UTM SSWA

09/04/2026

During September & October, bring in a NEW, UNOPENED TOY and receive a 50% OFF your entire thrift store purchase coupon! 🤩

One toy = a gift for a child + some serious thrift-store savings for you. That’s a win-win! 🎅🏼✨

🎁 New & unopened toys
📅 September + October
🛍️ Receive a 50% off entire purchase coupon

Give a toy. Spread some joy. Shop with a purpose. ❤️

09/03/2026

Thank you to the GENS class that came & participated today!
I loved meeting with the future of SSWA! 🫶
We will be having a vision board meeting part 2 this Friday at Sociology 102 at 5 PM for all of our SSWA students who couldn’t make it today. Hope to see you there!

08/28/2026

Come join us next Wednesday!

We will have a GENS class in attendance, and we would appreciate available BSSW upperclassmen coming to support.

Also, if you have any old magazines or any other material that could be used for vision boards, we’d appreciate it. 🙂

08/28/2026

AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!

There will be a travel study in the spring to Costa Rica.
This trip gives priority status to MSSW and BSSW students but is open campus wide!

Interested? Be sure to join the zoom on September 3rd at 3:00 PM.

Questions? Email Dr. Cayce Batts at [email protected]

Hope you are able to join!

08/28/2026

In case you missed it, Professor Donaldson received one of this year’s President’s Awards and rightfully so! 💙🧡 It was an honor that UT President Randy Boyd and Chancellor Yancy Freeman came and spoke with the SWRK 460/470 class. We asked about more UTM Social Work merch being added to the bookstore. We’ll see 👀

08/27/2026

Congrats on your hard work paying off!! Especially our alum, Mia Saenz 💙🧡

08/25/2026

➡️Shared on behalf of St. John's Community Services..

Every Tuesday from 12–3 PM, individuals and families in need across Northwest Tennessee can stop by The Pantry for bread, fresh vegetables, meat and more 🥗

If you need a little help putting food on the table, you’re welcome here! See you tomorrow!

📍 455 Hannings Lane, Martin, TN
⏰ Tuesdays | 12–3 PM

Please share this with a friend, neighbor or family member who may need it 🫶

08/24/2026

Open to ALL majors. Come check out the SSWA table for some stickers, stress balls, or behavioral health drawstring bags 💙🧡

08/24/2026

Good morning, Skyhawks! 💙🧡 I hope your first day goes well. It’s a new semester with new opportunities to learn, grow, and serve.

08/20/2026

Well-deserved, Professor Donaldson! 🫶💖

Four UT Martin Faculty, Staff Receive UT System President’s Awards

DAVID SNOW
University Relations

Four faculty and staff members from the University of Tennessee at Martin were among the 14 recipients of the 2026 University of Tennessee System President’s Awards.

The University of Tennessee System announced the recipients of the awards at the UT System Board of Trustees meeting June 30 at the University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, recognizing outstanding faculty and staff members from throughout the system.

The recipients were recognized and presented the awards at a luncheon ceremony Aug. 13 in Nashville that featured UT System President Randy Boyd, university chancellors and UT System vice presidents.

This top honor recognizes employees whose work exemplifies the Be One UT values through outstanding service, leadership and commitment to the university's mission.

“These awards honor the exceptional talent, service and leadership of faculty and staff systemwide,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “Through their work, each honoree strengthens communities and creates lasting impact in Tennessee and beyond. They have earned this distinction and are helping define the greatest decade in UT history.”

The awards were presented in seven categories, with one faculty member and one staff member in each category.

Receiving UT President’s Awards from UT Martin were:

• Ashley Bynum, senior associate director for internal operations in intercollegiate athletics, in the Nimble and Innovative category (staff member).

• Alicia Maya Donaldson, professor of social work and director of the Bachelor of Science in Social Work program, in the Embrace Differences category (faculty member).

• Dr. Steve Elliott, chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, in the Bold and Impactful category (faculty member).

• Dr. Adnan Rasool, associate professor of political science and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, in the United and Connected category (faculty member).

Established in 2016, the President’s Awards represent the highest honor a UT employee can receive. Building on the many recognition programs at each campus and institute, this program celebrates exceptional faculty and staff from across the state. The awards spotlight success, elevate achievements and inspire a culture of excellence throughout the UT System. Each winner receives a commemorative plaque and a $3,000 monetary award.
Other recipients of 2026 President’s Awards were:

• Dr. Tina Dudney, associate professor and designated institutional official of graduate medical education, UT Health Sciences, Nimble and Innovative category (faculty member).

• Annie Freeland Fishel, executive director of policy and advocacy, Government Relations, Advocacy and Economic Development, UT System, Transparent and Trusted category (staff member).

• Dr. John Haas, associate professor, School of Communications Studies, UT Knoxville, Transparent and Trusted category (faculty member).

• Edwin Jeffres, assistant vice chancellor for facilities administration, UT Health Sciences, Optimistic and Visionary category (staff member).

• Dr. Erkan Kaplanogiu, professor and department head of the Department of Engineering Management and Technology, UT Chattanooga, Optimistic and Visionary category (faculty member).

• Kelly Mihalik, special projects investigator and public safety manager for audit and compliance, UT System, Excel in All We Do category (staff member).

• David Moore, police management consultant, UT Institute for Public Service, Bold and Impactful category, (staff member).

• Jennifer Sicking, director of publications, Division of Communications and Marketing, UT System, United and Connected category (staff member).

• Chris Stokes, assistant director for the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community category, UT Chattanooga (staff member).

• Dr. Toni Wang, institute professor of food science, UT Knoxville, UT Institute of Agriculture, Excel in All We Do category (faculty member).

Learn more about the UT President’s Awards at tennessee.edu/about/leadership/president/awards.
For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).

UT PRESIDENT’S AWARDS – UT Martin recipients of the 2026 UT System President’s Awards, shown at the Aug. 13 presentation ceremony in Nashville, are (l-r) Ashley Bynum, Dr. Steve Elliott, Dr. Adnan Rasool and Alicia Maya Donaldson, accompanied by Chancellor Yancy Freeman Sr.