Lee University names Debbie Murray as new provost
Lee University's Board of Directors recently appointed Debbie Murray to the newly-created provost position for the university. Murray will also continue to serve as vice president for academic affairs - a position she has held since 2013.
"Dr. Murray is richly deserving of this honor. She is one of the finest academic professionals I have ever known," said Paul Conn, university president, in a statement.
As provost, Murray will continue to direct all academic programs at Lee. She will directly supervise the university's six schools and colleges, as well as numerous specialized academic programs.
Murray also holds the rank of distinguished professor of education at Lee. She joined the Lee faculty in 1980 as an assistant professor of education and had served as dean of the Helen DeVos College of Education for 25 years before becoming a member of Conn's administrative cabinet in 2013.
As a faculty member, she is a previous winner of the school-wide Excellence in Advising Award and was selected as Alumnus of the Year from the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in 1997.
Murray is a graduate of Cleveland High School and Lee, where she earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics. She also has earned a master's degree in special education and an educational doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Chattanooga State to offer virtual TN Reconnect info sessions
In lieu of in-person information sessions regarding the Tennessee Reconnect scholarship program, Chattanooga State Community College is offering four virtual information sessions this month.
The scholarship program allows Tennessee adults who qualify to attend an eligible institution free of tuition and mandatory fees.
Marsha Barker, director of adult services at Chattanooga State will conduct the sessions and cover topics including how to apply for TN Reconnect and to Chattanooga State, financial aid and FAFSA, eligibility requirements, covered costs and more. The sessions will be held: April 9 at 5 p.m.; April 13 at 2 p.m.; April 16 at 5 p.m. and April 18 at 10 a.m.
For more information or to make a reservation for one of the information sessions, visit: chattanoogastate.edu/tnreconnect.
Center for Creative Arts honored by National Junior Honors Society
The National Junior Honors Society (NJHS) chapter at Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts (CCA) was recently selected by the national organization as one of its 2020 Outstanding Service Project Award recipients.
For more than 15 years, the NJHS students at the CCA have coordinated the "Seuss on the Loose" project, led by Angi Donen, a counselor for middle grades, and Cody Murphy, the musical theater instructor and co-sponsor of the chapter.
Teams of CCA student members travel to local elementary schools and perform a skit that is an adaption of a Dr. Seuss book. The students also read to the students at the schools.
"The main goal of this project is to connect with local students and demonstrate artistic talent while providing community service through reading and storytelling," Donen said in a press release.
The Outstanding Service Project awards recognize the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society chapters that have made significant service contributions at the local level, according to the organization. Five National Honors Society and five NJHS projects are selected for the recognition each year.
VEX Robotics launches free online resource for teachers and students
VEX Robotics has officially launched VEXcode VR (Virtual Robot), a web-based tool for educators designed to provide resources for computer science lessons to those who don't have access to a physical VEX Robot at home.
Through VEXcode VR, teachers will have the opportunity to continue their students' STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) training virtually.
The online tool will include virtual robots and virtual playgrounds that students can code and see in real-time, as well as ready-made lessons and activities for students.
For more information, visit: vexrobotics.com/vexcode-vr or education.vex.com/vr.
If you have news about local schools or about something impacting local students that you'd like included in Class Notes, email Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com.