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A Research Showcase
East Tennessee State University hosted its annual Dr. Jay W. Boland Research Day on April 16, shining a spotlight on the innovative work and community engagement efforts of students, residents, and fellows from across campus.
With 270 participants and 93 faculty and staff members serving as judges, the event underscored the university’s commitment to fostering a strong culture of inquiry, collaboration, and real-world impact.
“Research Day continues to build on the momentum we saw last year,” said Dr. Nick Hagemeier, Vice Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer.
The event featured a dynamic mix of poster sessions, oral presentations, and creative displays as well as a community engagement showcase.
Outstanding Community Service
Dr. Felipe Fiuza, Natalie White, and Leah Loveday are recipients of the 2025 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Awards, which recognize the community service of students, faculty, and staff at Tennessee colleges and universities.
Fiuza, an Assistant Professor of Spanish, served as a translator between emergency personnel and affected families following Hurricane Helene.
A health sciences major, White has accumulated over 500 hours of community service in her initiative “Smile with NAT,” which serves dental patients in Appalachia.
Loveday, a community health major and recent Truman Scholar, has interned with RISE, a non-profit organization devoted to sexual health education in Northeast Tennessee.
Tackling Real-World Health Care Challenges
Student pharmacists in East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy’s Rural and Underserved Pharmacy Care Track tackled real-world health care challenges at ETSU/Eastman Valleybrook, home to Project EARTH and the Niswonger VILLAGE, a unique public health simulation lab.
Students worked in teams to design safe medication storage solutions for families in South Africa and Rwanda, where refrigeration and health care access are limited. They also explored Rus Pumps, a water purification system using natural filtration.
“This experience allowed our students to demonstrate a level of awareness and creativity that is hard to achieve in traditional classrooms, but even more crucial in low-resource settings,” said Dr. Emily Flores, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the college.
Grad School, Anywhere
ETSU’s commitment to accessible, high-quality graduate education continues to shine.
OnlineMastersColleges.com has named East Tennessee State University among the top institutions for online master’s programs in Tennessee, applauding its reputation for academic excellence and flexible, workforce-driven offerings in fields like health care, business, and education.
“With ETSU Online, students don’t have to choose between life and learning,” said
Dr. Sharon James McGee, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School.
With more than 20 fully online graduate programs, ETSU is helping students balance commitments, advance careers, and meet regional workforce needs — from wherever they are.
A Record-Breaking Festival of Ideas
ETSU welcomed Anthony Doerr (at right), bestselling author of All the Light We Cannot See and Cloud Cuckoo Land, and LeVar Burton (bottom right), award-winning actor, host, and literacy advocate, as the keynote speakers for this year’s Festival of Ideas.
With a combined attendance of more than 1,450 people to hear the speakers at the ETSU Martin Center, the festival broke last year’s attendance record.
The festival also included a workshop titled “Light in the Darkness,” which connected the themes of the week and focused on the power of stories to foster empathy, resilience, and joy in our lives.
Leading in Biotech
When national leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., to shape the future of biotechnology, ETSU was in the room.
Eric Jorgenson, Vice President of Biomanufacturing at the ETSU Research Corporation, joined scientists, investors, and policymakers at the AI+ Biotechnology Summit to discuss how America can stay competitive in this critical sector.
His message: Appalachia is ready to lead.
Through the ETSU Research Corporation, the university is building a regional bioeconomy — advancing sustainable manufacturing,
workforce development, and innovation that serves both local communities and global
markets.
It’s bold work. And it’s putting ETSU on the national map.
Driving Change
Through a grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), the ETSU Police Department has launched the ETSU Distracted Driver Education Experience Powered by Brightspeed.
The ETSU Distracted Driver Education Experience is a driving simulator that provides users with an interactive experience to teach them about the hazards of texting while driving. It can also be programmed to simulate other driving behaviors, such as driving under the influence or driving in challenging conditions such as rain or fog.
Thanks to the THSO grant and the Brightspeed sponsorship, there will be no cost to schools or community organizers who request and receive a visit from the distracted driving simulator.
Read more incredible stories in the Summer 2025 Edition of ETSU Today. #BucsGoBeyond
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