UT Martin faculty and staff opened the 2025-26 school year Aug. 18 with the annual Opening Celebration breakfast and Opening Meeting, both held in the Boling University Center.
The breakfast provided faculty and staff a chance to get reacquainted and catch up on summer events before Chancellor Yancy Freeman spoke with them in the Opening Meeting in Watkins Auditorium.
Freeman mentioned highlights for the coming school year, including the university’s 125th anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout the school year, beginning Oct. 10 and culminating in the fall 2026 semester.
The university was founded in 1900 as Hall-Moody Institute, with the first classes being held Sept. 2, 1901.
Freeman announced that this would be the last year for Browning Residence Hall. At the end of the spring 2026 semester, it will be razed, and a 400-bed residence hall would be built at its site. The new residence hall is expected to be opened in fall 2027.
Phase 2 of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work at the Hall-Moody Administration Building is taking place during this school year. Phase 1 was completed at the end of the last school year, and Phase 2 is expected to be completed in late spring or early summer 2026.
Freeman spoke about achievements that the university and its faculty and staff had over the last year:
• The university attained its largest enrollment since 2012 (7,507 students in fall 2024), an 8% increase. Freeman said when he announced the goal of 10,000 students in the Strategic Plan for 2025-30 that it would take 5% increases each year through 2030 to attain that goal.
• The university received $8 million in grant funding for Fiscal Year 2025 and more than $17 million in sponsored projects over the last two fiscal years.
• The university added a sixth UTM regional center, opening a regional center in Springfield, and forming an agreement with Nashville State Community College to provide a pathway to a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business through its higher education center in Waverly.
• Ground was broken for the building of the Tennessee Entrepreneurial Science and Technology (TEST) Hub.
• The university received approval of construction of a Business Administration Building.
• The university added the Center for Teaching and Learning.
• The university added the Skyhawks Achieving In Life (SAIL) program, funded through a Tennessee Believes grant.
• UTM student-athletes had a grade-point average of 3.37 in the spring 2025 semester, marking the best GPA in recorded history for UTM athletics and the 11th straight semester for student-athletes to boast a GPA of 3.2 or better.
• The 2024 season marked the fourth straight year for football to claim at least a share of the conference title and the second postseason win in the university’s history as an NCAA Division I member.
• The equestrian team won a conference title and earned a bid to the national championship.
• The tractor team placed 10th at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, the best finish in the university’s 13-year history of competition.
• Dr. Todd Winters, dean of the College of Agriculture, was named president of the national Non-Land-Grant Agricultural and Renewable Sources University board of directors for the 2024-25 year. He also served as president in the 2015-16 year.
• Dr. Andy Lewter, vice chancellor for student affairs, received the Joe Buck Service Award for outstanding contributions to the field of student affairs. It is the highest award given for the field of student affairs.
Dr. Stephanie Kolitsch, transitional provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, announced several faculty award winners received during the 2024-25 year:
• Dr. Philip Smartt, professor of natural resources management, University of Tennessee Alumni Association (UTAA) Distinguished Service Professor and UTAA Alumni Outstanding Teacher.
• Dr. Tammie Patterson, associate professor of education, UTAA Alumni Outstanding Teacher.
• Dr. Hui “Christie” Chen, professor of management, Outstanding Academic Adviser Award.
• Dr. Justin Sims, associate professor of mathematics and statistics, Coffey Outstanding Teaching Award.
• Dr. Nathan Howard, professor of history, and Dr. Saman Sargolzaei, associate professor of engineering, Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award.
• Dr. Jack Grubaugh, professor of biology, OVC Commitment to Student Success Award.
Freeman announced that four faculty or staff members received UT President Awards: Kameron Echols, director of student leadership and campus culture; Gina McClure, assistant vice chancellor for student and residential life; Judy Sandefer, executive assistant, Office of the Chancellor; and Tara Tansil-Gentry, lecturer, health and human performance.
The Outstanding Employee Awards for the 2024-25 school year were noted. Recipients of the spring 2025 awards were Tina Harris, Division of Access and Engagement, who received the nonexempt employee award, and Dr. Laura Foltz, Division of Finance and Administration, who received the exempt employee award.
Recipients of the fall 2024 awards were Karen Johnson, Department of Visual and Theatre Arts, who received the nonexempt employee award, and Kiara Castleman, Office of Academic Records, who received the exempt employee award.
Ben Jones, associate vice chancellor for development in the Office of University Advancement, was recognized as the recipient of UT Foundation Inc. President’s Award.
PHOTO: Chancellor Yancy Freeman (at left) addresses UT Martin faculty and staff at the annual Opening Meeting, held Aug. 18 in the Phillip W. Watkins Auditorium in the Boling University Center.
