October 19, 2022

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of delivering one of the most exciting State of the University addresses of my tenure at East Tennessee State University. During the presentation, I shared many of our campus community's outstanding accomplishments of the past year. Despite a global health crisis, we recorded our highest graduation rate in the university's history. We outpaced other LGIs in recruitment and welcomed the most diverse class in the institution's history this fall. 

Even as we struggled against burnout from the pandemic, we recorded our highest levels of employee satisfaction and surpassed national benchmarks on the Great Colleges to Work For survey. We also hit a historic high in research funding. We even soared past the $120 million fundraising goal for our comprehensive campaign, raising more than $163 million.  

We are just getting started. 

I have long said that we do not give ourselves enough credit. There is far greater potential on our campus and in our communities than we have recognized. So, on Friday, I also unveiled a new marketing campaign for ETSU. It is a campaign that serves as both a rallying cry and a challenge to take our work to the next level. It is simply "Go Beyond ."   

In pursuit of the vision set forth during 125 Chapter II, our campus is undertaking a series of exciting initiatives that will help us go beyond barriers to achieve new heights. Through our QEP, which is focused on community-engaged learning, we will go beyond classrooms to communities. Our Moon Shot for Equity initiative aims to go beyond merely closing equity gaps to eliminating them. By replacing our Banner system and transitioning to Oracle ERP, we will go beyond the red and blue tape that so often holds us back and slows us down. 

But we cannot do any of it without you. Our success relies on the support and engagement of our entire campus community. To help you stay informed and involved, we have created a new website, etsu.edu/strategy. On this site, we will track our progress toward strategic initiatives, provide updates, and offer ways for you to engage in our efforts. You can get started by attending the upcoming town hall (details below), reviewing the slides from the State of the University address, or reading our most recent Annual Report, which was released Friday.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas and embarking on this journey with you. I cannot wait to see where we will go next.     

Town Hall: Budget and Operational Assessment

This past spring, ETSU engaged Huron Consulting to assess the institution's budget model and operations. Next Wednesday, October 26, at 1:30 p.m., the Huron team will host a virtual town hall to share their findings and recommendations with the campus. Join the town hall with this link.   

Dr. Lisa Piercey Named to ETSU Board of Trustees

It is my great pleasure to welcome Dr. Lisa Piercey as the newest member of the ETSU Board of Trustees. Dr. Piercey is a pediatrician and one of three Quillen College of Medicine Outstanding Alumni for 2022. She served as the 14th commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health and was the youngest woman ever to be appointed to the post. Dr. Piercey led the State of Tennessee's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her commitment to public service during an unprecedented global crisis helped protect the health and safety of all Tennesseans. Her many accomplishments have left an enduring mark that showcases her determination to improve the quality of life and access to health care of those in our communities and beyond.   

Dr. Randy Wykoff Inducted into Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame

Earlier this week, I had the honor of traveling to Nashville to celebrate Dr. Randy Wykoff’s induction into the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame. Dr. Wykoff is a visionary leader whose contributions to public health education and research have made an impact across our state and beyond. Under his leadership, the ETSU College of Public Health houses research centers that are moving the needle in areas such as rural health, women’s health, and addiction science. This is a well-deserved honor for Dr. Wykoff, and I am pleased to see his significant contributions recognized and celebrated in this way. As a member of the Hall of Fame, he joins other influential leaders and past inductees including ETSU President Emeritus Dr. Paul Stanton, former U.S. Senator Bill Frist, former Tennessee governors Ned McWherter and Phil Bredesen, former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, and others. Congratulations, Dr. Wykoff!      

'Androcles and the Lion'

The Department of Theatre and Dance will open its 2022-23 season with "Androcles and the Lion," a show for the entire family, Oct. 20-23.

The show is a stage adaptation of the popular folktale about the unlikely friendship between a human and a wild beast. It will be performed in the tradition of "Commedia dell' arte," an Italian theatre form that uses a wide portfolio of stock characters that can be applied to many roles within a script.      

Homecoming Week

I hope each of you will join me in celebrating Homecoming this week and take part in the numerous celebrations and activities happening on campus.    

LGBT+ History Month

In honor of LGBT+ History Month, the Charles C. Sherrod Library has curated a hand-selected collection of fiction and non-fiction media that encompass themes related to the LGBT+ community. Additionally, Sherrod is offering bookmarks that further direct students to LGBT+ resources and meeting information for ETSU's student-led LGBT+ organization, Sexuality and Gender Alliance .    

Growing the Future Symposium

Next Thursday, October 27, the East Tennessee State University Research Corporation will host "Growing the Future: Symposium on Innovation and Education for the Bioeconomy" in ETSU's Mary B. Martin Center for the Arts. This event will bring together leaders in education, government, and industry to highlight global bioeconomy opportunities and initiatives in the Appalachian Highlands. The symposium will feature some of the world's most innovative thought leaders in the bioeconomy. Biotechnology and biomanufacturing represent a growing sector rich in economic opportunities for the Appalachian Highlands. Recently, through an Executive Order, President Biden designated growing and securing the bioeconomy as a national priority for expansion and development. I would encourage any member of the university community interested in our region's economic growth and success to attend this free symposium. To register or for more information, visit etsuresearchcorporation.org.    

Don't Miss This Friday's Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Concert

This Friday, October 21, at 7 p.m., ETSU's Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies program will host a special celebration in honor of the program's 40th anniversary. This milestone concert will feature some very special guests, including a world-renowned artist who graduated from the university. Program founder Jack Tottle is traveling from Hawaii to be part of the festivities.    

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