2025 Summit Schedule
University of Tennessee Grand Challenges Summit
February 13 – 14, 2025
Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Interested in joining a dinner group for the night of the 13th? Sign up or create a new group here.
Choose a date and category (e.g. Overcoming Addiction) to see the presentation schedules
Due to the volume of sessions, the summit schedule is broken down by day and presentation focus areas. All times are CST.
State of the University Address
Presentation by UT System President Randy Boyd
Plated Lunch 11:20 AM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Time Block 1
Building a Bridge to an Inclusive Future: UTK CLEE’s Commitment to Advancing Education Through Belonging, Inclusion and Equity in the Classroom
30-minute Session
1:30-2:00 PM
Room: Cambridge A
View Presentation Summary
This session explores how CLEE’s Access for All Learning Network equips educators with tools for inclusive literacy and math instruction, highlights the impact of inclusionary practices on students with disabilities, and shares strategies for professional development, leadership coaching, and fostering equity and empathy in education.
Equipping Tennessee Teachers with Tools to Support Students’ Behavioral Successes
1-hour Session
1:30-2:35 PM
Room: Oakleigh B
View Presentation Summary
This session addresses the critical challenge of supporting early-career teachers in Tennessee by exploring strategies to manage student behavior and prepare educators to meet the complex needs of students, particularly those with emotional or behavioral challenges.
Access to and Success in Secondary Advanced STEM: The State of AP® Programming in Tennessee’s Rural Public High Schools
1-hour Session
1:30-2:35 PM
Room: Cambridge B
View Presentation Summary
This session examines disparities in advanced STEM course access and success in Tennessee’s rural high schools, highlighting geographic and demographic patterns, and offers recommendations for improving opportunities for rural students in advanced STEM education.
I.D.E.A.L. Citizenry: Innovative Designs that Engage Active Learning for Citizenry
30-minute Session
2:05-2:35 PM
Room: Cambridge A
View Presentation Summary
This session explores the “I.D.E.A.L. Citizenry” project, which enhances civic literacy and media literacy for grades 8-12 through innovative, interdisciplinary strategies that empower teachers as leaders and address challenges in rural and urban classrooms.
Time Block 2
Beyond Traditional Boundaries: Introducing 4-H students to Gen-AI Through Immersive Learning Experiences (ILEs)
30-minute Session
2:45-3:15 PM
Room: Cambridge B
View Presentation Summary
This session explores innovative approaches to integrating generative AI tools like ChatGPT into education outside traditional classrooms. It highlights professional development for 4-H educators, immersive learning experiences for grades 7-12, and data-driven insights into enhancing student learning and AI competency.
Empowering Honors Students to Address Tennessee’s Grand Challenges Through Design Thinking
30-minute Session
2:45-3:15 PM
Room: Oakleigh A
View Presentation Summary
This session presents a curriculum for teaching honors students design thinking to tackle Tennessee’s grand challenges, such as advancing education, strengthening rural communities, and overcoming addiction. This presentation will also explore how this hands-on approach enhances critical thinking, creativity, and leadership while offering opportunities to scale the pedagogy and connect students with future research mentorship.
Enhancing Parenting Practices and Child Well-Being: Assessing the Impact of Trauma-Informed Parenting Training through a University-School Collaboration
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Oakleigh B
View Presentation Summary
This session examines a trauma-informed parenting training that improved children’s behavior and parental empathy, highlighting the impact of school-parent partnerships in fostering resilience and advancing K-12 education.
From Goals to Graphs: Bridging STEM Education Gaps with Soccer Analytics
30-minute Session
3:20-3:50 PM
Room: Cambridge B
View Presentation Summary
This session explores footyLab, an innovative after-school program that uses soccer to teach data science and STEM skills, offering a low-cost, high-impact solution to East Tennessee’s K-12 STEM education challenges while engaging students and supporting professional development for teachers.
Addressing Tennessee’s Teacher Shortage: How UT PLAYS and the Be One UT Values are Advancing K–12 Education
30-minute Session
3:20-3:50 PM
Room: Oakleigh A
View Presentation Summary
This session highlights UTK’s UT PLAYS program, which addresses teacher shortages in high-need areas like Special Education and Math by offering an accessible, high-quality teacher preparation program for aspiring educators at any stage of life.
Time Block 3
Access + Content + Language = STEM Learning for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youths (ACL=STEM)
30-minute Session
4:00-4:30 PM
Room: Cambridge B
View Presentation Summary
TACL=STEM aims to engage culturally and linguistically diverse youths (CLDYs) in STEM content while building academic English skills through a project-based curriculum, after-school mentorship by bilingual engineering students, and a focus on STEM identity development, addressing inequities in STEM education.
Thriving in Tennessee: Empowering Students through MTSS and School Behavioral Health
1-hour Session
4:00-5:05 PM
Room: Oakleigh B
View Presentation Summary
This session discusses the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework for addressing youth mental health in schools, offering a structured, evidence-based approach to support students’ mental health through tiered interventions and collaboration between schools and communities.
Machine Learning Approach to Studying the Intersection of SDoH; Physiological, Psychological Well-being and Academic Performance; and Subsequent Holistic Intervention Development (TennWell Project)
30-minute Session
4:35-5:05 PM
Room: Cambridge B
View Presentation Summary
In collaboration with the Emerald Youth Foundation, this study examines the impact of stress and trauma on the gut microbiome, immune, and neuroendocrine systems in adolescents, integrating Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) to inform interventions that promote well-being and academic success.
State of the University Address
Presentation by UT System President Randy Boyd
Plated Lunch 11:20 AM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Time Block 1
Rural Expansion of Access to Genetic Counseling and Health Care through AI Innovations (REACH)
30-minute Session
1:30-2:00 PM
Room: Mirabella G
View Presentation Summary
This project aims to address disparities in genetic counseling services in rural Tennessee by developing an AI platform that offers personalized, remote counseling using advanced technologies to improve healthcare access and outcomes.
Strengthening Rural Governance in West Tennessee
30-minute Session
1:30-2:00 PM
Room: Mirabella H
View Presentation Summary
This presentation addresses the challenge of limited governance capacity in rural Tennessee communities, proposing a comprehensive approach to enhance governance, economic development, and staff support through partnerships and targeted initiatives, with the goal of fostering sustainable community development.
Mobile Interprofessional Tandem Service (MITS) Model to Enhance Audiology and Speech Pathology Care and Outcomes in Rural East Tennessee
30-minute Session
1:30-2:00 PM
Room: Mirabella I
View Presentation Summary
This presentation introduces the Rural Health and Older Adult Interprofessional Mobile Health and Workforce Recruitment Program (ROAD MAP) by UTC, which aims to improve healthcare access and outcomes for older adults in rural Southeast Tennessee through a mobile health unit, interprofessional education, and public health partnerships.
Tempo-spatial Analysis of Rural Gentrification in Tennessee
30-minute Session
2:05-2:35 PM
Room: Mirabella G
View Presentation Summary
This study investigates the impact of gentrification in rural Tennessee communities, exploring both the potential economic benefits and the challenges of community displacement and increased living costs.
Workforce Challenges in Tennessee’s Water and Wastewater Industry
30-minute Session
2:05-2:35 PM
Room: Mirabella H
View Presentation Summary
The Tennessee Water Workforce Survey, conducted in 2024, reveals significant challenges in hiring and retaining skilled operators for rural water and wastewater utilities, highlighting workforce shortages, low retention, and recruitment struggles due to an aging workforce and lack of qualified applicants. The presentation will discuss these issues and explore solutions, including educating communities and local decision-makers to address the workforce crisis.
Wellness on Wheels: Bringing Care to Your Community
30-minute Session
2:05-2:35 PM
Room: Mirabella I
View Presentation Summary
Wellness on Wheels is a mobile service delivering food, healthcare screenings, and social services to underserved communities, aiming to remove barriers to access and provide timely support. Attendees will learn about its impact on food security, healthcare access, and financial and social stability, fostering healthier, empowered communities.
Time Block 2
Strengthening Rural Communities: Using Drones to Deliver Health Care Services
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Mirabella G
View Presentation Summary
This presentation shares findings from the NSF Smart and Connected Communities Planning Grant, focusing on using drone-assisted smart medication delivery to enhance healthcare in rural Tennessee. Attendees will learn about innovative AI frameworks, community collaborations, and a proof-of-concept for optimizing delivery services to combat drug abuse in underserved areas.
Creating People-Centric Workplaces in Rural Communities
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Mirabella H
View Presentation Summary
This presentation explores how people-centric workplaces can enhance employee well-being, improve manufacturer performance, and strengthen rural communities. Attendees will learn strategies for small manufacturers to attract, develop, and retain talent by balancing high performance with employee well-being, while also addressing challenges in rural labor markets.
On the Road to Better Rural Health: Outreach, Education and Training to Strengthen Health and Health Care
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Mirabella I
View Presentation Summary
This proposal aims to improve rural health outcomes and address workforce shortages by deploying three One UT-branded health units across rural Tennessee for outreach, education, and training. The initiative will leverage nursing expertise and community partnerships to enhance health education and professional development, ultimately strengthening the rural healthcare workforce and improving health outcomes.
The Be More Tennessee Initiative: Sustainably Reducing Obesity in 7 Rural Tennessee Counties using Policy, Systems and Environmental Change
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Cambridge A
View Presentation Summary
This project addresses health disparities in rural Tennessee by implementing policy, systems, and environmental changes to reduce obesity and improve health outcomes. Through community partnerships and needs assessments, local Extension agents lead initiatives to promote healthy lifestyle changes and overcome barriers to nutrition and physical activity.
Time Block 3
Enhancing Health Care Access and Training Future Nursing Leaders Through a Mobile Health Program
30-minute Session
4:00-4:30 PM
Room: Mirabella G
View Presentation Summary
This project aims to improve health outcomes for older adults in rural Southeast Tennessee by using a mobile health unit to provide healthcare and social services. Through interprofessional education and service learning, UTC enhances community health, supports an Age-Friendly Ecosystem, and strengthens the healthcare workforce.
Empowering Rural Communities: Leadership Development and Volunteer Engagement for Enhanced Community Capacity
30-minute Session
4:00-4:30 PM
Room: Mirabella H
View Presentation Summary
This presentation explores how leadership development and volunteer engagement can strengthen rural communities, highlighting UT Extension’s role in enhancing community capacity and sustainable development through locally-driven action. Participants will gain practical strategies for leadership development, volunteer engagement, and resources to support rural community growth.
Feasibility of Implementing Personalized eHealth Program through Fitness Wearable and Application Among Rural Cancer Survivors
30-minute Session
4:00-4:30 PM
Room: Mirabella I
View Presentation Summary
This presentation outlines the development of an AI-based personalized fitness program for rural cancer survivors, leveraging eHealth technologies to address health disparities and improve well-being through data-driven, sustainable solutions.
AI-Driven Precision Medicine: Tackling Rural Health Care Disparities with EHR Insights
30-minute Session
4:00-4:30 PM
Room: Cambridge A
View Presentation Summary
This presentation discusses leveraging machine learning to extract insights from electronic health records (EHRs) to improve healthcare outcomes in rural communities, focusing on cancer staging and patient data anonymization to address disparities in healthcare access and delivery.
Rural Health and Older Adult Interprofessional Mobile Health Program: Forging Collaborative Partnerships
30-minute Session
4:35-5:05 PM
Room: Mirabella G
View Presentation Summary
This presentation highlights the Rural Health and Older Adult Interprofessional Mobile Health and Workforce Recruitment Program (ROAD MAP) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The initiative will deploy a mobile health unit to provide healthcare and social services to older adults in 8 rural Southeast Tennessee counties, focusing on interprofessional education, service learning, and building an Age-Friendly Ecosystem to enhance rural healthcare and workforce capacity.
Connecting Opportunities Through a Global and Local Lens for Rural Tennessee
30-minute Session
4:35-5:05 PM
Room: Mirabella H
View Presentation Summary
This presentation explores how the University of Tennessee System can foster collaboration across institutions to enhance international business and education opportunities for rural Tennesseans. By leveraging expertise and conserving financial resources, these partnerships—both within the U.S. and abroad—help bridge the gap between global markets and local communities, driving economic growth and cultural exchange in underrepresented areas throughout Tennessee.
“We’re All in This Together”: Exploring Tennessee Farm Family Stress and Mental Health Management
30-minute Session
4:35-5:05 PM
Room: Mirabella I
View Presentation Summary
This presentation focuses on the challenges faced by family farms in rural Tennessee, particularly the rising suicide rates and economic pressures, and offers strategies for rural community leaders to better support farm families. Audiences will gain insights into how cultural values impact mental health and learn actionable recommendations for addressing family farm stress through revised messaging and education.
Improving Rural Patient Outcomes by Optimizing Targeted Social Drivers of Health: An EHR-AI Systems Engineering Simulation Approach to Precision Health
30-minute Session
4:35-5:05 PM
Room: Cambridge A
View Presentation Summary
This presentation details a precision health initiative that integrates EHR, AI, and systems engineering to deliver tailored health interventions in rural communities. Audiences will learn how predictive modeling and multidisciplinary collaboration can optimize healthcare delivery, address health disparities, and improve outcomes in underserved areas.
State of the University Address
Presentation by UT System President Randy Boyd
Plated Lunch 11:20 AM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Time Block 1
Bridging the Gap: Tailored Distance Education for Rural Addiction Counseling in Tennessee
30-minute Session
1:30-2:00 PM
Room: Oakleigh A
View Presentation Summary
This session highlights the critical need for accessible substance use treatment in rural Tennessee, focusing on the lack of addiction services and the high rates of untreated addiction. Audiences will learn about the project’s research process, including focus groups and interviews, and gain insights into the importance of culturally responsive counseling for addressing these challenges in rural communities.
Pain Sensitivity, Pain Affect, Pain Catastrophizing, and Chronic Stress as Predictors of Quantity of Substance Use in People Who Use Methamphetamine and Opioids
1-hour Session
1:30-2:35 PM
Room: Broadlands B
View Presentation Summary
This session focuses on a study exploring how pain, psychological distress, and stress contribute to the intensity of methamphetamine and opioid use in Tennessee. Participants will learn about the project’s approach to measuring the association between pain sensitivity, stress, cravings, and drug use, and its potential implications for understanding relapse and treatment strategies.
The HEALing Communities Study: Effectiveness of a Community-Engaged Data-Driven Process to Reduce Opioid Overdoses
1-hour Session
1:30-2:35 PM
Room: Broadlands A
View Presentation Summary
This session shares key findings from the HEALing Communities Study (HCS), which aimed to reduce opioid overdose deaths through evidence-based interventions in 67 communities. Attendees will learn about successful strategies such as naloxone distribution, stigma reduction, and medication for opioid use disorder, and how these approaches can inform Tennessee’s efforts to combat the overdose crisis.
Counselors on the Front: Increasing Tennessee’s Addiction Counseling Workforce
30-minute Session
2:05-2:35 PM
Room: Oakleigh A
View Presentation Summary
This session addresses the critical need to train addiction counselors to effectively treat substance use disorders, with a focus on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s new certificate program funded by Hamilton County opioid settlement money. Attendees will learn about the importance of equipping counselors with necessary skills, strategies for integrating these competencies into academic programs, and a blueprint for training aligned with LADAC standards.
Time Block 2
The Efficient Allocation of Harm Reduction Resources to Prevent Overdose Deaths
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Broadlands A
View Presentation Summary
This session presents two working papers focused on optimizing harm reduction resources to reduce overdose deaths. Attendees will learn about the use of machine learning to improve the placement of treatment centers and the importance of community-driven efforts to distribute fentanyl test strips effectively.
Opioid-Induced Epigenetic and Visuocognitive Changes Associated with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Broadlands B
View Presentation Summary
This project addresses neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in Tennessee through an innovative integration of epigenetics research and visuo-cognitive assessments, aiming to unlock new therapeutic strategies. Attendees will learn about the use of AI and supercomputing to better understand NAS and improve treatment outcomes.
Time Block 3
Mapping Recovery Ecosystems at the Local Level to Overcome Addiction
30-minute Session
4:00-4:30 PM
Room: Broadlands B
View Presentation Summary
This session explores the Recovery Ready Ecosystem Model (RREM) and its application through a mapping tool to help rural communities locate recovery resources and optimize fund allocation. Attendees will learn about the RREM framework, its real-world applications in rural settings, and how the tool supports effective resource distribution, particularly opioid settlement funds.
Leveraging the Right Partnerships at the Local Level
1-hour Session
4:00-5:05 PM
Room: Oakleigh A
View Presentation Summary
This presentation highlights UT SMART’s collaboration to install ONEbox™ overdose response kits in music venues, saving lives in Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Attendees will learn how to overcome stigma, liability concerns, and political barriers by leveraging innovative partnerships, data-driven targeting, and UT’s leadership in uniting stakeholders.
Nourish Recovery: A Nutrition Education Program for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
1-hour Session
4:00-5:05 PM
Room: Broadlands A
View Presentation Summary
This presentation explores the role of nutrition in substance use disorder (SUD) recovery and highlights Extension’s potential to deliver tailored, evidence-based programming. Attendees will learn about collaborative efforts to address malnutrition in recovery and review data on nutrition initiatives in Tennessee’s drug recovery centers.
A Mathematics-based Approach to Opioid Epidemiology in Tennessee
30-minute Session
4:35-5:05 PM
Room: Broadlands B
View Presentation Summary
This presentation examines how mathematical models traditionally used in infectious disease epidemiology can be adapted to address opioid use disorder. Attendees will explore data-driven insights for Tennessee, challenges in modeling addiction, and the potential for these models to inform policy decisions.
State of the University Address
Presentation by UT System President Randy Boyd
Plated Lunch 11:20 AM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Time Block 1
Transitioning Gaps, Executive Functioning Impacts, and Assessing the Needs of Neurodivergent Students
30-minute Session
1:30-2:00 PM
Room: Mirabella J
View Presentation Summary
The transition to college poses significant challenges for neurodiverse students due to gaps in support systems, highlighting the need for improved practices to address self-advocacy, social adjustment, time management, academic rigor, independent living, and resilience.
The Mosaic Program and Neurodivergent Education Transition (NET)
30-minute Session
2:05-2:35 PM
Room: Mirabella J
View Presentation Summary
The Mosaic Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga supports autistic students in earning their degrees while addressing critical gaps in the high school-to-college transition, offering insights into improving educational practices, supporting parents, and enhancing the experiences of neurodiverse students entering post-secondary education.
Time Block 2
Embracing Neurodiversity: Addressing Stigma and Promoting Neuroinclusivity in Elementary Education
1-hour Session
2:45-3:50 PM
Room: Mirabella J
View Presentation Summary
This presentation explores how educating young students about neurodiversity—natural variations in brain function like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia—can reduce stigma, promote inclusion, and improve educational outcomes, with a focus on the collaborative role of Speech-Language Pathologists and educators in creating supportive learning environments.
Time Block 3
Connecting Families in Rural Tennessee with Disability Resources: Rural Disability Resource Network
1-hour Session
4:00-5:05 PM
Room: Mirabella J
View Presentation Summary
The Rural Disability Resource Network (RDRN) addresses the lack of disability resources in rural Tennessee, and this session will highlight its initiatives, plans for utilizing recent grant funding, and ways attendees can contribute to creating meaningful change for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Time Block 1
Thermal Runaway in Electronic Devices: a Transformational PBL Unit for High School Chemistry
30-minute Session
8:00-8:30 AM
Room: Broadlands A
View Presentation Summary
This session explores the implementation of a problem-based learning (PBL) unit in high school chemistry, focusing on culturally relevant and community-engaged scientific phenomena. Participants will gain insights from a pilot project on thermal runaway in electronic devices, learn strategies for effective PBL implementation, and brainstorm ways to apply PBL in their classrooms to inspire solution-focused thinking on real-world challenges.
The Community Schools Solution
1-hour Session
8:00-9:05 AM
Room: Cambridge B
View Presentation Summary
This session highlights the transformative impact of the Community School (CS) model, an evidence-based approach with a proven return on investment of $7 for every $1 spent. Participants will learn how the CS model fosters school-community partnerships, improves attendance, reduces behavior referrals, and enhances academic performance, making it a cost-effective strategy to advance K-12 education in Tennessee.
Addressing K–12 Financial Education Challenges in Rural Tennessee
1-hour Session
8:00-9:05 AM
Room: Cambridge A
View Presentation Summary
This session explores the growing emphasis on K-12 financial education in Tennessee, including the state’s legislative efforts and the unique role of in-school financial education in strengthening communities. Presenters will share insights from Money Week, a curriculum that has engaged over 7,000 students across 31 counties since 2021, and identify research, policy, and practice gaps, particularly in rural areas. Using an ecosystem perspective, participants will learn about multi-level, evidence-based strategies to enhance the effectiveness and equity of financial education in Tennessee schools.
Empowering Mentor Teachers and Leaders Through the GYO Collaboratory
1-hour Session
8:00-9:05 AM
Room: Broadlands B
View Presentation Summary
This session introduces the Grow Your Own (GYO) Collaboratory project, which provides standards-aligned professional development for mentor teachers in teacher apprenticeship programs. Attendees will learn how the program enhances mentor training, fosters leadership development, and prepares 600 mentor teachers annually to support aspiring educators and advance school leadership pipelines.
Innocrate for Innovative K-12 Education in Advanced Materials and Manufacturing on a National Scale
30-minute Session
8:35-9:05 AM
Room: Broadlands A
View Presentation Summary
This session highlights Innocrate, a customizable K-12 STEM learning kit developed by the UT Composites team, designed to foster experiential learning in areas like plastics, composites, and metalwork. With over 2,000 students benefitting nationwide, Innocrate includes teacher training, VR tools, and adaptable resources, addressing workforce development needs identified by agencies like DOE and NSF.
Time Block 2
Equipping Educators for Excellence (E3)
30-minute Session
9:15-9:45 AM
Room: Broadlands B
View Presentation Summary
The Equipping Educators for Excellence (E3) program supports rural K-12 STEM teachers by providing mentorship, stipends for curriculum development, and grants for materials, with a focus on lab/data science (LDS) education and health literacy. Through partnerships with UTHSC faculty, E3 develops real-world LDS modules, increasing resources, career exposure, and health literacy in underserved West Tennessee communities.
Transformative Test Prep: TCAPs Test Prep in Community Schools
1-hour Session
9:15-10:20 AM
Room: Cambridge B
View Presentation Summary
This session explores the link between family wealth, standardized test scores, and long-term academic and life outcomes, particularly in Tennessee where third-grade TCAP scores impact future success. It proposes a Test Prep Academy aimed at providing high-quality test preparation for children living in poverty to improve academic outcomes and reduce risks of addiction and involvement in the criminal justice system.
Establishing Quality on Rural Schools’ Professional Development Choices
1-hour Session
9:15-10:20 AM
Room: Cambridge A
View Presentation Summary
This project aims to strengthen K-12 literacy education in Tennessee by creating a CANVAS site with customizable professional development modules that connect literacy theory and practice, addressing district-specific needs. By collaborating with researchers, practitioners, and district leaders, the project will offer tailored PD experiences, support rural schools, and develop leaders to sustain evidence-based literacy practices.
Changing Addictive Landscape with Knowledge Qualification and Exchange in Integrated Social Media Interactions
30-minute Session
9:50-10:20 AM
Room: Broadlands B
View Presentation Summary
This project explores how to transform social media addiction into a learning tool by integrating learning objectives, participant profiles, and social media parameters into a knowledge exchange platform. By using information technology to measure and qualify knowledge, it enables college students to engage with peers in a socially addictive environment while meeting educational goals.
Closing Keynote
Presentation by Dr. Joe Sanfelippo
1-hour Session
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Room: Mirabella Ballroom
Time Block 1
The RAIL (Rural Assessment and Intervention Library) System
1-hour Session
8:00-9:05 AM
Room: Mirabella D
View Presentation Summary
The RAIL (Rural Assessment and Intervention Library) System aims to address resource and funding barriers faced by rural school psychologists in Tennessee, enabling them to access assessments, interventions, and expert consultations they cannot otherwise afford. This system seeks to improve the accuracy of evaluations for special education eligibility, ultimately helping students with disabilities receive the services they need to succeed in higher education.
Time Block 2
Addressing Access to Employment and Resources for Individuals with Barriers in Rural Communities toward Workforce Pipeline Development
30-minute Session
9:15-9:45 AM
Room: Broadlands A
View Presentation Summary
This session aims to explore the causes of workforce and labor shortages, particularly in rural areas, and to discuss interventions for addressing the barriers that prevent individuals from securing sustainable employment. By the end, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by rural individuals, learn about innovative programs working to address these issues, and explore potential solutions to improve employment opportunities in these communities.
Project RAISE: An Innovative Partnership to Strengthen Mental Health in Rural Tennessee Schools
1-hour Session
9:15-10:20 AM
Room: Mirabella D
View Presentation Summary
This session will outline Project RAISE, a collaborative initiative between UT’s Center for Learning, Education, and Employment (CLEE) and the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), designed to address the shortage of school-based mental health providers in rural districts. Presenters will discuss the partnership’s approach to recruiting and retaining mental health practitioners, share lessons learned on building sustainable relationships and resources, and explore how this effort strengthens rural communities and supports K-12 education.
Promising Pathways for Career and Technical Education in Rural Tennessee
30-minute Session
9:50-10:20 AM
Room: Broadlands A
View Presentation Summary
This session will present new research on Career and Technical Education (CTE) access in rural Tennessee, focusing on the alignment of K-12 and postsecondary CTE programs with high-paying, in-demand jobs and their availability in rural areas. Presenters will discuss the impact of CTE programs on student outcomes, such as employment and earnings, explore barriers to enrollment, and conclude with a discussion on policy solutions and areas for further research.
Closing Keynote
Presentation by Dr. Joe Sanfelippo
1-hour Session
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Room: Mirabella Ballroom
Time Block 1
It Takes a Village: An Ecological Approach to Youth Substance Use Prevention in East Tennessee
1-hour Session
8:00-9:05 AM
Room: Mirabella C
View Presentation Summary
This session will discuss four activities aimed at preventing addiction in early adolescence, including youth programming, caregiver workshops, and teacher workshops, with a focus on rural youth in Union County and Hispanic youth in Knox County. It will highlight the importance of promoting substance use prevention through knowledge, leadership, and skill development, as well as the role of caregivers and teachers in fostering healthy youth development, supported by data showing the significance of these efforts.
The Role of Business Organizations and Impact of Business Practices on the Creation of the Opioid Crisis in the Appalachian Region
1-hour Session
8:00-9:05 AM
Room: Mirabella B
View Presentation Summary
This session will explore how the business practices within the pharmaceutical industry and its supply chain played a key role in the creation and growth of the opioid epidemic, particularly targeting the Appalachian region. The audience will gain insights into the unintended consequences of common business practices, the influence of corporate lobbying, and the importance of understanding the roots of the addiction crisis in order to prevent similar issues in future markets such as social media or artificial intelligence.
Unraveling the Interconnection: Substance Use and Health-Related Behaviors among Youth in Tennessee
1-hour Session
8:00-9:05 AM
Room: Mirabella A
View Presentation Summary
This study uses spatial microsimulation modeling to generate detailed, small-area prevalence estimates of substance use and mental health issues among Tennessee youth, focusing on tobacco, alcohol, drug use, and mental health problems at the census tract level. By leveraging the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and U.S. Census data, the project aims to identify local patterns and disparities, offering insights that will inform targeted interventions and resource allocation, ultimately improving public health strategies and addressing the overdose crisis in Tennessee.
Time Block 2
The Opposite of Addiction is Connection
30-minute Session
9:15-9:45 AM
Room: Mirabella C
View Presentation Summary
Rocky Top Recovery, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), addresses addiction by building connections, offering peer support, and promoting harm-reduction care. This presentation highlights CRP’s impact and resources, emphasizing the importance of addiction prevention, intervention, and the role of Collegiate Recovery Programs on campuses.
Getting Things Done Through Relationships
1-hour Session
9:15-10:20 AM
Room: Mirabella B
View Presentation Summary
The UT SMART Initiative has helped local government officials in 82 of Tennessee’s 95 counties develop strategies to combat the opioid crisis, providing assistance with grant writing, program evaluation, and community engagement. This session will highlight methods for engaging county leadership, using local data to inform decisions, and supporting effective allocation of opioid settlement funds.
Merging Recovery and Education in K–12 and beyond
1-hour Session
9:15-10:20 AM
Room: Mirabella A
View Presentation Summary
The Educational Opportunity Center, a federally funded Trio grant at the University of Tennessee, assists low-income and first-generation students in 27 counties by guiding them through career exploration, college applications, and financial aid processes. The Gateway Recovery Community Center, which supports individuals in recovery from substance use disorders, partners with EOC to help participants further their education as part of their recovery journey.
Expanding Recovery Supports on College Campuses
30-minute Session
9:50-10:20 AM
Room: Mirabella C
View Presentation Summary
The Mocs Recovery Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, launched in January 2022, supports students through a harm reduction approach, offering services such as peer support, leadership development, and naloxone distribution, and was accredited by the Association for Recovery in Higher Education in Fall 2023. This session will address college student substance use data, the impact of college environments on substance use risk, and the benefits of collegiate recovery programs, preparing attendees to advocate for students in recovery.
Closing Keynote
Presentation by Dr. Joe Sanfelippo
1-hour Session
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Room: Mirabella Ballroom