A decade after business leaders highlighted local workforce gaps, Chattanooga 2.0 and Future Ready Institutes have transformed education by linking K-12 learning with career pathways. Now, 1,900 students earn industry certifications annually—up from just 66 in 2018. UT System President Randy Boyd champions a “yes-and” approach, emphasizing both college degrees and technical training. With record…
Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt on Jed & JR Mornings talking about FBI staffing
Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt, U.C. Foundation Professor and Head of UTC’s Department of Criminal Justice, joined WGOW 102.3 FM’s Jed and JR Mornings to discuss the FBI’s decision to lower employment requirements and training time. He explained current standards and noted that the change aims to address potential staffing gaps caused by expected retirements and severance…
Laurie Allen talks about UTC’s production of “Dracula: Mina’s Quest”
UTC’s Laurie Allen, Lyndhurst Chair of Excellence in Arts Education and Professor of Practice in Theatre Education, joined WGOW 102.3 FM’s Jed and JR Mornings to promote the UTC Theatre Company’s production of “Dracula: Mina’s Quest.” Performances run Sept. 30–Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Oct. 4 in the UTC…
Kennedy: Camping trip inspires book by UTC professor
UTC professor Karen Babine explores ancestry, independence, and storytelling in her new memoir, “The Allure of Elsewhere: A Memoir of Going Solo.” Traveling alone in her camper to Nova Scotia, Babine retraced her Acadian family’s roots and reflected on how geography and heritage shape identity. Through genealogy and travel, she discovered that stories—both inherited and…
UTC announced the creation of the Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science
UTC is launching the Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science (CAGDS), expanding on its existing Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab. The center—led by GIS Director Charlie Mix and Assistant Director Nyssa Hunt—will foster interdisciplinary research, education, and community data partnerships. UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce said elevating the lab to a center acknowledges UTC’s growing regional and…


