Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Writer: Shanna Relford
news@utsi.edu
Tennessee’s Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey paid a visit to the
University of Tennessee Space Institute on Friday, Nov. 2, visiting
with UTSI faculty and staff and then touring the facility. Joining
Lt. Gov. Ramsey for the UTSI trip were Senator Jim Tracy, and
Representatives George Fraley and Judd Matheny. UTSI faculty and
staff enjoyed meeting and talking with the elected officials during
a reception in the main lobby.
Following the reception, the group toured UTSI’s main building and
the Center for Laser Applications (CLA). Stopping into one of UTSI’s
distance education classrooms, UTSI’s Chief Information Officer and
Chair of Engineering Management Dr. Greg Sedrick explained the
technology that allows students all over the world to take classes
at UTSI. UTSI distance education professors use Blackboard, an
internet website, to post classes, messages, assignments and even
hold on-line exams and post grades. Students have access as well to
download classes, get their assignments, take exams and check their
grades.
At the CLA, Dr. William Hofmeister, CLA Director, walked the group
through the facility, highlighting the state-of-the-art lasers and
the new cleanroom. Dr. Hofmeister discussed some the outstanding
research that CLA faculty and staff are working on, including laser
materials modification, nanotechnology, nanofluidics, nanomaterials
for lowering the cost and increasing the detail of mammograms, and
bio-medical applications, including eye modeling and screening.
From the CLA, Lt. Gov. Ramsey and Representative Matheny toured
nearby Arnold Engineering Development Center, which played a crucial
role in the establishment of UTSI in Tullahoma.
LT. GOV. RAMSEY VISITS WITH UTSI PERSONNEL—Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey visited with the faculty and staff at The University of Tennessee Space Institute during his tour of UTSI on Friday, Nov. 2. He is shown above, at right, with UTSI COO Dr. Don Daniel and UTSI Distance Learning Coordinator Penny Morris. --UTSI Photo by Shanna Relford
LT. GOV. RAMSEY AT UTSI —Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey is shown above, at left, during a reception at UTSI along with the faculty and staff just before his tour of UTSI on Friday, Nov. 2. Next to Lt. Gov. Ramsey is UTSI’s Center for Laser Applications Director Dr. William Hofmeister. Directly across from them is UTSI COO Dr. Don Daniel, and in the back is Rep. Judd Matheny.
--UTSI Photo by Lisa Lehman
LT. GOV. RAMSEY TOURS UTSI’S LASER CENTER—During Friday’s tour of UTSI’s Center for Laser Applications, UTSI Professor Lloyd Davis is shown at right discussing some of his research with, left to right, Rep. Judd Matheny, UTSI’s CLA Director Dr. William Hofmeister, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, and Sen. Jim Tracy. --UTSI Photo by Laura Horton
