UT System Connect Newsletter

March 05, 2024

In This Email:
1. Latest News
2. Upcoming Events of Interest
3. Employee Spotlight

LATEST NEWS

Thank you for taking part in the UT System Administration Employee Appreciation Week activities. Your feedback is important in helping us determine how to make next year’s Employee Appreciation Week (March 3-7, 2025) even better!

A reminder that the deadline to submit performance reviews is March 31 for the calendar year 2023. The performance management process provides a great opportunity for staff and supervisors to step back and reflect on accomplishments of the previous year and it encourages employees to celebrate career performance, as well as set goals for 2024.

If you have any questions regarding performance reviews, please contact Sherry Sims at sherry.sims@tennessee.edu.

Last month marked the launch of the UT System Department of Human Resources internship cohort, a milestone initiative aimed at providing valuable insights and experiences for emerging HR professionals. Randall Norton and Anna Burris, students from the UTK Haslam College of Business, have been selected for the program (see Employee Spotlight below). The program is structured with defined goals and outcomes tailored to each functional area of human resources. By engaging interns in a comprehensive learning experience, the initiative not only contributes to their personal and professional growth, but also plays a vital role in shaping the future generation of human resources practitioners. The initiative also helps ensure that interns stay attuned to the latest developments and emerging trends within the human resources profession. Special acknowledgment goes to the dedicated team of UT System human resources professionals who have played a pivotal role in designing, creating, and managing this program:  Justin Haynes, Chelsea Mongeon, Alica Shamblin, Alyssa Adorati and Alyssa Thom. Their collective efforts reflect the organization’s dedication to innovation, education and continuous advancement of human resources practices.

Personal Best Racing is an event management team that enjoys race day and brings fun events to the community! With a myriad of events expanding the rest of this year, there are plenty of opportunities to join in on the wellness fun. Use code Jamie15 for a discount on the PBR race of your choice: https://personalbestracing.com/ 

If you have questions, email PBR ambassador and fellow UT Tower employee Jamie Blessinger at jblessin@utk.edu. 

The UT System has joined the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) as an organizational member. That means that all UTSA employees have full access to AIR membership benefits.

AIR connects and equips professionals in higher education who produce, analyze and interpret data so they can more effectively, efficiently and ethically use that data for the success of their organizations and the students they serve. For more than 50 years, AIR has been committed to building and sustaining strong data-informed decision cultures within higher education institutions. 

For more information or assistance in creating an account, please contact Cheryl Fogler at cherylfogler@tennessee.edu.

UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST

Please join us for the spring DASH Town Hall on March 7 at 3 p.m. EST.  We are excited to hear from leadership and share upcoming plans for DASH Training, including the options that will be available to learn the new system. We will also be sharing a sneak peek at our new real-time, in-application guidance tool, all designed to enhance and ease the transition to DASH. Registration is not required.

The upcoming Conference for Women’s Leadership (CWL) will provide sessions on topics relevant to women at varying stages of the leadership journey, from those who are emerging as leaders to women in advanced leadership roles.

The CWL will explore the meaning of women’s leadership in the current higher education environment. We are duty-bound to prepare women who lead at all levels to learn, develop and grow their leadership abilities. In our current environment, there are calls for persistent, tenacious and resilient leadership. The 2024 CWL theme is Journey Together! This year’s event includes a disco.

The conference includes four themed tracks focusing on well-being, work relationships, invisible work and decision-making. 

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Digital Content Producer, Division of Communications and Marketing

Kelly Alley joined the UT System on March 1 on a limited duration appointment and is from Knoxville.  She has both a bachelor’s (focus on science communications) and master’s in communications (focus on documentary production) from UT Knoxville. Alley was a regular contributor to the Daily Beacon newspaper as a writer, photographer and graphic designer. She has also worked extensively with Land Grant Films, the journalism department’s in-house documentary production team, assisted with social media for the UT Science Forum and interned with the College of Arts and Sciences as a news release writer and content producer. Alley is currently assisting in the creation of the UT System's intranet project, a SharePoint-driven internal hub for employees across the system. She was integral in the building of UT Knoxville's intranet, which launched last week. When not working Kelly enjoys horses, classic/antique autos and photography.

Litigation Paralegal, Office of General Counsel

Karah Bartlett joined the UT System on March 1. She is from Washington, D.C and has a bachelor's in history with a Spanish minor from the University of Memphis, along with an associate of applied science in paralegal studies from Southwest Tennessee Community College. Bartlett is a certified paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants with 11 years of experience in a variety of areas including litigation, transactional, arbitration, bankruptcy and corporate arenas. In her spare time, Bartlett enjoys spending time outside with her dog, reading, creating art projects and pursuing educational experiences.

Intern, Human Resources Department

Anna Burris began her internship with the UT System human resources department on Feb. 5. She is from Murfreesboro and is a currently enrolled at UT Knoxville, double majoring in human resource management and psychology at the Haslam School of Business. Burris has experience in human resources and special events from a previous internship with UT Knoxville. When she is not at work, Burris enjoys cooking.

Capital Budget Process Administrator

Mary Burton joined the UT System on Feb. 26 and is from Knoxville. She has a bachelor's in business management from UT Knoxville. Burton has a professional background as a property manager with Covenant Health. When not at work, she enjoys volunteering at church and in the community. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Intern, Human Resources Department

RJ Norton began his internship with the UT System human resources department on Feb. 5. He is from Nashville, Tennessee, and is a currently enrolled at UT Knoxville in the Haslam School of Business studying human resource management. He has a strong customer service background from his previous experience working at The Home Depot. Outside of work and school, Norton enjoys playing sports and listening to music.

DASH Human Capital Management Business Analyst, Department of Technology Solutions

David Pearson joined the UT System on March 1 and is from Knoxville. He has a bachelor's in economics from UT Knoxville, and a master's in operations management from Kettering University. Pearson’s certifications include Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) and Global Remuneration Professional (GRP) from World@Work, and Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute. Pearson’s professional background includes 27 years of experience in human resources, primarily in compensation and HRIS. He also has five years as a banking regulator. When not working, Pearson enjoys traveling, playing tennis and woodworking.

Digital Content Strategist, Division of Communications and Marketing

Steph Wadman joined the UT System March 1 on a limited duration appointment as a digital content strategist.  She is originally from Canada and has a bachelor's and master's in fine art from both the University of Tampa and Ohio University. Wadman has a background in art and design direction, and management with an emphasis on communication, coordination and community building. When not working, she enjoys playing ice hockey and sits on non-profit boards for arts and culture-related groups. Wadman also has an art studio where she creates paintings, illustrations and sculpture.

The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service.