UTC I-O Awards and Alumni
The UTC I-O Alumni Network
Since May 2008 we have been building a vibrant and powerful alumni community through our UTC I-O LinkedIn group. By joining this group as a UTC I-O student or alum, your contact info will always be as visible and up-to-date as you want it to be. Using the LinkedIn group also makes it possible for us to remain more directly in contact with program alumni, as long as you keep your profiles updated. To join us, simply make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and send a request to join from the following group url: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/106719/.
Every few years, we also conduct an alumni engagement survey. Here is a copy of the report from the most recent round (Spring 2025) - we think you will be as impressed and encouraged as we were, by these findings.
Student Awards & Recognition
We are privileged to have a number of meaningful awards and honors to distribute each year as a way of recognizing students who demonstrate exceptional engagement and all-around excellence in their program-related endeavors.
Program Honors: Graduate with Distinction
Beginning in 2022 we acknowledge graduating UTC I-O students who have demonstrated true mastery over the core I-O competencies that our program is designed to develop. This program honor of "Graduate with Distinction" is earned by students who apply and meet standards established for a review of multiple criteria by program faculty, including the student's overall record of achievement in the program and on internship/practicum, as well as evidence of the student's competency-related development and mastery, which is made most evident in a personal e-portfolio completed with guidance from the program.
2025: Britney Murray, Sally Hoffman, Helena Nichols
2024: Kelsey Walton and Amira Marquez Moreno
2023: Cydney Bish, Brittany Ikner, Emma Vosika, Paris Wright
2022: Randi Allen, Ashlyn Moraine, Megan O'Rear, Anna Waldron, Bethany Whitted
Biderman-Ourth Scholarship for I-O Psychology Study
Beginning in 2025 (our program's 50th anniversary year), this award supports a student who is continuing their studies in this program and has demonstrated a consistently strong record of performance, especially in statistics and research methods, as well as strength of character and compassion for others. This award is funded through generous donations from multiple program alumni, to honor the founding fathers of our I-O program, Dr. Lynn Ourth and Dr. Mike Biderman.
2025: Jasil Pearson.
V. Earl and Judy Tohill Brown scholarship for excellence in I-O psychology
Two to three students are recognized each year for all-around excellence in the program through these awards, which come with our recognition and a financial gift made possible through recurring and ongoing generosity of two of our most supportive alumni, Earl and Judy Tohill Brown. These awards recognize continual excellence in the classroom, across campus, and in their research, consulting, and/or internship-related endeavors on and off campus. This award is also intended to encourage new/incoming students to strive for excellence.
2025: Chloe Chaix, Luke Wiley, and Madison Tyler
2024: Britney Murray, Sawyer Robinson, and Madalyn Filetti
2023: Brittany Ikner, Megha Gurnani, and Emma Beck
2022: Stephanie Penpek and Emma Vosika
2021: Jessica Freim and Katie Werth
2020: Brittany Branda and Piotr Broda
2019: Celeste Bremmer and Alex Britt
2018: Tracey Woodbury and Princeanna Price
2017: Sofia Rodriguez and Jessi Wheeler
2016: Caitlin Carney and Christopher Morgan
2015: Craig Holton and Nicole Wild
The Dan Mack/Chattanooga SHRM Award
This award is also for general excellence in the program shown by second- or first-year student(s). The funds supporting this award come from a special endowment set up in memory of a former UTC I-O faculty member, Dr. Dan Mack, who tragically died early in his career. These funds are primarily made available from the Chattanooga SHRM group and we use them to recognize at least one student each year who is showing great promise and well-rounded success in a variety of program-related domains (in the classroom and beyond). More formally, the Dan Mack award is to recognize rising professionals who are exhibiting a commitment to application of our science and evidence to real-world problems. The connection with SHRM is what makes this a special/unique award and the hope is that students will use the funds that they receive for this award to join a local SHRM chapter (now or in the future).
2025: Cari Beth Walker, Aaron Lemkin, and Audrey Pennington.
2024: Ruth Kerr, Spencer Paulson, and Winnie Folk
2023: Mitchell Peters, Haley Handshy, and Amira Marquez Moreno
2022: Ashton Adams and Stephanie Granger
2021: Ali Turner and Monica Cheung
2020: Camille Wheatley and Cory Helfer
2019: Kylan Van Gunst
2018: Christian Stone (with professional development grants to Travis Gable and Courtney Cramer)
2017: Meredyth Ring
The UTC Graduate School's Outstanding Graduate Student in I-O Psychology
This award is announced through the Graduate School and is meant to recognize one graduating student who has consistently demonstrated full engagement as a graduate student throughout their time in the program. This award is driven by faculty observations of contributions in and outside of class, within the community, and across the university.
2025: Sally Hoffman
2024: Lydia Rominger
2023: Paris Wright
2022: Jane Voss
2021: Paige Pulford
2020: Emily Nixon
2019: Jason Weber
2018: Drake Terry
2017: Lisa Brady
2016: Katherine Kearns
2015: Hannah Wike
