JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, June 27 -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Ballad Health and East Tennessee State University announced Friday a new partnership that will establish a first-of-its-kind institute to promote the awareness and empirical study of adverse childhood experiences, otherwise known as ACEs. ACEs are considered traumatic experiences, such as abuse, neglect and family dysfunction that can disrupt the safe, stable and nurturing environments that children   more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee., June 22 -- Chattanooga State Community College issued the following news release: Within six weeks of her appointment as Chattanooga State's new director of marketing and communications, Jennifer Cooper was thrust into a crisis management challenge as COVID-19 became a pandemic and extended its far-reaching grip into Chattanooga. "After an 18-year career in the consumer-packaged goods industry, I was excited to begin a new journey at Chattanooga State. My first four mo  more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, June 24 -- Chattanooga State Community College issued the following news release: Chattanooga State Community College recently welcomed Quincy Jenkins as its inaugural executive director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Mr. Jenkins, a native of Carrolton, Georgia, comes to Chattanooga State after most recently being the inaugural director of Latinx Outreach at Dalton State for seven years, which led to it becoming Georgia's first Hispanic-Serving Institution. A  more

BRISTOL, Tennessee, June 23 -- Contura Energy, a coal supplier, issued the following news release on June 22: Contura Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CTRA), a leading U.S. coal supplier, announced strategic actions regarding two of its large properties that will allow the company to further strengthen its financial performance and to rationalize its production in light of market conditions. Today approximately 170 employees of Spartan Mining Company, LLC were notified of the company's intention to idle th  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 25 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: By applying unsupervised and automated machine learning techniques to the analysis of millions of cancer cells, Rebecca Ihrie and Jonathan Irish, both associate professors of cell and developmental biology, have identified new cancer cell types in brain tumors. Machine learning is a series of computer algorithms that can identify patterns within enormous quantities of data and get 'smarter' with more experience. T  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, June 25 -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Picture a groundhog-sized animal with horns on its nose like a rhinoceros, and you have a pretty good idea of the new species of extinct rodent described in a recent paper in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. It is only the sixth species of "horned gopher" ever discovered, and it has allowed researchers to tackle some questions about why and how these little critters evolved horns. This resear  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, June 25 -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: How are mosses and humans alike and how can moss, plants often trampled underfoot, help humans survive and thrive? Dr. Aruna Kilaru of the East Tennessee State University Department of Biological Sciences can tell you, although some of the terms might require an encyclopedia. Kilaru, who has five students in her group, leads two research projects at ETSU, one of which has been studying bryophyte moss  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, June 27 -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: The East Tennessee State University Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement and Center for Teaching Excellence are planning virtual film and book discussions in July to help prompt dialogue among the campus community regarding culturally relevant topics. The first of these events is the start of a five-part series of "Pop-n-Doc" film discussions to prompt dialogue regarding civic engagement, divers  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 27 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center issued the following news: Hassan Aziz, PhD, FACSs, MLS(ASCP)cm, associate dean for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs and interim chair of the Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences in the College of Health Professions at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, has been appointed to the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS) Scientific Network of Experts. Dr. Aziz has  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 24 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center issued the following news: Hunter Morris, PharmD, a health informatics and information management student in the College of Health Professions at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, will present the results of his research study at the third-annual National Native Health Research Training Conference. It will take place virtually later this month. Hepatitis C, a liver infection, caused by the Hepatit  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 25 -- Rhodes College issued the following news: Professor of Biology Terry Hill and Professor of Psychology Marsha Walton have been awarded national research mentoring awards by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR.) In recognition of her contributions to the professional and personal development of students inside and outside of the classroom, Walton has been chosen for the 2020 Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences (EMURSS) award  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 26 -- Gov. Bill Lee, R-Tennessee, issued the following news: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Dr. Logan C. Hampton, President of Lane College, to the State Capitol Commission West Tennessee citizen seat. Governor Lee also announced Finance & Administration Commissioner Butch Eley will serve as the commission chairman, filling Stuart McWhorter's vacancy. "Dr. Hampton is a thoughtful leader of a respected Tennessee institution and I am pleased t  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 24 -- Tennessee State University issued the following news: The Tennessee State University Board of Trustees on Thursday elected two new members and officially announced freezing tuition for the 2020-2021 academic year. The board unanimously approved attorney Andre Johnson as a full voting member, and Tiara Thomas as the new student trustee. Additionally, the board made it official that there will be no increase in tuition for the 2020-2021 academic year. The "Tiger   more

MARTIN, Tennessee, June 27 -- The University of Tennessee's Martin Campus issued the following news release: After listening to University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd and chancellors of campuses across the system discuss their plans for handling COVID-19 in the fall on Thursday, the UT Board of Trustees approved their plans as well as the University's $2.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2020-21 during Friday's annual meeting. In approving the COVID-19 and Guiding Principles for Fall 2020  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 26 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center issued the following news on June 25: "We are all going to have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable," said Altha Stewart, MD, as she moderated a community conversation Wednesday hosted by the UTHSC College of Medicine titled, "Why Aren't We All Mad? A Dialogue on Structural Racism in the Health Care System." More than 400 joined Zoom for the dialogue, the first in a series to better understand the role of   more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 25 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center issued the following news: Steven R. Goodman, PhD, vice chancellor for Research at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, is known globally for his four decades of research into the structure and function of cell structures called membrane skeletons. His related research into sickle cell disease led to defining the molecular basis of the irreversibly sickle cell, and his proteomic studies led to potenti  more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, June 25 -- The University of Tennessee's Chattanooga Campus issued the following news release: Lucien Ellington describes his first encounter with Asia as "an epiphany of sorts." Having taught world history at three high schools, he believed he was well-versed in the subject. Then he attended a seminar that focused on teaching about Japan. "I left the meeting with a distinct change in self-perception: I was a Western civilization, but not a world history teacher," says  more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, June 26 -- The University of Tennessee's Chattanooga Campus issued the following news release: With the help of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, three Tennessee universities are teaming up to advance collaborative computing research in Middle Tennessee. Using the $183,334 grant, researchers from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and Tennessee Technological University (TTU) are joining forces to create the Midd  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 23 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center issued the following news: The Campus Police Department at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has received accreditation through the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation (TLEA) program. The accreditation, which is valid for four years, is awarded to law enforcement agencies that have provided exemplary service to their communities. In order to maintain good standing, agencies must maintain compli  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 25 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: Stars mapped out by Vanderbilt astronomers for exploration by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission and recently decommissioned Spitzer Space Telescope have led to the discovery of AU Mic b, a newly formed Neptune-like exoplanet located a relatively short 31.9 light-years away. The exoplanet is named in connection with the star it orbits, AU Microscopii, referred to as AU Mic. AU Mic is know  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 27 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: More than 600 attendees from across the Southeast participated in a June 24 webinar hosted by Vanderbilt and presented by the chief diversity officers of universities in the Southeastern Conference. The event brought together 16 medical, public health and diversity experts to discuss how long-standing health disparities and inequities have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Andre L. Churchwell, vice  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 25 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: A spring 2020 seminar immersed students in a unique academic experience examining gender stereotypes, masculinity and identity through the lens of dance as part of a special partnership between Nashville Ballet and Vanderbilt University. The class asked students to think not only about the gender norms constructed in ballet, but also to consider how ideas about gender are shaped by assumptions about race, sexuali  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 25 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: The Vanderbilt Undergraduate Microbiome Society recently made a donation of $1,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee as part of VUMS' efforts to raise awareness about the microbiome and to better the local community. VUMS started with a single undergraduate's desire to combine science and service. The Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative (https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/microbiome/) created the annual Microb  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 24 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: A group of prominent Vanderbilt University alumni and supporters has committed more than $13 million toward an extensive renovation and expansion of Management Hall. By designating the group as the "Owen Century Partners," Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente notes how the investment marks an important milestone in moving forward with Owen's plans to upgrade its facilities to meet the needs of growing pr  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 27 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: Saber-tooth cats often conjure images of fearsome predators. But of the nearly 100 unique 'types' of saber-tooths that wandered the earth, researchers have determined that was not always the case. Larisa DeSantis, paleontologist and associate professor of biological sciences, along with a team of international collaborators led by Christine Janis, professor of earth science at the University of Bristol (UK) have   more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 26 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: Kelsea Best, a Ph.D. student in Earth and Environmental Sciences, has been awarded a "graduate student pursuit" grant from the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center to study the human impacts of climate change. Best is leading a team of graduate students from several universities across the U.S. to study connections between climate change and displacement of people in coastal areas of the United States, w  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 24 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland (https://www.dyingofwhiteness.com/), by Jonathan Metzl, Frederick B. Rentschler II Professor of Sociology and Psychiatry and director of the Department of Medicine, Health and Society, has been awarded the 2020 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. The award was established in 1980 with the proceeds from Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.'s b  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 25 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Andre L. Churchwell will host a memorial event to honor George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks and the countless lives lost due to anti-Black racism and police brutality in the United States. The memorial will be held virtually on Monday, June 29, at 4 p.m. CT. The event will be available live vi  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 23 -- Rhodes College issued the following news on June 22: Several events that have transpired in the wake of protests to George Floyd's murder have highlighted the various ways in which my own experiences as a Rhodes student inform my work as an administrator, keep me honest and make me even more determined to use my position at Rhodes to effect meaningful change. Several days ago, I took a trip down memory lane with a colleague. While searching the Rhodes digital arch  more