Recent Honorees

Col. Hank Hartsfield Jr.

Former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force pilot Col. Hank Hartsfield Jr. recently visited campus to participate in the Accomplished Alumni Program. Hartsfield delivered the keynote address at the Career Services Kickoff to Career Success for the College of Engineering.

Pictured: Dean Wayne Davis of the College of Engineering and Col. Hank Hartsfield Jr.

Jerry Johnson

Jerry Johnson returned to campus on Friday, Sept. 25 and spoke to a group of students at the Black Cultural Center. Johnson graduated from the College of Engineering in 1994. After earning his MBA from Harvard, he served as a White House fellow under Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and now serves as vice president for RLJ Equity Partners in Washington, D.C.

Pictured: Jerry Johnson with Dr. Roberto S. Benson, associate department head and professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Dale Dickey

Dale Dickey spent two weeks on campus in September to star in Clarence Brown Theatre’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Dickey is an accomplished actress who has appeared in television and film productions.

Pictured, L-R: Steve Catlett, associate vice chancellor of alumni affairs; Dale Dickey; Cal McLean, head of UT’s theater department; and Dean Bruce Bursten of the College of Arts and Sciences

Chris Grabenstein

Chris Grabenstein spent a week in Knoxville speaking to local schools and to a UT audience about his career as an author. Grabenstein worked in advertising for almost 20 years, writing commercials for America’s top agencies and serving as executive vice president of Young and Rubicam in New York. Several years ago he began writing mystery and thriller books for adults as well as a series of books for children and young adults. His most recent work, “Mind Scrambler,” has been nominated for a number of awards. Grabenstein spoke to an advertising management class and gave a lecture at McClung Museum to UT students, alumni, and friends.

Pictured: Chris Grabenstein and Dean Michael Wirth of the College of Communication and Information

Gene Wojciechowski

ESPN senior national sports columnist Gene Wojciechowski visited campus in September to participate in the Accomplished Alumni Program. Wojciechowski spoke to students at a breakfast in his honor and also spoke to the student staff of the Daily Beacon, where he once wrote as a UT student.

Pictured: Gene Wojciechowski (center) with Dean Michael Wirth (center, left) of the College of Communication and Information and students