Innovation in Research,
Teaching, and Outreach
Higher Ground, Spring 2025
The Power of
Innovation
Impact Through Innovation
Innovation is more than just a driver of technology—it is the catalyst for progress across every discipline. In the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), innovation takes many forms:
- Expanding Knowledge – Investigating global challenges through advanced research, from AI ethics to climate science, uncovering solutions that shape the future.
- Creative Exploration – Reimagining problems and solutions across the humanities, social, and natural sciences.
- Real-World Impact – Turning research into action, from preserving histories and shaping policy to advancing AI and sustainability.
At this intersection of discovery, creativity, and impact, CAS scholars uncover lost histories, reshape how we understand the world, and develop solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Their work doesn’t just fuel learning—it drives progress.
Throughout this issue of Higher Ground, you’ll find Cas, the College of Arts and Sciences’ new visual companion. A character by design and a student at heart, this curious character connects our stories of innovation in learning, research, and outreach.
Vital New Connections
What makes CAS unique is the depth of knowledge within each discipline and the power of collaboration across them. A chemist working alongside an archaeologist to analyze organic residues in ancient pottery, uncovering insights into Bronze and Iron Age life. A political scientist partnering with a social psychologist to investigate how beliefs are formed, and intergroup conflict emerges. An historian teaming up with a geographer to map global shifts in migration, world trade, and human rights. These connections—often unexpected, always groundbreaking— make innovation thrive within CAS.
With innovation comes impact. CAS faculty are not just asking big questions—they’re securing the funding, resources, and partnerships needed to drive real change. Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences submitted more than 500 research proposals last year, showcasing the scale and ambition of UT Knoxville’s research community. CAS faculty secured funding for global research projects spanning six continents, expanding UT’s international research footprint. Last year, faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences secured $30.5 million in new research funding, driving innovation across disciplines. From the classroom to the lab, from Tennessee to the world, the College of Arts and Sciences is redefining what it means to innovate, discover, and lead.
500
research proposals submitted by College of Arts & Sciences faculty
6
continents represented by global research projects
$30.5M
in new research funding
Did You Know?
- UT’s Body Farm is the world’s first and leading forensic research facility.
- CAS faculty lead global climate change research, shaping policy in Tennessee and beyond.
- CAS students participate in NASA-funded planetary science projects.
- UT linguists are using AI to document endangered languages.
- UT’s College of Arts and Sciences faculty have been recognized among the world’s most highly cited scientists, reflecting the global impact of their research.
- The College of Arts and Sciences is the most diverse and comprehensive college at UT, encompassing more than 30 departments and programs across various disciplines.
- The College of Arts and Sciences is pioneering faculty-led research initiatives to promote climate resilience and shape the future through interdisciplinary innovation.
Beyond the Classroom:
The Future of Learning is Here
Education is not just about what students learn—it is about how they learn. In the College of Arts and Sciences, faculty are pushing the boundaries of traditional teaching, transforming classrooms into immersive, interactive, and interdisciplinary experiences that prepare students for the evolving world.
From hands-on historical simulations to AI-driven media analysis, CAS educators are bridging disciplines, integrating technology, and fostering creativity. By engaging students through experiential learning—whether through gaming, storytelling, scientific inquiry, or real-world problem-solving—they are redefining what it means to interact with knowledge.
This section explores the bold approaches shaping the future of education at UT. From botany outreach that reaches thousands online to philosophy courses tackling AI ethics, CAS faculty are making learning more accessible, dynamic, and impactful than ever before.
Let’s Botanize
“I can’t help but nerd out over plants,” says Assistant Professor Jacob Suissa.
Faculty Are Using Digital Engagement to Teach
Faculty are transforming classrooms into immersive, interactive, and interdisciplinary experiences that prepare students for the evolving world.
The Future of Learning in Action
Innovation in education is more than a trend—it’s a commitment to expanding minds, deepening understanding, and preparing students for the complexities of the modern world. In the College of Arts and Sciences, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls, whether through immersive storytelling, hands-on scientific research, real-world mentorship, or the exploration of ethical approaches to emerging technologies.
By pushing boundaries in teaching and learning, CAS faculty are not just educating students—they are shaping future leaders, problem-solvers, and visionaries. As classrooms evolve into spaces of creativity, collaboration, and discovery, one thing remains constant: the power of education to inspire and transform lives.
From Campus to Community
Click on the colored circles for the name of each location.
On Campus:
- Ayres Hall
- Dabney Hall
- Buehler Hall
- Science & Engineering Research Facility
- Nielsen Physics Building
- Hesler Biology Building
- Austin Peay Building
- Language Resource Center
- Burchfiel Geography Building
- Ken & Blaire Mossman Building
- Strong Hall
- Stokely Management Center
- Hodges Library
- Claxton Hall
- McClung Tower
- Art & Architecture Building
- Clarence Brown + The Lab + Carousel Theatres
- Temple Hall
And Beyond:
- UT Herbarium
- MARCO Institute for Medieval & Renaissance Studies
- Plant Research
- Forensic Anthropology Center
- Neuroscience Network of East Tennessee
- Denbo Center for Humanities & the Arts
- IAMM (Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing)
- Gallery 1010, The Emporium, & Downtown Gallery
- Field Station at Pittman Center
- Mars
- Mariana Trench
A Vast Footprint
Education in our college extends far beyond lecture halls. Our students and faculty immerse themselves in hands-on research, creative inquiry, and real-world problem-solving across a vast landscape of opportunities. From the Mariana Trench to Mars, from forensic breakthroughs at the Body Farm to the study of ancient languages abroad, we push the boundaries of exploration. This section highlights the unexpected places where our scholars are driving discovery—where science, curiosity, and innovation collide.
Deep Dive into Research
Scholars from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, joined the University of Texas at Dallas, principal investigator on the project funded by the National Science Foundation, along with scholars from the University of California at San Diego, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Queen’s University (Canada), the University of Lorraine (France), Kochi University (Japan), the Geological Survey of Japan, and the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science at Nagoya University.
Discovery Without Limits
Our college is everywhere—on land, at sea, and even beyond Earth—connecting classrooms with labs, landscapes, and global communities. Whether students are retracing history in archives, investigating environmental change in remote ecosystems, or analyzing geological samples from the ocean floor, they are part of a network of scholars dedicated to exploration and impact. Discovery doesn’t just happen here—it happens everywhere we go.
Catalyst for Change
Research That Shapes the Future
Research in our college is more than inquiry—it’s action. Our faculty and students are solving real-world problems, pioneering innovation, and shaping communities both locally and globally. From AI advancements to climate resilience, cultural preservation to planetary exploration, we seek answers to the world’s most pressing questions. Across disciplines, our researchers collaborate to push boundaries, tackle grand challenges, and ensure discoveries lead to meaningful impact.
Boots on the Ground, Drones in the Air
The BIG Questions Our Research is Asking
Endless Career Opportunities
- Illustrator & Creative Director, Paige Braddock (BFA illustration ’85) – Chief Creative Officer at Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, overseeing the creative and editorial direction for Peanuts products worldwide. An award-winning artist and author, she has received multiple industry honors, including a Canadian Screen Award and an Annie Award.
- Nonprofit Executive, Elizabeth Nother. (BA English ’02) – President & CEO of Goodwill Industries-Knoxville, Inc., leading workforce development and career services across East Tennessee.
- Quantum Materials Scientist, Rob Moore (PhD physics ’06) – Director of ORNL’s Interconnected Science Ecosystem, INTERSECT.
- Intelligence Officer & HR Leader, George Shields (BA history and political science ’07, JD ’14) – U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer and Deputy Director of Human Resources for the City of Knoxville.
- Religious and Social Justice Leader, Rev. Larry Sykes Jr. (BA religious studies ’09) – Senior Pastor at Clay Street Baptist Church and a community advocate for racial justice, poverty alleviation, and education reform.
- CEO & Founder, Jordan Cannon (PhD microbiology ’24) – Founder of Circular Biosciences LLC, transforming research into a commercial enterprise to reduce bioplastic waste.
Research that Matters
Our college is a hub of discovery, where ideas take shape and transform into solutions, opportunities, and career pathways. Students gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research, community partnerships, and fieldwork that prepare them for leadership in science, policy, education, and beyond. Faculty drive investigations that change how we understand the world—from the smallest biological systems to the vastness of space. Together, we are forging the future—one breakthrough at a time.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The Arts & Sciences Advantage
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the most groundbreaking discoveries happen at the intersection of disciplines. Our college fosters a spirit of collaboration, where students and faculty unite across fields to tackle complex challenges and imagine new possibilities.
From astrophysics and storytelling to digital humanities and environmental ethics, these interdisciplinary connections prepare students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and drive innovation in their careers. Whether in the classroom, the lab, or the field, cross-disciplinary learning cultivates the next generation of creative thinkers, scientists, and changemakers.
Appalachian Scholar
Exploring Literary Physics
The Future is Interdisciplinary
The challenges of tomorrow won’t be solved by a single field of study—they require thinkers who can bridge disciplines, merge perspectives, and reimagine solutions. At our college, students aren’t just gaining knowledge in their chosen fields; they’re learning how to collaborate, adapt, and innovate across disciplines.
From navigating interstellar challenges in a physics-literature crossover course to exploring the ethical implications of AI, climate resilience, and human rights through a variety of lenses, these experiences equip students with the tools to thrive in an interconnected world. Because when ideas collide, innovation thrives.
Innovation in Action
Where Innovation Meets Impact
While breakthroughs in technology and research are important, we also recognize that innovation involves making knowledge accessible, engaging, and relevant to our communities. Our faculty and students inspire curiosity, challenge perspectives, and create lasting connections through exhibitions, public events, and preservation projects. By fostering public scholarship, interactive learning spaces, and partnerships, our college ensures that research and creativity reach the community around us.
A Bridge from Campus to Community
The College of Arts and Sciences transforms knowledge into action—bringing discovery, learning, and innovation beyond campus to engage, inspire, and create lasting impact in communities. Outreach activities that have been traditions for decades continue, and new avenues are reaching more people.
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Innovation Moves Us Forward
Innovation in our college focuses on generating ideas that directly impact our communities. Through community engagement, public spaces, and public scholarship, our scholars explore the past, understand the present, and shape the future in new ways. By applying discoveries and insights to real-world situations, the College of Arts and Sciences ensures that every breakthrough informs, inspires, and creates lasting change in the community.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
A Message from the Dean
The Heart of the Modern Land-Grand
WHERE INNOVATION MEETS IMPACT
As we embrace this next era of excellence, the College of Arts and Sciences will continue to be a place where bold ideas take shape, innovation drives impact, and knowledge serves the greater good.
By embracing our role as a modern land-grant institution, we ensure that education and research are not confined within our campus walls, but are shared as catalysts for progress, equity, and transformation—making life and lives better across Tennessee, the nation, and the world.
This is our commitment. This is our future. And this is what it means to be the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee.
