University of Tennessee President John Petersen came to the UT Space Institute in Tullahoma on March 18 for a UT System-wide Employee Relations Board meeting, as well as meetings with UTSI senior staff members, and all UTSI faculty and staff.  Petersen addressed UTSI faculty and staff regarding Dr. Don Daniel’s recent announcement that he will retire this May from his position as UT Associate Vice President for UTSI.  Petersen reassured the group that the UT Space Institute is still an integral part of the UT System, providing a distinct advantage as “something no one else has.”

Over the next few months, Petersen said, a search committee will be formed to begin a nationwide search for the next leader of the Space Institute in the fall.  Petersen stated that interim leadership would be put in place until a “strong, visionary leader” is selected. Petersen described the next UTSI leader as “a visionary that will keep UTSI turning in the direction that Dr. Daniel has started.”  The UT President answered questions from UTSI employees, assuring that the search committee would consider candidates from both near and far, including any current members of UTSI’s leadership that might apply.

Pres. Petersen encouraged the group of faculty and staff not to let down their guard during the interim, but to continue to work just as hard, if not harder, than they already are.  “The better your work here in the interim, the better the candidates you’ll be able to attract,” Petersen emphasized.  Petersen went on to Nashville to attend the Governor’s Business Roundtable after departing from UTSI.

University of Tennessee President John Petersen (right) is shown walking alongside UT Associate Vice President for UTSI Dr. Don Daniel, UTSI’s Assistant Vice President for Administration and Finance Peter Aamodt and Petersen’s Chief of Staff Margie Nichols on a recent visit to the UT Space Institute. During his visit, Petersen addressed UTSI faculty and staff regarding Dr. Daniel’s recent announcement that he will retire this May from his leadership position at UTSI.

PETERSEN MEETS WITH ERC GROUP AT UTSI—University of Tennessee President John Petersen, (front row at right), is shown above with Employee Relations Board Representatives from across the UT System during their March 18th meeting held at UTSI in Tullahoma. Shown from left to right in the front row are Petersen, Glenda Walker (UT Medical Center) and Valeria Hodge (UT Knoxville). In the next row are Elise Moore (UT Health Science Center), Valerah Hodges (UT Chattanooga), and Jim Bowman (UT Knoxville). In the third row are Catherine Mizell (UT System), Patricia Gonsowski (UT Martin), Betsy Harbin (UT Space Institute), Mary Evans (UT Knoxville), Dr. Connie Baskette (UT System) and Dr. PJ Snodgrass (UT Knoxville). In the back row are Stanley Tyler (UT Health Science Center), Kenny Wolfenbarger (UT Knoxville), Butch Peccolo (UT System) and Robert Osbourne (UT Knoxville).

PRESIDENT PETERSEN WITH UTSI SENIOR STAFF—University of Tennessee President John Petersen recently visited UTSI and met with UTSI leaders, before meeting with all of UTSI’s faculty and staff. UTSI Senior Staff members shown above from left to right are Assistant Vice President for Administration and Finance Peter Aamodt, Director of Facilities and Operations Wes McMinn, Petersen, Assistant Vice President for Research Angie Bukley, UT Associate Vice President for UTSI Dr. Don Daniel, Dean for Academic Affairs Bruce Bomar, Director of Human Resources Patricia Burks-Jelks, and UTSI’s Chief Information Officer Greg Sedrick.

— UTSI Photos by Laura Horton