Recently named interim president Randy Boyd attends the Building University-Community Relationships: More Than One And Done conference at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy on October 8, 2018.

UT hosted a two-day engagement and outreach conference October 8 and 9, bringing together more than 150 faculty, staff, and community partners to discuss collaborations between higher education institutions and their larger communities.

The Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, Office of Research and Engagement, the Office of Diversity and Community Relations in the Haslam College of Business, and University-Assisted Community Schools in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences partnered to host the conference, Building University-Community Relationships: More Than One and Done.

UT alumna Javiette Samuel has joined UT’s Office of Research and Engagement as director of community engagement and outreach. She began work on September 25.

Javiette Samuel

In this role, Samuel will lead efforts to create and strengthen partnerships between UT and external stakeholders and cultivate relationships with key national, state, and regional partners. She will work with units across campus to identify and tackle grand challenges critical to the well-being of our state and its citizens.

UT attendees (from left) Lisa Davenport, Lola Alapo, Elizabeth Burman, Bob Kronick, and Jenny Retherford

Five faculty and staff members shared the impact of UT’s work on various communities during a national conference in Omaha, Nebraska, earlier this month.

Program officers agree that “Broader Impact” activity must be both unique and integral to individual grant proposals. However, there remains a need to balance originality with existing support.