Tech Times

Category: People

  • Announcing the 2021-22 CSW Award Winners

    Announcing the 2021-22 CSW Award Winners

    Congratulations to the winners of the 2021-2022 Commission on the Status of Women Awards!
    Commission on the Status of Women Excellence Award: Dr. Sandi Smith-Andrews

    Alison Piepmeier Outstanding Student Award: Hannah Eitzen
    About the Awards

    The CSW Excellence Award: This award is presented annually to an individual employed by Tennessee Tech University who has contributed significantly to gender equity. The award honors three qualities that characterize the tradition of women’s leadership at Tech: perseverance, generosity, and mentorship. The award celebrates the efforts of Tennessee Tech employees to provide ongoing leadership and mentoring for the campus community and work towards gender equity for all.

    The Alison Piepmeier Outstanding Student Award: This award celebrates Piepmeier’s legacy of fierce feminism by recognizing an exceptional Tennessee Tech student whose research, activism and/or outreach advances gender equity. It acknowledges a student who shows a passion for learning, goes the extra mile to assist others, and contributes significantly to campus and/or the local community.

  • Student Affairs Monthly Student Spotlight Announced

    Student Affairs Monthly Student Spotlight Announced

    Tennessee Tech pre-dental student, Alex Stovall, admirably gives meaning to the title servant leader. When nominating Alex for this student spotlight, Mrs. Coonce says, “In Alex’s leadership positions, he is bold, fearless, confident, and kind.” Alex represents this affirmation through his position as the volunteer Hospitality Leader in the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic, in which he recruits and hosts medical professionals and surpasses expectations through deeply caring for every volunteer present. Alex’s passion to serve others can also be seen in his involvement with Dr. Jesse Carrick’s research of materials to clean and recycle nuclear waste. Through his research, Alex has learned that “perseverance truly is the key to success.” He encourages students, “Find something you are truly passionate about and work to advance it. The results are not immediate, but with passion comes the perseverance necessary to succeed.” Thank you, Alex, for being an inspiration on campus.

    Do you know a student who exemplifies Bold, Fearless, Confident, and Kind values? If so, take a moment to nominate them for the Student Affairs Monthly Student Spotlight. The nomination form is linked here!

  • Tennessee Tech advisors attend regional conference

    Tennessee Tech advisors attend regional conference

    Representatives of Tennessee Tech’s academic advising community attended the 2022 NACADA Region 3 conference, held February 21-23, in Knoxville, TN.  Conference participants interacted with colleagues from Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina in the first in-person Regional conference since 2019.

    Advisors shared knowledge, experiences, and research in more than 40 sessions throughout the conference, including three presentations by Tennessee Tech advisors:

    How to Lead an Advising Structural Change (poster session) – Simone McKelvey

    Winning Together: Building Successful Partnerships between Professional & Faculty Advisors – Julie Galloway

    ‘Dear College Freshman’ – Expanding the Sphere of Influence of the First-Year Experience Course – Melissa Creek, Sherrie Cannon, Olivia Jolley, Julie Galloway –

    Dear College Freshman received “Best of Region” recognition and may represent Region 3 at the national NACADA conference in October 2022 in Portland, OR.

    Attending from Tennessee Tech were Diana Baker, Susan Cadle, Simone McKelvey, Laura Nisbet, and Kayla Wilson of the Launchpad Student Success Center, and Sherrie Cannon, Melissa Creek, Julie Galloway, and Olivia Jolley of the College of Business Student Success Center.

  • University Advancement Welcomes Brianna Young

    University Advancement Welcomes Brianna Young

    Brianna Young has been named assistant director for financial services in University Advancement. Brianna graduated from Tennessee Tech in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and earned her MBA in 2015 from Tech as well. She previously worked in the Tennessee Tech Business Office as a financial management analyst. Most recently, she worked for the Tennessee Board of Regents as the sole accountant for four Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) locations. Brianna will begin her new role at Tech on Feb. 28.

  • Susan Luna-Hazlewood named Associate Athletic Director for Development

    Susan Luna-Hazlewood named Associate Athletic Director for Development

    Susan Luna-Hazlewood has been named Tennessee Tech’s new Associate Athletic Director for Development, effective Feb. 28.

    Susan’s fundraising career began with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in Charleston, South Carolina, and continued with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra here in Cookeville, where she oversaw all fundraising activities along with ticket sales, patron services and guest musician relations.

    In 2016, Susan became the Senior Director of Individual Giving with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville. In 2021, Susan relocated to Cookeville and joined WCTE as Director of Development and Marketing.

    Susan graduated from Tech in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from the College of Charleston as well as a Certificate in Non-Profit Fundraising. She holds certification as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and serves on the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors.

  • Student Spotlight – Call for Nominations

    Student Spotlight – Call for Nominations

    Do you know a student who exemplifies Bold, Fearless, Confident and Kind values? If so, take a moment to nominate them for the Student Affairs Monthly Student Spotlight. The students chosen for the March & April Spotlights will be featured on Student Affairs’ social media and receive a special gift. The nomination form is linked here! Have questions? Contact us here: https://www.tntech.edu/sa/contact.php

     

  • University Development announces Brandon Boyd as new Director of Development

    University Development announces Brandon Boyd as new Director of Development

    University Development is pleased to announce that Brandon Boyd that will assume the role of Director of Development effective March 1. Brandon will oversee all fundraising efforts for the College of Agriculture & Human Ecology, College of Engineering and the Diversity Initiative.

    Brandon is a 2007 business management graduate of Tennessee Tech and started his career at Tech in 2007 as well. In his first role as the Assistant Director of Annual Programs, Brandon managed all annual solicitation programs including the phonathon call center. In 2014, Brandon moved into a Director of Development role and served fundraising needs for the College of Agriculture & Human Ecology and the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing. In 2016, Brandon was appointed director of Planned Giving. Most recently, Brandon served as the Director of the Crawford Alumni Center and Executive Director of the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association.

  • Student Affairs Presents Student Spotlight Briley Barnett

    Student Affairs Presents Student Spotlight Briley Barnett

    Briley Barnett colorfully and intentionally exemplifies TN Tech’s Bold, Fearless, Confident, and Kind values in and out of the classroom. Majoring in Communications, Briley is President and Founder of Backdoor Improv Troupe and refers to Improv as a creative outlet which allows her to support and lead others. In addition to representing the Fine Arts, Briley is also a wonderful student and classmate. Dr. Lauren Michel describes Briley’s character, “In addition to being bold and fearless onstage, she brings her confidence and kindness to class daily.”  Briley uses her talents to serve others by offering reassurance and creating an enjoyable learning environment. She encourages other students, “It is important to find people who support and accept you. The first rule of improv is ‘yes, and’ meaning that you accept and build upon any new ideas given. Having that mindset has allowed me to further my passion and create life-long friendships.” Congratulations to Briley for #LivingWingsUp!

  • Pediatric cardiologist at Stanford credits Tech for giving him opportunity

    Pediatric cardiologist at Stanford credits Tech for giving him opportunity

    Tom Collins, `98 chemistry, says a person with his background is more likely to move to the moon than become a pediatric cardiologist at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. But that’s exactly what he did, and he credits Tennessee Tech for giving him the opportunity.

    Collins grew up in Morgan County, one of the perennially lowest-income, least-educated counties in Tennessee. His father dropped out of high school, and his mother worked at a local prison.

    “I don’t know that it ever occurred to me that guys like me, from where I’m from, aren’t supposed to do the things that I’ve done,” said Collins. “But here I am, a doctor on the faculty at Stanford.”

    Now, Collins has chosen to give back to his alma mater. He and his wife Missy established the Future Leader in Healthcare Scholarship for students majoring in a healthcare field. Collins says he wants students considering Tech to know that they can do anything and go anywhere with a Tech education.

    Read full story here:  Tech Took Us There – Tom Collins (tntech.edu)

  • Tennessee Tech Today – Episode 20

    Tennessee Tech Today – Episode 20

    In this edition, Tech celebrates the 50th anniversary of its women’s basketball program.  Head coach Kim Rosamond reflects on a memorable get together to celebrate the anniversary.

    A Tech cybersecurity team of students has earned a top three finish in an international competition.

    List to the lastest episode here: https://www.tntech.edu/today
    Contact Joe Fisher with any questions, joefisher@tntech.edu