In a message to the campus community, Interim Chancellor Wayne T. Davis congratulates students, faculty, and staff at the close of the semester.

I am honored and excited to return to the University of Tennessee and to serve as your next chancellor. There has never been a better time to be a Volunteer, and I am ready to hit the ground running.

As the semester comes to a close, we want to update you on some of the specific actions being taken to help create a welcoming campus environment for all.

Interim Chancellor Wayne T. Davis is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Yamagata-Lynch as UT’s next ombudsperson.

Hosted by Interim Chancellor Wayne T. Davis with support from Interim President Randy Boyd, UT Institute of Agriculture Chancellor Tim Cross, and UT Institute for Public Service Vice President Herb Byrd, Picnic on the Plaza is a special event to celebrate UT’s faculty and staff and thank them for their service to the university.

An update on the specific actions we’re taking to continue this difficult and ongoing dialogue and take steps to heal our community and rebuild trust.

We are at a crossroads. Instead of accepting hate, we must denounce it. Instead of ignoring racism, we must name it and confront it. We must continue a dialogue through this moment to make Rocky Top a better place to be.

Interim Chancellor Davis invites the campus community to attend this year’s Mossman Lecture featuring Mayim Bialik on March 4 at 6:30 p.m.

UT System Interim President Randy Boyd and I attended a hearing in Nashville where Comptroller Justin Wilson presented a report to the Senate Education Committee about how the university funds student programming in light of the ongoing controversy around Sex Week.

Growing our research profile means creating opportunities for our university and for the people of Tennessee and beyond.