Genesis and Katherine were recognized during a luncheon at ������� attended by UT System President Randy Boyd, ������� Provost Prentice Chandler, state Reps. Mark White and Clay Doggett, state Rep.-elect Noah Smith, university leaders and members of the campus community. The cousins will begin classes at ������� this fall, with Katherine studying nursing and Genesis studying English. Their arrival represents an opportunity not only for the two students but also for the Emberá Purú community they call home. Genesis and Katherine will be able to take new resources back to their village, including educational and professional knowledge they have not previously had access to.

“We thought to ourselves, it would be great if a few talented, smart and determined young people could receive an education they could utilize back in their home village,” Boyd said. “So that’s the hope. We’re counting on these two young ladies to go back to their village and do just that; provide resources and educate members of their community. Thanks to Genesis and Katherine for being the inspiration.”

White, who first introduced Genesis and Katherine to Boyd during a 2022 visit to Panama, said the students’ arrival represents the fulfillment of a vision that began during that visit.

“We’re here to celebrate these two young ladies, thanks to Randy Boyd, Krissy DeAlejandro and the Boyd Foundation for making all of this possible,” White said. “This opportunity began with a simple belief that education could open a door for these young women and their community. Today, we are seeing that belief become reality.”

The luncheon also provided an opportunity for university leaders and community partners to celebrate those who helped make the students’ enrollment possible, including Cup of Cold Water Ministries, which has worked with the Emberá Purú community for nearly two decades, building trusted relationships with families while encouraging educational opportunities for young people throughout the community.

“This opportunity is important to me because I want to be a help in my community and a translator in the future, teaching children and my community,” said Genesis. “President Randy Boyd, I want to thank you for this opportunity. My mother said that you have opened to me a door so now I’m here, and my purpose is to complete my duty as a student, daughter and member of my community.”

“I am so happy for this opportunity, and it is so important for me because I want to study nursing,” said Katherine. “I would like to be a kind nurse in the future, helping my people and my community. So, President Boyd, thank you for the opportunity you have given us to study at the �������.”

Genesis and Katherine presented President Boyd with tokens of their appreciation, including a bag of coffee beans and a mug, both curated from their village in Panama. As they begin their studies, Genesis and Katherine will become part of the ������� community while continuing to carry the experiences, culture and hopes of their home village with them.

Classes for the fall 2026 semester begin Aug. 19.

������� the �������

The ������� provides an exceptional educational experience that empowers students to discover their potential, serve their communities and lead meaningful lives. Located in Pulaski, Tennessee, ������� offers personalized learning, hands-on experiences and a close-knit campus community while serving southern Middle Tennessee and preparing students for success.

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is an organization set to promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. The organization has been a trusted resource for more than 10 years, is proudly featured by the country’s top nursing schools and is dedicated to delivering prospective students the most current and precise information.

“This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects sustained excellence,” said Dr. Gennifer Moon, Associate Professor and Department Head of Nursing and Health Sciences at ������� “Being named Tennessee’s top nursing program for a second consecutive year demonstrates the consistency of our students’ success, the expertise and commitment of our faculty and our unwavering focus on preparing graduates to provide exceptional patient care. We are proud to see our graduates enter the profession with the knowledge, confidence and compassion to make an immediate impact in communities across the state and beyond.”

Prior to this year’s ranking, the ������� BSN program reached a remarkable milestone, recording a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for the fifth consecutive year. The NCLEX-RN is the national licensing examination required for graduates to become registered nurses and serves as one of the most important indicators of nursing program quality and student preparedness.

The ������� Jeanette M. Travis School of Nursing and Health Sciences prepares students to become skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals through academically rigorous, student-centered programs grounded in excellence, leadership and service. The school offers undergraduate degrees in nursing and public health and is committed to developing graduates who are equipped to improve the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

For more information on �������’s nursing program, please visit utsouthern.edu.

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Upon the reorganization, two inaugural deans have been named to lead the new colleges:

Dr. Jessica Conrad, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Daniel McMasters, Dean of the College of Professional Studies

“I look forward to working with them as we build the identity and future of these new colleges,” Dr. Prentice Chandler, ������� Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor said. “We should take time to celebrate what has been accomplished while recognizing that the real value of this structure will be determined by what we build within it.”

The two colleges are comprised of the following departments:

College of Arts and Sciences:

• Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Department of Mathematics and Sciences
• Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development

College of Professional Studies:

• Department of Education
• Department of Criminal Justice
• Department of Nursing & Health Sciences
• Department of Business

For the first time in history, ������� is organized into colleges and led by inaugural deans. This moment reflects the institution’s growth and the shared commitment to serving students, supporting faculty and positioning the university for the future.

Read more about ������� academics here.

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Dr. Rebecca Todd Garvin, Prof. Cochran Pruett and Prof. Nan Wakefield will present their proposal, “Before the Sign: Building the Linguistic Landscape Through Community Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Research.” The presentation highlights work from a ������� interdisciplinary team spanning the history, computer science and English departments.

The project, known as the Maplewood Project, brings together faculty, archaeologist Claiborne Sea and community leaders in Pulaski to examine how language, history and place intersect. The research focuses on documenting and interpreting the region’s linguistic landscape through collaborative, community-based approaches.

Garvin will also co-present a second paper, “(Dis)embodied LL Narratives of Post-Crisis,” with Dr. Stefania Tufi, head of the Italian linguistics program at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.

That study explores post-crisis narratives in both Italy and the United States, analyzing how they are represented through printed materials, images, public signage and memorial landscapes. The research includes a focus on Italian cultural and historical expression following World War II.

The Linguistic Landscape Workshop is an international forum for scholars examining the role of language in public spaces, bringing together researchers from across disciplines to explore how language can shape identity, memory and community.

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������� employees (faculty, staff and instructors) are invited to nominate eligible colleagues. Employees, please check your inbox for more details including the nomination form links. All questions should be directed to utsawards@utsouthern.edu.

Nominations are open now and will close on March 30. 

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