By Mocs News Staff
UTC officials confirm that professor emeritus Dr. Michael “Tennessee” Jones has died. Here is the information sent out to the campus.
With much sorrow, we share sad news of the passing of Dr. Michael H. “Tennessee” Jones early this morning, Thursday, June 28, in Abilene, Texas. Dr. Jones will be greatly missed by the University, the Chattanooga Community, and the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Jones retired from the University in July 2017, following a career spanning four decades of service. Dr. Jones’ work as teacher and mentor to literally thousands of students and student athletes has had a lasting positive impact on their lives and on CECS.
Over his career at UTC, Dr. Jones served as the College’s Director of Freshman Engineering, a volunteer coach of UTC Men’s and Women’s Track and Cross-Country Teams, and the Director of Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Environmental, and Industrial Engineering. It was under his leadership that the Mechanical, Civil, and Chemical Engineering programs received program approval from the Tennessee Higher Education Council and obtained their first program accreditation from the Accrediting Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). Better known as “Tennessee Jones,” Dr. Jones received over 20 internal and external awards for his outstanding teaching, served as UTC’s Faculty Representative to the Southern Conference, and led the campus’s efforts to establish a student chapter of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. He will be much missed.
A memorial service in Chattanooga to honor the life of this extraordinary man is being planned. We will share the information regarding the service as soon as it becomes available.
Daniel J. Pack, P.E., PhD
Dean
College of Engineering & Computer Science
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga