The University of Tennessee at Martin Featured Faculty Scholars for the fall 2025 semester are Dr. Clinton Smith, chair of the Department of Educational Studies and professor of education, and Dr. Adnan Rasool, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and associate professor of political science.
Each semester, the Office of Academic Affairs selects one or two faculty members to be a Featured Faculty Scholar to recognize UT Martin faculty research contributions.
Now in its 30th year, the Featured Faculty Scholars program began in fall 1996 and has had 60 honorees, including Smith and Rasool.
People often see UT Martin as a teaching college. While it is true that quality instruction is a hallmark of the academic programs, all faculty are also expected to pursue scholarship in their respective disciplines. The public may think most about university professors doing scientific research, but music faculty compose music, art faculty organize exhibits of their own art or curate exhibits of other people’s art, and historians write articles and books.
The Office of Academic Affairs reviews that research and scholarship annually as part of university employees’ annual evaluation.
In fall 2021, to further promote the research done by UT Martin faculty, Dr. Erik Nordberg, dean of the Paul Meek Library, and former provost Dr. Philip Cavalier created the UT Martin Research Series, which includes the Featured Faculty Scholars and research of other faculty members. Events are usually held in the library and most include a livestream link with a recording available following the presentation.
“Each of the Featured Faculty Scholars serve as one of the speakers in the Research Series,” Nordberg said. “We also do a small exhibit case which showcases their research. The next Featured Faculty Scholar will be Dr. Clinton Smith, so we have an exhibit right now in the atrium of the library highlighting Dr. Smith’s work.”
The schedule for the fall 2025 UT Martin Research Series is:
• Thursday, Sept. 18, 4 p.m., Paul Meek Library North Reading Room: Dr. Clinton Smith.
• Tuesday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m., Paul Meek Library North Reading Room: Dr. Adnan Rasool.
• Tuesday, Nov. 18, 4 p.m., Special Collections Reading Room: “UT Martin at 125: Museum Exhibit and Book Launch.”
Smith worked to establish the Skyhawks Achieving In Life (SAIL) program, which was formed over the summer through a Tennessee Believes grant funded by the Tennessee Department on Disability and Aging.
The SAIL program will begin in summer 2026 and is directed by Cassie Luna.
The SAIL program will affect students in four ways:
• Provide access to higher education where those pathways were previously inaccessible. The SAIL program will combine academic, vocational and social learning.
• Bolster improved life outcomes. Research has shown that students in similar postsecondary programs have higher rates of employment, independent living and self-determination.
• Develop social integration and a sense of belonging through participation in campus life, such as clubs, classes and events, building their social-emotional growth, confidence and support networks.
• Aid in the transition to independence by emphasizing daily living skills, self-advocacy and decision-making.
Rasool will speak in the UTM Research Series on Oct. 28. The third and final program in the Research Series on Nov. 18 will be about the university’s 125th anniversary. The university’s celebration will begin Oct. 10 and will go into the fall 2026 semester. The first classes at the university were held Sept. 2, 1901.
Visitor parking is available with a free permit in the lot adjacent to the library at the corner of Wayne Fisher Drive and Mount Pelia Road. Parking permits must be obtained prior to visiting the library and may be requested online at www.utm.edu/departments/publicsafety by selecting the “Online Visitor Parking Permit” link. For more information, contact the Paul Meek Library at 731-881-7092.
PHOTO: Dr. Clinton Smith (left), chair of the Department of Educational Studies and professor of education, and Dr. Adnan Rasool, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and associate professor of political science, were named the fall 2025 Featured Faculty Scholars.
