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A Group Effort to Preserve History
The ninth annual Frederick Douglass Day Transcribe-a-Thon connected Vols with a national network dedicated to keeping Douglass’s historic words alive and available to all. Vol students and faculty joined local grade-school students and colleagues from across the nation February 11–13 to celebrate Frederick Douglass Day as part of Black History Month. For the past eight…
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Research Shows Warming Impact on Soil Ecosystem
Within only a few decades of higher temperatures, microbial systems change in ways that disrupt carbon and nutrient cycles. Long-term ecosystem warming changes not only plants but the fungi in the soil below, according to a new study including researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “Hidden mycorrhizal fungi below ground are much more vulnerable…
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Scholar Spotlight: Sherwood Richers
“I study some of the most energetic explosions in the universe—those caused by stars collapsing at the ends of their lives, and those resulting from the violent collisions of neutron stars. I focus on how neutrinos drive these explosions and determine how they enrich the universe with many types of elements.” Sherwood RichersAssistant ProfessorDepartment of…
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Collaboration Across Disciplines
The Center for Social Theory creates a crossroads for interdisciplinary research in social and cultural theory. The Center for Social Theory launched in 2025 to support research and teaching faculty and graduate students working in the areas of social and cultural theory. Professor Harry F. Dahms, Department of Sociology, directs the center as it builds…
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College Inspires Students on Their Odysseys
Through the lens of one short story, an English professor encourages new UT students to take initiative in mapping their journeys. For students navigating their first year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a short story set in the last century provides perspective for their path ahead. Since 2024, the Odysseys program created by English…
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Medieval Insight for Modern Renaissance Thinkers
Medieval and Renaissance Studies dive into the past to unveil the big-picture foundations of modern culture across the globe. The interdisciplinary Medieval and Renaissance Studies (MRST) program gives students an in-depth study of world events and cultures of the rich historical period stretching from 300 to 1700 CE. The curriculum allows students and faculty to…
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Africana Studies Brings Girls Poetry, Music, Food
UT’s Department of Africana Studies has collaborated with Girls Inc. to create Black History Month activities for elementary students in East Tennessee. During February, elementary school girls across three counties are exploring poems, jazz, and Southern foods with support from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Professor Natalie Graham, interim head of the Department of Africana…
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Tennessee Teens Tackle Tough Topics in Ethics Bowl
The UT Department of Philosophy hosts an annual competition for high school students that requires critical thinking, moral reasoning, and respectful debate. While a snowstorm shut down much of East Tennessee on the last Saturday in January, teenagers from across the region gathered to sharpen their analytical skills by grappling with philosophical questions. Usually, a…
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250 Years of Common Sense
An event observing the 250th anniversary of Common Sense gave students a look at how the ideas of American democracy spread throughout the colonies. If Thomas Paine were writing today, his 47-page pamphlet Common Sense might be known as the most famous blog or podcast in the country. It was published in Philadelphia in January…
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Vols Behind the Vision: Tina Murr
“What excites me most about being part of the College of Arts and Sciences is the shared commitment to learning, innovation, and service. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to collaborate with faculty and staff who are passionate about making a difference.” Tina MurrAdministrative Assistant to the Department HeadDepartment of Mathematics What do I…
