2026 ݮƵ 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 ݮƵ President Randy Boyd
Join Randy Boyd and chancellors from across the ݮƵ 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, ݮƵ Center for Rural Health Excellence, Dean, College of Nursing ݮƵ 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, ݮƵ 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, ݮƵ Center for Rural Health Excellence, Dean, College of Nursing ݮƵ Health Science Center
- J.W. Randolph, Tennessee deputy commissioner of Health
- Andrew Burnett, Tennessee Hospital Association
- Gregg Mitchell, ݮƵHSC 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, ݮƵHSC College of Pharmacy
- Jennifer Tourville, DNP, executive director, ݮƵ 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, ݮƵ 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, ݮƵ Institute for Public Service
- Hannah Wright, director of stakeholder and community engagement, ݮƵ 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, ݮƵ Chattanooga
- Amy Gilliland, associate director, Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, ݮƵ Knoxville
Neurodiversity in the Classroom and Beyond
Room Location: Franklin Ballroom B
- Elizabeth O’Brien, director, School of Professional Studies, ݮƵ Chattanooga
- Amanda Hardin, program director, School of Psychology, ݮƵ Chattanooga
- Amy Rutherford, director, College Autism Spectrum and co-founder of the Mosaic Program, ݮƵ Chattanooga
- Joshua Brown, Mosiac Program peer mentor and coach, ݮƵ 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 (ݮƵHSC) Table 1
- Youth Health Research with Ji Yoo (ݮƵK) Table 2
- Mobile Education with Alisa Haushalter (ݮƵHSC) Table 3
Healthcare in Rural Tennessee topics. Location: Franklin Ballroom B
- Rural Community Health with Wendy Likes (ݮƵHSC) and the Center of Excellence Table 4 + multiple tables
- Rural Health Partnerships with Diana Dedmon (ݮƵHSC) Table 5
Overcoming addiction topics. Location: Leiper’s Fork A
- Substance Use Disorders with Kristin Riggsbee (ݮƵIA) 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 (ݮƵK) Table 8
- Simulated Health Data for Small Areas with Spatial Microsimulation with Dr. Liem Tran (ݮƵK), Trevor Henderson and Ellen Oakes (ݮƵ IPS SMART) Table 9
Community outreach topics. Location: Leiper’s Fork B
- Community Engaged Scholarship with Amy Gilliland (ݮƵK) Table 10
- Digital Literacy with Sreedhar Upendram and Maggie Albro (ݮƵIA) Table 11
- Communications: Telling the Story with Bud Grimes (ݮƵM) Table 12
- Mental Health Challenges in Communities with Elizabeth O’Brien (ݮƵC) Table 13
- Mentoring in the Workplace with Erin Crisp and Canidra McGuire (ݮƵ System) Table 14
Education topics A. Location: Carter (11th Floor)
- Introducing K-12 Students to Health Careers with Rebecca Reynolds (ݮƵHSC) Table 15
- Bridging Higher and Secondary Education to Bring Together Educator Leaders and Develop Innovative Interventions with Frankie Weaver (ݮƵK) Table 16
- Neurodiversity in the Classroom with Amanda Hardin (ݮƵC) Table 17
- K-12 Special Education with Claire Paul (ݮƵS) Table 18
Education topics B. Location: Lotz (11th Floor)
- K-12 Literacy Education with Marianne Rice (ݮƵK) Table 19
- K-12 STEM with Steve Elliott (ݮƵM) and Alex Aitken, Haywood County Schools Table 20
- AI in K-12 Education with Dania Bilal, Mehmet Aydeniz, and Jennifer Richards (ݮƵK) 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 ()
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