Institute News

Twenty-four executives from campuses and institutes across the University of Tennessee System were chosen to make up the 2024 class of the Executive Leadership Institute. The institute, which is operated by the UT Institute for Public Service’s Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, develops executive leaders for the needs of the UT System.

Members of the fifth cohort will begin their year-long journey with an orientation on January 23 in Nashville. They are:

The Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource of Tennessee (SMART Initiative), a program of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS), has partnered with Gibson Gives—the charitable foundation for Gibson, the iconic and leading global instrument brand—to place ONEbox opioid emergency response kits in Knoxville music venues.

Discover the delicious art of Japanese cuisine in a three-part series of online classes in July. Best of all, it’s free for UT and state employees!

The Japanese Oishi Cooking Class for Adults (ages 16 and above) will be held online from 5:30-6:30 p.m. central time on July 13, 20 and 27. The total cost is $100 for the series.

Students will learn basic vocabulary and expressions in Japanese as well as five methods of Japanese cooking while making dishes like dashi pickles, miso soup and matcha ice cream.

Tennessee’s violent crime rate ranks as one of the highest in the nation. Fortunately, Governor Bill Lee is taking action, in part by releasing $100 million for violent crime intervention.

Video remote interpreting, or VRI, is becoming increasingly popular due to its multiple benefits. VRI allows the interpreter to interact with participants via a secure web-based platform on any device or computer. The Tennessee Language Center (TLC) offers this service to its clients, along with traditional in-person interpreting and over-the-phone interpreting.

Inmates in several West Tennessee correctional facilities now have skills for a productive life outside of prison, thanks in part to the UT Center for Industrial Services (CIS) and its Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP) organization.

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) recently graduated the 15th class through its Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Program. This cohort brings the total number of Tennessee certified economic developers to 86.

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (CIS) is introducing CONNEX Tennessee, a new program launching June 22, which is designed to strengthen the local and domestic manufacturing supply chain.

Kim Harmon, a long-time State of Tennessee employee, will serve as the next executive director of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, an agency of The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS). Harmon succeeds the previous director Dr. Macel Ely who is now in the role of director of organizational improvement for IPS. Her Naifeh Center tenure begins Feb. 1.

The UT Institute for Public Service (IPS) has named Jon Walden as executive director of the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS). Walden has served for a year as interim director of the agency following the retirement of Robin Roberts.