President's Perspective
At East Tennessee State University, our pursuit of knowledge is inseparable from our commitment to service. That commitment is evident not only in our classrooms and laboratories but also throughout the region we serve. Through hands-on learning, cross-sector partnerships, and a deep sense of purpose, our students, faculty, and staff extend ETSU’s reach far beyond our formal campus borders.
This year, ETSU was honored with the Carnegie Foundation’s Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a distinction awarded to just a fraction of institutions nationwide. This recognition affirms the ongoing and intentional work taking place across the university to align teaching, research, and service with real-world needs. It reflects the strength of our relationships with community partners and the resolve of our faculty and staff to prepare students to lead, serve, and solve problems in meaningful ways.
The impact of these efforts shows across our region. Students in early childhood education design science lessons for local museums. Rehabilitative health sciences majors evaluate accessibility in public spaces. Future accountants assist community members with tax preparation . Each of these examples reflects a broader institutional commitment to connect academic learning with authentic, community-based experiences.
These experiences not only enhance student learning and retention, but they also contribute to the vitality of our region. They supportl ocal organizations, strengthen neighborhoods, and address complex challenges from health disparities in rural communities to workforce development in a rapidly shifting economy. They also embody ETSU’s long-standing mission to improve the quality of life for the people of our region and beyond.
Throughout this edition, you will find evidence of this workin action. You may discover that ETSU's physical footprint goes far beyond what you may have imagined. And you will understand the passion, compassion, tenacity, and vision that are central to the Buccaneer character.
Thank you for being part of this inspiring community.
Godspeed, and go Bucs!
Brian Noland, President
The University’s Footprint
This hand-drawn map by ETSU professor Dr. Scott Honeycutt illustrates the reach of our university across the region and beyond, highlighting a sampling of our academic centers and clinical sites, athletics facilities, research partnerships, arts initiatives, community partnerships, and more. Each point represents more than a location; it reflects a commitment to education that is engaged, accessible, and deeply connected to the needs of the people we serve. The map is not all-inclusive. We have nearly 110,000 living alumni and more than 14,000 current students. The pages of this magazine cannot fully capture the way ETSU is fulfilling its mission in our region and beyond. However, the map provides a fun look at some of the places and spaces that represent meaningful points of connection between the university and communities we serve.
About the Artist
Dr. Scott Honeycutt (’98) is Professor of English and Director of the English Teacher Education Concentration at ETSU, where he specializes in American literature. A poet and folk artist, he has published numerous essays and poems and has created 35 hand-drawn maps depicting America’s natural and literary landscapes. UGA Press will release his co-authored book with Dr. Kevin O’Donnell, Woodlands of the Mind: Rambles Through Campus Forests, in spring 2026. Beyond his scholarship and art, Scott believes deeply in the art of the long walk and the unequaled pleasure of cresting a hill after a climb.
