ETSU 2021-22 Annual Report

Annual Report

ETSU IS YOU East Tennessee State University

Scan to watch a short message from Dr. Noland.

What is East Tennessee State University? When we pause to consider this place we call home, landmarks easily come to mind. We may think of Gilbreath Hall, which has stood at the center of this campus since the university’s founding in 1911. At the beginning of the academic year, the colorful scenes of a freshly painted Pride Walk catch our eye. When we envision the future of the institution, we often imagine cutting-edge laboratories, cozy yet modern residence halls, and picturesque green spaces.

We find great joy in the beauty of our campus nestled in the shadow of the stunning Appalachian Mountains. Yet we all know that the love we have for this place flows from a deeper source — one that is not easily seen, but unmistakably felt. It is the wellspring of our energy, ideas, fellowship, and ETSU pride.

It is our community. It is you.

ETSU is the nervous but hopeful first-year student courageously forging new friendships and embracing new experiences. It is the parent returning to the classroom to build a bright future for their family while juggling the demands of today. It is the researchers relentlessly pursuing treatments and cures that will enhance the quality of life for people around the world and the clinicians providing care and comfort throughout the Appalachian Highlands.

ETSU is the staff member, lovingly caring for our grounds and offering a welcoming smile to families touring campus. It is the teachers who demand excellence from their students while opening their minds to new worlds of possibility. It is the more than 100,000 alumni across the globe working to leave a legacy of innovation and service. It is the next generation who will inherit it including the more than 7,000 children who will be born in our region during the next year and welcomed into the world with a “Cutest Buc” onesie.

ETSU is an incredible institution powered by people with sharp minds, generous hearts, and an unwavering spirit. ETSU is you, and this annual report is a celebration of your contributions to this campus and the world.

Brian Noland President

A UNIVERSITY FIRST

Her list of accolades is lengthy.

Piper Floyd, studying both information technology and Spanish, landed a software developer internship with Wells Fargo and recently received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, one of the most competitive scholarships in the United States.

Add to the list: A coveted 2022-23 Goldwater Scholarship, a widely respected award handed out to about 400 undergraduates nationally each year. She is the first ETSU student to receive this honor.

“When I was awarded the Goldwater Scholarship, I was overwhelmed by a strong sense of gratitude,” said Floyd, who thanked mentors Drs. Ghaith Husari, Amy Johnson, Gene Bailey, Christopher Keller, and Jennifer Price. “Often, we praise the award winner but forget to recognize the team that it took to get there.”

Earning the Goldwater Scholarship, Floyd said, “signifies how ETSU’s community has generously supported and assisted me in achieving my goals.”

Scan to watch Piper's full student spotlight.

LEADING THE WAY IN PUBLIC HEALTH

An award-winning book, an appointment as editor-in-chief, and statewide recognition for his significant contributions to health care are just a few of the ways that Dr. Randy Wykoff’s imprint on public health has been recognized this year.

Dr. Wykoff, Dean of the College of Public Health, co-edited a book titled Appalachian Health: Culture, Challenges, and Capacity with the late Dr. F. Douglas Scutchfield of the University of Kentucky. The book, featuring ETSU experts who contributed to six of the book’s 11 chapters, was the recipient of the Thomas D. Clark Foundation’s 2022 Henry Clay Public Policy Book Award.

Dr. Wykoff was also named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Appalachian Health.

In summer 2022, he learned that he would be inducted into the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame. With a mission to honor those who have made significant and lasting contributions to the health and health care industries, the Hall of Fame was created in 2015 by Belmont University, the McWhorter Society, and the Nashville Health Care Council, a founding partner. Selected inductees represent some of Tennessee’s greatest health and health care pioneers, leaders, and innovators.

FINDING HER PASSION

Mylan Hutchins discovered a calling to serve others through American Sign Language (ASL) while she was a student at ETSU.

“Looking back, when I first came here, I really didn’t know very much about ASL,” said Hutchins, who majored in human services with a double minor in special education and ASL. “It was something I grew up with. My mom would sign the alphabet in our home, and I’d taken some ASL courses while being homeschooled. When I discovered that ASL was something ETSU offered, I was immediately drawn in. I fell in love with it. It’s such an incredibly beautiful language, and I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to learn it.”

Hutchins, who always knew she was meant to help others, immediately got to work making the most of the rest of her life –and the lives of others. She says her experiences with Clemmer College and the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences have changed her forever.

“I used to be incredibly shy,” said Hutchins. “Since working with the students and professors here, I’ve really grown as a person. My communication skills have flourished, and the connections I’ve made with other people have really impacted me for the better.”

Scan to watch Mylan's full student spotlight.

FULBRIGHT DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR

Dr. Trena Paulus is a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences for 2022-23.

Dr. Paulus is a Professor in the Research Division in the Quillen College of Medicine Department of Family Medicine and Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities in the Honors College.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Paulus will spend six months at Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) in Poznan, Poland, in 2023. She will help the Faculty of English to identify qualitative research methods relevant to that community and what methodological and technology innovations may still be needed. She will work with faculty and students to design, develop, and co-teach a course in qualitative research methods for students in language and linguistics.

In addition, she will provide mentoring and workshops on using qualitative data analysis software and offer a seminar for a new AMU program in medical humanities on how to apply qualitative interviewing skills to patient-centered communication in health care settings.

CENTER FOR PHARMACY EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH

Ballad Health committed a $470,000 annual gift (for five years, with plans to renew) to the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy to create the Center for Pharmacy Education, Advocacy and Outreach. This center will broaden efforts to better equip pharmacists to transform practice and to work with patient care team members across inpatient and outpatient settings to improve transitions of care on hospital admission, discharge, and overall health outcomes.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INAUGURAL CLASS

Members of the inaugural cohort of ETSU’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program began their studies in the newly renovated space on the first floor of Charles Ed Allen Hall (Building 2) on the VA campus. The College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences held a ribbon cutting on May 4, 2022, to officially open the space, which will house the OTD program and the future Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics program.

NEW HORIZONS WITH BLUESKY

A groundbreaking workforce collaboration between BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and ETSU offers students with a passion for technology the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in computing and a job offer in just over two years.

The BlueSky Institute is designed to foster the advanced technology talent needs to serve customers, communities, and business partners. Students will follow an accelerated version of ETSU’s accredited computing curriculum and gain real-world experience with technology and professional mentorships. The inaugural class welcomed 32 students in April.

Meet the newest 1911 Society members

Named in commemoration of the year when ETSU was founded, The 1911 Society honors the university’s most notable graduates from undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

INDUSTRY TRAINING

ETSU, in partnership with the local Tennessee Hills Brewing and Distilling, has come together to offer students practical and hands-on training for the industry with a new Brewing and Distillation Studies Minor, which began in spring 2022.

WHY I TEACH

During her first year as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics, Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle launched “Why I Teach: Conversations with ETSU Faculty,” a podcast that highlights some of the amazing professors at ETSU. Guests share what inspires them about their profession and why they chose to teach and conduct research in their respective fields. Topics include teaching strategies, ways for engaging students in learning, and the impact that faculty members hope their students make on the world.

Scan to listen to the podcast now.

Scan to learn more about the program.

New Faces, New Places

Dr. Joe Bidwell was named Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Nick Hagemeier was promoted to Vice Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer.

Dr. Susan McCracken was named Vice Provost for Community Engagement and Director of the QEP.

Dr. Rob Pack is the new Executive Vice Provost.

Dr. Tony Pittarese was appointed Dean of the College of Business and Technology.

Jessica Vodden was selected as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

Because most professions demand some form of writing, the university launched a new technical and professional writing minor (Arts and Sciences) aimed at helping students become more job-ready.

The Gatton College of Pharmacy and the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences faculty and staff teamed up to explore how pharmacists can help decrease patients’ fall risk by assessing medications and patient characteristics.

The Appalachian Regional Commission named Audrey Depelteau, Director of the ETSU Innovation Lab, a participant in the 2021-22 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute.

Ethan Galloway, a chemistry major, spent his senior year as the student representative to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

The Archives of Appalachia and Reece Museum received $225,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a grant given to support enhancing online access to diverse voices in southern Appalachia.

A collaboration between Quillen College of Medicine and the Honors College created a new early assurance pathway program that guarantees five ETSU freshmen eventual admission to the medical school.

ETSU’s College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences offers programs in six of the 2022 “Best Health Care Jobs” identified by U.S. News & World Report.

Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy’s Early Admission Pathway continues to provide opportunities for students like Olivia Long to get a head start on her pharmacy career by concurrently working toward her B.S. in pharmacy studies while completing her first year at Gatton.

A major collaboration among three ETSU colleges resulted in the new Spatial Epidemiology and Medical Geography Lab. The first papers from its interdisciplinary, pandemic-related research were published in 2021.

The Tennessee Interprofessional Practice and Education Consortium presented the People’s Choice Award and Poster Award to ETSU for a presentation showcasing ETSU’s relationship with interprofessional teams during the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic.

The ETSU Center for Applied Research and Evaluation in Women’s Health

(CARE Women’s Health) continued to grow in 2021 with a $3 million research award aimed at expanding research and evaluation on priority women’s health issues at the center.

Researchers in the Department of Biomedical Sciences received over $1.75 million in federal funding for projects that could impact the treatment of such wide-ranging ailments as Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, and a variety of inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Michael Smith, Program and Policy Director for ETSU’s CARE Women’s Health, is examining how policies affect birth outcomes across generations thanks to a $1.86 million R-01 grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. KariLynn Dowling-McClay, Pharmacy Practice, received $11,998 in ETSU Research Development Committee funding to study how pharmacistprescribed contraception might fill the gap in regional access to birth control.

The university has completed 20 years of coordinating the Appalachian Teaching Project, a program featuring students working with a community to address a need that affects economic development.

ETSU's new Brand Storytelling Brand Film Certification is a 100% online professional certification taught by industry leaders connected to Brand Storytelling’s worldclass network of professionals in media, production, marketing, advertising, culture and entertainment. Brand Storytelling and the ETSU Research Corporation hosted the first Brand Storytelling Certification cohort in January 2022, with five additional cohorts launching throughout 2022.

Dr. Suman Dalal (College of Public Health) received a major grant from the ETSU Research Development Committee to study how mutations in the Ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) gene affect heart function.

Dr. David L. Williams (Quillen College of Medicine) led a team of five ETSU scientists, including Drs. Michael Kruppa, Douglas Lowman, Zuchao Ma, and Harry Ensley, who participated in an international study focused on developing new approaches to improve the effectiveness of vaccines.

INNOVATION AND IDEAS

A new venture between Ballad Health and the ETSU Research Corporation, the Appalachian Highlands Rural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance, was formed to bolster regional efforts to enhance economic growth in the Appalachian Highlands, while also creating a national portal for rural health innovation. “We are bringing together the expertise, energy, and know-how of the Appalachian Highlands together with a shared vision around innovation and entrepreneurship,” said David Golden, the CEO of the ETSU Research Corporation and Allen and Ruth Harris Chair of Excellence in the ETSU College of Business and Technology. “When we created Ballad Health, we made a commitment that this new organization would leverage the regional strength of the Appalachian Highlands, reaching across all our communities in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia to enhance opportunities to turn good ideas into thriving businesses and economic opportunity,” said Ballad Health Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan Levine. “This center will not only leverage good local ideas into business opportunities for the region, but it will attract ideas from all over the world, which will support the enhancement of healthcare delivery and innovation, while also creating an ecosystem for those transformative ideas to grow and be put into practice all over the world.”

Lukman Fashina, a former graduate student in Geosciences, won a pair of scholarships to investigate water quality in Northeast Tennessee. Dr. Ingrid Luffman served as his thesis advisor.

A multitude of educator preparation programs across multiple colleges at ETSU received accreditation at various levels from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

ETSU’s College of Business and Technology announced the start of its Entrepreneurship-InResidence program in partnership with The Angel Roundtable of the Appalachian Highlands, exposing student candidates to startup investment decisions.

Fiddler Brittany Haas and rural musical style expert Mike Compton, two wellknown musicians, served as artists in residence for the 2021-22 academic year.

The Reece Museum, housed on the main campus and open to the public, captured two Tennessee Association of Museum Awards of Excellence for outstanding work done in 2021.

Dr. Diana Morelen, Dr. Michele Moser, and psychology doctoral student Rebecca Otwell-Dove were co-authors of a story on the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee, offering a guiding framework on how to grow collaborative, sustainable systems to help vulnerable children and families.

The work of Dr. Andrew Joyner – the state of Tennessee’s climatologist and an assistant professor in Geosciences – and his staff is increasingly appearing in influential publications across the United States.

Former Media and Communication student Anthony Salas landed a job with Disney, one he secured before graduation after doing production and development work with ESPN films.

Dr. Mimi Perreault has published on an array of topics, including news coverage of eSports and the question of how journalists talk about journalism practice in the age of COVID-19.

Earning a prestigious fellowship and winning the 2021 Distinguished Scientist Award from the Tennessee Academy of Sciences, Dr. Aruna Kilaru is playing an important role in the fight against hunger.

The ETSU Health Johnson City Community Health Center implemented a new tracking system that has been instrumental in improving the health of patients with diabetes.

Dr. Gerardo Arceo-Gomez co-authored a study published in the journal Nature about the role of pollinators in the maintenance of diversity among flowering plants.

NEW

CERTIFICATES

SYSTEMS

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN

HIGHER EDUCATION TEACHING

CERTIFICATE IN

AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

DEGREE IN

DATA SCIENCE

CERTIFICATE IN

NATURE-BASED THERAPY

DEGREE IN

CERTIFICATE IN DIGITAL MEDIA

RECOVERY RESEARCH

IN

THERAPY

DEGREE IN

ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS

Our Rankin g s

UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN HISTORY

AND DISTILLATION STUDIES

CERTIFICATE IN

DEGREE IN

CHAIN MANAGEMENT

ETSU’s RN to BSN program was named No. 1 in Tennessee by NursingProcess.org.

#9

ETSU ranks ninth in the nation among Fortune Education’s Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.

#19

ETSU ranks 19th out 50 Tennessee employers in Forbes 2022 listing of America’s Best-in-State Employers.

TOP 10%

ETSU is ranked in the top 10% in the nation in the “least debt” category published by U.S. News and World Report.

Quillen College of Medicine ranked No. 3 in the country for “Medical Schools with the Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas” by U.S.News&WorldReport.

#13

University School ranked the 13th best high school in Tennessee by U.S. News & World Report.

TOP FIVE

U.S. News & World Report ranks Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy among the top 5 private and top 10 public pharmacy schools in the Southeast.

TOP-THIRD

U.S. News & World Report ranked ETSU College of Public Health No. 63 and in the top third among the “Best Graduate SchoolsPublic Health Programs” in the nation.

COMMUNITY VOICES

ETSU’s Office of Equity and Inclusion launched a new publication called “Community Voices,” a digital magazine whose purpose is to serve as a platform for cultural exchange by opening up dialogue centered on various issues experienced by those in the region and beyond.

A result of interdepartmental collaboration among faculty and staff at ETSU, subject matters in each issue cover a wide variety of topics.

Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Dr. Keith Johnson said that the publication was created out of the need to explore the boundaries of equity and inclusion, and that it does so by opening the dialogue beyond the walls of ETSU by including stories from individuals who represent not only the university, but the greater Appalachian region as well. The publication is available to read online on the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s web page.

COLOR MY WORLD HEALTHY

Quillen College of Medicine students take part in numerous regional outreach endeavors, but one opportunity allows them to make an impact close to home, in the predominantly Black Carver Community of downtown Johnson City.

Through “Color My World Healthy,” Quillen students design and teach classes to students in afterschool activities at the Carver Recreation Center and Langston Centre. They teach topics like nutrition, fitness, and anatomy, as well as “Meet the Doctor,” which helps children overcome their fear of going to the doctor, and “Keep Kids Off Drugs.”

The program is the brainchild of retired College of Medicine Librarian Elaine Evans, who applied for the initial $25,000 grant to fund the program from the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health.

It is hoped that “Color My World Healthy” will have another benefit besides educating youth on health topics – that of recruiting more minority students to the health professions.

HERE FOR A PURPOSE

First-generation college student Amyre Cain has established herself as a leader at ETSU, where she strives to use her voice to elevate the voices of minority and underrepresented communities of color.

After declaring her major in sociology and minor in Black American studies, Cain spoke about how crucial diversity and representation are to the ETSU campus community during a panel that included President Dr. Brian Noland, faculty, staff, and administrators. Additionally, she is the first student on the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council at ETSU.

She then joined the Black Affairs Association and became a leader for Black History Month. The organization is accessible to all students and serves as a source of encouragement for students to become involved in a variety of activities that make a difference on campus and in the community. She and her colleagues organized creative and informational events on topics ranging from Black hair to mental health awareness in African American communities.

Cain now shares her motivational story as an Expedition Leader, making her one of the first friendly faces prospective students see during ETSU campus tours. She often shares with other students the same encouraging words that her late grandmother passed on to her: “Keep going, keep going. Surround yourself with good people, people who are going to support you no matter what. Don’t let anything stop you, because at the end of the day you are here for a purpose.”

NAVIGATING THE “NEXT”

Dr. Jon Borland (Counseling and Human Services) has developed a new model to help school counselors assist transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) students in navigating career development issues that are unique to this population.

“Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) students face multiple challenges, such as having lower grade point averages and experiencing stress related to their minority status,” he said. “Unfortunately, data show that TGE students are less likely to pursue post-secondary education, lack career decision-making skills, and have less access to support and guidance related to college and career readiness.

Borland says the goal of his research is to equip counselors and other practitioners with resources to empower transgender individuals to develop positive approaches to postsecondary education and with the workforce.

Alumni Giving

of

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

has had an impact on enrollment this year as have federal policies on international students. COVID-19 also impacted patient encounters.

and other sponsored activities continue to see gains and are a positive driver of the formula funding increases.

activities are strong and current projections indicate the university should continue to exceed $25,000,000 in annual giving.

success metrics indicate strong performance and are a driver of positive formula funding outcomes for ETSU. This is true across demographic characteristics.

Results from the Great Colleges To Work For Survey indicate continued growth in favorability, and the university will continue to focus on employee development and well-being in the coming year.

despite the challenges with enrollment (a national issue) the university continues to see success in metrics that indicate high quality.

EXPLORING RACE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND INEQUALITY

Dr. Elwood Watson, History, and Dr. Hadii Mamudu, Health Services Management and Policy, are consulting editors of an innovative new series, “Race, Mental Health and Inequality in the 21st Century.” For this interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed series published by Johns Hopkins University Press, Watson and Mamudu are focused on topics that examine the intersectionality of race, mental health and inequality/inequity as it relates to racial identity, gender, economics, geographic region, religion, sexuality, personal reflections, work-life balance, and more.

ENCOURAGING MEN IN NURSING

A new ETSU student organization – Buccaneers Association of Men in Nursing (BAMN) – formed in 2021 to educate and recruit male students into the field, in keeping with the College of Nursing’s practice of promoting men in the profession. BAMN is open to undergraduate and graduate nursing students at all ETSU campuses and practice sites, and leaders plan to seek status as a member chapter of the American Association for Men in Nursing.

ADVOCATING FOR VETERANS

ETSU graduate student and U.S. Army veteran Francis Murillo has a passion for helping others heal however she can. She is currently working on her master’s degree in clinical mental health through Clemmer College. She says that while mental health support is exceptionally important to those who served in the military, it’s not always a need that is met. That is why she is dedicated to becoming an advocate for veterans' mental health.

CELEBRATING CIVILITY

Last spring, hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and community members flocked to ETSU’s campus in celebration of the annual Civility Week and Festival of Ideas celebrations. From March 28 through April 4, the campus hosted a variety of nationally-recognized speakers, including CNN host and Dream Corps founder Van Jones, Opinion and Engagement director for the USA Today Network in Tennessee David Plazas, and former The View host Meghan McCain.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

The Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center hosted a Juneteenth celebration that was open to the campus and community. Dr. Christel Young, co-President of the Black Faculty and Staff Association and Director of Using Information Technology, reviewed the history and purpose of Juneteenth. Nationally known dancer Kasper Glasper and Universally Complicated Freestyler’s Brett Blue gave a dance performance, and student Style Davis performed an original spoken word.

EXPANDING ROLES

Rachel Walden was named Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Quillen College of Medicine, and Jessie Wang was promoted to Assistant Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Student Success for the Clemmer College.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, formerly known as Women’s Studies, has updated its curriculum to more accurately reflect advances in the field, expanding the scope of the program.

Black American Studies, once known as Africana Studies, is a modernized minor where students learn about the ways in which Black Americans have contributed and shaped culture and history. Nashvillenative Faith McPhearson has found a home in the Black American Studies Program. “I am honored to be surrounded by people who look like me, but who also bring different perspectives.”

Pamela Avendaño-Rubi found her native language of Spanish the key to relationships and opportunities at ETSU. She served as an interpreter at Remote Area Medical Clinics and in pandemic telehealth visits.

Dr. Ted Olson is co-hosting a six-part podcast, “Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music,” with Dr. William Turner, a noted scholar on Black American communities in Appalachia.

The ETSU Faculty/Staff LGBTQ+ Association began its second year by hosting a number of in-person events. As part of Pride Month 2022, the group created a video commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

OF PLACE

SOLD OUT

Caleb Vaughn, a junior political science and theatre major, is one of the many ETSU theatre and dance students who performed during the inaugural season in the Bert C. Bach Theatre at the Martin Center for the Arts.

For its first season in the Bach Theatre, the Department of Theatre and Dance presented three shows – “Men on Boats,” “Straight White Men,” and “Bright Star” – and all shows at the Bach Theatre during the first year were performed to sold-out crowds.

As a black box theatre, the state-of-the-art Bach Theatre can be transformed into any setting. In 202122, it was part of the Colorado River, a family living room, and then various locations across mountains of North Carolina. The space also allows student designers in costume, set, lighting, and sound design to hone their skills.

INCREASING THE NURSING PIPELINE

The Appalachian Highlands Center for Nursing Advancement was created in October 2021 thanks to a generous investment from Ballad Health.

The goal is to create a center dedicated to bringing the region’s academic nursing, clinical nursing, and school systems together in order to increase the pipeline of opportunity and augment the supply of nurses and nursing support in the Appalachian Highlands.

In May 2022, ETSU brought together leaders from Ballad Health and colleges and universities from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia for a strategic planning meeting to brainstorm ways to increase the pipeline of students into the field of nursing. This was the first regional gathering of the Appalachian Highlands Center for Nursing Advancement.

THE ETSU EDGE

Thanks to the work of Dr. Andrew Joyner and graduate students Darian Bouvier, Karah Jaffe, and Travis Watson, vital information is now available online about Bristol’s Steele Creek Park.

Joyner’s students spent months working at the park, and the result is a detailed, comprehensive map available to the public.

One element is a look at the park’s natural history. Another section shows some of the park’s features and attractions. The final tabs focus on trails –details such as length and elevation – and a trail maintenance survey that gives both employees and visitors the chance to report any issues.

“This relationship with Steele Creek Park serves ETSU and the community in so many powerful ways,” said Joyner, an associate professor in Geosciences. “This is a wonderful opportunity all around. Stakeholders get to work directly with our students and see their skills. Our students get valuable experience and critical connections with potential employers.”

ELIMINATING BARRIERS

In spring 2022, the D.P. Culp Student Center became the location for an early voting site, providing students, faculty, staff, and community members registered to vote in Washington County, Tennessee, a more convenient location to cast their ballot.

Joy Fulkerson, Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement, said she was thrilled to assist in eliminating some of the barriers that contribute to low voter turnout, such as location, time, and distance. The early voting site was established shortly after ETSU received a report from the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education that revealed from 2016 to 2020, student participations in general elections increased by at least 17.5%.

ETSU continued its mission to improve the quality of life in the region and beyond by making it easier for locals to cast their vote in elections.

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

An interprofessional team of students, faculty, and staff from ETSU’s five health sciences colleges volunteered at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic in Gray November 5-7, 2021. This was the fifth year that ETSU sent a team to Gray. Throughout the weekend, the students assisted with vision, dental, and medical screenings and services, including audiology screenings. They also provided health awareness and education initiatives, such as naloxone training and smoking cessation.

BUCCANEER BUILDING BLOCKS

ETSU and Ballad Health announced a partnership that aims to create a foundation for the success of all children and their families across the Appalachian Highlands called Buccaneer Building Blocks. The initiative, which was launched by ETSU's First Lady Donna Noland, is dedicated to developing a strong support system for lifelong learning, early childhood education, and college access. Families of all newborn babies delivered at Ballad Health facilities will receive an information packet with resources for early college planning and an ETSU onesie highlighting Buccaneer pride.

WORLDWIDE ACCLAIM

SEEDING IDEAS AND INNOVATION

Greyscale, one of the university’s premier vocal ensembles, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Over the last decade, the student group has performed in a range of concerts in Johnson City and throughout the Appalachian Highlands, receiving many awards. In a summer 2022 trip to Slovakia for an international competition, Greyscale won first place honors in the pop/jazz category. Greyscale is led by Dr. Alan Stevens and Erin Raines.

A “Shark Tank” style entrepreneurship competition offered ETSU students and faculty the unique opportunity to win seed money for their innovative ideas. The iBucs Student Venture Pitch Competition, hosted by the College of Business and Technology, allowed participants to develop a business plan and pitch that idea to a distinguished panel of judges. The iBucs pitch competition empowers participants with a passion for start-ups to develop their idea into a pitch deck or do so as part of a team.

TRANSFORMATIVE SERVICE

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy awarded Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy the Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award, which is presented annually to one college or school of pharmacy in the United States demonstrating a major institutional commitment to addressing unmet community needs through education, practice, and research.

ETSU HEROES

ETSU celebrated the extraordinary and impactful stories of some of its people through the launching of the new ETSU Heroes program. Five ETSU Heroes were the inaugural honorees recognized during a ceremony in the spring: Patti Marlow (Marching Band), Zachary Olsen (Theatre and Dance), Derek Patton (Public Safety), Kelvin Tarukwasha (who formerly served at ETSU with Sodexo) and the providers with ETSU Health. ETSU student Emily Burnette received special recognition for her efforts to assist a person injured on campus.

Dr. Dawn Rowe, chair of the Special Education Program, was awarded over $215,000 to fund an initiative that aims to facilitate an improved teacher workforce in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Dr. Rowe is holder of the James H. Quillen Chair of Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Students at Washington County’s Sulphur Springs Elementary School learn about gardening and nutrition through “Garden in a Box,” a joint effort of the College of Public Health and UT Extension Washington County.

In February 2022, the ETSU Gary E. Shealy Memorial ALS Clinic celebrated its fifth year of serving patients with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

A group of ETSU business student volunteers, under the guidance of accountancy faculty member Dr. Michelle Freeman, offered free tax preparation assistance through the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

The ETSU Health COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinics provided free COVID-19 vaccines in convenient locations on campus and at community events.

Yaroslav (Yaro) Hnatusko, an MBA student and graduate assistant at ETSU, led an effort with his brother to help coordinate relief efforts for fellow Ukrainians impacted by an ongoing war with Russia.

Dr. Alison Barton is the new Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recognized ETSU Health’s Baby Steps Clinic as a “Promising Practice” for enhancing primary care services for children and families affected by prenatal opioid exposure.

After receiving nearly $100,000 in federal funding for the initiative, Dr. Alissa Lange is leading a state-wide project that will promote early STEM education in rural communities. Dr. Lange is now serving as Director of the Center of Excellence in STEM Education.

The ETSU men's tennis team won the SoCon championship for the fourth consecutive year.

The ETSU women’s tennis program finished the season ranked fifth in the ITA Regional Rankings, while Laylo Bakhodirova capped off the year ranked seventh in the region. As a team, the Bucs were ranked as high as No. 74, finishing the year at 17-9 overall and 6-1 in SoCon play.

For the second straight year, ETSU women’s cross country standout Lindsey Stallworth qualified for the NCAA Championship, after she placed eighth at the NCAA South Regional in Huntsville.

The ETSU Buccaneers football team went 10-1 in its regular season, captured the Southern Conference title, and made it to the FCS playoffs.

The 2021 season was historic as the Bucs set a program record for wins (11) and reaching the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs for only the second time in school history. ETSU also set single-season school records for most points scored (425), points per game (32.7), total offense (5,319), rushing touchdowns (32), and total touchdowns (53).

Eliminated when ETSU shuttered the football program, the ETSU Marching Bucs have enjoyed a dramatic resurgence. The band has grown from 163 members in 2015 to nearly 300 in 2022, representing the largest marching band in the history of the university.

The ETSU Men’s Golf Team advanced to the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive year after capturing their second straight SoCon title. At the conclusion of the season, the team was ranked 31st in the nation by Golfstat.

The Buccaneers won the 2021-22 SoCon Commissioner's Cup – the all-sport trophy presented to the league's best allaround men's program.

239 student athletes were named to the Southern Conference Honor Roll; 80 student athletes earned the Commissioner’s Medal for having a GPA above 3.80.

Operating budget, with tuition and other sources supporting 61% of the general academic budget and the remaining 39% from state appropriations.

Foundation

etsu.edu