UT System Connect Newsletter

July 2, 2024

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

LATEST NEWS

Multiple changes impacting compensation are taking effect this month.

We are excited to share that for the third year, the University of Tennessee System is taking part in the Great Place to Work Survey. This confidential survey will be sent out to a random sampling of 5,000 employees across the UT System and will help gauge how it can improve its company culture to better suit the needs and desires of its employees. It is scheduled to be sent out July 17 and those who get selected to participate can expect to receive an email titled 'Great Place to Work Trust Index Survey' from hello@invite.emprising.com with the sender being 'Great Place to Work.'

Last week, President Randy Boyd announced the recipients of the 2024 President’s Awards during the annual UT Board of Trustees meeting. Fifteen faculty and staff members from across the UT System were recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments and dedication to the University and its Be One UT values. Recipients, who were nominated by campus and institute leaders and selected from a statewide pool, will be honored by Boyd and his Be One UT cabinet during a special luncheon in August. 

Leadership Tennessee has selected its 2024-2025 Signature Program Class XI, naming 48 individuals including two from the University of Tennessee System. Carey Whitworth (top), vice president for government relations for the UT System, and Mina Sartipi, (bottom), founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress at UT Chattanooga, will be among those in the organization’s upcoming cohort. 

Kortney Jarman has been awarded the Emerging Scholar Award by UT Knoxville’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Jarman, UT System Administration’s eLearning manager, was nominated by faculty in the Educational Psychology and Counseling Department. He is currently working on his master's degree in educational psychology with a concentration in adult education. “It was an honor to be recognized by the faculty who have taught the courses in the EdPsych Online program in which I have been enrolled,” Jarman said.

Dr. Jessi Gold, chief wellness office for the UT System and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the UT Health Science Center, recently participated in a radio interview regarding mental health themes in the recently released Inside Out 2. Gold went on National Public Radio's 1A show to discuss the ways the movie helps normalize mental health struggles regardless of the viewer's age. 

We are excited to share that new DASH town hall dates have been announced. Mark your calendars to join us for these important sessions as we learn together about how to prepare for our transition. Demonstrations, Q&As and key takeaways will be highlighted as we look ahead to go live in January.

Reporting: Thursday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. EDT
Training: Thursday, Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. EDT
Business Readiness: Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. EDT
What to Expect on Go-Live Day: Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. EST

Be on the lookout for more details and check the Friends of DASH website for updates and more detailed agendas.

The UT System brand is our story, and telling our story successfully requires the consistent use of carefully chosen elements that achieve a meaningful and recognizable impact. There may be no easier or more frequent way to utilize these elements than when giving presentations. We would like to remind everyone that there are downloadable brand templates available on our website. From name tags to PowerPoint templates, we can provide you with the materials you need to deliver quality presentations while properly representing the UT System!

UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST

Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 
Smokies Stadium
3540 Line Drive, Kodak

Join UT System President Randy Boyd for a baseball game on Friday, Aug. 23 when the Tennessee Smokies take on the Pensacola Blue Wahoo. Every UT System Administration employee can reserve up to five tickets (including themselves).  But hurry - any RSVP submitted after Aug. 12 will not be guaranteed tickets.

The 2024 Conference for Women's Leadership (CWL) was held last month at the UT Health Science Center with more than 160 women in attendance. With a theme of Journey Together, the CWL aimed to create an experience for women to come together, learn and grow in leadership. Participants were able to engage in sessions about work relationships, invisible work, executive leadership, well-being and decision making. The conference also featured Claudette Shephard from the UT Health Science Center and Jessica DeMill from Fidelity Investments as keynote speakers, sharing their knowledge and insights on leadership and investing.

If you were unable to attend this year’s CWL, registration for the 2025 Conference for Women’s Leadership, slated for May 21-22, 2025 in Knoxville, is currently open in K@te.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Benefits Coordinator, Office of Benefits and Retirement

Tamula Sales joined the UT System on June 1. A Knoxville native, Sales has a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Tusculum College and has 29 years of experience in the human resources field. When not working, she enjoys attending church and shopping.

Executive Director of Employee Engagement and Organizational Development, Human Resources

Matt Painter joined the UT System on June 1. He has a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration: Organizational Psychology from Northcentral University. He also has a master's in strategic leadership and a bachelor's in business management/healthcare administration from Mountain State University. He has previously held roles in leadership development for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Berkshire Health Systems. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time on outdoor patios with friends, traveling, reading and working on books he is authoring. 

Database/Web Developer, Department of Technology Solutions (UT Southern campus)

Blake Jones joined the UT System on June 1. However, he's not a new face to those at UT Southern's campus. Jones, who has a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in management information systems from UT Southern, has experience working with UT Southern's IT department as both a work-study student and part-time employee. When not working, he enjoys video games and spending time with family and friends.

Business Analyst, Department of Technology Solutions

Ian Sebby joined the UT System on June 3. A Knoxville native, Sebby is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville alumnus and has a master's degree in business analytics. During his personal time, he enjoys cooking, reading, traveling and playing pickleball.

Assistant Controller, Controller's Office

Heaven Muncy joined the UT System June 3. Muncy has a bachelor's degree from Lee University and is a certified public accountant. She has more than six years experience with the Tennessee Comptroller's Office as a senior legislative accountant as well as experience on annual financial audits for higher education institutions. When not working, Muncy enjoys camping, traveling, playing volleyball and basketball, going on walks, taking her dog Cole Nug on adventures, reading (especially rom-com novels and memoirs), skydiving, axe throwing, trying new experiences and anything that could be deemed fun.

Expense Compliance Specialist, Accounts Payable

Lauren Thomas joined the UT System on June 10. A Knoxville native, Thomas has a bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis in electronic media communications and a minor in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. She spent over eight years in banking and finance, having worked as a senior financial relationship consultant with Regions Bank and BB&T. When not at work she enjoys hiking, camping and boating with her family. 

Accounts Receivable Specialist, Accounts Payable

Tracy Bacon joined the UT System July 1 as an accounts receivable specialist. A Knoxville native, Bacon brings 30 years of professional office experience. When not working, Bacon enjoys gardening.

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.