other than to take care of my daughter.”
While taking time to help her daughter, Reynolds worked as a relief veterinarian at several area clinics until she met veterinarian Robert Gardner in Paris, who was nearing retirement. “He hired me for three days a week, and I worked there for three years,” she said. “I was able to make ends meet and take Chesney to all of her appointments.”
During that time as a relief veterinarian, Reynolds saw several different veterinary businesses and how they operated.
The Entrepreneurial Moment
While working in Paris, one of her clients, Dr. Richard Robinson, a professor of mass media and strategic communication at UT Martin, called and asked her to come to his house to look at his dog, Lucy, who was very sick.
Reynolds went to see Lucy, and through the dog’s illness, Reynolds began to establish laboratory accounts to begin practicing medicine. She then bought needed supplies from Gardner.
The idea for her own home-based practice was born. She started Veterinary Home Healthcare in 2010 to diagnose and treat pets in their own homes.
“It didn’t take long for me to realize that, in one house call, I can know clients better than I had known them and seen them over seven years in a clinic,” she said.
Reynolds started considering holistic treatments five years into her new business, which came about through her daughter’s special needs. Chesney was allergic to most traditional
medications, and the family had to find a way to help her from an early age. “It wasn’t long after that I started thinking about my patients: How can this translate to the dogs and cats that I ser ve?” she said. “It turns out there are so many things you can do. You can do laser therapy, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, chiropractic, and so much more.”
Reynolds became a veterinary chiropractor in 2020, graduating from the Healing Oasis in Wisconsin. She went to several conferences for veterinarians who use holistic treatments and learned more about how it works. Reynolds says people have driven more than 100 miles to receive holistic consultations and treatment.
“That tells me that there is no one any closer to them,” she said. The Blessed Pet Shop started in 2015 out of a need for people to have more holistic options.
Finding Startup Assistance
While Reynold’s main business is the Veterinary Home Healthcare and Canine Chiropractic, she also runs a small retail shop called The Blessed Pet Shop.
Reynolds says she never thought that she would own her own business.
“The Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneur Center (in Martin) — oh, man, did they help me,” she said. “I had a six-month course, and they gave us a grant at the end of the education, and the REED Center (Regional Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center) at UT Martin really helped.”
Reynolds said her first venture into entrepreneurship was “really exciting” because she was in charge of her business and could set whatever policies and rules she wanted.
“I feel like I was set free,” she says. “I could go where I wanted, go learn what I want to learn. The only person to answer to was myself.”
The Skyhawk Spirit is Soaring
What an exciting time to be part of the UT Martin alumni family! This year, I’ve had the incredible privilege of seeing your Skyhawk pride in action — from campus events and regional gatherings to handwritten notes of encouragement and generous gifts that make a difference.
Whether you’re mentoring students, attending alumni events, or simply sharing your UTM story in your community, your connection to UT Martin continues to leave a lasting impact.
One of the most powerful examples of that impact came during this year’s Captain’s Challenge. Thanks to your incredible support, 1,667 donors came together to raise more than $579,000 for 260 specific UTM causes — surpassing every expectation. That’s the true spirit of Skyhawks: when we unite for a cause, we soar higher than ever before. This campaign is a shining reflection of the “pay-it-forward” mindset that defines our alumni.
Looking ahead, there’s even more to be excited about. In 2025-2026, UT Martin celebrates 125 years since our beginnings as Hall-Moody Institute — a milestone that honors our past while looking toward to the future. We’re planning a year full of celebrations, memories, and meaningful moments, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Be sure to watch for the upcoming schedule of events, and make plans to be part of this historic year.
Wherever you are — across Tennessee or across the globe — you are a vital part of what makes UT Martin so special. Thank you for continuing to show up, give back, and carry the Skyhawk spirit forward.
Let’s keep soaring — together.
Dr. Jackie Johnson (‘08, ‘10)
Associate Vice Chancellor of Alumni Relations
For the most up-to-date information, news, and event schedules, check out the alumni website at alumni.utm.edu.
As a UT Martin graduate, your continued engagement and involvement are critical to our success. Your personal commitment of time, talent, and treasure will ensure our future growth. Visit our website to discover meaningful ways you can impact your university.
Volunteer Opportunities Reunions
Alumni Council Development Council
Mentoring Program
Young Alumni Council
Speak Out for UT Alumni in the Classroom
In addition to visiting the website, feel free to write, call, or email the UT Martin Office of Alumni Relations for more information.
Office of Alumni Relations
Dunagan Alumni Center
1900 Alumni Way
Martin, TN 38238 (731) 881-7610
alumni@utm.edu
Dr. Danny Walker ('75) , UT Martin professor of animal science, retired at the end of the 2025 spring semester after 14 years of teaching at the university. A retirement dinner was held Nov. 9, 2024, in the Russell Duncan Ballroom, where creation of the Danny Walker Endowment was announced in his honor. Walker, a doctor of veterinary medicine, is past president of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association and was awarded the Elsevier Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017 from the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators. Go to give.utm.edu and choose “Companion Animal Facility Gift Fund” under the “Select Area of Support” to make an online gift that will become part of the Walker Endowment when the endowment is fully funded.
spotlight on alums
Dr. Marvin Downing knows how to celebrate a birthday. The UT Martin professor emeritus of history was both surprised and pleased to see the book
"A Thousand Weddings: The Memoir of Hope Hart of West Tennessee" officially released March 21 by the University of Tennessee Press. Downing, who turned 88 the day of the book’s release, edited the manuscript. The book can be purchased on Amazon.
Downing was a UT Martin history faculty member from September 1969 until his retirement in 2003. He served as interim chair of history and political science in the mid-1990s and after a break later became interim chair of history and philosophy until his retirement. He was a full professor and was awarded the professor emeritus title after he retired.
Born at the dawn of the 20th century, Hope Hart's life spanned a dynamic period in American history, particularly in the South. As the daughter of Sterling Hart, a traveling Methodist minister from Weakley County in Northwest Tennessee, Hope's early years were shaped by her father's work preaching and performing wedding ceremonies across Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Throughout her childhood, Hart witnessed the last days of the 19th century Methodist circuit riders and the rapid evolution of the post–Civil War South. As an adult, Hart worked as a teacher and high school principal in Northwest Tennessee before moving to Washington, D.C., where she served as an administrative assistant to several U.S. representatives during her career.
Completed in 1962 and published for the first time, "A Thousand Weddings" offers a firsthand account of a rapidly changing West Tennessee and its surrounding regions during the early 20th century. Hart paints a vivid picture of life during this time, including rich descriptions of clothing (especially wedding attire), food, transportation, and attitudes toward religion, race, education, and marriage.
In presenting Hart’s story, Downing adds crucial context and commentary that situate the events of her life against the backdrop of significant moments in American history, including the Jackson Purchase, the growing influence of Jim Crow laws, and World War I. With its blend of personal anecdotes and historical context, A Thousand Weddings is both a heartwarming and engaging read and a thought-provoking journey through many facets of Tennessee history. (Book information courtesy of UT Press.)
Leonard Hamilton (’71), a UT Martin graduate and UTM Athletics Hall of Fame basketball player, retired at the end of the 2024-25 season as the winningest coach in Florida State University history. Over 23 seasons with the Seminoles, Hamilton led the team to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, three Sweet Sixteen runs and an Elite Eight finish in 2018. A three-time ACC Coach of the Year, he finished his career with 657 total wins across head coaching stops at Oklahoma State, Miami, and Florida State — earning a reputation as a program builder who consistently turned struggling teams into contenders.
Hamilton began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at Austin Peay in 1971 before becoming the first Black assistant at the University of Kentucky, where he was part of the Wildcats’ 1978 national championship season. Despite early obstacles, he built a legacy rooted in mentorship and student success. He often said his proudest achievement wasn’t postseason play but the academic accomplishments of his players: “In my 23 years [at Florida State], I only had one kid who was with me for four years not graduate.” His career remains a lasting point of pride for UT Martin. At his final regular-season game in Tallahassee, former players and longtime friends, including several of his UT Martin teammates, gathered to honor the coach who shaped generations on and off the court.
Ashleigh ('16) and Blake Stevens ('15) of Mt. Juliet received the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication's Outstanding Young Alumni Award, while Mary Ann Sabo ('84) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award during the annual UT Martin Mass Media and Strategic Communication Awards Ceremony held April 1 in the Boling University Center’s Duncan Ballroom. The event included award presentations to departmental students who were among those attending the event. Pictured (l-r) are Tomi McCutchen ('83, '05), faculty member; award recipients Mary Ann Sabo and Blake and Ashleigh Stevens; and Dr. Richard Robinson, faculty member.
More than 600 students earned degrees during UT Martin’s spring commencement ceremonies on May 3, where alumnus Miles Adcox (’98), a nationally known wellness expert and chairman of Onsite Wellness Group, delivered the keynote address. Speaking to graduates in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center, Adcox shared personal reflections on overcoming self-doubt and encouraged students to “hold the steering wheel” of their lives by reshaping the stories they tell themselves. Chancellor Yancy Freeman praised the graduates’ perseverance, and two students, Isabella Walker ('25) and Charlie Shipman ('25), received the Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award for their outstanding leadership.
spotlight on alums
Jim (ChE UTK ’89, MBA UTM ’95) and Suzanne (Pharm.D. UTHSC ’95) Pritchett are using their professional skills and their hearts to serve others far beyond U.S. borders. Over the past several years, the couple has made multiple humanitarian trips to Cuba, delivering medical supplies, offering pharmaceutical training, and diving into ecological conservation efforts.
Their most recent visit included eight suitcases filled with over-the-counter medicine — resources that are critically scarce in Cuban pharmacies. Suzanne trained local health-care providers and pharmacists on the use of donated medications, many of whom were brought to tears by the gesture.
“We are so close to Cuba, yet their needs are so great,” said Suzanne. “The people are kind, hardworking, and simply want the same things we do, to love their families, go to church, and live a good life.”
In addition to their medical mission, the couple is passionate about marine conservation. Jim, a master scuba diver trainer, and Suzanne, a master underwater photographer, inspected coral reefs across the island to document their recovery from bleaching and damage. They also donated scuba gear and helped train local divers.
From Havana to the Bay of Pigs, the Pritchetts have seen both the beauty of the Cuban people and the hardship of a nation in need. Whether repairing a friend’s 1956 Plymouth or exploring underwater ecosystems, their compassion and commitment to service shine through. “We’ve fallen in love with the Cuban people,” Jim said. “And we’ll keep going back.”
Dr. Larry T. McGehee was the chancellor at UT Martin, Gerald R. Ford was the president of the United States, “The Godfather Part II” took home the Academy Award for Best Picture, and disco was in its heyday when this group of graduates earned their diplomas as the Class of 1975. Several members of this class returned to campus March 21 to take part in the annual Golden Grads Tour to mark the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Several class members gathered at the Nick and Cathy Dunagan Alumni Center to share memories. The Golden Grads Tour included a visit to several campus sites, including the Graves Stables. Pictured looking through old UT Martin Spirit yearbooks are (l-r) Willie Davis, Jr. (’75); Gladys McGowan (’75); and Dorothy Marshall.
Dr. Erin Wilson (’08), CEO of Design Ideal Consulting, is helping redefine leadership by placing rest and relationship intelligence at the heart of team success. With over a decade of experience in leadership development and community engagement, she has led transformative retreats and workshops for organizations across the U.S. and abroad.
A certified Core Strengths, Five Behaviors and Everything DiSC facilitator, Wilson equips teams to thrive through intentional communication and collaboration. She also co-founded the Strategic Rest Summit and co-authored Strategic Rest in Leadership, a book that empowers professionals to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Her live show, Power NAP, blends inspiration with practical tools at the intersection of rest and performance.
Erin holds a doctorate in organizational leadership and a master’s in human development and leadership. When not empowering teams, she’s exploring the world with her partner, Fredarick, or enjoying time with their beloved dog, Harley Quinn. Her mission remains clear: help leaders reconnect, recharge, and lead with impact.
Morgan Stone (’08), a family nurse practitioner, received the 2024 Rising Star Award from the UT Martin Regional Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (REED) Center and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC). Stone was recognized for her innovative business, Cornerstone WholeHealth 360, which she launched in August 2023 to provide holistic, patient-focused care outside the traditional insurance model. With support from the REED Center, Stone developed a strategic plan, secured financing and turned her vision into a clinic serving Northwest Tennessee. The Rising Star Award honors businesses that demonstrate entrepreneurial excellence, growth, and community impact. Stone is pictured with Landy Fuqua ('84, '13), director of the Reed Center.
in memory
Names, graduation years, hometowns, and dates of death are noted. Other names listed are UT Martin faculty, staff, and university supporters. Names were submitted or identified by the Office of Alumni Relations or the Office of University Relations. Graduation dates are noted in parentheses for UT Martin graduates.
• Deslonde Collins (B.S. ’65, M.S. ’71) of Milan passed away Feb. 20, 2025 (member of the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame).
• Dr. Wallace E. (Wally) Crider of Martin passed away April 1, 2025 (retired director of the UT Martin Counseling Center).
Jim Ayers passed away April 1, 2025, after battling several health issues in recent years. The successful businessman, banker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist established The Ayers Foundation in 1999 and was a lifelong believer in the transformative power of education. Over the past 25 years, the Ayers Foundation Trust has worked to directly support more than 20,000 rural Tennessee students — helping each student develop a plan to reach their goals, either through an apprenticeship, the military, a workforce certificate, or a college degree. He shared a vision for creation of the UT Martin Parsons Center that began offering classes in 2007, opened the new Parsons Center building in 2009, and the center’s West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation Nursing Wing in 2014. Among his many awards and recognitions, Jim and his wife, Janet Ayers, received the University Service Award in 2013 from UT Martin.
• Sue Carolyn Miller Hatler (’61) of Martin passed away Nov. 25, 2024.
• William Scott Hewett (B.S. ’77, M.S. ‘90) of Dresden passed away March 6, 2025.
• Kevin Hollingsworth (‘90) of Signal Mountain passed away Oct. 9, 2024.
• Dr. Bob Kemp of Panama City, Florida, passed away March 14, 2025 (retired professor emeritus of management).
• Will Newsome (‘84) of Newbern, passed away March 5, 2025.
• Yuki Thomas Sei (’02) of San’yoOnoda, Japan, passed away Jan. 19, 2025.
• Russell Allan Smith (’19) of Dyersburg passed away April 22, 2025 (Ripley Center graduate).
• Dr. Rodney Thomsen (’71) of Dresden passed away Jan. 18, 2025 (retired professor emeritus of agricultural economics).
• Dr. Jeff Triplett (‘85) of Memphis passed away Jan. 26, 2025.
• Jeff Wright (’79) of Martin passed away March 7, 2025.
class notes
1978
Bob Fletcher (’78) retired in June 2024 after 13 years as the president/CEO of the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation, a nonprofit that awards more than $2 million in scholarships to students attending United Methodist-related schools. Prior to joining the UMHEF staff, Fletcher served 20 years as president/CEO of the North Georgia United Methodist Foundation, which later became the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. He also previously served as the executive secretary for the General Board of Global Ministries (World Division) as well as in the church pastorate. Fletcher has been an active member of the National Association for United Methodist Foundations, North America Association of Methodist Colleges and Universities, and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities. He and his wife, Debbie Milligan Fletcher (’77), a nursing graduate, live in Dacula, Georgia. (Courtesy of the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation)
1993
Rafielle Boone Freeman (’93) received a Sterling Award in April, recognizing her among the 20 Most Influential Women in West Tennessee. Earlier this year, she was nominated for the American Heart Association “Go Red for Women” movement’s Women of Impact Campaign. She is the wife of UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman and was a member of the first graduating class of an accredited bachelor’s degree program in nursing at UT Martin.
1995
Tara Tansil-Gentry (’95), lecturer in the Department of Health and Human Performance, is in her 30th year as a UT Martin employee and is an assistant coach for the Greenfield High School state championship girls’ basketball team. She began assisting the team in 2019 when Greenfield was undefeated and topranked in the state. The team won its first game in the state tournament before the entire tournament was canceled because of COVID-19. The team won its first state tournament game in 2024 before losing the semifinal game, but the 2025 Yellowjackets returned to Murfreesboro to claim the state championship. TansilGentry is a UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame member whose jersey is retired in the rafters of the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. A highly recruited player at Greenfield High School, she played for UT Martin from 1991-95 and worked eight years as an assistant coach and five years as a head coach for the Skyhawks. TansilGentry is an inaugural inductee into the Weakley County Sports Hall of Fame.
1996
Tasha C. Blakney (UTM 1996, UT Law 1999) has been named executive director of the Knoxville Bar Association. Blakney practiced law for 25 years in Knoxville before assuming the new post as head of the KBA. A graduate of UT Martin and UT College of Law, Blakney is a past president of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Knoxville Bar Association. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the Tennessee Bar Foundation, and the Knoxville Bar Foundation. She is a board member for the Executive Women’s Association and the Knoxville Symphony Foundation, and is an active member of the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court. Blakney lives in Knoxville with her husband,Michael, who works at UTK.
1998
William Winstead (’98) was presented the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Merit Key Award on March 8 during SAE Founders Day Weekend in Martin. The award recognizes an alumnus who has demonstrated long-term significant service and loyalty to SAE on combined levels. The award is the second-highest honor an individual alumnus can receive. William is a Dresden native and lives in Memphis, where he is a sales representative for AbbVie Pharmaceuticals. He is a past member of the UT Foundation’s Alumni Board of Governors and served as treasurer.
2017
Ashton Feldhaus (’17, ‘18) was named in March as the next Morehead State University head women’s basketball coach. She was head coach in 202425 at Missouri Western State University where she led the Griffons to the NCAA tournament. She was a six-time Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week and two-time All-OVC player for the Skyhawks.
2018
Dr. Stephen (‘18) and Kimmy Downing welcomed their son, Arlo Marvin Downing, on April 18, 2025, at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In 2024, Stephen became the director of bands at Orange County High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He holds master’s and doctorate degrees in music and music composition, respectively, from Duke University.
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one last thought
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Preston Pooler, Paris,
Tennessee
Preston Pooler has found a way to put his study of agricultural business and his enjoyment of photography to work hand-in-hand with his family farm, but agriculture will be his career of choice.
A resident of Paris, Pooler is a junior at UT Martin, and he also works on campus as the photography and videography intern in the Office of University Relations.
Pooler said his proximity to the UT Martin campus was one reason he chose to study at UTM.
“My (high school) FFA chapter took us on tour here a lot because of UT Martin’s agriculture program,” he said. “The teachers were very friendly. Dr (Joey) Mehlhorn and Dr. (William) Bird ('06) –both agriculture instructors – really pushed me to come here. They just made me feel welcome.”
Pooler’s main career goal is to help manage his family farm, which was started by his parents, Jason and Tina Pooler.
“My parents own a sod farm; we grow grass to put on athletic fields and residential places,” he said. “My goal is to go back there and work with my brother and my dad.”
Pooler’s high school FFA adviser, Laura Moss, encouraged him to study agriculture, and it was his position as FFA reporter that got him interested in photography.
“My parents got me a camera when I was in ninth grade, and I just started taking photos of sports games and events,” he said. “It became a kind of a side business.”
Pooler has tied his photography skills in with the farm by utilizing drones to take aerial shots of the farm for advertising.
Pooler said that working the Office of University Relations has been important to him.
“I’ve learned a lot by working there,” he said. “Also on campus, my fraternity, Kappa Alpha, is very important to me. I’m the treasurer there; I’m also the philanthropy chair and social media chair.
“I just got elected as president of the UTM Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter – the first such collegiate group in the state. That group has helped me get good contacts outside of school. I’m also interning this summer in the Tennessee Farm Bureau communications department.”
Pooler is a first-generation student at UT Martin, and he said he is inspired by his father.
“He is very hard-working,” he said. “He kind of set that in me when I was really young, that when I start something, I need to continue with it.”
Preston Pooler, a junior agriculture business major from Paris, Tennessee, combines his passion for farming and photography through his work as a student intern in UT Martin’s Office of University Relations.