Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Contact: Madge Gibson
news@utsi.edu
The University of Tennessee Space Institute recognized twelve
employees on May 10, for their service and dedication to the
university. A luncheon was held for all employees at the UTSI
cafeteria and each employee reaching milestones of five to
thirty-five years of service were recognized. Dr. Greg Sedrick with
the Office of Academic Affairs presented each of the twelve
employees with gifts for their years of service.
Dr. Trevor Moeller received an award for five years of university
service. Dr. Moeller is Assistant Professor of Aerospace and
Mechanical Engineering. He received his PhD from UTSI in 1998 and
worked at InnovaTek, a small business organization in Washington
state before returning to UTSI as Research Associate Professor in
February 2004. Dr. Moeller has broad interests in plasma physics and
high temperature gases. He has more than 30 papers in journals and
conference proceedings and has received one US patent. He is a
member of IEEE, ASME (Associate Fellow), Tau Beta Pi, and Pi Mu
Epsilon. Dr. Moeller lives in Manchester with wife Laurie, a former
UTSI student and son Zach. The Moeller’s will soon welcome a new son
into their family.
Dr. Ying Ling Chen received an award for ten years of service. Dr.
Chen received her PhD from UTSI in 1998 and worked in Sandia
National Laboratory, Livermore, California for a brief period. She
returned to UTSI in 1999 as a Research Assistant Professor. She
worked in vision science after returning to UTSI and in the past ten
years has been granted a US patent in vision screening technology
and published two book chapters in visual science. Dr. Chen and her
family live in Tullahoma where her son is a junior at Tullahoma High
School (THS). Her daughter was last year’s Valedictorian at THS and
currently attends Johns Hopkins University where she is majoring in
biophysics.
Dean Ferrell received a twenty year award for his service with the
university. Dean has been employed with the UTSI Physical Plant
during this time. Dean lives in Lynchburg and is an outdoorsman and
an avid hunter and fisherman.
Charlene Hane received a service award for twenty years of service.
Charlene has worked as the Registrar since 2000. Before becoming
Registrar she held several positions including Program Coordinator
and the Director for Distant and Continuing Education. She received
her BS and MS while working at UTSI. She was awarded the UT Top
Graduating Senior in the College of Education in 1994. Charlene and
husband Joe, who is also a UTSI employee, live in Tullahoma.
Laura Horton received an award for her service of twenty years.
Laura started as a photographer/videographer, working in the
darkroom, developing and printing pictures. During this time, she
also worked in the Distance Education Department videotaping
graduate level classes. In 1993 she became a permanent employee in
the Distance Education Department as well continuing as the UTSI
photographer. In addition, she works closely with the students and
their proctors and is the backup producer for the classes. Laura and
husband Jerry live in Estill Springs with their son Jonathan who
will be a 2010 graduate of Franklin County High School.
Barbara Birdsong received a twenty year service award. Barbara began
her career with the university as a Senior Clerk in the Personnel
Department. In 1995 she was named Administrative Service Assistant
for the Dean for Academic Affairs. Barbara received her Associates
of Science from Motlow State Community College while a university
employee. She is currently Administrative Coordinator in the Office
for Academic Affairs. Barbara and husband, Rex, live in Tullahoma.
Dr. Montgomery (Monty) Smith received a twenty-five year service
award. Dr. Smith, a native of Chattanooga, TN, is Associate
Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Department. He received his PhD from UTSI in Electrical Engineering
in 1988. Dr. Smith is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in
Tennessee, a Senior Member of the Institute for Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a Member of Optical Society of America
(OSA), a Member of Sigma Xi, a Member of Sigma Pi Sigma. He spent
two summers as a NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellow at Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. He has authored over 20 refereed
journal publications and holds one US Patent. In 1994 he received
the Award for Outstanding Young Scientist, National Association of
State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. Dr. Smith lives in
Tullahoma.
Dr. Denise Jackson, Associate Professor of Engineering Management in
the Industrial and Information Engineering Department at UTSI,
received her twenty-five year service award. She is a licensed
Professional Engineer in Tennessee. She received her PhD degree from
UTK in Engineering Science with a concentration in Industrial
Engineering in 1989. Her affiliations include The Institute of
Industrial Engineers (IIE); The American Society of Engineering
Educators (ASEE); Examiner for the Tennessee Center for Performance
Excellence; and the American Society of Engineering Management
(ASME). Dr. Jackson lives in Knoxville with husband Andrew and their
two sons, Zack and Chris.
Betty Bright received an award for 30 years of service. Betty began
working at the UT Space Institute in 1979 as a clerk in the Short
Course Office. Currently, Betty is Administrative Support Assistant
III in the Office of Continuing Education Programs where she assists
in coordinating engineering programs to industry, government and
various non-government agencies. She holds an associate of science
degree in sociology, a bachelor of science in sociology/psychology
and in 1996 received a master of education degree. Betty lives in
Winchester.
Charlotte Henley received an award for thirty years of service.
Charlotte began her career with the university as a clerk-typist
with the DOE Energy Conversion Research and Development Programs.
Charlotte was also Secretary for the Applied Fluid Dynamics Group
and Administrative Specialist for the Arnold Chair. In July of 2008,
she was promoted to the position of Administrative Specialist in the
Office of the Associate Vice President for Administration and
Finance and continues to serve in that capacity. Charlotte and
husband David, live in Franklin County.
Madge Gibson received an award for thirty years of service. Madge
began in the Energy Conversion R&D Programs (ECP) as secretary in
the Electrical Engineering Department. She later worked in the
Combustion Group of ECP. During her career she was Assistant to the
Director of Public Relations, Assistant to the ECP Deputy Program
Manager, and Assistant to the Administrator of ECP. She obtained her
certificate as a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) in 1990. In
recent years she was Secretary to the Assistant Vice President for
Research and Development and is currently the Administrative
Coordinator for UTSI’s Executive Director. Madge lives in Franklin
County.
Keith Walker received an award for 35 years of service. Keith began
work at UTSI in 1974 working on the MHD project of the DOE Energy
Conversion R&D Programs. In 1978, Keith began work in the MHD Coal
Fired Flow Facility and continued until the project ended in 1998.
He transferred to the Propulsion Lab to work with the Research
Support Group and continues to serve in that capacity today. Keith
and wife Karen live in Decherd.
Also recognized was Student Government President, Andrew Wilson;
Outstanding Graduate Research Assistants, Brian Maicke and Jason
King; Resident Assistant, Nadim Zgheib; Faculty Assembly President,
Dr. Chris Parigger and Employee Relation Committee members, Tonya
Battles, Laura Horton, Rebecca Layman and Pam Ledford.
(Left to Right) Front Row: Betty Bright, Winchester; Dr. Ying Ling Chen, Tullahoma; Dr. Denise Jackson, Chattanooga; Charlene Hane, Tullahoma; Charlotte Henley, Winchester; Madge Gibson, Winchester; Laura Horton, Estill Springs. Back Row: Keith Walker, Decherd; Dr. Trevor Moeller, Manchester; Dr. Monty Smith, Tullahoma. Not pictured, Dean Ferrell, Lynchburg; Barbara Birdsong, Tullahoma.
