2026 UT Grand Challenges Summit Schedule

Day 1 – Tuesday, February 10

10am – 5:00pm CST

10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Opening Remarks 

10:15 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. State of the University Address with UT President Randy Boyd  

Join Randy Boyd and chancellors from across the UT System as they explore the bold vision, momentum, and possibilities that are shaping the University’s greatest decade.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Grand Challenges Leadership Discussions 

Hear from thought leaders across the three Grand Challenge areas as they reveal what’s underway and what’s on the horizon including: 

The Future of K–12 Education 

  • Andrea Pasinetti, co-founder of Kira Learning 
  • Ben DiChiara, Tennessee STEM Innovation Network 
  • Marianne Rice, Assistant Professor of Literacy Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Rural Community Health 

  • Wendy Likes, executive director, UT Center for Rural Health Excellence, Dean, College of Nursing UT Health Science Center 
  • J.W. Randolph, Tennessee deputy commissioner of Health 
  • Christi Granstaff, Tennessee Charitable Care Network

Overcoming Addiction 

  • Marie Williams, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services 
  • Stephen Lloyd, M.D., chief medical officer, Cedar Recovery and chair, TN Opioid Abatement Council
  • Jennifer Tourville, DNP, executive director, UT Institute for Public Service SMART Initiative  

12 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch  

12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Breakout Panel Sessions  

Artificial Intelligence and Education 

Room Location: Franklin Ballroom A

  • Andrea Pasinetti, co-founder of Kira Learning 
  • Brandon Smith, Manager of Computer Science Implementation, Tennessee Department of Education
  • Ben DiChiara, Tennessee STEM Innovation Network 
  • Marianne Rice, Assistant Professor of Literacy Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 
  • Dania Bilal, Patricia D. Williams Endowed Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 
  • Michael Anastasi, vice president, USA Today Network

The Rural Health Landscape 

Room Location: Leipers Fork A

  • Wendy Likes, executive director, UT Center for Rural Health Excellence, Dean, College of Nursing UT Health Science Center 
  • J.W. Randolph, Tennessee deputy commissioner of Health 
  • Andrew Burnett, Tennessee Hospital Association 
  • Gregg Mitchell, UTHSC College of Medicine 
  • Dr. Morgan McDonald, Rural Health Association of Tennessee  

From Opioid Crisis to Overdose Crisis: What’s changed and what’s next? 

Room Location: Leipers Fork B

  • Tony Jackson, director, Office of Prevention and Early Intervention Services, TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  • Mary Linden Salter, executive director, TN Association of Alcohol, Drug, & other Addiction Services
  • Linda McCorkle, director, Treatment and Recovery Services, TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  • Tommy Farmer, special agent in charge, TN Bureau of Investigation and state director, TN Dangerous Drug Task Force
  • Tyler Melton, PharmD, Assistant Professor, UTHSC College of Pharmacy
  • Jennifer Tourville, DNP, executive director, UT Institute for Public Service SMART Initiative
     

Rural Community Development: Creating Capacity and Opportunities 

Room Location: Carter (11th Floor)

  • Adnan Rasool, director, Center for Teaching and Learning, UT Martin 
  • Brooxie Carlton, assistant commissioner of Rural and Community Development, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development 
  • Herb Byrd III, vice president of public service, UT Institute for Public Service 
  • Hannah Wright, director of stakeholder and community engagement, UT Institute for Public Service  

Outreach & Engagement: Solving Grand Challenges – The Continuum of Outreach and Engagement 

Room Location: Lotz (11th Floor)

  • Bryant Fairley, director of engagement, UT Chattanooga 
  • Amy Gilliland, associate director, Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, UT Knoxville 

Neurodiversity in the Classroom and Beyond 

Room Location: Franklin Ballroom B

  • Elizabeth O’Brien, director, School of Professional Studies, UT Chattanooga 
  • Amanda Hardin, program director, School of Psychology, UT Chattanooga 
  • Amy Rutherford, director, College Autism Spectrum and co-founder of the Mosaic Program, UT Chattanooga 
  • Joshua Brown, Mosiac Program peer mentor and coach, UT Chattanooga

1:45 p.m. – 2 p.m. Break

2 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Roundtable Discussions and Networking

Healthcare Education topics. Location: Franklin Ballroom A

  • Virtual Reality in Health Education with Tiffany Elliot (UTHSC) Table 1
  • Youth Health Research with Ji Yoo (UTK) Table 2
  • Mobile Education with Alisa Haushalter (UTHSC) Table 3

Healthcare in Rural Tennessee topics. Location: Franklin Ballroom B

  • Rural Community Health with Wendy Likes (UTHSC) and the Center of Excellence Table 4 + multiple tables
  • Rural Health Partnerships with Diana Dedmon (UTHSC) Table 5

Overcoming addiction topics. Location: Leiper’s Fork A

  • Substance Use Disorders with Kristin Riggsbee (UTIA) Table 6
  • Substance Use Disorders and Workforce Development  with Jeremy Kourvelas and Channie Cavitt (IPS) Table 7
  • Addictions in Rural Tennessee Communities with Jamian Coleman (UTK) Table 8
  • Simulated Health Data for Small Areas with Spatial Microsimulation with Dr. Liem Tran (UTK), Trevor Henderson and Ellen Oakes (UT IPS SMART) Table 9

Community outreach topics. Location: Leiper’s Fork B

  • Community Engaged Scholarship with Amy Gilliland (UTK) Table 10
  • Digital Literacy  with Sreedhar Upendram and Maggie Albro (UTIA) Table 11
  • Communications: Telling the Story with Bud Grimes (UTM) Table 12
  • Mental Health Challenges in Communities with Elizabeth O’Brien (UTC) Table 13
  • Mentoring in the Workplace with Erin Crisp and Canidra McGuire (UT System) Table 14

Education topics A. Location: Carter (11th Floor)

  • Introducing K-12 Students to Health Careers with Rebecca Reynolds (UTHSC) Table 15
  • Bridging Higher and Secondary Education to Bring Together Educator Leaders and Develop Innovative Interventions  with Frankie Weaver (UTK) Table 16
  • Neurodiversity in the Classroom with Amanda Hardin (UTC) Table 17
  • K-12 Special Education  with Claire Paul (UTS) Table 18

Education topics B. Location: Lotz (11th Floor)

  • K-12 Literacy Education with Marianne Rice (UTK) Table 19
  • K-12 STEM with Steve Elliott (UTM) and Alex Aitken, Haywood County Schools Table 20
  • AI in K-12 Education with Dania Bilal, Mehmet Aydeniz, and Jennifer Richards (UTK) Table 21

3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Break 

3:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. Keynote Address

MoonShot: From Challenge Accepted to Mission Accomplished

Across Tennessee, leaders are working tirelessly to address poverty, education gaps, workforce access, and community well-being. The challenge isn’t passion or programs—it’s alignment, momentum, and execution at scale. In this keynote, Carroll shares the “MoonShot” framework he has used to mobilize cities, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers around bold, measurable goals that once felt impossible. Drawing from real-world civic campaigns and cross-sector partnerships, attendees will learn how to set ambitious targets, align diverse stakeholders, build early wins, and create the energy needed to move from ideas to lasting outcomes. Practical, hopeful, and action-oriented, this talk equips leaders with tools to turn big challenges into coordinated missions that deliver results for their communities.

Speaker: City Leadership executive director John Carroll

4:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Day 1 Wrap Up

Day 2 – Wednesday, February 11

7am – 11:15am CST

6 a.m. – 9 a.m. Hotel breakfast (for hotel guests only)

7 a.m. – 8 a.m. Morning yoga (register here)

Sessions

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Collaboration Escape Room

9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Workforce Development and Global Citizenship Education – strengthening Tennessee – Japan partnerships for the future

9:50 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. The Certainty of Change: How to cope and succeed in a changing world, with Jessi Gold, M.D., M.S.

10:35 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Closing KeyNote

MoonShot: To the Moon and Back
History remembers the moon landing, but the mission wasn’t complete until the astronauts safely returned home. In the same way, our work to solve poverty, strengthen schools, and rebuild communities cannot come at the cost of the people leading the charge. In this closing keynote, John explores the often-overlooked side of impact work: sustainability for leaders themselves. Reflective, encouraging, and deeply personal, this session challenges leaders not only to change the world but to stay whole enough to enjoy the difference they make.

Speaker: City Leadership executive director John Carroll

11:25 a.m. Summit wrap-up