May 2025

History Class Sharing Tennessee River Heritage

Students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have been researching historic sites along the Tennessee River as part of a long-term project to educate people about the area’s natural and cultural heritage. The capstone project for students taking a public history course during the spring 2025 semester was part of a partnership with the Tennessee…
Sculptor Brown Honored with Cox Professorship

Sculpture Professor Jason Brown has been named a James R. Cox Professor by the Provost of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The three-year award recognizes faculty members for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. “The University of Tennessee is honored to have scholars of your caliber among our faculty, and we look forward to the…
Protein-DNA Research Adds Insights for Human Genetics

Research led by a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, revealed an unexpected molecular mechanism in gene transcription. The study published in Science Advances with lead author David P. Lohry (PhD ’24) focused on a nuclear hormone receptor, thyroid receptor-α (TRα), and found both functional and structural changes when bound to DNA. Nuclear…
More to Explore in Appalachian Studies

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, sits squarely within Appalachia, and a group coming together from across campus aims to enhance the scholarship, creative activity, and community engagement with the region and across disciplines. A recent Appalachian Studies Showcase highlighted opportunities already available in areas ranging from scientific research to art to law. “Our vision for…
Russell Finds the Right Chemistry at UT

Jerred Russell’s adaptability and Volunteer Spirit motivated him through multiple challenges to earn his chemistry PhD. Jerred Russell grew up in the Bahamas, playing high school soccer at Kingsway Academy and dreaming of becoming a medical doctor. His excellent biology grades fueled this original career goal, but after a few unexpected turns—both academic and personal—he…
UT Grad Beams Up for Astrobiology

Starry nights inspire Opal Cianciolo for a career in planetary sciences. Opal Cianciolo traces her inspiration to study astrobiology directly to a lifelong affinity for starry nights and Star Trek. The Knoxville native and Hardin Valley High School alumna boldly reached for those stars and completes her four-year undergraduate mission in the Department of Earth,…
Ambassadors Go Forth

Graduating College of Arts and Sciences ambassadors share experiences as they take Vol representation into their next era. Seven members of a valuable Vol team graduate this spring, stepping forward to represent the Big Orange in their next adventurous chapter. College of Arts and Sciences student ambassadors are some of the first faces that prospective…
The Sky Isn’t the Limit for Undergraduates

Javier Gómez Marchant was surrounded by a passion for science during his childhood in Santiago, Chile, and YouTube videos drew his interest to astronomy. Undergraduate research opportunities at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, cemented his interest in a career seeking to better understand the cosmos. He is graduating with a BS in physics and preparing…
Combining Passions on Way to Counseling Career

At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Jennifer Gary’s preparation for a career in counseling didn’t sideline her passion for the arts. The Franklin, Tennessee, native will graduate this spring with a double major in psychology and cinema studies. “I’ve had a love for psychology ever since high school and enjoy learning about what makes people…
Achieving Big Orange Dreams on a Fast Track

Kaden Cobb’s high school classmates nominated her as “Most likely to win an argument” among their senior class in Clarksville, Tennessee, and three years later she is headed to law school. This spring Cobb is completing a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, after making the dean’s list every semester…